Reasons to Add Sea Moss to Your Life, Plus Vegan Sea Moss Gel and Sea Moss Salad Recipes

Ancient Super Food

New superfood alert! Sea moss has recently been making the headlines for its immune-strengthening, skin beautifying, and gut healing properties. But there’s nothing new about this, because sea moss has actually been used for thousands of years. So, in this article, I’m going to share the proven benefits, and how you can include this superfood in your life.

What is Sea Moss?

Sea moss is a seaweed, also known as Irish moss or chondrus crispus.

The most interesting component in sea moss is algal polysaccharide (a type of carbohydrate), which has been studied for its medicinal properties, such as inhibiting viruses and preventing hypertension. What’s more, scientists have found that it has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects - great news for many aspects of health. No wonder sea moss is being called “one of the world’s most medically important red algae.”

In addition to polysaccharide, sea moss is rich in protein and soluble fiber - both of which help you to manage your appetite and your weight.

Finally, you might be familiar with one of sea moss’s other components: carrageenan, which is used as a stabilizer and thickener in many foods (like plant milks).

Clearly, this is a seaweed with a lot to offer. But let’s drill down into the interesting stuff.

Three Health Benefits of Sea Moss

Gut-Friendly

I’ve talked about the gut before, and the importance of the millions of friendly microbes there. Sea moss supports your digestive health in two ways.

Firstly, it is a prebiotic - that means it feeds the good bacteria in your gut, helping them to thrive. In a study published in the BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, scientists found that when rats were fed Irish moss, their gut microbiome significantly improved.

Secondly, sea moss has a sticky, gel-like texture, similar to chia seeds, which itself offers three benefits:

• It helps stools pass more easily, so you avoid constipation.

• It pulls toxins out of your body, so you detox more effectively.

• It keeps you fuller for longer, so you’re able to snack less and reach your ideal weight.

Immune-Boosting

It’s important to keep your immune system strong, now more than ever before. And the good news is that sea moss can help with this too.

In a study published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, scientists found that Irish moss boosts the immune system by inhibiting “virulence factors” - molecules produced by viruses, bacteria and fungi. The fact it supports gut health also plays a part here, because your immune system and gut bacteria are linked.

Skin-Loving

There are several reasons you’ll find sea moss in many skincare products:

• Packed with omega-3 fatty acids - fats are essential for supple, glowing skin.

• High in Vitamin A - helps your skin stay radiant for longer.

• Rich in antioxidants - which fight free radicals, one of the main factors in premature aging.

While it’s great as a topical skincare routine, these nutrients also feed skin from the inside.

So, now you know the health benefits of sea moss, let me share how you can add this superfood to your life.

How to Use Sea Moss - 2 Versatile Vegan Sea Moss Recipes

You’ll find sea moss in dried form, raw form, and gel form. Most health food stores stock it, alternatively you can find it online. Make sure you choose organic, wild-grown or wild-crafted sea moss for the highest quality.

You can also find sea moss in powder or supplement form. If you choose to take it as a supplement, speak to your doctor beforehand. This is particularly relevant if you have thyroid issues, as sea moss contains a lot of iodine.

My favorite way to include sea moss in my diet is to add sea moss gel to smoothies. Having said that, Irish moss or sea moss doesn’t have a strong flavor, so it works beautifully in other dishes too, or as a salad.

Here are two recipes to help you add sea moss to your life. The first is a sea moss gel, which you can then add to smoothies, soups, and salad dressings, or apply to your skin and hair as a weekly beautifying treatment. The second is a fresh and tasty sea moss salad. Give them a try and let me know your thoughts!

Sea Moss Gel Recipe

Ingredients:

1 cup raw sea moss

3 cups warm water

Method:

• Place the sea moss in a large bowl, cover with water and massage it to remove any sand or debris. Rinse and repeat three times, until the sea moss feels clean and soft. Discard the water.

• Place the cleaned sea moss in a bowl with 3 cups of distilled warm water. Leave to soak overnight. The sea moss will expand and the water will feel like a thin gel.

• Use a sieve to drain the water, and place the soaked sea moss into a high-speed blender. Cover with enough, drinking water of your choice. Blend at high speed until completely smooth. If the mixture is too thick, add a couple of tablespoons of fresh water.

• Transfer the mixture to an airtight jar and place in the fridge. The mixture will thicken further over the next 1-3 hours.

• You now have sea moss gel which you can use in several ways:

o Add to smoothies

o Mix into a salad dressing

o Add to sauces, soups or stews

o Use as a face mask

o Use as a hair treatment

• This sea moss gel will last up to 2 weeks in the fridge.

Vegan Sea Moss Salad Recipe

Ingredients:

1 small handful of sea moss

Juice of half a lemon or lime

1 medium tomato

1/2 avocado

1/2 bell pepper

A few sprigs of fresh cilantro or mint

Pinch of salt

Method:

• Wash the sea moss thoroughly, until it is completely clean. Chop into bite-sized pieces.

• Slice the tomato, bell peppers and avocado.

• Place in a bowl and add the fresh cilantro, squeeze of lime and pinch of salt.

• Mix well, and enjoy.

Sea Moss Face Mask

I regularly use sea moss as a nourishing face treatment. It leaves my skin glowing and super moisturized.

To use sea moss as a beautifying and clarifying skin treatment, simply mix sea moss gel with a few drops of your favorite essential oil, and apply to your face, neck and décolletage before going to bed.

Frankincense and rose work well for dry skin, while clary sage and lavender are good for oily skin. Make sure you only use 1 or 2 drops as essential oils are powerful.

In the morning, cleanse and moisturize your skin as normal.

Sea Moss Hair Treatment

Sea moss contains vitamins A and E, which moisturize your scalp and hair, leaving it silky soft and moisturized.

To use sea moss as a hair mask, simply apply sea moss gel to your scalp and hair, wrap in a towel and leave it to work its magic for an hour, or overnight. Wash with your usual shampoo and conditioner, and style as normal.

Warning: people will ask you what your beauty secrets are!

There you have it, the benefits of sea moss for your inner health, skin and hair. Give the recipes a try and don’t forget to tag me on Insta when you do!

XOXO, MF

Refs:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26271359/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4872230/