Sea moss can also carry a risk of consuming heavy metals, since seaweed is known to absorb and store heavy metals in large quantities (2). However, the risk of toxicity appears to be low. A study examined the levels of 20 heavy metals in 8 types of seaweed in the waters of Europe and Asia. While ingesting raw sea moss in moderation is fine, doing so in excess could expose you to toxins and heavy metals.
Sea moss contains a compound called Algin. Algina is a type of phytonutrient that can be a detoxifier that helps eliminate heavy metals from the body, such as mercury. These can build up in the body due to consumption of deep-sea fish contaminated with mercury, such as salmon and tuna, environmental conditions, or medical treatments. Depending on the water in which the varieties of sea moss grow, they can contain high levels of heavy metals.
Heavy metals are toxic to humans and, when ingested in large quantities, can prevent or disrupt cellular processes such as cell growth, proliferation, and repair. This is especially dangerous for pregnant or breastfeeding women, so always check with your doctor before adding sea moss to your diet. Sea moss can also be used to detoxify heavy metals due to the presence of the phytonutrient, algina. Heavy metals are present everywhere: in air, water, soil, and the food supply, which can lead to toxicity.
Even chronic, low-level exposure to heavy metals has been linked to a variety of health problems, from neuropsychiatric imbalances and fatigue to organ dysfunction, infertility, headaches, and infections such as candida. Consuming sea moss can help extract these heavy metals from body tissues and reduce the toxic burden. Eating raw sea moss every day for its health benefits is a new trend on TikTok, but the practice of using sea moss for healing has existed for centuries. Sea moss can also be used as a natural expectorant that effectively removes mucus and alleviates asthma-related respiratory problems.
Sea moss also contains a significant amount of magnesium, a mineral essential for muscle contraction and relaxation. Given the popularity of sea moss as a food and health supplement, the scientific community has been studying the benefits and risks associated with this marine vegetable. In its natural form, Irish sea moss has a strong seaweed flavor, so it may be worth starting with small quantities or disguising it with other flavors as tolerance develops. Finally, sea moss can be used topically, as personal care and beauty products, as a shampoo or skin moisturizer.
Because sea moss contains high amounts of potassium, a nutrient vital to the functioning of human body cells, its consumption can improve cognitive function and behavior in general. Until now, research on the role of sea moss in gut health has only been done on animals, meaning that its function as a prebiotic in humans has not yet been studied. Therefore, if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, immunosuppressed, or taking anticoagulant medications, you should avoid sea moss. However, due to the beneficial vitamin and mineral content, Irish sea moss is likely to be a good addition to a balanced and healthy whole-food diet.
Irish sea moss arrived in Jamaica in the 19th century, after the potato famine in Ireland, and became a remedy for colds and lung diseases. One of the most talked about benefits of sea moss is to prevent and alleviate cold and flu symptoms thanks to its antimicrobial and antiviral properties. .
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