Consuming large amounts of sea moss is not recommended, due to its high iodine content (19, 20). Iodine can increase or decrease thyroid function. Taking sea moss along with medications for overactive thyroid may change the effects of these medications. Taking sea moss along with thyroid hormone medications could change the effects of these medications.
Sea moss supplements may not be safe for everyone, Hultin says. One of the main concerns to consider if you consume sea moss or any seaweed product is to consume too much iodine, he says. Excessive iodine consumption can cause thyroid dysfunction in some populations, such as thyroiditis, papillary thyroid cancer, and goiter. The National Institutes of Health set the maximum intake limit at 1,100 mcg of iodine per day, with the recommendation to stay as close as possible to the recommended daily dose of 150 mcg per day.
The exact amount of iodine in sea moss products varies by brand, but it's not unusual for a single serving or dose to contain 300% or more of daily needs. When consumed in normal amounts, sea moss is generally safe and may have health benefits. However, excessive consumption of Irish moss may mean that you are ingesting too much iodine. And if you're among the millions of people who are now venturing into plant-based eating, sea moss may seem like the next natural step in increasing nutrient intake.
The problem is that sea moss doesn't provide much. 2 tablespoons of the marine plant contain only 18.2 mcg of folic acid, well below the recommended daily dose of 400 mcg for non-pregnant adults, and only traces of zinc. Therefore, if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, immunosuppressed, or taking anticoagulant medications, you should avoid sea moss. Celebrities tout it as an immune booster, skin healer, and digestive aid, but like most declared superfoods, sea moss has been consumed for centuries.
According to rumors on social media, sea moss can supposedly reduce inflammation, help you lose weight, increase thyroid function, smooth out skin wrinkles, optimize digestion, and more. However, despite its recent fame, sea moss has been harvested and consumed for nearly 14,000 years. In an animal study, rats that ate a diet containing sea moss experienced an increase in beneficial gut bacteria (such as B. Until now, scientists have observed that the plant fibers in sea moss can act as prebiotics in humans, that is, food for healthy bacteria that live in the intestine).
Sea moss is having a difficult time right now, and fans are touting red macroalgae as a superfood that can improve multiple aspects of health. Sea moss is also appreciated for its algal polysaccharide, which is extracted from carrageenan and has medicinal and health-related properties. You might struggle to find sea moss in your local supermarket, so buying it from a reputable company online is another option. Powdered sea moss to take with a spoon also sells very well, as does the gel form of sea moss fans that mix these dietary supplements into beverages, soups, cereal bowls and more.
Sea moss and its derivatives are increasingly appearing in skin potions and hair products, driven by preliminary research that points to possible cosmetic benefits. Even so, more studies are needed and existing research does not refer to dietary or supplementary forms of sea moss.
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