Anticancer Foods: Sea Moss Uses & Benefits

Sea moss is not only the biggest producer of oxygen but it has been in use for centuries. Ancient Greeks used to add it to their bathwater because they believed that it draws out toxins. Whether or not sea moss draws toxins from the body, there are many health benefits of sea moss (seaweed).

What Is Sea Moss?

Sea Moss is an alga or marine plant. It is found in seas, lakes, and rivers such as in the Caribbean, North Atlantic Ocean, and cold, tropical, and temperate zones. Sea moss thrives in cold temperatures ranging from 60-70 Fahrenheit. It is available in the form of pills, gels, and gummies and is safe for consumption. It is also called Irish Moss and is scientifically known as Chondrus Crispus. Seaweed occurs in various colors like red, green, brown, and black.

 

What Are The Uses Of Sea Moss?

Sea Moss is a rich source of essential minerals and vitamins like calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorous, zinc, iron, selenium, vitamin A, vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin E, antioxidants, etc. On the other hand, it contains a very low amount of fats (lipids) thus making it ideal for the body in general and specifically for people who want to lose weight.

What Are The Health Benefits Of Sea Moss?

It is not only used as healthy, nutritious food but also to treat different diseases like tumors, and heart diseases, for gut and thyroid health, for improving bone health, and for building muscles. Let’s have a look at some of the scientifically proven health benefits of sea moss.

Weight loss:

Sea moss is excellent for weight loss because it has a very low-fat content. In a study carried out over 12 weeks, it was found that the experimental group showed a prominent decrease in total body fat as compared to the control group. Sea moss contains a compound known as fucoxanthin that helps in weight loss by metabolizing body fat.

Sea Moss

 

Thyroid health:

Thyroid glands are present in your throat and produce several hormones that regulate body functions like growth, metabolism, etc. but thyroid glands need iodine for the synthesis of these hormones. Sea moss is a natural source of iodine so it supports thyroid health. Not consuming enough iodine in your diet will lead to several health problems. Thus eating seaweed can reduce the chances of iron deficiency and keep you healthy.

Gut health:

Our gut contains a microbiome that keeps our digestive system healthy. Eating foods that feed that microbiome has positive effects on our health. Sea moss contains a compound called carrageenan. This compound supports gut health by feeding good bacteria.

Immune health:

A healthy gut leads to a healthy immune system. sea moss with its prebiotics, vitamins, and antioxidants not only supports other body organs but also strengthens our immune system. it also increased the production of antibodies in animal models suggesting their possible role in the immune system.

What Makes Sea Moss An Anti-cancer Food?

Many recent studies have revealed its role in cancer prevention. Due to this, it is also used in cancer prevention drugs. Polyphenols and Polysaccharides found in seaweed have anti-cancer properties causing apoptosis of cancer cells. Brown sea moss contains a compound called fucoidans that is used in liver, gastric, breast, and lung cancer medication due to its anti-cancer effects. It fights cancer cells by limiting their growth. Vitamins a, e, and c present in sea moss are potent anti-oxidants meaning they protect the body against free radicals and DNA damage. DNA damage leads to cancers thus anti-oxidants also reduce the risk of cancer. 

 

References:

  1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7469045/
  2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4535385/Z6RFKHDHIRCPFXD7D5PKXIAP545BAPBW7T5LP2FBIZXF4OEBUP7W5PIARM
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