Purple Sea Moss: One Superfood With Many Great Benefits
Shimmering purple. Some people refer to it as a “Superfood.” But what is Purple sea moss?
Purple sea moss is a red marine algae. These strands of red algae grow from “holdfasts” in bodies of water.
Holdfasts are rocks below the surface of warmer bodies of water. They exist along the Atlantic coastline, Europe, and the Caribbean.
Sea moss comes in a variety of colors. Where the algae grows will determine the color it has.
Red algae that grows closer to the surface of the water has a lighter greenish yellow to gold color.
But, Sea moss that grows deep below the surface is either red, purple or even reddish brown.
Purple sea moss is also known as Irish moss or Carrageen moss.
Purple Sea Moss Benefits
So, what are some benefits of purple sea moss? It is really a superfood?
Some studies report that red algae has 92 of the 102 minerals that the body needs. However, a number of these minerals exist in small amounts.
Therefore, Purple Sea moss will not supply the nutrients your body needs. However, there are some amazing benefits you can get sea moss. Here are some of them.
These benefits are tied to nutrients found in sea moss.
- Lower Blood Pressure
- Help Indigestion
- Improve skin and hair
- Boost Energy
- Regulate Tyroid function
Purple Sea Moss Gel
What are some benefits of consuming Purple sea moss gel? Here is a list of some nutitional benefits you will get from the average serving of Purple sea moss gel.
| Nutrients | Amount Per Serving |
|---|---|
| Calcium | 7.2mg |
| Iron | 0.89mg |
| Magnesium | 14.4mg |
| Phosphorus | 15.7mg |
| Sodium | 6.7mg |
| Zinc | 0.195mg |
| Copper | 0.015mg |
| Manganese | 0.037mg |
| Selenium | 0.07mg |
Benefits of Organic Sea Moss
Carrageenan
For example Carrageenan is one of the most important components in Purple sea moss.
The food industry uses Carrageenan as a thickening agent. Therefore farmers cultivate Purple seamoss for its Carrageenan.
Carrageen works by binding protein in products together. So you will find carrageen from sea moss in products such as ice cream.
In addition, there are some key compounds in Purple sea moss that add to the benefits. These are Carrageenan, l- arginine and l-citrulline.
l- arginine and l-citrulline
Two other important compounds in Purple sea moss are l- arginine and l-citrulline.
These chemicals are amino acids that help the body build protein.
The amino acids are related to some benefits of Purple sea moss because they may help lower blood pressure.
l- arginine and l-citrulline relaxes the blood vessels which cause blood pressure to go down.
Caribbean Sea Moss
Jamaica and St. Lucia and the two Caribbean islands that are known for harvesting seamoss.
Gold and Purple sea moss are the most common colors harvested on these islands.
Divers retrieve sea moss from the Caribbean seabed. So purple Jamaican purple sea moss is truly organic sea moss.
How to Prepare Sea Moss
Raw organic sea moss comes from below the ocean. And so it will have debris that you need to get rid of before using it. Follow these few simple steps to prepare sea moss for use.
Cleaning: Place the moss in a large bowl. Pour enough water to cover the seaweed.
Gentle rub to release debris that may be on the seaweed. Pour off the water and repeat the process.
Note. Sea moss harvested from the ocean may have a high sodium content.
So I usually soak it for about 30 minutes and throw away the first water. Then I start the hydrating process.
Rehydrating: To rehydrate sea moss add two or three cups of water to fully cover the moss cover and let sit for approximately 24 hours.
Wildcrafted organic sea moss will have an ocean-like smell when you rehydrate it.
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Sea Moss Uses
Purple sea moss is generally used to make a gel. You can add sea moss gel smoothies, or your favorite fruit juices.
You may add sea moss to your cup of tea. And you can use sea moss gel, in soups, as a salad dressing, or add it to dips.
The general recommendation is to use 1 tablespoon of gel per serving.
For centuries Jamaicans have used sea moss along with sarsaparilla, flax seed, gum arabic, and chaney as the main ingredients when making root tonic.
They also made a sweet creamy “Jamaican Irish moss” drink using sea moss. Residents of Belize also make a similar sea moss drink.
Sea Moss Side Effects
Some users have reported side effects from the use of Purple sea moss. They include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Skin irritation
- Diarrhea
Note also that Sea moss has a large amount of iodine. Too much iodine can lead to an overactive thyroid.
Sea moss also has Vitamin K which affects blood clotting. Therefore people who take blood thinning mrdication should speak to their doctor before using purple sea moss products.
Buy Purple Sea Moss
Ogranic Purple sea moss can be bought in many local health food stores. It comes in different forms.
For example you can purchase sea moss capsules, sea moss powder, sea moss gel and dried raw seamoss.
Estsy.com is one of the places online where you can access a variety of Sea moss products. Visit their website here
Conclusion
Purple sea moss is a natural food that has a large number of nutrients. Benefits of consuming sea moss include:
Improved thyroid function, healthy hair and skin, and an immune system boost.
Disclaimer This website is for informational purposes only. Nothing stated here should be viewed as medical advice. Please speak with your Professional Healthcare Provider about matters relating to your meidcal care.