At first sight, dried Caribbean sea moss looks a bit like a hippie’s bath sponge, but it’s nothing like a loofah, and people are catching on to the benefits. So what is it? Well it’s not a moss for a start, it’s actually a type of edible red seaweed, and there are two common varieties: Irish sea moss and Caribbean sea moss.
Caribbean sea moss and Irish sea moss refer to the same species of seaweed, scientifically known as Chondrus crispus. They share very similar nutritional profiles and health benefits, but there are some distinct differences which are more than just geographical.
Caribbean sea moss appears in a range of colors, including purple, gold, green, and brown, whereas Irish sea moss is usually reddish-purple or deep purple in colour. An alternative name for Irish moss is Carrageen moss, which could be a source of confusion.
Caribbean sea moss is sun dried (because they can), and Irish moss is typically cooked and used to make carageenan for the food industry.
The Benefits of Sea Moss
Sea moss is a nutrient-dense super food. It is a good source of essential vitamins and minerals, including iodine, potassium, magnesium, calcium, vitamins A, E, K, and B vitamins. According to the herbalist Dr Sebi, sea moss contains 92 of the 102 minerals that our bodies need, and has a vast range of health benefits.
Sea moss is a good source of iodine which is essential for your thyroid gland and the hormones it produces. These help to control the body’s basal metabolic rate, which influences how the body uses energy, and the regulation of body temperature.
Sea moss is beneficial for gut health (and therefore overall health and immunity) as it works as a prebiotic which promotes healthy gut bacteria.
Sea moss can be used to sooth, nourish and hydrate the skin, and is often found in skin care products designed to treat dry skin conditions.
How To Use Sea Moss
I originally came across Irish sea moss when I started stocking my organic wholefood shop in 2003, but I didn’t really use it much as I saw it as a mere gelling agent. Since discovering Caribbean sea moss and learning about its nutrition, I’m now searching for cunning ways to add sea moss to my food, and reap the benefits.
One of the easiest ways to incorporate it is by adding sea moss gel to smoothies. The gel is made by carefully washing the moss and then soaking it in water for 24 hours. The quality of the water you use affects the quality of the final product, so I use reverse osmosis filtered water. The sea moss will swell up to several times its original size, and will look like some kind of sea monster. It is then blended with more water to make a thick gel, which will set solid. Preparing the sea moss in this way also makes it more digestible and increases the bioavailability of its abundant minerals.
The gel can be used as a thickener or setting agent in many culinary applications, so makes an excellent vegan alternative to gelatin.