Have you ever heard of Irish moss? This plant doesn't only look good with its reddish hues, but it also comes with many advantages that can do great for your overall health! Known as a superfood, you'll be able to get the optimal health you need. Plus, there are many ways on how you can prepare the moss to use it. Are you wondering what the different Irish moss benefits are? Then read on as I talk about what you need to know about Irish moss, from its history down to the tips on how you can use it correctly.
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Understanding the benefits and how to use the Irish moss properly is crucial for you to reap its health advantages without hassling yourself or worrying about its side effects.
What is Irish Moss?
Irish moss is called carrageen moss (which, in Irish, means "little rock"). Its scientific name for it is Chondrus crispus, and it's a species of red algae, growing abundantly in rocky parts of the Atlantic coast around Europe or North America. It grows all year round, withstanding frigid water temperature and can survive the cold during winter.
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It's also known as a red seaweed, because of its reddish hues that can also vary in color, either greenish-yellow or even purple and purplish-brown. The moss grows clumped together and has flattened blades, forking off from short stalks and forming fingers with blunt and round tips. It can grow between two to six inches high and four inches wide.
It's called an Irish moss because it grows in Ireland, with locals using it as an ingredient in cooking or for medicinal purposes before introducing it to America.
The Seven Irish Moss Benefits
Want to know what this plant can do for you? Here are the seven best Irish moss benefits you can take advantage of when using it
Weight Loss
Irish moss is a gel that can help fill you up and contribute to reducing hunger. Because it helps with your appetite, it's great food weight loss or maintenance. Plus, it can help with the digestion of your food as well, especially if you have ulcers.
One of the most important Irish moss benefits: used to lose weight
Energizer
In the Caribbean, people use Irish moss as a form of energy AND to increase libido. This is because of its mineral-rich properties that keep you up and running. People of Ireland relied on consuming Irish Moss during the potato famine back in the 19th century!
It’s the reason why the Irish appreciate this superfood because the Irish Moss benefits helped them live during hard times.
Treats Ailments
Because of its many nutrients and minerals, Irish moss can help remove mucus from your body, treating colds and respiratory illnesses. That's because it has a potent expectorant effect that induces your coughing away accumulated phlegm.
Irish Moss is famous for treating respiratory illnesses and stomach disorders such as indigestion and gastritis. It also helps with urinary infections as well. It does this through the coating and protecting your stomach, as well as your intestinal wall, with a jelly-like consistency.
Great on Skin
You would usually find Irish Moss in skin creams or use it alone because it's rich in vitamins A, E, and K. It keeps your skin soft and smooth while treating skin conditions such as psoriasis or eczema. It can also treat wounds and burns efficiently.
Irish moss contains many vitamins and minerals are very beneficial for the skin
Rich in Vitamins and Minerals
Irish Moss has 15 out of 18 essential nutrients your body needs to function properly. It contains vitamins A, D, E, F, K, along with the essential minerals such as iodine, sulfur, calcium, and potassium.
Rich in Antioxidants
Because Irish moss is so rich in antioxidants, it can help reduce oxidative stress, strengthening the immune system while preventing any illness or disease, especially cancer or heart conditions. Its anti-viral properties can contribute to treating seasonal colds, flu or mumps in children.
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What to Watch Out For
There have been some studies on carrageenan being a toxic additive to your food. But Irish moss is NOT associated with this form of carrageenan. In addition to that, the "bad" carrageenan used as additives are not natural and have gone through many processes to make it a preservative found in many types of food used as both gel thickener and preservative.
Based on clinical trials, doctors recommend a dosage of 4 to 12 grams of Irish Moss daily for up to two months.
So now that's out of your worries and you know the various Irish Moss benefits, are there safety hazards or side effects you should look up on? Here are some things to watch out for:
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women should avoid using Irish moss, as this may change their hormones and impact the milk production or growth of their child.
- Infants should not take in Irish moss as well since it can negatively affect their immune system.
- People who suffer from bleeding disorders or hypotension should also avoid Irish moss, as it's a blood thinner that may worsen their conditions.
- Other symptoms include bleeding, cramping, diarrhea, or infection, if allergic to the moss. It might also decrease drug absorption.
If you are taking Irish moss with other drugs or medicine, then it's best to consult a doctor beforehand to see if it's safe for you and the proper amount of Irish moss you can have. It's also important to monitor blood pressure and health status to make sure there is no adverse reaction to the Moss, especially if he suffers from health conditions that affect his blood.
What You Need to Know About Using Irish Moss
Irish moss has a lot of uses, typically found in food for better flavor or consistency, as well as reaping its many health benefits.
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Fresh Whole Leaf Irish Moss
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Here Are the Top Ways You Can Use Irish Moss
Irish moss is widely used in life, from food to beauty
- You can add it to any smoothie or juice to thicken the consistency. Popular types of beverages to use it with would be fruit or vegetable smoothies.
- For desserts like cheesecake or mousse, you can add Irish Moss for a thicker consistency.
- Use as salad dressing for simple salads, lessening the oil you add into it
- Thicken sauces and soups healthily. It’s great for mushroom soups or broths, or when thickening barbecue sauce and gravies quickly.
- You can even create your sauces and desserts with Irish moss, including mayonnaise or ice cream!
- You can use it as a facial mask because of its softening and healing properties.
If you plan on using Irish moss, you'll need to make sure that you choose the RIGHT and natural one.
While you can find powdered and flaked Irish moss in local health stores, it's still best to focus on either growing your own or to use fresh ones that come in whole plants or gel WITHOUT any chemicals or additives. But if you're in a pinch, it's best to try its flaked kind, as powdered Irish moss is most likely processed and have fishy flavors not suitable for sweet drinks or desserts. Another popular choice would be dried Irish moss, as you can quickly make seaweed gel without the intense flavor and scent.
How to Making a Gel Out of Irish Moss
Irish moss grown from Ireland is known to be very high in quality. If you will be making a gel out of Irish moss yourself, follow these instructions:
- Make a paste by soaking a quarter cup of Irish moss under cold water for about three hours or more.
- Rinse it in cold water to remove any sand or rocks still intact.
- Blend the moss with a cup of water until it's smooth and creamy. It'll take about a few minutes. Make sure to push down any chunks of moss that would fly up to your carafe.
- You can store this Irish moss in the fridge for about ten days.
Irish Moss Recipes
Here are three cool recipes you can use to take advantage of the wonders Irish Moss can give you.
#1 - Irish Moss Facial Mask
Use this facial mask for clearer skin!
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Ingredients
- One cup soaked (three to six hours) Irish Moss
- Half a cup of water
- One teaspoon lemon juice
Directions
- Blend the Irish Moss and water until it turns to a vaseline-like taste.
- Add the lemon juice and blend again.
- Apply on your face twice a day for 15 minutes.
#2 - Chocolate Pudding With Irish Moss
This can be used as a healthy dessert with many health benefits in the long run.
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Iris Moss
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Ingredients
- Half a cup of pureed Irish Moss
- One cup of unsweetened Almond milk
- One teaspoon of vanilla extract
- Half a cup of cacao powder
- ⅓ cup Agave nectar or honey
- Quarter cup of melted coconut oil
Directions
- Chop the Irish Moss and add it to the blender, pureeing until smooth.
- Combine the Irish Moss and all the other ingredients in the blender, blending until it’s very smooth.
- Pour into individual bowls and glasses, then put it in the fridge for about three hours until you serve it. It would serve four people.
#3 - Sublime Cacao Smoothie
A healthy smoothie with raw cacao for a bittersweet and delicious treat!
Ingredients
- Half an ounce of soaked Irish Moss, pureed with half a cup of water
- Four cups of almond milk
- One frozen banana
- Six Medjool dates
- Two tablespoons of raw cacao powder
- One tablespoon of coconut oil
- Pinch of Himalayan salt
- One tablespoon of vanilla extract
- Dash of nutmeg and cinnamon
Directions
- Combine all the ingredients until it’s smooth and creamy. You can add more Irish Moss (only until two ounces) until you reach the desired thickness.
- Pour into a glass and serve.
In Conclusion
With the many Irish moss benefits, you can take advantage of; you'll be able to stay healthy naturally. No need to use products filled with chemicals when you can simply grow the healthy super ingredients you need in your yard.
I hope that this article on the different Irish moss benefits informed you on what you can get out of this wonder plant! So don't wait any longer and try using Irish moss today.
If you have any questions or would like to share your experience in using Irish moss, then comment down below. I would love to hear what you have to think.
Using Irish moss for the last 3weeks had helped me a lot (bathroom issues)but the moment I add it to my soup, salad, food, face. I have to say everything has changed. Thank you for writing this article. Great content, useful & informative
O enjoyed your article. Thank you. I would like to try and grow it. I’m older can it be grown in pots? Iive in the state of Wyoming. Pretty cold here. Sometimes below zero. How can I get the seed. Price? Don’t do credit cards. Money or
der only
Hi, just wanted to know how long it would take Irish Moss to start showing results for weight loss. Will it also help reduce acne? Please let me know. Thanks.