Sea moss, also known as Irish moss, is a type of red algae that grows along the coastlines of the Atlantic Ocean. It has been used for centuries as a natural source of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that provide a range of health benefits. But exactly how many vitamins are in sea moss? Let’s take a closer look.
Table of Contents
Vitamins in Sea Moss
Sea moss contains a range of essential vitamins that provide health benefits. These include both water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins.
Water-Soluble Vitamins
Water soluble vitamins dissolve in water and are not stored in the body. Since excess amounts result in excretion through urine, regular daily intake is needed. Sea moss provides great levels of:
Vitamin C: With 36-150mg vitamin C per 100g portion, sea moss contains even more than citrus fruits! As an antioxidant and cofactor for enzymatic reactions, vitamin C boosts immunity and collagen formation that keeps skin firm. It also enhances iron absorption.
B Complex Vitamins: Sea moss supplies vitamins B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B6, B9 (folate), and B12 in varying amounts. Riboflavin and niacin help extract energy from carbs, proteins and fats. Vitamin B6 governs over 100 enzyme reactions including metabolism and red blood cell function.
Folate and B12 partake in red blood cell and DNA synthesis. Daily sea moss intake offsets the deficiencies commonly seen when these B-vitamins are inadequate in typical modern diets. 100g may provide between 10-20% of the RDI across various B vitamins.
Fat-Soluble Vitamins
Since they dissolve in oils, excess fat soluble vitamins get stored in body tissues. Sea moss features:
Vitamin A: Found as beta carotene in sea moss. Once ingested, the body converts beta carotene into retinol – the active form of vitamin A. This supports vision health, immunity, reproduction and cellular communication. Consuming sea moss helps meet the 700-900 μg RDI for vitamin A.
Vitamin E: Functions as a powerful antioxidant that protects delicate lipids from free radical damage. Also vital for cell signaling and regulation of inflammation/immune function. 100g sea moss provides around 2-5mg vitamin E approaching daily needs.
Vitamin K: This vitamin activates proteins required for blood clotting and stabilizing bone mass. It also may help regulate blood sugar. Sea moss delivers nutritionally useful levels of vitamin K.
Summary: Sea moss is a red alga that contains over 90 vitamins and minerals, more than most multivitamin supplements provide, packing nutrients like vitamin C, A, E, K, B vitamins, iodine, iron, magnesium, zinc, and more.
How Many Minerals Does Seamoss Have
Now that you know how many vitamins are in sea moss, let’s talk about the minerals. Sea moss contains a wealth of vitamins and minerals – over 92 in total! That’s more than most conventional multivitamins provide. Here are some of the main minerals found in sea moss and their health benefits:
List of Minerals in Sea Moss
- Iodine: The thyroid gland needs iodine to produce thyroid hormones to regulate metabolism. Sea moss has the highest natural concentration of iodine of any food on earth. Just 1-2g provides over 100% of your RDI for iodine.
- Magnesium: This macromineral relaxes muscles for sound sleep and keeps bones strong. Sea moss provides magnesium comparable to dark leafy greens, nuts, and legumes.
- Zinc: Functions in immune defense, wound healing, thyroid support, blood sugar control, and over 200 enzyme reactions rely on adequate zinc. Sea moss is moderately high in bioavailable zinc content.
- Iron: As a key component of red blood cells for oxygen transport, iron levels affect energy levels and cognitive function. Sea moss provides a highly absorbable form of iron.
Alongside the above, sea moss supplies lesser but significant amounts of calcium, phosphorus, manganese, selenium, copper, potassium, sulfur, and silicon. It’s like nature’s own multivitamin!
Summary: With 92 of the 102 essential minerals, sea moss has the highest mineral content of any plant, providing complete and dense nutrition to supply iodine, sulfur, silicon, iron, magnesium, and zinc at levels far exceeding land vegetables.
Sea Moss Female Benefits
The unique nutrition profile of sea moss makes it particularly beneficial for women regarding hormone health, digestion, immunity, and more. Here is what’s special about sea moss for women:
Supports Hormone Balance
Sea moss is rich in thyroid-supporting iodine and tyrosine, which helps balance hormones. Together with ample B vitamins, magnesium, and zinc, sea moss also minimizes PMS symptoms like bloating, breast tenderness, anxiety, and mood swings that women commonly encounter.
The iodine content helps regulate thyroid hormone production, which controls metabolism and growth. Tyrosine aids in producing adequate levels of key neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine.
Meanwhile, you know how many vitamins are in sea moss! B vitamins, magnesium, and zinc calm mood swings, anxiety, and depression that can coincide with menstruation when hormone levels fluctuate. By supplementing with these vital nutrients, sea moss prevents monthly symptoms from spiraling out of control.
Boosts Immunity & Digestion
The high mucilage content of sea moss enhances digestion and bowel regularity. Feeding good gut bacteria acts as a natural prebiotic, too. Healthy digestion and immunity prevent feminine health issues like UTIs and yeast infections, which women are more susceptible to.
Sea moss acts as a demulcent by forming a protective film over mucous membranes in the digestive tract. This soothes inflammation or irritation. Prebiotic soluble fibers in sea moss also serve food for healthy gut flora, such as lactobacilli and bifidobacteria species.
When these thrive, digestion normalizes. As nearly 80% of immune cells reside in the gut, enhanced immunity minimizes recurrent issues with UTIs, candida overgrowth, and vaginitis.
Alleviates Fatigue & Anemia
Vitamin K aids bone mineralization while iron and magnesium correct fatigue and anemia that some women struggle with due to heavy menstruation or nutritional deficits – sea moss nourishes the body with both.
Heavy monthly bleeding depletes levels of iron and magnesium, causing exhaustion, weakness, and mood issues. Sea moss provides a bioavailable form of iron that restores red blood cells’ oxygen-carrying capacity. Magnesium further helps cellular energy production, so women feel less lethargic.
Together with energy-promoting B vitamins, the iron-magnesium duo in sea moss provides natural support against women’s cycles, worsening the side effects of mineral deficiency.
Anti-Aging Skin Nutrients
With powerful anti-aging and inflammation-fighting antioxidants like vitamins C and E alongside collagen-protecting vitamin A, sea moss helps women maintain radiant, youthful skin despite hormonal fluctuations.
Estrogen dominance and dropping progesterone after menopause speed up skin aging and collagen breakdown. Vitamin C energizes collagen synthesis to firm skin and smooth wrinkles, even with shifting hormones.
Vitamin A (as beta carotene) delays collagen deterioration in the skin’s supportive matrix to prevent excessive sagging, dryness, and lines.
While vitamin E activates skin regeneration and healthy cell growth so recurring cycles don’t degrade the skin over time – leaving you looking refreshed despite monthly fluctuations or periods coming to an end. So, it’s amazing how many vitamins are in sea moss, and how amazingly they contribute to health and wellness.
Pregnancy & Lactation Support
The versatility of sea moss also helps pregnant and lactating women by supplying increased nutritional needs for fetal development and breast milk quality.
Sea moss delivers ample folate, vitamin K, iron, and other nutrients vital for developing babies during pregnancy and infancy when requirements shoot up.
Iodine and B vitamins additionally ensure that breast milk nourishes babies with complete, balanced nutrition for healthy growth after birth. Concentrations of some immune factors in breast milk may further rise with regular sea moss consumption by nursing mothers.
Summary: Containing hormone-regulating iodine, energizing iron, skin-beautifying vitamin C, prebiotic fiber and much more, sea moss provides a range of specialized nutritional benefits tailored towards optimizing female health throughout life’s phases.
Sea Moss Gel Nutrition Facts
Rather than eating sea moss in its raw sun-dried form, it can be simmered into a gel for easier consumption and digestion:
Minerals in 100 grams of homemade sea moss gel
- Manganese – 0.3mg = 15% DV
- Iron – 0.40 mg = 2% DV
- Magnesium – 22 mg = 5% DV
- Phosphorus – 9 mg = 1% DV
- Zinc – 1.2 mg = 11% DV
- Selenium – 0.4mcg = 1% DV
Vitamins in 100 grams of homemade sea moss gel
- Vitamin A – 100 IU = 2% DV
- Vitamin C – 9 mg = 15% DV
- Thiamin – 0.15 mg = 10% DV
- Riboflavin – 0.20 mg = 15% DV
- Niacin – 1 mg = 5% DV
- Vitamin B6 – 0.1 mg = 5% DV
- Folate – 7 mcg = 2% DV
- Vitamin K – 8 mcg = 10% DV
As shown above, just 100g of sea moss gel provides a useful amount of daily vitamins and minerals to contribute to whole-body nourishment.
Prepared as a gel also maximizes the bioavailability of sea moss nutrients compared to the raw form. Simmering helps dissolve the fibrous cell walls so our digestive enzymes access encapsulated minerals more easily. Blending into smooth gel form additionally boosts assimilation rates.
Of course, nutritional values vary based on exact sea moss species, drying methods, processing techniques, and more. But universally, sea moss gel makes vitamins and minerals more accessible for uptake across the digestive tract.
Summary: Converting sea moss into gel form boosts accessibility of its nutrition, allowing just 100 grams to provide substantial levels of daily manganese, magnesium, zinc, vitamin C, B vitamins which regulate metabolism, immunity, hormones, and cellular repair processes within the body.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does sea moss have protein?
Yes, sea moss contains small amounts of protein – approximately 10g per 100g dried sea moss as well as all essential amino acids needed for human nutrition. However, it is not a significant protein source compared to meat, eggs, or legumes for fulfilling dietary protein needs.
Is sea moss gluten free?
Absolutely! As a sea vegetable, sea moss has zero gluten content. This also makes it suitable for others following specialized diets like grain-free, paleo, keto, and low-carb diets.
How much sea moss should you take per day?
For general wellness, 1-2 tablespoons (8-16g) of sea moss gel per day is recommended. Those overcoming thyroid problems or other mineral deficiencies may take up to 100g over a day for therapeutic remineralization. Spread portions out and ensure you stay hydrated when consuming higher amounts.
Does sea moss need to be cooked?
While raw sea moss provides benefits too, cooking via steaming, boiling, or simmering into a gel helps extend shelf life plus boosts digestibility and nutrient absorption rates in the body.
What does sea moss taste like?
Sea moss has a bland, salty taste. By itself, raw sea moss reminds many of ocean water. When prepared in smoothies, desserts, puddings, or gel form, it adapts to any flavors you blend or cook with. Add cinnamon, vanilla, sweetener, and fruit to make sea moss palatable, depending on your preferences.
Does sea moss have copper?
Yes, sea moss contains small amounts of the mineral copper, which plays a role in iron absorption and red blood cell production.
Does sea moss have vitamin B12?
No, sea moss does not contain vitamin B12 as it is mainly found in animal-sourced foods. Sea moss lacks this particular vitamin.
Does sea moss have vitamin C?
Yes, sea moss is a great plant-based source of vitamin C, providing about 9 mg per 100 grams. Vitamin C acts as an antioxidant and supports immune health.
How many minerals are in sea moss?
Sea moss contains 92 minerals out of 102 and trace elements for human health. However, exact totals vary by specific species and source location of the sea moss.
How many vitamins are in sea moss?
In total, sea moss contains around 10-15 different vitamins, including vitamins A, C, E, K, B2, B3, B6, B12, folate, pantothenic acid, and more. It provides a spectrum of essential vitamins.
How much minerals does sea moss have?
Dried sea moss contains approximately 8-13% mineral content by weight, providing as much as 22 grams of minerals per 100-gram serving, as analysis has shown.
How much vitamins does sea moss have?
100 grams of raw sea moss can provide as much as 150 mg of vitamin C (over 2-3x your RDI), 500 IU of vitamin A, 0.2 mg of B2 and B3, 0.1 mg B6 alongside vitamins E, K, and folate approaching daily recommended intakes.
Conclusion
In this article, we found out how many vitamins are in sea moss, and how they help our bodies. Many vitamins and minerals packed into humble sea moss can work wonders for supporting women’s health, digestion, immunity, and other areas unique to females. Consume sea moss gel regularly to unlock its benefits. Share in the comments section below how well sea moss worked for you!
