Info: 100 g Resealable Bag of Chondracanthus chamissoi Powder from Peru
Irish Sea "moss" is a generic term for a variety of types of red algae grown in warm coastal waters. It's a low calorie, nutrient-rich edible seaweed with a variety of potential health benefits, especially if it comes from clean waters like this type of red algae, which hails from the warm Pacific coastal waters of Peru.
Info: 100 g Resealable Bag of Chondracanthus chamissoi Powder from Peru
Irish Sea "moss" is a generic term for a variety of types of red algae grown in warm coastal waters. It's a low calorie, nutrient-rich edible seaweed with a variety of potential health benefits, especially if it comes from clean waters like this type of red algae, which hails from the warm Pacific coastal waters of Peru.
Product Notes:
There's been a growing interest in sea moss products recently, with an ever-increasing number of resellers popping up, leading to some confusion about product sourcing and labeling about which type is actually being offered.
In particular, many sellers have either deliberately or accidentally run together several similar yet distinct families of red algae:
- Irish Moss, of the Gigartinaceae family, whose scientific name is Chondrus crispus, which has broader leaves and contains a great deal of carrageenan (which got its name from a region of Ireland which first discovered and used a lot of that specific type of red algae to make foods like home-made candy and pudding), which is widely used in a variety of foods and personal products as an emulsifier, thickener, gelling agent, and stabilizer;
- (more generic) Sea Moss, of the genus Gracilaria and family Gracilariaceae, which is 'stringier,' does not have as much of a seafood smell when reconstituted, looks a bit like vermicelli when dried; and,
- this type: Chondracanthus chamissoi, aka 'Sea Chicory,' in some places, and 'Yuyo' in Peru, which is the only type that's also eaten raw in its fresh form, as a garnish in salads. It is high in carrageenan (a polysaccharide in red algae that can make it gelatinous when heated or blended, and has also been traditionally used for coughs, bronchitis, tuberculosis, and intestinal problems), making it quite suitable as a thickening or demulcent agent, among other things. (Please read on.)
Irish Sea Moss has many nutrients, including iodine, of course (seaweed is often the source of that, among supplements), and two that should be of particular interest to those prone to developing muscle cramps: magnesium and potassium. It also has fibre, which can not only help keep you 'regular,' but also help keep your appetite in check, as well as some vitamins (especially C), and some of their other trace mineral content such as copper and zinc can help support the immune system. It is also rich in vitamins and plant proteins.
Another potential benefit of internal consumption may include aiding in muscle-building and recovery, thanks to its taurine amino acid content.
Sea moss can also have benefits for the skin to help improve its hydration, reduce its inflammation, harmful bacteria, and excessive oil production, and protect against UV damage, thanks to its vitamin, omega-3 fatty acid (especially EPA), protein (including both many of the amino acids our bodies use to build collagen as well as Mycosporine-Like Amino Acids (MAAs), which confer UV-protection), and sulphur content.
Accordingly, some recommend using Sea Moss gel as a face mask once a week to help rebalance the skin microbiome and help build up the its moisture barrier.
It's even proven useful for home brewers to clarify beer, when the powder is added to the wort at the end of the boiling stage!
Ingredients:
Dehydrated Irish Sea Moss Powder, wild-harvested from Peru, sun-bleached in sea water, and then dries, and ground up.
Suggested Usage:
First make into a gel, using the directions below. The resulting sea moss gel can then be used either topically or internally.
Topical uses for the gel to help promote healthy skin and hair include using it as a face mask once a week, by applying a thin layer of gel to the face and leaving it on for 10 to 15 minutes before rinsing it off.
Some companies also make Red Algae Shampoos (either explicitly in their title or as a featured ingredient) as "Moisture Retaining" or "Regenerative" products, so you could also try adding some to your own favourite brands at home.
For internal use, the gel can either be taken as is (which may not appeal to those who do not like the taste of seafoods like clams or oysters) or blended into various drinks or foods like smoothies or protein shake, hot beverages, soups, stews, sauces, spreads, or baked goods, where it will also serve as a thickener or 'creamer' and improve their consistency.
Some suppliers recommend a serving size of 1 to 2 tablespoons (or 20 to 40 g) of prepared sea moss gel per serving (so, add at least 4 tablespoons to a soup or stew large enough for four portions, e.g.).
Preparation Instructions (Blending Method):
To make Irish Moss Paste (which should then be refrigerated, and is best consumed within 10 days of production (before that, the dehydrated 'noodles' (if they came in that form) or the ground powder can just be kept in a cool, dry place for up to a year):
1. Soak the powder (or 'noodles,' if starting with that form) in about a litre of room temperature water for about 12 hours (or 24 hours, if starting with noodles rather than a powder, to allow them to spring back to their original form), and then rinse thoroughly with clean water to remove the seasalt and possible shell debris.
2. Put the wet powder or noodles in a blender and add water, in a ratio of about 1/2 a cup of reconstituted irish moss noodles with about 1-1/4 cups of water, or perhaps about one cup (i.e., a one to two ratio), when working with the wetted noodles.
3. Blend it until it becomes a thick, gelatinous consistency.
4. Then pour and squeeze it through a nutmilk bag, into a glass bowl.
4. Place the glass bowl in a refrigerator to set up; the paste will last in the refrigerator and be suitable for consumption for at least 10 days.
Warnings:
Do not consume sea moss if you have an allergy to iodine. Consult a healthcare practitioner prior to consuming it if you are pregnant or breastfeeding or have preexisting medical conditions, or if it's for a child under the age of 4 with a pre-existing medical condition.