From the Research
Benefits of Irish Moss
The benefits of Irish moss can be summarized as follows:
- Irish moss is a rich source of iodine, with an average iodine content of 3.86 ± 1.49 mg/kg dry weight 1
- Consumption of Irish moss can contribute to the recommended daily intake of iodine, with 4 grams per day of dehydrated Irish moss seaweeds contributing 25.7% to the recommended daily intake for children 1
- Irish moss contains bioactive compounds, including sulfated polysaccharides, which have been shown to have immune-stimulant activity in mussels 2
- The sulfated polysaccharides extracted from Irish moss have been shown to increase haemocyte cell viability, haemocyte counts, and lysozyme activity in mussels, and to up-regulate the expression of immune-related genes 2
- Irish moss may have potential health benefits due to its high content of bioactive compounds, including carrageenan, a natural seaweed polysaccharide with applications in food and pharmaceutical industries 3
- Irish moss may also have prebiotic properties, with its phytochemicals potentially being metabolized by host microbial populations to benefit host health 4