Farms are just one place you find fresh produce. The ocean — of which humans have only explored a fraction — provides an array of nutritious sea vegetables, including sea moss. There’s an abundance of sea moss powder recipes that deliver the essential nutrients your body needs to help ward off disease and improve your overall health.
Although sea moss isn’t the most commonly used ingredient in daily cooking, those with an open mind and curious taste buds are bound to call it a new favorite. Here’s everything you should know about sea moss and a few recipes you’ll love.
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What is sea moss powder?
Sea moss — or Irish moss — is an alga or seaweed often found in health supplements or used as a thickener in soups, stews, ice cream, and smoothies. Many people harvest sea moss because it is the only natural source of carrageenan — a thickening agent.
Sea moss is rich in iodine, carotene, and sulfur-containing compounds, making it highly nutritious. Iodine, in particular, is excellent for maintaining proper thyroid function. Sea moss is also low in calories, contains zero sugar, and is high in vitamins A, C, E, and B — including folate and riboflavin — and minerals like magnesium, selenium, and potassium.
You can turn sea moss into a gel-like consistency from its dried or powder form with some water. Sea moss gel is commonly used in sea moss cooking.
6 sea moss powder recipes to try at home
Working with a new ingredient is always somewhat daunting — especially something as uncommon as sea moss. Fortunately, using sea moss in cooking is relatively straightforward. Here are six sea moss powder recipes you can try at home.
1. Sea moss gel
Many sea moss powder recipes call for its gel form, so learning to make sea moss gel from dried or powdered sea moss is the best place to start. In its dried form, rinse the sea moss well to remove debris before soaking it in a bowl of clean water.
Allow the moss to sit in the bowl of water in the refrigerator for 12–48 hours before blending on high in a blender. Add one cup of fresh water until you’ve reached the right consistency. You can then store the sea moss gel in a tightly covered container in the refrigerator for a month, using a tablespoon daily for various meals.
2. Sea moss smoothie
To make a Jamaican-inspired sea moss smoothie, you’ll want to make sea moss gel and refrigerate it in a bowl. You only need a one-third cup of sea moss gel for a single serving.
Add almond milk, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and other spices, and blend on high. Feel free to add other ingredients like oats, blending them until the drink has a smooth consistency.
3. Acai and sea moss smoothie bowl
Many sea moss powder recipes are smoothies. As such, consider adding sea moss gel to an acai smoothie for a deliciously cold breakfast bowl.
Acai berries are a typical base for a smoothie bowl topped with fresh fruit, nuts, seeds, shredded coconut, oats, and other healthy ingredients. Adding a bit of sea moss is an easy way to add texture and infuse your smoothie bowl with extra nutrients for healthier living.
4. Spelt banana loaf with sea moss
Sea moss has a similar binding effect as flaxseed, which makes it excellent for baking banana nut bread. You’ll need a 9×5-inch loaf pan lined with parchment paper.
Mash bananas in a bowl, mixing them with sea moss, grapeseed oil, and sparkling water. Then add spelt flour, date sugar, walnuts, currants, and a little salt.
Pour the batter into the loaf pan and bake at 350° Fahrenheit for 30–40 minutes. This spelt banana loaf with sea moss goes well with jam or nut butter.
5. Sea moss chocolate bark
Is there a more satisfying sweet treat than chocolate bark? This twist on a classic chocolate dessert will likely become your new favorite sea moss powder recipe.
You’ll first want to melt the chocolate in 30-second intervals — a process you should never rush. Then stir in your sea moss powder.
Pour the mixture onto parchment paper, spreading it to a thickness of about a quarter inch. Top with raw nuts, hemp seeds, and chopped dried fruit. A little sea salt adds extra flavoring.
Refrigerate for 30 minutes or until the chocolate hardens before breaking it apart and serving. You can store your chocolate and sea moss powder bark in the refrigerator for up to a week, though it’s doubtful it’ll last that long before everyone eats it.
6. Sea moss and ackee mousse
Use the first recipe to make a gel, then warm it with almond milk and ackee fruit to make blending easier. Ackee fruit comes in a can; you typically buy it at grocery stores. Pulse your warmed mixture with maple syrup and vanilla extract, pouring it evenly into four glasses.
Allow the mousse to sit in the refrigerator for a couple of hours or overnight. Then garnish with nuts, shredded coconut, fruit, whipped cream, or melted chocolate before serving.
Benefits of adding sea moss powder recipes to your diet
Rather than turn your nose up to an ingredient you’re unfamiliar with, open yourself up to the possibilities for optimal health. Those trying to boost their health — be it their heart, blood sugar, or thyroid — or manage their weight loss will want to add more sea moss to their diet.
Relieves cardiovascular disease and cancer activity
Scientists say your diet accounts for 33% of disease prevention. The phytochemicals in sea moss are just as beneficial as antibacterial and chemotherapy drugs. Because of the vast antioxidants in algae and seaweed, adding sea moss to your diet can reduce oxidative stress and decrease your risk of cardiovascular issues, diabetes, and stroke.
One type of sea moss — marine red algae — is anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and high in monounsaturated fatty acids to protect your heart. Red algae also contain antibacterial and cancer-fighting compounds that help protect the body against the development of severe cancer.
Aids digestion and bladder inflammation
You may have an overactive bladder if you need to urinate more than eight times daily or twice nightly. Various claims suggest sea moss can aid stomach and intestinal issues, including cystitis, urinary tract infections, and ulcers.
Of course, many people like to add sea moss to their diets for weight loss purposes. According to registered dietitian Beth Czerwony, sea moss’ high fiber levels keeps you satiated for longer. A fibrous diet also ensures a healthy gut with more regular bowel movements.
Improves thyroid health
As previously mentioned, women might benefit from sea moss iodine for improved thyroid function. About 70% of women with an overactive thyroid have Graves’ disease, which causes irregular menstruation, fatigue, and insomnia. Conversely, hypothyroidism could lead to depression and weight struggles.
Green and red seaweed may not have enough iodine uptake to meet the daily requirement. Too much is also inadvisable for pregnant women. However, supplementing with sea moss may boost levels and help you feel better.
Read more about the benefits of sea moss powder.
Using sea moss in recipes can be another step toward healthier living
You might not consider sea moss your go-to weekday meal, but it provides crucial vitamins and minerals that support healthier living. Although it’s a seemingly unlikely ingredient to add to your cooking, sea moss could become one food you can’t live without.
If you enjoyed this article, learn more about what superfoods are and whether olives or fermented foods can be considered superfoods. You might also want to read about other plant-based superfoods and supplements, such as cacao, pili nuts, ashwagandha, sacha inchi, golden berries, and golden milk.
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