Sea moss is a superfood. It’s rich in a wide array of vitamins and minerals, high in fiber, and low in sugar and fat. Studies have also revealed that sea moss can effectively reduce the symptoms of type 2 diabetes.
Found along the coast of the Atlantic in Europe and North America, the red seaweed is mostly made of a jelly-like substance called carrageenan, which can be used as an emulsifier in a wide variety of foods. It’s a highly useful ingredient, and also very nutritious, packing a ton of health benefits, such as:
- Omega-3-fatty acids, which reduce blood pressure, clots, and bad cholesterol. This keeps your heart healthy.
- Antioxidants that fight free radicals, hence lowering the risk of cancer.
- The amino acid taurine, for promoting muscle gain during recovery from a workout.
- Iodine, magnesium, zinc and vitamins that combat diabetic complications.
- Carotenoids such as fucoxanthin, which is suspected to lower blood sugar and improve the response of the body to insulin.
The blood-sugar regulating properties of sea miss make it particularly helpful for people living with diabetes. However, the relationship between sea moss and diabetes is controversial. Does sea moss really help with diabetes?
Sea Moss & Diabetes
Diabetes, which affects over 7 million Americans annually, is more feared than understood. Patients with diabetes are often asked to go on very difficult and expensive diets. Yet, simply consuming a bit of seafood each day can work wonders for diabetic health.
As a fiber-rich food, sea moss supplies essential fiber in people living with diabetes, without considerably increasing their caloric intake. In addition, the fiber content of sea moss lets you feel fuller, and so you are more likely to adopt a weight loss plan to lower your risk of diabetes.
Sea moss, also known as Irish moss (Chondrus crispus) can be obtained as dried leaves or in powdered form. When diabetic patients take small amounts of sea moss in their meals daily, or use it as a supplement, they experience less fluctuation in blood sugar levels and better management of insulin.
The anti-diabetic properties of sea moss have been widely studied and currently attributed to four major reasons.
- The presence of Iodine
- It’s rich reserves of magnesium
- The zinc content
- Vitamins D and B12
1. Sea moss has Iodine
Researchers have found a correlation between thyroid deficiency and diabetes from several studies. The deficiency in production of the thyroid hormone tends to slow down metabolism and increase the body mass index (BMI) – and both of these things increase the risk of diabetes.
Fortunately, taking adequate amounts of iodine resolves all problems associated with slow metabolism. All forms of sea moss are rich in iodine, so taking sea moss regularly is bound to improve thyroid health, and ultimately treat the symptoms of diabetes. The iodine in sea moss is also beneficial for pre-diabetics to meet with their daily iodine requirements for steady thyroid production.
2. Sea moss is rich in Magnesium
Type 2 diabetes has been linked to long term magnesium deficiency. The absence of magnesium in the body causes insulin resistance, which predisposes people to diabetes. But if the level of magnesium increases, the body becomes more sensitive to insulin and diabetes becomes controllable.
This is why magnesium supplements are taken as part of diabetes treatment. Sea moss is a natural alternative to these synthetic drugs. It is even better than most of them, since it often contains more magnesium than the synthetic supplements.
However, it should be noted that supplements based on sea moss are not approved by the FDA, due to the health risks of taking them in excess. Be careful with the amount of sea moss you consume daily, to avoid excessive intake of the active components.
3. Sea moss contains zinc
One of the treatments for diabetes is zinc supplements. There are two reasons for using zinc to manage diabetes.
- First, it aids the synthesis of insulin. Diabetic patients have been found to produce more insulin after zinc was added to their diet. This explains the effectiveness of zinc as a traditional recommendation for managing diabetic symptoms.
- Secondly, zinc lowers blood cholesterol in people living with type 2 diabetes, preventing them from developing complications.
In elderly people who almost always have a zinc deficiency, using zinc supplements can help prevent diabetes from developing. For those who’re already diabetic, zinc can keep the condition under control.
The issue with zinc is that many supplements used don’t add enough to the system. However, sea moss is a completely natural way of getting adequate zinc into the body, without any complications whatsoever. It’s an excellent way to treat both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
4. Sea moss regulates blood glucose
Hyperglycemia, or rising blood sugar, is a characteristic symptom of diabetes. Keeping glucose levels low in the blood is the core of most treatment plans for diabetes.
Two essential vitamins for regulating blood glucose are vitamin B12 and vitamin D.
Diabetes is more common in vegans and vegetarians because it is much more difficult to get vitamin B12 from plant sources than from dairy and animal products. Similarly, elderly people are more prone to diabetes because their bodies find it difficult to absorb vitamin D from the sunlight.
However, sea moss is rich in both vitamins. It also contains carotenoids such as fucoxanthin which specialize in lowering blood sugar and keeping insulin levels manageable. What’s more, sea moss is 100% natural and safe to use as part of your diet.
Get The Benefits
At this point, it should be clear to you that sea moss is not only significant for treating diabetes, but also for preventing it.
You can get sea moss as whole dried leaves, or as a powdered food supplement. You can even use a recipe like this one to create a tasty sea moss meal that you can make part of your routine. Either way you take this amazing superfood, you’re getting a bevy of nutrients and health benefits that synthetic supplements just cannot provide.
Keep in mind that sea moss is not just for diabetes, but for anyone who wants to stay healthy. However, like all foods, it should be taken in moderation to avoid complications due to excessive intake of active minerals, vitamins and antioxidants.
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