Does sea moss make you poop? Gather the facts about this intriguing question by going through the article below.
What is Sea Moss?
Sea moss, known scientifically as Chondrus crispus, is a species of spiny, edible red algae that is found growing along the rocky coast of the Atlantic Ocean bordering Europe and North America. Also known as Irish moss or carrageen moss, it has been used in countries like Ireland, Scotland and
Jamaica as food and folk medicine for hundreds of years. It tends to dissolve in water and has a mucilaginous texture.
It is a popular ingredient in cosmetic products like lotions, soaps, gels and is used as a culinary thickening agent. Sea moss is sold commercially as a dietary supplement and for topical application in tablets, capsules, powder, and gel.
Nutritional Profile
100gms of sea moss contains
- Calories – 49
- Carbohydrate – 12.3g
- Protein – 1.5g
- Vitamins A, B, C, K, E
- Minerals like iron, zinc, calcium, chromium, potassium, sodium.
- Dietary fiber
- Iodine
- Water
- It has antioxidants as well.
Sea moss is a superfood as it is vegan, gluten-free, and full of health-promoting nutrients. It has 92 out of the 102 minerals found in your body. It boosts your immune system, prevents bacterial infections, and helps slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease. Due to the abundance of iodine in sea moss, it effectively maintains thyroid health.
Many people have vouched on sea moss for helping them improve their digestion and reduce weight significantly. Being the superfood that it is, it reduces the incidence of cardiovascular diseases by a large percentage. The folate content in sea moss aids prenatal health and balances blood sugar levels.
Sea Moss for Stomach
When you boil raw or dried sea moss in water, it forms a gel-like substance. You can consume this gel by adding it to smoothies or other food items to help soothe your digestive tract. It dissolves in water and becomes a soluble fiber that keeps you feeling full and adds bulk to your stool, helping in easy excretion. It alleviates acid reflux and gas. Sea moss further acts as a prebiotic, helping sustain good gut bacteria, thereby promoting smooth digestion. Good gut bacteria also help boost your immunity and mood.
Does Sea Moss Make You Poop?
Millions of people around the world suffer from chronic constipation. A sedentary lifestyle and fiber deficient junk foods are mainly responsible for this. Sea moss has a high dietary fiber content that softens your stool, adds bulk to it, and stimulates your intestines to poop quickly and easily.
Sea Moss Dosage
Two tablespoons or 4 to 8 grams of sea moss per day is sufficient to reap its benefits. You can buy sea moss in dried form or as capsules, tablets, or powder. You should soak the dried sea moss in cold water for a full day, and change the water frequently. It doubles in size after soaking and
becomes white and gelatinous. You can then blend it with water to make a thick, light brown liquid.
You can store it for around two weeks in the refrigerator and add to smoothies, soups, stews, stir-fries, rice, and baked goods.
Home Remedies to Relieve Constipation
Other home remedies to make you poop include:
- You should maintain a daily routine of exercises and Yoga so that it helps with your digestion.
- Fiber plays a great role in softening your stool and easy excretion. Therefore, include fiber-rich foods like apples, figs, and leafy vegetables in your diet. You can even take fiber supplements like psyllium.
- Apart from fiber, your body needs water to ease the stool. Dehydration can cause piles and constipation. Hydrate yourself throughout the day by drinking enough fluid.
- Drink ginger tea, diluted lemon juice, hot milk with clarified butter, and senna tea as all of these help with proper digestion.
Precautions
If you are allergic to seafood or have sensitive skin, avoid using sea moss. 4g of sea moss a day is the ideal serving. Excess consumption can affect thyroid functioning, cause goiter, fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and an itchy throat. It could also cause bloating, gas, inflammation, and ulcers because of its high fiber content.
If you suffer from low blood pressure, are on anticoagulant drugs, or suffer from thyroid issues, consult your doctor before consuming sea moss. Sea moss can be contaminated with heavy metals like arsenic, mercury, and lead, which can cause serious health problems. As a result, you should buy sea moss from trusted sources and store it properly.