March 11, 2024

Can Sea Moss Aid Weight Loss?

Sea moss has gained quite a reputation among health enthusiasts as being the ultimate superfood. Apart from managing skin, heart, and metabolic conditions, this red alga is also believed to aid weight loss.

This is because sea moss is extremely low in calories a single serving of sea moss (2 tablespoons: 10 grams) is only five calories and contains only one gram of carbohydrates. In addition, sea moss is rich in various nutrients, minerals, and vitamins, making it a complete source of nutrition.

In today’s blog, we’ll explore how sea moss can contribute to weight loss and help you maintain a healthy and well-nourished lifestyle.

How Sea Moss Can Help You Lose Weight

Sea moss helps regulate appetite, stimulate fat metabolism, and modify gut bacteria. And all this is accomplished by one compound: Carrageenan.

Promotes Feelings of Fullness

Ingesting soluble fibers has been associated with lowering body weight. Sea moss is rich in the soluble fiber Carrageenan which is also its main bioactive compound.

Soluble fibers absorb water and form a gel-like substance in the digestive tract. This increases the speed with which food moves along the tract and delays the emptying of the stomach.

Bottom line: you feel satiated for longer and eat less, eventually leading to weight loss!

Helps Decrease Body Fat

Research in animals shows that Carrageenan might also help reduce body fat by lowering dietary fat absorption and increasing the fat-burning capacity of brown fat tissue.

Moreover, Carrageenan also increases the metabolism of stored fat and reduces the development of new fat cells. All these properties help get rid of excess body fat and can help achieve healthy body fat.

A 12-week study involving 78 obese adults showed that 1000 mg of red seaweed extract supplement per day significantly lowered both body weight and total body fat. However, more human studies are required to confirm these findings.

Supports the Growth of Healthy Gut Bacteria

As you may know, prebiotics are fibers that support and promote the growth of your gut’s microbiota (friendly gut bacteria). It’s been established that the composition of gut microbiota is associated with obesity since the former helps regulate energy expenditure and storage.

Studies on Carrageenan show that the compound might help improve the microbiota’s composition. Research on animals demonstrates that this soluble fiber promotes the growth of beneficial gut bacteria, reduces harmful bacteria associated with gastric disturbances and ailments, and improves overall metabolism.

Final Thoughts

Although more human studies are required to conclusively establish the benefits of supplementing sea moss for weight loss, current research shows promising results. So, consult your health practitioner and add sea moss to your diet today!

If you’re looking for gels, capsules, and powders sourced from the best sea moss, visit our online shop and look through our amazing variety of products.

References

Kristensen M, Jensen MG. Dietary fibres in the regulation of appetite and food intake. Importance of viscosity. Appetite. 2011 Feb;56(1):65-70. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21115081/

Gómez-Zorita S, González-Arceo M, Trepiana J, Eseberri I, Fernández-Quintela A, Milton-Laskibar I, Aguirre L, González M, Portillo MP. Anti-Obesity Effects of Macroalgae. Nutrients. 2020 Aug 8;12(8):2378. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7469045/

Slavin J. Fiber and prebiotics: mechanisms and health benefits. Nutrients. 2013 Apr 22;5(4):1417-35. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23609775/

Cherry P, Yadav S, Strain CR, Allsopp PJ, McSorley EM, Ross RP, Stanton C. Prebiotics from Seaweeds: An Ocean of Opportunity? Mar Drugs. 2019 Jun 1;17(6):327. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6627129/