May 29, 2023

Sea Moss & Gut Health: Exploring the Connection

Overview

A lot of chatter about sea moss in recent years has been about the minerals and vitamins found in this algae. The role of these minerals and algae in improving human health has been discussed widely. But did you know that sea moss has the potential to modulate gut health through its probiotic properties? If you are looking for more about this lesser-known aspect of scintillating sea moss, you have landed on the right page. We will give you a snapshot of the connection between sea moss and gut health.

Gut Microbiota and Gut Health: The Link

What is gut microbiota? The term describes trillions of microorganisms that reside in our gastrointestinal tract. These organisms include bacteria, viruses, fungi, and microbes of other nature. The role of these microbes in maintaining overall health is a crucial one. From influencing the digestive processes to improving nutrient absorption, from enhancing immune function to promoting mental well-being, the gut microbiota has a vital role in maintaining optimal health.

Sea Moss As A Prebiotic

Let us first define what prebiotics are. Well, prebiotics is non-digestible dietary fibers by nature. Dietary fibers have the potential to selectively promote the growth and activity of gut microbiota. We have mentioned earlier that sea moss is often recognized for its mineral content. But did you know it also contains a significant amount of dietary fiber? Dietary fiber, as we said earlier, can act as a prebiotic. It mainly consists of carrageenan and certain other polysaccharides. The dietary fiber can reach the colon intact, nourishing the gut microbiota.

Modulation of Gut Health

The following points illuminate the importance of sea moss in the modulation of gut health more clearly:

From promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria, sea moss can also influence the overall composition of the gut microbiota.
Sea moss can restore the microbial balance in individuals who suffer from dysbiosis. This refers to an imbalance of gut bacteria linked with certain digestive issues.
Courtesy of gut microbiota modulation, the sea can improve gut health and prevent or manage conditions. These conditions include irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Gut health is a research topic that is expanding beyond digestion. Recently, the gut-brain axis has gained significant attention from the guys in the white coats. And as one would have hoped, the emerging evidence points toward the direction that the gut microbiota can even help with conditions such as anxiety and depression.

So, all you have to do is pay a little trip to the Herbal Vineyard and purchase high-quality sea moss products; what do you think?

References

Lomartire S, Marques JC, Gonçalves AMM. An Overview to the Health Benefits of Seaweeds Consumption. Mar Drugs. 2021 Jun 15;19(6):341. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8232781/

Liu J, Kandasamy S, Zhang J, Kirby CW, Karakach T, Hafting J, Critchley AT, Evans F, Prithiviraj B. Prebiotic effects of diet supplemented with the cultivated red seaweed Chondrus crispus or with fructo-oligo-saccharide on host immunity, colonic microbiota and gut microbial metabolites. BMC Complement Altern Med. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26271359/

Rajapakse N, Kim SK. Nutritional and digestive health benefits of seaweed. Adv Food Nutr Res. 2011;64:17-28. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-387669-0.00002-8. PMID: 22054935. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22054935/