Sea moss, botanically Chondrus crispus, is a red alga from the cool coastal waters of the North Atlantic. In Ireland it is called Irish moss and has traditionally been boiled into a gelling decoction – the origin of carrageenan, which you now find listed as a thickener on ingredient lists. This article explains what the alga is, where it comes from and what to watch for in its iodine content.
What Irish moss is
Chondrus crispus grows on rocks in the intertidal zone, above all along the coasts of Ireland, Brittany, Iceland and the Canadian Atlantic provinces. It is harvested by hand or with rakes, washed and dried. It naturally contains polysaccharides, minerals and trace elements; the amounts depend heavily on the site and the time of harvest.
Iodine: where precision matters
Seaweeds contain iodine, sometimes in substantial and widely varying amounts. Iodine is an essential nutrient – the thyroid needs it to produce hormones. But too much is no more desirable than too little, and the content in seaweed varies by orders of magnitude depending on species, site and harvest time. Brown algae such as kelp generally contain far more iodine than red algae. So with any seaweed product: stick to the stated daily intake. If you have a thyroid condition or take thyroid medication, speak to your doctor first.
Our sea moss
The Organic Sea Moss is milled, dried Irish moss in plant-based capsules – from certified organic sourcing, without fillers. The capsule saves you the soaking and boiling of dried seaweed that the traditional preparation requires.
The other algae in the range
Alongside Irish moss we carry spirulina and chlorella as freshwater algae, the blue spirulina extract powder containing the pigment phycocyanin, and the Rosita 5-algae blend from the Scottish North Atlantic – more on that in Seaweed from the North Atlantic. It is all listed together under Algae.
Note
Food supplements are not a substitute for a varied diet. Do not exceed the stated daily intake. If you have a thyroid condition, are pregnant or breastfeeding or take medication, seek medical advice before use.
