One of the main reasons that sea moss has become so popular is its amazing ability to treat thyroid problems. In fact, thyroid and hormone regulation are at the very core of sea moss’ health benefits. The majority of the other positive effects it has on the human body are derivative of that initial impact.
That’s not to say sea moss doesn’t have a myriad of entirely separate health benefits too; it really does! It can help prevent hair loss, promote hair growth, improve your skin’s elasticity and keep you looking young; it can even improve your respiratory health, making it a great supplement when recovering from an illness or if you're trying to give up smoking.
But, I’m getting ahead of myself here. Let’s discuss how exactly it can help in treating thyroid problems.
One of the reasons sea moss is so good for soothing a malfunctioning thyroid gland is that it has a large DI-Iodothyronine (DIT) content. DIT is what’s known as a thyroid hormone precursor.
Simply put, that means when it works its way into our system, it’s converted into thyroid hormones, namely, Thyroxine (T4) and Triiodothyronine (T3). These thyroid hormones regulate the pace at which the cells in your body function. Essentially, they kick your whole system into 5th gear!
DIT forms these essential hormones by coupling with Monoiodotyrosine (MIT), but here’s the thing, before the DIT even works its magic, brown sea moss is already depositing plenty of T4 and T3 into your system. They’re the naturally occurring compounds of its remarkably high iodine content...amazing, ay?
However, although sea moss is fantastic for giving your thyroid some support, you should never consume too much of it. Yes, our bodies need iodine, but much like anything else, moderation is key. You should only ever have a quarter cup of sea moss gel a day as too much iodine in our systems becomes toxic, possibly leading to a myriad of serious health issues.
Can Sea Moss Balance Hormones?
Sea moss can indeed help to balance hormones. The precursors it introduces to your system couple with the disproportionate amount of a certain one that your body is producing, bringing a bit of much-needed equilibrium to your biological equation.
Once your hormones are in check, you’ll notice that a lot of things fall naturally into place. You’ll find it’s easier to maintain a healthy and responsible diet, your digestive health will vastly improve, and thanks to the high taurine content, it can help you burn fat when you exercise.
Sea moss essentially offers a leg up for getting fit and healthy. It helps to prepare your body for action, and once you’re up and running, your hormone levels continue to balance and improve.
Sea moss is such a powerful supplement for treating hormone imbalance, it’s often used by women going through menopause in order to boost their estrogen levels and relieve the physical symptoms of the biological process. It boosts your mood, helps reduce anxiety, reduces cholesterol, and fortifies the immune system.
Can You Take Sea Moss With Hyperthyroidism?
If you suffer from hyperthyroidism, you should definitely avoid sea moss, as an overactive thyroid is often caused by an abnormally high iodine level in the body. In fact, the best preliminary way to reduce the effects of this ailment is to make drastic cuts to your iodine intake.
If you’ve visited your doctor about your condition, there’s a good chance they’ve already prescribed a low-iodine diet. This is to both alleviate symptoms and prepare you for medical treatment.
Bear in mind that avoiding sea moss gel may not be as easy as not using it yourself. Often stirred into soups and sauces to thicken them up, it may be used in restaurants you frequent, so always ask about the ingredients before ordering. Known informally as vegan gelatin, it’s most commonly used in vegan eateries, so if you have a cruelty-free diet, good job, but be sure to take extra care when eating out.
Normally, after dietary regulation, the first step in treating hyperthyroidism is a course of antithyroid drugs that work to reduce the size of the thyroid gland and limit hormone production. Ideally, this solves most of the problems, but in some cases, severe illness can persist.
A doctor may then recommend the use of radioactive iodine. You can think of this as the Trojan Horse of hyperthyroidism treatment. The tainted iodine is introduced into your system as normal, follows standard protocol, but when it reaches your thyroid, instead of coupling with cells to form new hormones, it kills them.
Even if you have a perfectly healthy thyroid, limiting your sea moss consumption is absolutely essential - everything in moderation. A tablespoon of sea moss gel in a cup of tea in the morning and one in the evening is all anyone could ever need to see some major health benefits.
Ignoring advice, and consuming more than your daily requirement can lead to the development of hyperthyroidism or even eventually thyroid cancer.
Is Sea Moss Good for Hypothyroidism?
Here’s where sea moss can really help. If you have an underactive thyroid, the hormones sea moss helps to balance and boost can have a massively beneficial impact on your metabolism and digestive health.
What’s more, it can help regulate your appetite, so if you're really struggling to work up the energy to eat, it will stoke the embers in your belly, and encourage you to have a bite.
The most common cause of hypothyroidism is simply severe iodine deficiency, and as you know by now, sea moss is practically exploding with the stuff. Adding a spoon or two to your daily diet will almost certainly ease your suffering.
However, while sea moss can definitely help reduce the effects of hypothyroidism, you should still always stick to suggested daily portion sizes. It’s also important to note that if your doctor has prescribed iodine supplements, you don’t need to consume both the tablets and sea moss. Doing so will likely amount to a dangerous excess of iodine in your system.