Is Sea Moss Good for Diabetes? Benefits and Uses

Sea moss is a type of seaweed that is harvested from the ocean. It has been used for centuries in traditional medicine to treat a variety of ailments. Recently, it has gained popularity as a natural treatment for diabetes.

Many people prefer natural remedies since these don’t necessarily come with side effects. Sea moss, in particular, has been found to be effective in managing diabetes by stimulating insulin production. 

This, in turn, can help the body better process glucose. Additionally, it’s a good source of fiber, which can also help regulate blood sugar levels.

Let’s take a closer look at how sea moss can help with diabetes.

What Is Sea Moss?

Sea moss is a type of red algae that grows in the Atlantic Ocean near Ireland and other parts of Europe. It has been used for centuries in traditional medicine to treat various ailments.

This type of algae is rich in nutrients, like iodine, potassium, magnesium, and calcium. It’s often taken as a dietary supplement or added to food and beverages for its health benefits.

One reason sea moss rose to popularity is that it’s a vegan and gluten-free source of vitamins and minerals, like natural zinc. As such, many people can add it to their diets without having to worry about any adverse effects.

It’s good to note that a serving of sea moss is just two tablespoons. If you eat too much sea moss, you might have an upset stomach.

How Does Sea Moss Help With Diabetes?

As mentioned, sea moss is jam-packed with nutrients, like natural zinc. Its high vitamin and mineral level can keep your body healthy and prevent chronic illnesses like diabetes. Let’s go over some of the ways sea moss can help with diabetes:

#1 High iodine content

Sea moss is believed to be beneficial for diabetes because it’s a source of natural iodine. It can contain about 47mg of iodine per gram.

Iodine is an essential mineral for the regulation of thyroid hormone levels, which play a role in regulating metabolism. A lack of iodine can lead to an enlarged thyroid gland (goiter), as well as weight gain and fatigue.

A healthy metabolism is important for people with diabetes as it helps regulate blood glucose levels. Consuming sea moss daily can keep your thyroid gland in tip-top shape.

#2 Contains magnesium

Magnesium is a crucial mineral to include in your daily intake. It’s useful for many functions in the body, including helping regulate blood sugar levels. A lack of magnesium can actually lead to type 2 diabetes, so getting enough in your diet is essential.

A 2020 research found that people who had the highest regular intake of magnesium had a significantly lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes, which is caused by insulin resistance. Maintaining magnesium levels could be a key strategy in the prevention of this chronic illness.

A 10g serving of sea moss has 14.4mg of magnesium. As such, it’s a good dietary source of this mineral.

#3 Helps to control glucose levels

This seafood is also good for your health because it contains another compound called alginic acid, which has been shown to help lower blood sugar levels. This acid is prevalent in seaweeds, such as sea moss, which help control the absorption of glucose in the intestine and boost insulin response.

Fucoxanthin is another compound in these algae that could facilitate better blood sugar control. A study in rats with diabetes found that the compound resulted in better blood sugar levels in the animals.

These effects were likely due to fucoxanthin’s ability to decrease fat accumulation and improve the function of enzymes involved in glucose metabolism. It’s thought that the compounds in sea moss that improve glucose metabolism are fucoxanthin and alginic acid.

Although these effects haven’t been proven on humans, it’s a good indication that sea moss may have a similar effect on the human body. 

#4 Improves insulin sensitivity

Insulin resistance is one of the significant challenges that come with diabetes. When your body becomes resistant to insulin, it can no longer effectively use this hormone to regulate blood glucose levels. 

As a result, blood sugar levels can become erratic, and you may experience spikes and crashes in energy levels throughout the day.

Sea moss can help improve insulin sensitivity through its high concentration of iodine. As mentioned, iodine is a key element in the regulation of thyroid hormone levels, which play a role in improving a slow metabolism. 

By improving metabolism and insulin sensitivity, sea moss can help keep blood sugar levels more stable, providing you with more consistent energy levels throughout the day.

The other vitamins, minerals, and compounds in sea moss, such as magnesium, fucoxanthin, and alginic acid, work together to further improve insulin sensitivity and help regulate blood sugar levels.

3 Health Benefits of Sea Moss for Diabetes

Aside from helping treat diabetes, sea moss also offers other health benefits, such as:

#1 Promotes a healthy thyroid

Sea moss’ relatively high iodine content can also be crucial to keeping your thyroid healthy. Iodine is a key mineral needed by the thyroid gland to produce hormones that regulate metabolism.

It’s also believed that iodine deficiency can lead to hypothyroidism, which can, in turn, cause weight gain, fatigue, and depression.

Moreover, it’s a source of natural iodine, so it’s less likely to cause the side effects associated with iodine supplements, such as gastrointestinal distress.

#2 Good for heart health

Sea moss also contains a type of fiber known as pectin. Pectin has been shown to lower cholesterol levels and improve heart health. 

Pectin is a type of soluble fiber that can reduce cholesterol levels by binding to cholesterol molecules and carrying them out of the body. It’s also thought to improve heart health by reducing inflammation and helping prevent atherosclerosis or the hardening of the arteries.

In one study, it was found that dietary fibers, like pectin, resulted in a delay in the absorption of glucose and fatty acids from the lower intestine. Pectin consumption has also been proven to slightly reduce blood low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels.

#3 Helps to maintain a healthy weight

Lastly, sea moss can help people with diabetes maintain a healthy weight. This is because it’s very low in calories and fat while being high in fiber.

Fiber helps keep us feeling full after eating, which can prevent overeating and boost slow metabolism. It also helps regulate blood sugar levels, which is important for people with diabetes.

Unexpected weight loss is a common symptom of type 1 diabetes. This is because the body cannot use glucose for energy, so it starts to break down fat and muscle for energy instead. This can lead to weight loss, even if a person is eating the same amount of food as before.

Type 2 diabetes can also lead to weight loss, although it’s more likely to cause weight gain. This is because insulin resistance can lead to the body storing more fat. 

Sea moss can help regulate blood sugar levels, which may help prevent weight problems in people with type 2 diabetes.

FAQs

Conclusion

Sea moss is a great addition to any diet, especially for people with diabetes. You can incorporate it into your daily consumption through soups, smoothies, or even just by taking a supplement. Its most popular form is sea moss gel, which can be easily added to any food or beverage, or you can also opt for raw sea moss.