Seaweed has been a dietary staple in certain seaside countries for centuries. More recently, it’s come into the spotlight stateside as a nutritional powerhouse — it’s loaded with fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins and phytonutrients.Seaweed comes in many varieties, with perhaps the most ubiquitous being nori, the tasty, paper-thin sheets that join together maki sushi rolls and hand rolls.
One variety that’s less common but is currentlyfinding its way into more foods和drinks is sea moss. Which begs the question:
什么是海苔？
Sea moss, which also goes by the colloquial name Irish moss and the scientific name软骨crispus, is a type of red algae seaweed that predominantly grows along the northern Atlantic coasts of the United States and Europe. It’s often used to make角叉菜, a common thickening agent in nut milks, yogurt and soup. But it can also be consumed by itself, sometimes soaked to soften it, other times dried or powdered. In Ireland and Scotland, sea moss is used to make a sweetened milk-based drink, and others add it to smoothies for a quick nutritional punch.
海苔的潜在健康益处
“This variety of seaweed is particularly rich in minerals and antioxidants,” saysAmy Goodson, MS, RD。“它可以帮助刺激健康的消化并缓解感冒和流感的症状。”她还指出，海苔是氯化钾的良好来源，氯化钾是一种营养素，有助于溶解粘膜中的炎症和痰液，这可能导致充血。铁，锌和magnesium。
One promising加拿大研究显示海苔藓可以在防止帕金森氏病中发挥神经保护作用。作者发现，除了将其作为功能性食品的应用外，Chondrus crispus还可以用作抗神经退行性药物不人道。
According to the 2017 book“Nutrition and Functional Foods for Healthy Aging,” sea moss encourages cell growth and metabolism and protects the skin. More specifically, “it releases arginine and citrulline, amino acids that are important sources of nitrogen and essential for protein and collagen synthesis.” This one-two punch acts as a skin protector against harsh weather and pollution, and may also assist with wound healing.
Another studylooked at theprebiotic effectsof supplementing a diet with sea moss, finding it can positively influence gut microbial communities, overall gut health and the immune system.
Anecdotally, consumers and natural health food companies claim sea moss can increase energy and boost mental clarity. However, Goodson points out that research on sea moss is relatively lacking, especially compared to other more popular seaweeds, so it’s best to take a few of the purported claims with a grain of salt — at least for now.
HOW TO ADD SEA MOSS TO YOUR DIET
If you want to bring some sea moss into your life, it’s easy enough to find online and at health food stores. When packaged, it typically comes in powdered form, which makes it a convenient addition to foods and drinks. Or blend it with water or milk for a traditional Irish tea.
If you’d like to start with the raw ingredient, you just need to give it a little extra attention. “The first step is to soak it,” says Goodson. “It will become a gelatin-like substance that can then be used in smoothies and soups.” Try it for yourself, and you’ll quickly fortify your diet with an extra dash of vitamins and minerals.
