Sea moss is one of the newest, most exciting new wellness products available on the market today. Here’s a closer look at the potential link between sea moss and menstruation.
But does it have side effects, though?
Can it affect — or even positively regulate — menstruation?
Keep reading to learn more.
What Is Sea Moss?
Sea moss is a naturally-occurring algae.
Sea moss’s official Latin name is Chondrus Crispus, just in case you were wondering.
Sea moss can take on a variety of colors and is often red, purple, or yellow-hued.
It’s found throughout the shores of the Atlantic, spanning from Europe and the US to the Caribbean.
In recent years sea moss has been christened the “superfood of the sea.”
Why?
Because it possesses an incredible number of health benefits.
Proponents say that sea moss can:
- Delay (or even reverse) the aging process
- Promote healthy, glowing skin
- Increase athletic performance
- Regulate hormonal health
- Regulate menstruation
- Improve sexual health
It’s also thought that sea moss can ward off unwanted health conditions.
Proponents say it might:
- Reduce harmful bacteria counts
- Alleviate the symptoms of asthma
- Reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases
What makes sea moss able to confer so many health benefits?
Probably the fact that it’s incredibly high in vitamin A, vitamin C, iodine, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, B vitamins, and a whole slew of other antioxidants.
It may very well be that sea moss fulfills a dietary role that many people aren’t getting. (Source)
In prior articles I’ve taken a look a the best sea moss supplements.
I’ve also dived into sea moss's top benefits for women, where sea moss comes from, and what sea moss tastes like.
In this article, however, I’ll dive a little deeper into a more specific topic: whether or not sea moss affects menstruation.
Sea Moss Fertility
Sea moss is incredibly high in iodine, which means it can provide your body’s thyroid with a much-need boost.
And that means sea moss may address the hormonal imbalances behind infertility.
Sea Moss And PMS
Sea moss may also correct the hormonal dysfunction behind PMS, a condition marked by:
- Headaches
- Mood swings
- Irritable nerves
- Gas and bloating
- Mineral deficiencies
- Muscle/body spasms
- Memory loss/brain fog
PMS is thought to be caused when the thyroid cannot regulate mineral balance.
With each period someone with PMS experiences, a little bit more copper, calcium, and potassium are lost.
These imbalances get more and more severe up until the point of full-fledged PMS.
Sea moss may alleviate PMS from the inside out by restoring thyroid function. (Source)
It can also address things more directly — don’t forget that it contains plenty of minerals! (92 of the body’s 102 essential minerals, to be exact.)
Some sea moss users report:
- Reduced PMS cramping
- Improved menstrual flow
- More regular menstrual cycles
Sea moss also has a more practical benefit: it’s tasteless enough that you can add it to pretty much any dish.
Feel free to mix it into smoothies, stews, soups, homemade treats, or savory dishes!
Sea Moss And Menstruation
Sea moss can assist with menstruation even if you don’t have diagnosable problems like PMS.
It’s thought that regular sea moss consumption shifts hormonal balance into a more favorable state.
The iron, folic acid, zinc, and other nutrients present in sea moss may provide menstruation-relieving benefits.
Does Seaweed Affect Your Period?
It sure could.
Studies show that certain kelps actually mirror aspirin in their ability to relieve pain and discomfort. (Source)
It’s possible that sea moss has similar pain-relieving benefits.
In other good news, it’s unlikely that sea moss might delay your period or otherwise unregulate things.
Sea Moss: Other Benefits
Does sea moss help with other things, you may ask?
It sure can.
Sea moss’s incredible nutrient profile means it may:
- Relieve thyroid-related health conditions (including general ones like weight gain and lethargy)
- Correct hormonal imbalances (particularly sex hormones like testosterone, progesterone, and estrogen)
- Assist the body with pH regulation
- Nourish and moisturize the skin
Hard-training athletes also speak to sea moss’s many benefits.
The same thyroid-boosting iodine that makes sea moss so good for menstrual health makes it a powerful pro-recovery tool!
If you do any of the following sports, sea moss might be great for you:
- Calisthenics
- Bodybuilding
- Powerlifting
- Running
- Cycling
- Hiking
- Triathlon
…And much, much more!
Does Sea Moss Cause Side Effects?
Sea moss does have some potential side effects.
More often than not, these side effects are caused by heavy metal contamination — mercury, lead, arsenic, cadmium, etc. — more so than from the seaweed themselves.
Common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, and an itchy, burning sensation in the mouth.
One should also be careful not to consistently consume too much sea moss, as its iodine content means may lead to temporary hyperthyroidism.
You can avoid sea moss’s side effects by:
- Choosing a premium, organic sea moss product
- Starting off by taking a small serving to ensure you’re not allergic
In other good news, so far, there’s been no positive correlation established between sea moss and:
- Infertility
- Weight gain
- Insulin resistance
- Low testosterone
- Estrogen dominance
- Missed or delayed periods
Sea Moss And Menstruation: Summing Things Up
Do you struggle with PMS, irregular periods, or other menstrual problems?
If so, sea moss might be able to help!
Scientific research and real-world reports testify that sea moss might balance out your hormonal state.
And even if you don’t have menstrual problems, sea moss’s nutrition profile means it may deserve a place in your supplement routine.