What are Irish moss benefits and side effects every ethical consumer must know? Is Irish moss vegan? Good for you? Sustainable? Food you should buy organic and fair trade? Here are Irish moss pros and cons…
Food is something we consume every day. If you’re like me, you do all the research you can to make sure you don’t hurt yourself, the planet, animals or others when shopping. As an ethical consumer myself, I am giving you all the info I’ve found on Irish moss benefits and side effects.
You are going to learn all about Irish moss benefits and side effects. This will include Irish moss benefits for your health and potential risks, Irish moss water footprint and carbon footprint, sustainability, if Irish moss is vegan or impact animals in other ways, and much more.
After learning if Irish moss are good or bad for you, the environment, animals and human rights, you will be able to make the best choices you can the next time you buy food.
This post is all about Irish moss benefits and side effects that every ethical consumer should know.
Irish Moss Benefits and Side Effects
HEALTH
Irish moss benefits include:
- better digestion
- boosted energy levels
- emotional health
- improved mood
- increased male libido
- hormone regulation
- thyroid function
- treat congestion and mucus
- boosted immunity
- detoxification
- gut health
- moisturize dry skin, treat eczema to psoriasis (when applied topically)
Additionally, Irish moss is…
- Alkaline 9.0 pH level once digested
- Gluten free
- Not a common food allergen
- Note: Carrageenan (a chemically processed ingredient) is different than sea moss, carrageenan is a thickening agent that can be found in dairy and milk alternative products, carrageenan is said to cause inflammation and was labeled as a possible human carcinogen, by the International Agency for Research on Cancer
ENVIRONMENT
Water footprint: likely low
Carbon footprint: likely low
Destruction: low, irish moss production is relatively sustainable, there is no known significant damage to air, water, land, soil, forests, etc. as long as pesticides have not been used, be sure to buy Non-GMO/organic, as toxic, chemical pesticides contaminate air, water, soil, etc.
Irish moss is…
- Sustainable
ANIMALS
Animals killed:
none, irish moss production does not require any animals to be killed
Animals harmed:
none, irish moss production does not require any animals to be used
Animals indirectly killed or harmed:
none, no animals are indirectly killed or harmed from irish moss production as long as toxic chemicals have not been used, be sure to buy Non-GMO/organic, as pesticides harm and kill wildlife and ecosystems by contaminating soil, water, air and plants that animals eat
Irish moss is…
- Vegan
- Harmful to wildlife and ecosystems unless organic
LABORERS
Health and safety: varies, overall, agriculture continues to be one of the most dangerous industries, farmworkers may be subject to dehydration, heat stroke, unprotected exposure to harmful, toxic chemicals and pesticides, unsafe machinery and clean drinking water may not always accessible
Living conditions: varies, laborers are often exploited, they may face tough working conditions including long hours in the sun and heat performing physically exhausting tasks, labor laws and rights may or may not be in place, even if worker protection exists, employer violations may go unreported, refugees and migrant workers are especially vulnerable to abuse and mistreatment, fearing consequences of job loss or deportation
Wages: varies, generally farmworkers earn meager wages, there are many cases of underpaid agricultural workers, wage theft and no overtime payment or benefits
Irish moss…
- May have labor issues
Where does most Irish moss come from?
Irish sea moss is common all around the shores of Ireland and along the coast of Europe including Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Baltic Sea, southern Spain. Irish moss is on the Atlantic coasts of Canada and can be located from California in the United States all the way to Japan.
Is Irish moss nutritious?
Yes! Irish sea moss contains high amounts of certain nutrients, including folate, vitamin K, iron, iodine, magnesium and calcium.
Is Irish moss alkaline or acidic?
Irish moss is alkaline. What is the pH level of Irish moss? Irish moss has a 9.0 pH level once digested. Sea vegetables are an alkaline food group.
When you eat food, it breaks down to an ash residue that can be neutral, acidic or alkaline. Minerals such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, zinc, silver, copper and iron produce an alkaline ash; whereas sulfur, phosphorus, chlorine and iodine, which are in meat, coffee, dairy and alcohol, leave an acid ash.
Going alkaline easier than ever with this: Acidic and Alkaline Foods List
Is Irish moss gluten free?
Yes, Irish moss is naturally gluten free food.
While celiac disease may not be as rampant as many marketing trends lead us to believe, you may have a gluten sensitivity…
Celiac and gluten sensitivity symptoms are similar and may include:
- recurring abdominal pain
- chronic diarrhea
- constipation
- tingling
- numbness in hands and feet
- chronic fatigue
- joint pain
- unexplained infertility
- low bone density (osteopenia or osteoporosis)
There are hundreds of potential symptoms, many of which are also symptoms of other conditions.
Going gluten-free easier than ever with this: Gluten and Gluten Free Foods List
Is Irish moss a common food allergen?
No, Irish moss is not a common food allergen. Some people may experience allergic reactions to Irish moss but it is relatively rare by comparison.
A group of the eight major allergenic foods, AKA the Big-8, include:
- milk
- eggs
- fish
- crustacean shellfish
- tree nuts
- peanuts
- wheat
- soybeans
These foods account for about 90% of all food allergies in the United States.
Severe food allergies can be life threatening. Following ingestion of a food allergen, a person with food allergies can experience a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis.
Persons may still be allergic to and have serious reactions to foods other than the eight foods identified by the law.
Be aware of common dietary restrictions and food allergens with this: The Big 8 Most Common Food Allergens List
Is Irish moss sustainable?
Yes, Irish moss production is relatively sustainable since there is no significant damage to air, water, land, soil, forests, etc. as long as pesticides have not been used. Be sure to buy non GMO/organic, as toxic, chemical pesticides contaminate air, water, soil, etc. when using regenerative practices.
A 2018 Oxford University study – which is the most comprehensive analysis to date of the damage farming does to the planet – found that ‘avoiding meat and dairy is the single biggest way to reduce your impact on Earth’ as animal farming provides just 18% of calories but takes up 83% of our farmland.
Consuming animal products and byproducts is not environmentally friendly and is one of the worst things for the Earth. Not only is meat production wasteful, it causes enormous amounts of pollution. The industry is one of the biggest causes of climate change.
A 2010 United Nations report said that a global shift towards a vegan diet is vital to save the world the worst impacts of climate change.
Read more about ‘What Makes Food Sustainable Or Unsustainable?’
Is Irish moss vegan?
Yes, Irish moss are vegan. Irish moss is a type of red algae and not an animal product or byproduct, therefore making it a vegan food.
Animals of factory farms and the livestock industry are suffering. They live in horrific conditions that often include confinement, physical abuse and unnatural environments…so much so that they need to receive antibiotics to keep from getting ill or spreading disease. They’re also injected with growth hormones to become fatter faster and live short lives, being slaughtered as soon as they finish growing and are killed prematurely, well before their natural lifespan.
Because we cannot see for ourselves how these animals live and what they endure does not mean it isn’t happening. The meat, poultry and dairy industries do everything they can to distance us from knowing how our food comes to be in order to keep us in the dark about what we support each time we buy animal derived products and byproducts.
Go vegan for animals!
It’s the best way to help animals and it’s not as difficult as you may think. Speak for animals with your actions, for they cannot speak at all.
Going vegan is easier than ever, at a glance with this: Vegan and Non-Vegan Foods List
Does Irish moss have human rights issues?
At this time there are no major concerns with Irish moss production but that doesn’t mean it isn’t happening!
It’s important to stay aware of human rights concerns and worker exploitation that may come with specific brands.
Did you know the single largest employer in the world is agriculture? The labor involved behind each and every product cannot go unrecognized.
Sadly, many labor concerns exist around the world in both developed and developing countries. We must be vigilant to ensure what we buy is not contributing to industries that are unfair to their valuable workers. Some known problems include workplace health and safety, child labor, gender inequality, inadequate pay, wage theft and exploitation. Workers can even experience harassment, humiliation and violence and unfair employers often fail to provide laborers with access to shade, drinking water, restrooms and breaks. Consequently, laborers can face nausea, dizziness, heat exhaustion, dehydration and heat stroke -the leading cause of farmworker death!
Such mistreatment is like modern day slavery. Workers are often afraid to report issues because they fear it will result in losing their jobs or deportation.
Fair trade organizations fight to ensure better social, environmental and economic standards.
We can improve people’s lives with foods we eat every day simply by buying products that are certified fair trade.
Be sure to read up on this list of ‘Foods You Should Always Buy Fair Trade‘
This post was all about Irish moss benefits and side effects.
Sources:
Seaweed, irishmoss, raw – FoodData Central
Amino acids, peptides, and proteins of Irish Moss … – PubMed
Marine Plants and Algae – Agricultural Marketing Service
