Irish Moss Health Concerns
Go figure, I finally jump onto the Irish Moss train, which has been touted as a super food in the raw food community for years, only to wake up to a weekly email in my in-box from Dr. Andrew Weil warning about the dangers of carrageenan. What does this have to do with Irish Moss? Carrageenan is extracted from Irish Moss.
Alarmed, I started digging and emailing. I even went to the woman who is considered to be the one of the top experts in carrageenan research, Dr. Joanne Tobacman of the University of Illinois. Dr. Tobacman has been studying the effects of carrageenan for over a decade.
It seems that carrageenan can cause inflammation (one of our greatest enemies) and intestinal distress. Even more alarming, when carrageenan is extracted from the irish moss, this form of carrageenan has been associated with human cancers.
But wait, haven’t we all read about the wonderful health benefits of Irish Moss? Isn’t it supposed to be great for us? I wondered if there was a difference between consuming Irish Moss in it’s whole form vs an extraction, the carrageenan.
I asked Dr. Tobacman if we needed to be concerned with consuming Irish Moss in it’s whole form. While the extraction is the most dangerous form (and widely found in many organic and non-organic products for sale), Dr. Tobacman stated, “When we tested Irish moss, we found that it also caused inflammation, similar to the effect of the derived carrageenan. The degree of inflammation was less, probably due to reduced availability of the carrageenan, due to the other ingredients in the seaweed. The answer to your question is yes, I think that Irish moss should be avoided, due to the likelihood that the carrageenan in the Irish moss will lead to inflammation.”
So there you have it. Armed with that information, you will not see Irish Moss used in any more recipes designated for consumption on this website. I am also redoing the Lemon Raspberry Souffle Tart that I published last week, replacing Irish Moss on the ingredient list.
Because of the prevalence of carrageenan in so many of the products that we use, including many organic varieties, I am including some links that I think are important for you to visit to educate yourselves on this dangerous food additive.
Dr. Tobacman’s studies can be viewed here: Studies on Carrageenan (these are published medical studies)
Another excellent, easier to read article by Rodal Press: Carrageenan, The Natural Ingredient that is Wrecking Your Gut
From the Cornucopia Institute: Carrageenan: Linked to Gastrointestinal Inflammation and Colon Cancer This article also discusses the attempts to get carrageenan removed from organic foods and the push-back the ensued.
After researching, reading and communicating with Dr. Tobacman, I would suggest that you remove Irish Moss from your raw food pantry and also make sure you look for carrageenan on your food labels and avoid it. Cornucopia has compiled a list of food producers that use carrageenan and those who don’t. You can find that list here: Shopping Guide to Avoid Carrageenan.
mike smith wrote on April 5, 2015
hello! i don’t think the information is correct do they have medical results based on what they are saying?
Seaweed gelatin from Irish Moss (red algae): agar and carrageenan
it is a Pain reliever and anti-inflammatory. For pain and inflammation. Good for headaches.
Increases immune function, and increases production of RBC. Good for anemia and leukemia.
Increases stem cell production. Repairs tissue and organ damage. Recommended for brain damage and spinal cord damage. And also good for bone and joint damage.
Seaweed gelatin may also improve vision.
Seaweed gelatin (agar) increases growth of stem cells. Increases stem cell production. And regenerates tissue and organs. Useful in the treatment of all diseases and injuries, including heart disease, cancer, Alzheimers and Parkinsons disease. Repairs heart damage, and repairs cancer damage. it Helps to reduce cancer, and restore health.
it is a bit odd that they are saying it is inflamatory
Susan wrote on April 7, 2015
Hi, Mike, Yes…all of the studies are linked to in the article.
Margaret wrote on March 21, 2015
I am Irish, living in Ireland, have eaten Carrageen most of my life with no bad side effects at all. I am now in my mid fifties.
I am very surprised at your writings about Carrageen causing cancer???? I think this is a huge generalisation. To be honest every week we read about another food or another product causing cancer. This could be said about any food taken in excess….. toast, red meat, sugar, food with preservatives. There is a huge amount of scaremongering these days and everyone is terrified of some new scientific report and terrified of trusting foods that their parents were reared on and lived long healthy lives eating. I am vegetarian and am very careful about eating foods that are produced with as little intervention as possible and as few air miles as possible. I will continue eating Irish carrageen moss as my mother did all her long life.
silver wrote on March 22, 2015
Margaret…how do you prepare and eat your Irish moss? Where do you get yours?
mike smith wrote on April 5, 2015
i think the doctor who published the researched was perhaps bribed by pharmaceuticals companies to say that for conflict of interest reasons. i read research which says the opposite.
Susan wrote on April 7, 2015
Hi, Mike, The researcher who has done these studies has dedicated over 12 years of her life to her research. The studies are linked to.
Foxie wrote on March 4, 2015
Hi Susan, I appreciate you and enjoy your blog and recipes. Although it doesn’t appear that your efforts are met with much appreciation, I think it’s awesome that you research and alert people to the potential harmfulness of any ingredient. It’s sad that you’re heckled on your own site when it’s obvious you care and are trying to be helpful. Anyway, I read in your comments that you can substitute Irish Moss with agar agar but what did you use as a substitute in your ‘lemon raspberry soufflé tart’? Thanks 😀
Susan wrote on March 4, 2015
Hi, Foxie. Thank you for your comment. This has been a hard post. I have even thought of taking it down but honestly, I still stand by what I wrote. The raspberry tart was re-written do you can make it as it is. Cheers!
Karen wrote on February 28, 2015
I enjoyed all of the information on this blog. This is truly what makes a blog. Everyone has an opinion. I like what Susan says “You are welcome to choose whatever you like” and that keeps her in professional charge. I personally have had much healing due to Irish moss being included into my regular diet. I have also had remarkable skin rejuvenation since using it internally and topically. If you are getting high quality irish moss, I think you are safe of the carrageenan being non harmful in its whole form. Apple seeds have cyanid in them, but eating the whole apple is safe.
Kenneth wrote on February 20, 2015
Hi Susan, I assume this only goes for Irish Moss, and not the other seaweeds right? Thank you.
Susan wrote on February 21, 2015
I have only done research with Irish Moss. Cheers!
don wrote on November 9, 2014
I really dont think as one involved in science to tenaciously hold to incomplete research. While i welcome the information on carrageenan, yet what are the levels of inflammation. What part of the body is most susceptible and over what period of use does it occur. Does this new formation out weigh the benefits. So much more research should go into these timely findings before a definitive, conclusive measure is taken.
Susan wrote on November 10, 2014
You are welcome to do what ever you wish! Cheers!
Hester wrote on September 18, 2014
beaսtiful snapshots!
martina wrote on August 24, 2014
irish moss (nee agar agar) has been eaten by the indonesians for centuries. they have only started getting cancer since they stopped using coconut oil and started using the cheap manufactured (cooked, refined, genetically-modified) vegetable and canola oils on the market in all of the tourist areas. i don’t think agar agar is the problem. like others say, it could be the environment, but most importantly it is probably the diet! what else are we eating. i’ll keep using mine altho the last lot i purchased from natural zing was not the same colour, texture or smell as those i purchased prior to 2011.
Kathie chandler wrote on August 16, 2014
I am eating more raw and many recipes call for Irish moss so what can I replace it with?
thank you
Kathie
Susan wrote on August 21, 2014
HI, Kathie, It would depend on each recipe and what Irish Moss does in the recipe. If you aren’t opposed to using something that isn’t 100% raw, you can try agar agar. Cheers!