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.
Nika wrote on May 14, 2013
After all that, why would you put it on your face?! Your skin absorbs chemicals too
Michelle wrote on December 14, 2014
Good point Nika!
I just purchased a huge box of Sea Moss, it arrived yesterday. Now I read this alarming information.
lucy wrote on April 19, 2013
I just starting ready about irish moss. Saw the recipe for the raw lemon cake and know that the irish moss was replaced but can’t figure out with what it was replaced.
What would you use in place of irish moss to keep a recipe raw? Thanks. Lucy
Annette wrote on April 15, 2013
I found this article and the comments to be very interesting. I don’t have an optinion yet one way or the other – still in the information gathering stage. I would like to know from those that eat it, is there a taste to it? Any type of ‘fishey’ taste?
blondie wrote on November 2, 2014
Annette, I did not know Irish Moss could be eaten raw. It is boiled with other ingredients such as linseed to make a delicious drink which has always been lauded as a healthy booster. As a matter of fact, I made some last night.
Megan wrote on April 7, 2013
Lard is healthy-when it is from pastured pigs. It is an excellent source of vitamin D and its ratio of unsaturated to saturated fats is in between that of butter and olive oil, butter being on the high end of course.
Susan wrote on April 7, 2013
You may not be aware, but this is a raw / vegan blog. Lard is not something I think is healthy for either people or the pigs.
Blondie wrote on November 2, 2014
Why is Irish Moss considered ‘raw food’ when it is boiled out thoroughly.
melody wrote on September 28, 2015
You shouldn’t boil it. I don’t. I soak over night. You lose it’s minerals if you boil. Don’t boil.
Susan wrote on November 3, 2014
I believe that the Irish Moss that we use is a dried form. Not boiled.
Mitradeva wrote on April 6, 2013
Susan, are You aware, that Mark Kastel, co-founder of Cornucopia Institue, according to his own words, has been focusing on the support of dairy production and markering for almost 20 years, prior to Cornucopia? And that in the article, You have been promoting in Your link, they not only strongly argue against carrageean – quoting Dr. Tobacman-, but also suggest to replace products containing carrageean wth dairy? On their replacement list, the very first point are dairy products.
Susan wrote on April 7, 2013
I do not agree with replacing irish moss with dairy but they did have quite a few good points on carrageenan.
Di wrote on March 26, 2013
I just wanted to add to this tirade against carrageen moss( the way it’s calledin Ireland) that my mother in law was born and brought up in Gallway, Ireland where her grandmother fed her carrageen moss all the time, they gave it to poorly animals to get them to feed normally and used it as fertiliser, they made potions to rid of skin acne and strengthen the body. I do agree, that Irish people pick it, leave it on the rock to dry and bleach and then soack it in water before boiling it in water, or milk to make jellie or to drink it with lemon and honey, they don’ consume powder of it. So there, this seaweed has been in the traditions of the Irish people for centuries, and now it’ s gone viral in the vegan/ raw/ live well communities, and of course there will be someone who has researched it and says it might kill you. You don’t eat carrageen every day, the same way you don’t overdose vitamins, you don’ drink too much water, but just enough, everything has to be in moderation, otherwise it becomes poison.Oxygen can kill you if you take too much of it. So, please, you have made your choice, don’t preach it as if it’s the ultimate truth. For the record, I do not produce carrageen products, nor have I ever purchase them, I stick to the parcel of carrageen from Crossmolina every so often. Thank you for the information, but leave the people to decide for themselves based on the information provided, or what will call an informed decision. I live in the UK.
Susan wrote on March 26, 2013
Tirade? If I come across information that I believe will help people make healthy decisions about how and what they eat I will write about it on my blog. Everyone should make their own decisions. My Grandmother cooked a lot with lard. Does that mean it’s healthy? You are certainly free to do as you wish. I will not stop bringing pertinent information to my readers. They are intelligent enough to make up their own minds as to how they use that information.
Mandy wrote on March 24, 2013
You still have Irish Moss Flakes for sale in your shop?
Are the flakes OK, or is that an oversight?
Thanks!
Susan wrote on March 24, 2013
Thanks for letting me know, that was an oversight.
clarissa wrote on March 9, 2013
I agree with your comment Susan, Thanks for sharing. I had heard some controversy on this in the past and I appreciate your blog about this and your findings from your source. I would just rather air on the side of caution with this one until I hear more. Been there done that with IBS. I have not had a problem in years with it. Thanks!
Carolyn wrote on February 26, 2013
Carrageenan made me sick for years. Its horrible and very hard to identify it as the culprit. Once I eliminated it totally, the gastric distress stopped. Disgusting symptoms from foods containing Carrageenan and its difficult to avoid since its in a very wide range of foods. Avoid Carrageenan! Thanks for your article!!