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.
Margret K wrote on June 13, 2014
I wonder if it is something as simple as … the Irish have traditionally used Irish Moss safely since like forever true, but because of the world being the way it is today sadly our oceans and waterways are condensed with foreign contaminants, so it is not the Irish Moss itself but an environment factor … fukushima … etc. etc. I do wonder 🙁
Cathal wrote on June 4, 2014
Hi everyone…people will have to make their own minds up on this one. It’s impossible to know the truth of Irish Moss’ potential harm. It may have close to zero potential harm or maybe a much higher potential so it’s wasted energy to argue either way 🙂 The studies seem to be confusing the issue, the whole form of the moss could be perfectly fine or maybe not, the processed extract form may well be harmful, it seems that’s all we can say for the moment. The one thing to learn though is that a blog has the potential to influence people who read it so the onus is on the blogger to be mindful of dogmatism or the appearance of it. I would rather say it is OUR blog, everyone who reads it and of course the good person(s) who takes the time and effort to write it..don’t forget the universe is whole, is one, it’s not bitty it’s smooth and whole lol, anyhow that’s enough of my waffle, peace 🙂
JoAnn wrote on May 15, 2014
Hi Susan! I’m not vegan or raw, but I try to live a healthy, holistic lifestyle, and I found this article to be very helpful! I’ve struggled with IBS almost my whole life, and I’ve recently cut out carrageen. So far I’ve been feeling good, but it’s still pretty soon to notice any long-term effects. I will continue to leave it out, as I do not want to welcome any further inflammation in my body, and I also have a grandmother who died of colon cancer. Just wondering, are you concerned about carrageen in skin care products? Thank you! 🙂
Valerie wrote on May 14, 2014
Good evening. I don’t want to enter into a debate, but instead was wondering what you replaced the irish moss with, in your recipes. I have seen quite a few raw recipes calling for irish Moss and was curious about a substitute. Thank you in advance.
Fred wrote on May 6, 2014
Starting into the raw food world I can honestly say after reading all the post I am confused about Iris Moss. I go to different sites concerning raw food dishes to learn more about it. Hopefully I will be able to come to a good understanding after researching about Iris Moss. I do have a question, how many doctors are there I can refer to or scientist, or nutritionist that can inform me more regarding Irish Moss?
Thanks Fred
Susan wrote on May 6, 2014
There are quite a few studies sited here. I think you need to decide for yourself as there are many conflicting opinions. Cheers!
Patrick wrote on April 24, 2014
When I was a young guy, I learned how to make Irish Moss drink from a local bush-doctor. This was in Jamaica, W.I. We drink Irish Moss to build our “structure” (i.e. – physical stamina). This drink is is quite renowned for bringing a vitality and vigour to men and women alike. Men especially love it, because their sexual stamina is greatly increased!
I have used Irish Moss, both the true one, called Chondrus crispis which grows in colder waters and Gracilaria which grows in warmer tropical waters over many years and I have never had any GI tract irritation or issues. I have researched it’s nutritional profile, traditional and medicinal uses, finding much to be commended, and therefore was more than a little surprised when Dr. Tobacman’s studies were released, to the effect of great alarm amongst nutritionists, raw food community, etc.
Always be aware to trace the money supporting scientific research and draw your own conclusions. Remember that it was a chemically derived extract of the sea vegetable, Chondrus Crispus (Irish Moss) that was being used in Dr. Tobacman’s studies. MSG, for example, is an extract of a natural and highly utilized seed that has fed and nourished more that half the world since pre-historic times. That seed is called RICE. Is rice condemned along with MSG because it serves as its source?
Anyway, if you must not use Irish Moss as a thickening agent, then please be aware that there are other similar sea vegetables such as Gracilaria, also called Ogonori in Japan, which have very similar gelling properties and nutritional profiles. Curiously enough, this Gracilaria is what is commonly called “Irish Moss” in Jamaica even though it is not the same genus. So you can find this Gracilaria packaged and posing as “Irish Moss” in the carribbean markets and online.
I hope more research will be done so that we may make a clearer definition between commercial Carageenan and the whole sea vegetable, Irish Moss.
Meredith wrote on April 17, 2014
Hi Susan – I am attempting a raw/vegan cheesecake recipe this weekend for fun, and the recipe calls for Irish Moss Paste. Per the article above, I don’t want to use it….and…I can’t find it in stores locally even if I wanted to. Would xanthan gum be a viable substitute? If so, do you have any idea of the conversion rate? Thank you!
Melanie Thewlis wrote on April 8, 2014
Hi Susan,
Thanks so much again for such an informative article. Sorry to see so many people assuming you didn’t conduct research before writing it. Thanks again for the great rundown. I have also trawled through the medical literature on carrageenans and it’s fairly inconclusive, but I’d say it would be safe to avoid it. I suspect that more evidence will accrue against it in the coming decades. In any case, Susie Q’s got the right attitude – It’s your blog and these bacon advocates need to troll elsewhere! Stay brilliant. 🙂
Hugs, Mel