Irish sea moss is one of the most popular ocean-sourced  supplements around today. Most sources say sea moss contains 92 trace minerals. Is this really true? What are the 92 minerals in sea moss? And if sea moss does contain 83% of the nutrients our bodies need to function optimally, would that make Irish sea moss the most, or at least one of the most, nutritious food out there? 

The answer to that question is yes. In fact, several online publishers, including Healthline and Dr. Axe list edible seaweeds among the top most nutritious foods available to us.  Maybe it’s because sea moss is powerfully alkalizing…or maybe it’s because its iodine content makes it great for your thyroid. But it’s more likely that sea moss’s rising popularity is due to its incredible nutrient diversity! 

Let’s take a closer look at sea moss’s nutritional content and what it does to the human body.

Does Irish sea moss really have 92 minerals?

Sea moss’s trendiness means health-conscious users are wondering about all these things and more.

The short answer to these questions is that sea moss contains between 90 and 100 minerals. 92 is probably the most accurate number of minerals in sea moss. 

Below is the short version of sea moss’s vitamin, mineral, and trace compound content:

• Iron
• Zinc
• Sulfur 
• Folate
• Boron
• Iodine
• Potash 
• Sodium
• Copper
• Calcium 
• Nitrogen
• Selenium 
• Vitamin A 
• Vitamin E
• Vitamin K
• Potassium
• Manganese
• Magnesium 
• Phosphoric acid
• Polysaccharides
  • Alginic acid 
  • Laminarin ‎
  • Mannitol

It would take a much longer article to dive into the benefits of all these compounds, so let’s focus on just two of them for now: selenium and laminarin. 

Selenium in sea moss

Selenium is a metabolism-boosting nutrient that directly fuels your body’s internal thermostat, the thyroid gland. Selenium also promotes immune health, so much so that areas with selenium-deficient soil have higher rates of respiratory illness. 

Selenium is also a potent natural antioxidant. That means it may reduce: 

• Cellular oxidative stress
• Autoimmune diseases
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Premature aging
• Depression
• Cancer

Laminarin

Laminarin is a beta-glucan found in many seaweed species — sea moss included. Research shows that laminarin may act as an:

• Antioxidant
• Antiviral compound
• Antiinflammatory agent
• Immunomodulatory compound
• Antiproliferative/antitumor agent

What are trace minerals?

While you’re probably more familiar with micronutrients like vitamins A, D, E, K, and C, trace minerals are equally critical for sustaining life. As their name implies, these nutrients are required in trace amounts! Common trace minerals include iron, chromium, zinc, copper, manganese, selenium, and boron. 

Trace minerals function as catalysts for various enzymatic reactions and biochemical processes. Translation? They assist with:

• Producing enzymes 
• Producing hormones
• Speeding up biochemical reactions
• Promoting neurogenesis and neuroplasticity
• Promoting proper growth, development, and differentiation

What are macro minerals?

Sea moss’s mineral content also features plenty of macro minerals. What are macro minerals, you may ask? They’re minerals that are either: 

• Present within the body at higher concentrations 
• Required for consumption at higher concentrations 

…or both. Common macro minerals include calcium, magnesium, and potassium. 

What are the minerals found in the largest amounts in sea moss?

What are the 92 minerals in Irish sea moss?

As we explained earlier, it would take a little too long to talk about each and every one of sea moss’s 92 minerals in great depth. That’s why this section will be talking about sea moss’s top highlights instead. 

Iodine is probably sea moss’s #1 mineral. Each serving contains 47 milligrams of iodine. That’s more than what’s contained in other iodine-rich foods, like tuna or organic milk. 

Iodine fulfills many critical roles within your body. One of its key roles is assisting with thyroid hormone production. Thyroid hormones like T3 and T4, in turn, provide your body with a steady stream of energy and may even help you lose weight. Iodine’s importance becomes even more obvious when you consider that the human body can’t produce it. 

What are the minerals missing from sea moss?

What are the 10 minerals missing from sea moss? Good question. When you subtract the 92 minerals in sea moss, ten minerals remain: 

• Tin
• Xenon
• Yttrium
• Thulium
• Uranium
• Titanium
• Tungsten
• Vanadium
• Ytterbium
• Zirconium

The fact that sea moss lacks these 10 minerals isn’t a bad thing, however. Some of these minerals, like uranium, are toxic in low enough doses that supplementing with them doesn’t make sense. 

How does sea moss affect the body?

So…what does sea moss do to the body? How do sea moss minerals affect the body?

The 99 minerals in sea moss may promote nutritional sufficiency across the board. Thanks to the soil depletion caused by modern-day farming techniques, many of us are deficient in trace nutrients. Sea moss may be able to reverse these nutrient imbalances. It may also promote full-body homeostasis as your thyroid begins to work better and better.  

Sea moss: summing things up

What are the 92 minerals in sea moss? Just about everything your body needs to survive, heal, and thrive. 

Sea moss’s incredible mineral content makes it a meaningful ally for anyone who wants to improve their health and wellness. Try it for yourself and you might just discover what you’ve been craving. You can turn sea moss into a gel, mix it into smoothies, or apply it to your skin topically. 

If you’re ready to get started with sea moss, you’re in good hands. Learn more by signing up for our newsletter here. We look forward to taking this journey with you!