

Wellness-Related Problems You Didn't Know Sea Moss Could Help Resolve
With all the health trends that tend to surface every year, one that is starting to finally gain traction, is one that has actually been around for generations: sea moss.
Sea moss, also known as Irish Sea Moss or Irish Moss, is a type of algae that has taken over your nutrient must-have lists and become highly-praised due to its unprecedented benefit factors. And if you've been following Dr. Sebi and his teachings, or if you are of Jamaican descent (because you know they know all about the best herbal tings), then you know each have been preaching the sea moss word for generations. Hallelu.
But here's tea on why:
Our body is made up of 102 individual minerals for a healthy fulfilled, able body. Sea moss contains 92 of those nutrients in a single serving. So, although your fruits and veggies and flax seeds have already been doing a body good, sea moss has kind of created a lane of its own to supercharge.
Oh, and it's natural, which we love around here #teamnochemicals.
Also, because women have a longer to-do list of physical health maintenance (periods, thyroids, uterine health), sea moss has a greater benefit to us, and its wellness perks stretch farther than just some multivitamin.
OK, but what are some of these benefits?
Well, for one, sea moss acts as your heart's teammate.
When it comes to capitalizing the energy stored in food, you need B vitamins, and sea moss contains a decent amount of riboflavin (which is needed to break down proteins, carbs, and fats), and folate (which is needed to form DNA and other genetic material). When these two link up, red blood cells are created. And hopefully we all know the relation these two have together. Ultimately, all of the above produces oxygen, boosts blood flow, and so much more.
So basically, anything that provides 92 of the 102 minerals necessary for your health's sustainability, is an enormous ally to your heart's function.
It offers digestion a major assist.
OK, this may gross you out but sea moss' snotty texture makes it a great healing/soothing agent for mucus membranes in the body, including your respiratory and digestive systems. It's been tested to increase beneficial short-chain fatty acids in the colon, get rid of bad bacteria in the gut, and improve overall gut health and immunity. This means, a healthy bile stimulation and less fats leeching (because we don't want none of that crap messing with our organs, sis).
It is an immune system booster (which we all could use).
In a world of COVID—where we're told to "wait on the vaccine" instead of "boost your immune system"—having a booster is imperative to combating the outside chaos. During cold and flu season, sea moss smoothies could become your go-to meal for weening off the germs. It has potassium iodide, which is great for dissolving phlegm, and it is also rich in amino acids, vitamin C, antioxidants, as well as a host of antiviral and antimicrobial agents. Its nutrients can help you to fight or ward off infections, which is a sign of the times. So add some moss to that drink, ladies. Your immune system will thank you.
It improves your metabolism, thus promoting weight loss or maintaining a healthy weight.
I don't know about you, but anything that can naturally help me slim my waistline, likeeee...sign me up. Anti-inflammation, healthy bowel movements, heart nutrients, and gestational symphonies all equate to a boost in metabolism, and ultimately, steady weight loss and/or maintenance. The high iodine content can stimulate the production of thyroid hormones, which are what controls your appetite and metabolism. And because sea moss retains water, it makes you feel fuller longer, thus suppressing those inevitable cravings.
Oh hey, God.
It stimulates the libido (sea moss will have bae hopping on you)!
Well, another major benefit to sea moss is it's a natural remedy for sexual stimulation. Sea moss' nickname is "the Viagra of the Sea". It promotes blood circulation and stamina, meaning naturally, stronger and more substantial erections in our men. In recent studies by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, they discovered that iron supplementation was associated with significant improvement in muscle endurance and stamina, making iron-rich sea moss is your all-natural solution to gettin it crackin'.
So, go ahead and throw a scoop or two in his smoothie, sis. And if he asks why, just tell him it's for his own good.
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Those interested in adding sea moss to their daily routine can grab some in numerous places, as it has become more and more of a nutritional phenomenon, making it easy to come by. It can be sold as a gel, liquid, or pill, and is best served in smoothies or tea. Check with your local health food store, or order online with vendors such as Bare Root Remedy, Bey Moss, or Cooking With Love to grab your stash.
Have you ever tried sea moss?
As of now, sea moss actually isn't well-researched and there's a lot that we don't know about it. However, what is known is that it contains minerals which are beneficial to our systematic makeup, thus providing the same health benefits that would prove substantial in any nutritionist-based regimen. Check with your doctor or healthcare professional if you are concerned about how adding sea moss to your diet could possibly affect you.
Featured image by Shutterstock
Charmin Michelle is a southern native and creative spirit who works as a content marketer and events manager in Chicago. She enjoys traveling, #SummertimeChi, and the journey of mastering womanhood. Connect with her on Instagram @charminmichelle.
Exclusive: Gabrielle Union On Radical Transparency, Being Diagnosed With Perimenopause And Embracing What’s Next
Whenever Gabrielle Union graces the movie screen, she immediately commands attention. From her unforgettable scenes in films like Bring It On and Two Can Play That Game to her most recent film, in which she stars and produces Netflix’s The Perfect Find, there’s no denying that she is that girl.
Off-screen, she uses that power for good by sharing her trials and tribulations with other women in hopes of helping those who may be going through the same things or preventing them from experiencing them altogether. Recently, the Flawless by Gabrielle Union founder partnered with Clearblue to speak at the launch of their Menopause Stage Indicator, where she also shared her experience with being perimenopausal.
In a xoNecoleexclusive, the iconic actress opens up about embracing this season of her life, new projects, and overall being a “bad motherfucker.” Gabrielle reveals that she was 37 years old when she was diagnosed with perimenopause and is still going through it at 51 years old. Mayo Clinic says perimenopause “refers to the time during which your body makes the natural transition to menopause, marking the end of the reproductive years.”
“I haven't crossed over the next phase just yet, but I think part of it is when you hear any form of menopause, you automatically think of your mother or grandmother. It feels like an old-person thing, but for me, I was 37 and like not understanding what that really meant for me. And I don't think we focus so much on the word menopause without understanding that perimenopause is just the time before menopause,” she tells us.
Gabrielle Union
Photo by Brian Thomas
"But you can experience a lot of the same things during that period that people talk about, that they experienced during menopause. So you could get a hot flash, you could get the weight gain, the hair loss, depression, anxiety, like all of it, mental health challenges, all of that can come, you know, at any stage of the menopausal journey and like for me, I've been in perimenopause like 13, 14 years. When you know, most doctors are like, ‘Oh, but it's usually about ten years, and I'm like, ‘Uhh, I’m still going (laughs).’”
Conversations about perimenopause, fibroids, and all the things that are associated with women’s bodies have often been considered taboo and thus not discussed publicly. However, times are changing, and thanks to the Gabrielle’s and the Tia Mowry’s, more women are having an authentic discourse about women’s health. These open discussions lead to the creation of more safe spaces and support for one another.
“I want to be in community with folks. I don't ever want to feel like I'm on an island about anything. So, if I can help create community where we are lacking, I want to be a part of that,” she says. “So, it's like there's no harm in talking about it. You know what I mean? Like, I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change. I'm just getting better and stronger and more intelligent, more wise, more patient, more compassionate, more empathetic. All of that is very, very welcomed, and none of it should be scary.”
The Being Mary Jane star hasn’t been shy about her stance on therapy. If you don’t know, here’s a hint: she’s all for it, and she encourages others to try it as well. She likens therapy to dating by suggesting that you keep looking for the right therapist to match your needs. Two other essential keys to her growth are radical transparency and radical acceptance (though she admits she is still working on the latter).
"I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change."
Gabrielle Union and Kaavia Union-Wade
Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images
“I hope that a.) you recognize that you're not alone. Seek out help and know that it's okay to be honest about what the hell is happening in your life. That's the only way that you know you can get help, and that's also the only other way that people know that you are in need if there's something going on,” she says, “because we have all these big, very wild, high expectations of people, but if they don't know what they're actually dealing with, they're always going to be failing, and you will always be disappointed. So how about just tell the truth, be transparent, and let people know where you are. So they can be of service, they can be compassionate.”
Gabrielle’s transparency is what makes her so relatable, and has so many people root for her. Whether through her TV and film projects, her memoirs, or her social media, the actress has a knack for making you feel like she’s your homegirl. Scrolling through her Instagram, you see the special moments with her family, exciting new business ventures, and jaw-dropping fashion moments. Throughout her life and career, we’ve seen her evolve in a multitude of ways. From producing films to starting a haircare line to marriage and motherhood, her journey is a story of courage and triumph. And right now, in this season, she’s asking, “What’s next?”
“This is a season of discovery and change. In a billion ways,” says the NAACP Image Award winner. “The notion of like, ‘Oh, so and so changed. They got brand new.’ I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
"I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
She continues, “So I'm just trying to figure out what's next. You know what I mean? I'm jumping into what's next. I'm excited going into what's next and new. I'm just sort of embracing all of what life has to offer.”
Look out for Gabrielle in the upcoming indie film Riff Raff, which is a crime comedy starring her and Jennifer Coolidge, and she will also produce The Idea of You, which stars Anne Hathaway.
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Feature image by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images
Victoria Monét Opens Up About Feeling ‘Validated’ Months After VMAs Turned Her Down To Perform
Victoria Monét has had an incredible year. Thanks to the success of the widely popular “On My Mama” that went viral, the singer/ songwriter’s Jaguar II album debuted in the top 10 of Billboard’s Top R&B Albums chart. She also went on to headline her own sold-out tour. So, when the MTV VMAs happened in September, everyone was surprised to learn that Victoria’s team was told that it was “too early” for the “Smoke” artist to perform at the award show. However, a couple of months later, the mom of one received seven Grammy nominations, including “Best R&B Album” and “Record Of The Year.”
Victoria is currently in London and stopped by The Dotty Show on Apple Music and shared how she feels “validated” after being dismissed by the VMAs.
“It really does feel nice and validating because, in my head, the reason why I wanted to be a performer at the VMAs or award ceremonies like that is because I felt like I am at the place where I should. I would work really hard to put on the best show that I could, and I was excited to do so,” she said.
“And I guess the best way to describe it for me is like when you're like on a sports team, and the coach is like, ‘No, you gotta sit this one out.’ When they finally put you in, and then you score all these points, and it feels like that feeling. You're like, yes, I knew it wasn't tripping, but I knew I worked hard for this, and so it's been super validating to just have these accolades come after a moment like that, and I know the fans feel vindicated for me.
While her fans called the VMAs out on their decision, the “Moment” singer kept it cute and is still open to performing at the iconic award show. “I feel no ill towards them because it's just maybe that's just truly how they felt at the time, but I hope their mind has changed,” she admitted.
Aside from recognition from the Grammys, she has also received praise from legendary artists such as Janet Jackson, Kelly Rowland, and Usher.
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Feature image by Amy Sussman/WireImage for Parkwood