Does Sea Moss Help with Fertility in Women & Men?
Last updated on October 12, 2022
If you’re one of the 12 to 20% of couples who have infertility issues, you might have already heard of sea moss.
Already known to improve sexual life, the golden seaweed with incredible health benefits is currently creating online buzz for its fertility-boosting properties.
So, let’s find out, debunk the myths, and focus on what science has to say about sea moss and fertility.
Related article: How can sea moss improve your sexual life?
What is Sea Moss?
Sea moss, also known as Irish moss or Chondrus crispus, is a type of red algae that grows along the northern coasts of the Atlantic Ocean.
In the United States, sea moss has long been harvested primarily for its high content of carrageenan used to thicken foods and drinks. You might have come across sea moss in processed foods like ice creams, smoothies, baked goods, or others.
But in Ireland and the Caribbean, sea moss has long been used for its health benefits. Indeed, this surprising edible seaweed contains 92 of the 102 minerals our body needs to function, as well as plenty of vitamins and essential nutrients. As such, it’s a superfood that helps prevent and treat numerous health conditions.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, sea moss has become one of the most trending products in the health and wellness market. Its ability to prevent viral infections and boost the immune system makes it a powerful ingredient to add to our daily routine.
But that’s not it. Besides being an amazing skincare product too, sea moss is now on top of the list of must-have foods to boost fertility.
So, how does sea moss increase fertility in both men and women?
Sea Moss and Fertility in Women
Besides cultural beliefs and consumers' success stories, the claims about Irish moss being a female fertility booster mostly rest upon 4 nutrients that are scientifically proven to improve women’s fertility. By being a natural source of folate, iodine, zinc, and iron, Irish moss may very well help you get that baby you've been waiting for so long.
Related article: Top 10 Benefits of Sea Moss for Women
Sea moss is a natural source of folic acid
What woman struggling with infertility issues has not heard of folic acid? Besides being crucial for fetus development, folic acid, known as folate or vitamin B9 in its natural form, also helps you get pregnant in the first place.
According to a 2012 study[1], folic acid dietary supplements improve fertility in women. Women of reproductive age are recommended to take at least 400mcg (micrograms) of folic acid daily.
Sea moss is packed with natural folic acid (folate). According to the US Department of Agriculture, a 100-grams portion of raw sea moss contains 182 micrograms of folate. That’s nearly half of the daily recommendations for pregnancy.
Adding sea moss to your diet is an excellent way to boost fertility and increase folic acid intake.
Related article: Can you take sea moss while pregnant or breastfeeding?
Warning: we’re talking about raw sea moss portions, not about sea moss gel extract. Consuming 100g of sea moss gel daily is way too much and could be dangerous for your health. Find out here how much sea moss you can take daily.
Iodine may reduce women's infertility
We’re still lacking evidence on that point, but studies[2] suggest that iodine deficiency is directly associated with reduced infertility.
Iodine is a mineral that the body can't produce. It's absolutely essential for thyroid function and can only be brought by food. Iodine deficiency is very common in the States.
A 2018 study[3] clearly shows the link between iodine and pregnancy: “Compared with women with normal iodine levels or mild iodine deficiency, women with iodine-creatine ratios lower than 50 μg/g had a 46% lower chance of becoming pregnant in any menstrual cycle”.
Sea moss is one of the richest natural sources of iodine. As such, it’s highly beneficial for women trying to conceive and helps boost fertility.
However, make sure not to have too much of it. Excess iodine may have the opposite effect and be detrimental to your health. Adults are recommended to have about 150 micrograms of iodine daily. That's what you get in about two tablespoons of wildcrafted Irish moss gel.
Make sure to choose wildcrafted and organic sea moss products. Pool-grown sea moss is much poorer in nutrients and its benefits for health are considerably reduced.
Organics Nature's Sea Moss Gel is 100% Pure, Organic, and Wildcrafted
Zinc and iron promote healthy ovaries
Another key nutrient that supports sea moss's benefits for fertility in women is zinc. The daily recommendation for an adult woman is 8 milligrams of zinc, increased to 12 milligrams when she is trying to conceive, pregnant, or breastfeeding.
There are about 2 milligrams of zinc in 100 grams of raw sea moss. Adding this edible alga to a nutritionally balanced diet considerably increases your zinc intake and your chances of being fertilized during the next menstrual cycle. It’s no myth nor traditional belief, it’s science.
The first study researching the link between zinc and fertility in human was revealed in 2019[4]. It found that women with low zinc levels have reduced fertility and take longer to get pregnant. Zinc is also known to play a major role in fertilization and egg cell development.
Iron is essential for fertility too and women with fertility issues should increase their iron intake through natural foods or supplements. Research clearly shows that iron supplements significantly lower the risk of ovulatory infertility [5].
With close to 9 mg of iron per 100 g of raw seaweed, sea moss is almost unbeatable. A cooked chicken breast only has 0,5 mg of iron per 100 g.
Related article: Can sea moss help with menstruation and ovarian disorders?
These facts, scientific studies, and success stories leave no doubt that consuming sea moss boosts female fertility and increases your chances of having a healthy baby. While you're at it, invite your partner to your sea moss morning smoothies, as it may also boost male fertility.
Sea Moss and Male Fertility
In the Caribbean and especially in Jamaica, sea moss has been used as a sex elixir for men for centuries. It’s believed to increase libido, enhance sexual desire and pleasure, and improve erectile function.
Anecdotes and folk beliefs tell that Jamaican sea moss also improves male fertility by increasing testosterone levels and boosting sperm count.
Does sea moss increase sperm count?
Unfortunately, there’s no research available yet on the effects of sea moss on men’s testosterone levels, sperm production, and fertility. Sea moss's high folate content may participate in boosting men’s sperm count and quality.
More importantly, zinc is known to directly increase testosterone[6]. As we’ve seen above, a 100g portion of raw sea moss brings you about 2 mg of zinc, which is fairly high. Logically, consuming sea moss regularly helps increase testosterone levels.
Nevertheless – and here’s the rub – testosterone levels do not always have a direct impact on a man’s fertility and sperm count. While testosterone is indispensable for sperm, sperm production is mainly stimulated by other hormones like follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH).
Ultimately, sea moss's benefits for men's fertility are rather indirect. By increasing sex drive and erectile function, Irish moss improves and boosts men’s sexual life. And we all know sex is the number one ingredient in the baby recipe.
Finally, consuming sea moss regularly contributes to a healthy and nutritionally balanced diet, which is proven to be beneficial for both male and female fertility.
FAQ About Sea Moss and Fertility
Here’s a series of frequently asked questions about taking sea moss for fertility purposes. Feel free to ask yours in the comment section below!
How to take sea moss for fertility?
The most common way to use Irish moss for fertility is to eat it regularly. We recommend adding 2 tablespoons of pure organic sea moss gel to your food or drinks daily. Sea moss gel combines well with other fertility-boosting ingredients like multivitamin powders, zinc supplements, and others.
Sea moss capsules are very convenient. The advantage is that capsules are simpler to use, and you know the precise amount you're taking. For fertility purposes, we recommend 2 capsules a day.
Warning: while sea moss is safe to use and has few side effects, excess of it could lead to iodine poisoning. Always stick to the recommended dosage.
Can you take sea moss with prenatal vitamins?
Prenatal vitamins are supplements that contain nutrients, vitamins, and minerals essential to a healthy pregnancy. While there's no specific contra-indication and you can theoretically take sea moss with prenatal vitamins, we do recommend talking to your doctor about it first. Both sea moss and prenatal vitamins contain high levels of similar nutrients. Excessive doses of minerals could be dangerousfor the mother and the baby.
Related article: Is it better to take sea moss at night or in the evening?
Can sea moss help with PCOS?
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder causing enlarged ovaries with cysts. It's a major cause of infertility in women. While there is no study on the effect of sea moss on PCOS, sea moss does contribute to a healthy PCOS-friendly diet. Women with PCOS are recommended to follow a low-sugar diet and encouraged to have diversified and fresh foods.
Does bladderwrack also have benefits for fertility?
Bladderwrack (fucus vesiculosus) is a type of brown seaweed similar to kelp and sea moss. While it’s believed to help boost fertility too, there’s little scientific evidence available yet.
One pilot study conducted in 2004 shows that “dietary bladderwrack may prolong the length of the menstrual cycle and exert anti-estrogenic effects in premenopausal women”[7].
References:
[1] Gaskins AJ, Mumford SL, Chavarro JE, Zhang C, Pollack AZ, Wactawski-Wende J, et al. (2012) The Impact of Dietary Folate Intake on Reproductive Function in Premenopausal Women: A Prospective Cohort Study. PLoS ONE 7(9): e46276. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0046276
[2] a M Mathews, Neil P Johnson, Robert G Sim, Susannah O'Sullivan, Jane M Peart, Paul L Hofman, Iodine and fertility: do we know enough?, Human Reproduction, Volume 36, Issue 2, February 2021, Pages 265–274, https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/deaa312
[3] Kuehn B. Iodine Deficiency May Impair Fertility. JAMA. 2018;319(8):760. doi:10.1001/jama.2018.1291https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2673527
[4] Grieger, J.A.; Grzeskowiak, L.E.; Wilson, R.L.; Bianco-Miotto, T.; Leemaqz, S.Y.; Jankovic-Karasoulos, T.; Perkins, A.V.; Norman, R.J.; Dekker, G.A.; Roberts, C.T. Maternal Selenium, Copper and Zinc Concentrations in Early Pregnancy, and the Association with Fertility. Nutrients 2019, 11, 1609. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11071609
[5] Chavarro JE, Rich-Edwards JW, Rosner BA, Willett WC. Iron intake and risk of ovulatory infertility. Obstet Gynecol. 2006 Nov;108(5):1145-52. doi: 10.1097/01.AOG.0000238333.37423.ab. PMID: 17077236. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17077236/
[6] [1] L.R. BRILLA AND VICTOR CONTE. Effects of a Novel Zinc-Magnesium Formulation on Hormones and Strength. JEPonline, 3(4): 26-36, 2000. https://www.asep.org/asep/asep/BrillaV2.PDF
[7] Skibola CF. The effect of Fucus vesiculosus, an edible brown seaweed, upon menstrual cycle length and hormonal status in three pre-menopausal women: a case report. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2004 Aug 4;4:10. doi: 10.1186/1472-6882-4-10. PMID: 15294021; PMCID: PMC514561.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC514561/
