Disclaimer: This content has been produced purely for informational and educational purposes only and is never intended to be used as a substitute for professional medical guidelines including diagnosis, advice, and treatment.  

 

Right now, there is a trend of using superfoods that are much higher in nutrients and provide a range of health benefits at the same time. Spirulina and sea moss are two well-known superfoods nowadays. But it always raises confusion in most people when it comes to choosing one over another - spirulina vs sea moss - which one is better? If you’re too one of them, keep reading to learn more. 

In this article, we’ll be comparing spirulina vs sea moss mainly from nutrition and potential health benefits standpoints. But before we get into the difference between spirulina and sea moss, we’ll need to learn exactly what they are. So, let’s get started. 

Table of contents 

• What is Spirulina? 
• What is sea moss? 
• Spirulina vs sea moss: nutritional values 
• Spirulina vs sea moss: medicinal properties and potential benefits  
• Final words 

What is Spirulina? 

Spirulina is commonly known as blue-green algae but in reality, it isn’t algae. In fact, it’s a type of cyanobacteria, also known as cyanophyta that grows wild in alkaline water bodies for an estimated three and a half billion years. It’s rich in phytonutrients especially proteins, fatty acids, and minerals. It gained human attention since the age of the Aztecs and was used as a food source for centuries. 

The exceptional nutritional value of spirulina has been recognized by today’s modern science as well. It has been extensively studied by space research centers such as the European Space Centre and NASA and they have chosen it to be cultivated in space as a potential food source for astronauts particularly in long-term missions. 

What is Sea Moss? 

Sea moss, also otherwise known as Irish sea moss or scientifically Chondrus crispus, is a kind of red algae that grows wild in and around the sea just like other sea vegetables such as kelp and nori. Due to the high nutrient content of sea moss, it's deemed and widely promoted as a superfood, particularly in the community of dietary supplements.  

Sea moss has long been traditionally used by people of Asian, Irish, and some Caribbean cultures in food and medicine. Like other sea vegetables, sea moss is also one of the richest sources of plant nutrients, particularly vitamins and minerals. The nutrient content of sea moss is much higher than what we find in land vegetables.  

Spirulina vs sea moss: nutritional values

Both spirulina and sea moss are rich in plant nutrients and widely promoted as superfoods over recent years. Although they are often used similarly, they are different in nutrients and also in color. 

Let’s take a deeper look at the major nutrients found in spirulina and sea mos one by one: 

Nutrients in Spirulina

• Proteins - the protein content of spirulina is quite exceptional, which may range from 50% to 70% of its dry weight. Most importantly, the proteins found in it are complete, meaning it contains all essential amino acids that the body cannot synthesize on its own and people need to get them through diet or supplements for proper functioning. 
• Fatty acids - spirulina is the second biggest source of gamma-linoleic acid (GLA) just after maternal milk. In addition, it contains alpha-linoleic acid (ALA), palmitic acid, stearic acid, and oleic acid, as well as others. 
• Antioxidants - spirulina is rich in antioxidants. They may include phycocyanin, vitamin E, and carotenoids such as zeaxanthin. 
• Vitamins - major vitamins found in spirulina may include pro-vitamin A (beta-carotene), B vitamins (B1, B2, B3 or niacin, B6, B9 or folate, and B12), vitamin C, and vitamin E (tocopherols).  
• Minerals and trace elements - spirulina contains significant amounts of calcium, iron, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, copper, sodium, manganese, and others. 
• Carbohydrates - simple carbohydrates such as sucrose, fructose, and glucose are found in very small amounts, while relatively high in polysaccharides that show positive effects on the body.  

Nutrients in sea moss 

• Protein - sea moss contains fewer proteins compared to spirulina. 
• Fatty acids - sea moss is a rich source of plant omega-3 fatty acids that can help with a varying range of health conditions. 
• Antioxidants - sea moss contains fucoxanthin, a carotenoid with potent antioxidant properties that can benefit human health in many different ways. 
• Vitamins - sea moss is rich in vitamins. Major vitamins found in sea moss may include vitamin A, vitamin B5, folate (vitamin B9), vitamin C, vitamin E, and vitamin K. 
• Minerals and trace elements - the amounts of calcium, magnesium phosphorus, and zinc are relatively higher in sea moss than what we find in spirulina. 

Spirulina vs sea moss: medicinal properties and potential benefits 

Spirulina has been shown to have significant antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, immune-modulating, anti-allergic, radio-protective, antimicrobial, and anti-cancer properties.  

Potential health benefits of spirulina 

Spirulina may help in: 

• Strengthening immune function 
• Protecting cells and tissues from oxidative damage induced by free radicals 
• Combating anemia by stimulating blood production 
• Preventing and managing vitamin A deficiency 
• Aiding in weight loss 
• Preventing protein-energy disorders
• Providing radiological protection
• Preventing DNA damage
• Inhibiting lipid peroxidation 
• Preventing viral infections and their transmissions 
• Preventing the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Perkinson’s 
• Cancer prevention 

Sea moss, on the other hand, has been shown to produce hypolipidemic, hormone-balancing, immuno-modulating, antioxidant, neuroprotective, and cancer-preventive effects on the body. 

Potential health benefits of sea moss

Sea moss may help in: 

• Supporting and improving gut health through prebiotic effects
• Improving thyroid health through iodine support 
• Promoting cardiovascular health 
• Supporting immune health 
• Improving fertility in both men and women 
• Keeping blood sugar levels in check 
• Building muscles and speeding up recovery from exercise or heavy workout 
• Promoting weight loss  

  

Final words 

Both spirulina and sea moss are exceptionally dense in nutrients. If we compare spirulina vs sea moss, spirulina has nearly 30 times more protein content compared to sea moss, whereas sea moss offers almost double folate or vitamin B9 and more iodine than spirulina. 

So, which one to choose? It depends on specific health conditions and goals. But, it’s always essential to consult with a certified dietician, naturopath, and nutritionist before using any supplements to avoid any unpleasant side effects.

Here you can see Vorst’s specially formulated Organic Spirulina fortified with Matcha and Chlorella

Important resources: 

1. https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/sea-moss-benefits
2. https://cooksdream.com/sea-moss-vs-spirulina/
3. https://vibrantsea.ca/blogs/learn-sea-moss/sea-moss-vs-spirulina
4. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/sea-moss-benefits/
5. https://www.realsimple.com/health/nutrition-diet/algae-health-benefits
6. https://foodstruct.com/compare/seaweed-vs-spirulina#:~:text=Seaweed%20has%20more%20Vitamin%20K,Folate%2C%20while%20Spirulina%20contains%209%C2%B5g.
7. https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-sea-moss
8. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/seamoss#potential-benefits
9. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/sea-moss#benefits