Lil' Fit Birdie

Seaweed in sorbet? Yup, you read that right! Irish sea moss is a superfood that is traditionally used in Caribbean culture as a drink mixed with sweetened condensed milk, but it works just as well in a fruity sorbet! Sea moss grows in the Atlantic coast of the British Isles, and throughout Europe and North America. It’s usually used as a gel and added to drinks. It doesn’t have any flavor on its own, so I blended the gel with fruits to make a smoothie, then froze it into a tasty sorbet!

Here are 5 reasons to consider adding Irish sea moss to your list of fave foods:

Benefits (caveat: there is limited research on sea moss, so take this with a grain of salt):

1. Promotes healthy digestion: when soaked in water, it becomes a blubbery substance, which helps waste smoothly pass through the digestive tract; sea moss is also a prebiotic (dietary fiber that feeds the good bacteria in your stomach), which supports healthy digestion
2. Boosts our immune system and supports essential bodily functions: rich in several vitamins and minerals including magnesium, iron, and omega-3 fatty acids (the healthy fats!)
3. Promotes prenatal health and development: thanks to its high folate content
4. Keeps your thyroids in check: its high iodine content is fuel for the thyroid, which regulates metabolism, encourages bone and brain development during pregnancy and infancy. But watch out because overdoing it on iodine can throw our thyroid hormones out of wack. Consume in moderation!
5. Keeps our skin silky smooth: The magnesium, vitamin A, vitamin K, and omega-3 fatty acids keeps our skin hydrated and promotes healthy skin cell function; the high sulfur content also has antibacterial, antiviral and antimicrobial effects, helping to balance the skin microbiome (sea moss is used in skin care products too!)

Ingredients:

• 1 pack of dried Irish sea moss (available on Amazon)
• 1 cup of orange juice
• Honey (to taste)
• Your fave fruits (I used chopped/frozen mangoes and peaches in mine)

Instructions: 

1. Wash the sea moss (get all that salt off!), and soak in water overnight
2. Place the sea moss in a pot and bring to a boil at medium heat, stirring occassionally
3. Strain the sea moss using a tea strainer
4.  Place the gelled sea moss into a blender. Add orange juice, fruits, and honey.
5. You can enjoy it as a smoothie, or freeze and enjoy as a sorbet!