Many foods you’ll find at the health food stores contain an ingredient called carrageenan. Carrageenan is derived from a type of algae (sea vegetable) called Irish Moss.
Carrageenan is a common additive in foods and cosmetics. It acts as an emulsifier and thickener. The average intake of carrageenan for most individuals is 100 milligrams per day. While carrageenan is “natural” and it is considered harmless by the US government, medical research is showing otherwise.
On a positive note, Irish Moss is high in vitamins and minerals, however, the bad outweighs the good when it comes to carrageenan. In dozens of studies, carrageenan has been implicated in inflammatory bowel disease, various cancers, blood clots, liver disease, insulin resistance and diabetes, and autoimmunity.
Note from Dr. Thomas: Not everything that is “natural” is safe. Carrageenan is a perfect example. The take-away point is to read the labels on foods and cosmetics and steer clear of anything that has carrageen listed.
