SEA MOSS: HELP OR HYPE?

Let’s welcome the newest TikTok sensation, sea moss! It’s slippery, slimy, and supposedly going to cure what ails you. You may have seen stories of celebrities who claim to take a daily dose or watched videos of people tackling a tablespoon. However you’ve heard of it, sea moss is making waves.

As with so many of our current health and nutrition fads, this one started with a Kardashian. Kim decided to tell the world about her sea moss smoothie, and the result was moss mania.

It’s touted as doing everything from regulating your gut to brightening your skin, but what is it, and what’s it really capable of?

The art of literature stands apart from among its sisters, because the material in which the literary artist works is the dialect of life; hence, on the one hand, a strange freshness and immediacy of address to the public mind, which is ready prepared to understand it; but hence, on the other, a singular limitation.

IT’S AN ALGAE

Sea moss, also known as Irish moss or red seaweed, is a type of red algae that grows year-round. It’s most often found in tidepools and inlets, commonly in New England.

Before people started slurping it on social media, sea moss was harvested for an ingredient called carrageenan. Carrageenan can be extracted from sea moss and is most often used as a thickening or gelling agent in the food industry. Sea moss can, however, be eaten all on its own.

MAKING THE SEA SNACK

Many supplement companies are jumping on the sea moss express and have begun manufacturing capsules, powders, gels, and gummies that contain the supposed superfood; however, you might be wondering just how to prepare a spoonful of fresh sea moss for yourself.

You can purchase wildcrafted sea moss. These bags contain the “raw” form of the marine plant that must be soaked in water extensively before ingesting. 

Directions typically suggest a soak, a rinse, another soak, and then a whirl in your blender while adding water. Once the water-moss mixture is thoroughly blended, you’ll pop it in the refrigerator to allow the gelling to commence.

After chilling for several hours, the resulting sea moss gel can be added to smoothies, soups, and teas, or you can try your luck at becoming TikTok famous by eating the coagulant for the camera.

Although its looks aren’t all that appealing, it turns out the little gooey glob actually does have some health potential.

MOSSY MINERALS

If nothing else, sea moss does have a stunning nutritional profile. It’s an exemplary nutrient-rich, low-calorie food, the holy grail for anyone on a fitness journey.

Sea moss boasts:

• Vitamin B2

• Vitamin B12

• Calcium

• Chromium

• Zinc

If you make up your mind to partake of sea moss, chances are you’ll be doing your body a bit of a favor nutritionally, but don’t expect to start glowing just yet.

SEA MOSS IS NO MIRACLE

Despite its impressive stats, sea moss is no magic potion. There’s still a lot of research to be done to determine any definite benefits. Most experts agree that it does have its place as a healthy nutritional supplement but should be used in moderation.

Studies have shown that it may be attributed to improved gut health, improved thyroid function, heart health, and weight management. There’s certainly promising and exciting potential, but most of these studies have been with animals. 

As far as its proven effects on humans, so far, all we know for sure is that it makes for fun TikTok footage and an Intsta-worthy smoothie.