The web is replete with “superfoods” and dietary supplements that promise to make you more healthy and extra stunning, however few have gotten extra consideration over the previous 12 months than sea moss: sure, literal algae. The ocean moss development has exploded since 2020, when (who else?) Kim Kardashian began tweeting about the advantages of the ingredient. Within the ensuing years, sea moss has made its means towards the mainstream because of well being influencers and, most not too long ago, the viral Strawberry Glaze Skin Smoothie at Los Angeles grocer Erewhon.
Promising advantages starting from weight reduction to serving to you get hornier, sea moss (or Irish moss, as it’s generally referred to as) is among the hottest new well being meals substances. However what’s it actually? And is it really value spending $17 on a sea-moss-infused smoothie?
What’s sea moss?
“Sea moss” is a catch-all time period for numerous species of pink algae which are present in ocean waters throughout the globe. Probably the most generally used varieties are gracilaria and chondrus crispus, they usually go by numerous names all through the world — ogo in Japanese, Irish moss in Jamaica.
The way you devour sea moss would possibly rely on the place you’re. It’s one of many key substances in agar, a gelatin substitute utilized in Filipino cooking and vegan desserts. As a toddler within the Caribbean, Dr. Yvonne Noel, an OB-GYN in Brooklyn, drank a special-occasion beverage referred to as Irish moss that was made with milk, nutmeg, cinnamon, and sea moss. “We drank it nearly like an eggnog, or what could be thought of at this time as a smoothie,” Noel says. “On events the place we’d have gatherings, it might be one of many favored drinks.” In Jamaica, Irish moss — which takes its identify from Irish laborers who got here to the island — is a well-liked canned beverage that’s generally touted as an aphrodisiac.
In locations like Hawaii, Indonesia, and Malaysia, the gracilaria species of sea moss is frequently blanched and added to salads or boiled with fresh juice to make a pudding. In america, the present development makes use of sea moss gel, wherein the algae is mixed with water to supply a clean, jelly-like goop. Typically fruit is added to the puree to assist masks the oceanic, musty odor that’s generally related to dried sea moss. The gel is then eaten by the spoonful a couple of times a day, or blended right into a beverage like Erewhon’s strawberry pores and skin smoothie, which was created by Hailey Bieber. There are additionally recipes on Pinterest for fruit-based “ice cream,” gummies, and jams made with sea moss.
Outdoors of its edible makes use of, gracilaria is a well-liked species of algae for indoor aquariums, and is typically present in skincare merchandise like jelly face masks.
Is sea moss good for you?
In restricted doses, it is likely to be. Proponents declare that sea moss gel can enhance coronary heart well being, make it easier to shed extra pounds, and decrease ldl cholesterol. The proof for these purported advantages is fairly slim, however specialists counsel that it may be an excellent supplemental (and vegetarian) supply of important nutritional vitamins and minerals. “Total, there are dietary advantages in consuming sea moss, with slightly little bit of science behind them,” says dietician-nutritionist Lorraine Kearney. “It accommodates copper, magnesium, zinc, and nutritional vitamins B, B6, and B9.” It’s additionally a supply of iodine, which will be good for individuals who lack dietary sources of iodine, like shrimp and iodized salt.
However there isn’t a lot scientific analysis on the efficacy of sea moss gel. “Whereas there could also be some advantages in sea moss, it’s not one thing that’s FDA regulated,” says Dr. Selvi Rajagopal, an assistant professor of drugs at Johns Hopkins College. “When one thing isn’t FDA regulated, it signifies that there seemingly haven’t been large-scale randomized management trials, that are the gold customary for any such analysis. There are some research on the market, however the proof is form of sparse proper now.”
What are the dangers in consuming sea moss gel?
Consuming an excessive amount of sea moss gel may improve the chance of iodine toxicity: Iodine is an important nutrient, however in extreme doses, it may be harmful. “With iodine toxicity, the priority is that you could possibly have thyroid dysfunction, thyroid most cancers, and gastrointestinal signs,” Rajapagol says. “It will also be onerous to quantify precisely how a lot iodine you’re getting in a ‘dose’ of sea moss as a result of it’s not an FDA regulated product.” Although it’s generally touted as a fertility complement, Kearney advises that individuals who wish to change into pregnant or are presently breastfeeding mustn’t devour sea moss gel, partially due to the risk of elevated iodine levels.
Additionally at difficulty is the chance of heavy steel toxicity. Our oceans are closely polluted, and excessive ranges of mercury, lead, and cadmium, together with industrial chemical substances, have been present in algae. “Sea moss is grown beneath numerous situations, and we all know that it might probably take in heavy metals from its atmosphere,” Noel says. “These metals can accumulate within the physique over time, to the purpose the place it might probably change into poisonous in somebody who’s ingesting sea moss regularly.”
So, ought to I be including sea moss to my smoothies?
Not essentially. In small, rare doses — a few occasions per week in a smoothie — it’s seemingly that sea moss gel wouldn’t be dangerous. However it’s undoubtedly not a dietary panacea, and will have some damaging impacts if in case you have sure well being situations or are attempting to get pregnant.
It’s additionally necessary to have a dialog together with your physician earlier than taking sea moss — or another complement — to make sure that it’s appropriate together with your particular well being issues. “In that case, for those who assume this would possibly make it easier to, then wonderful,” says Rajagopal. “However it ought to most likely be with the data of your physician and beneath monitoring so that you could see whether or not or not your deficiencies are literally enhancing.”
