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Seaweed has been hailed as a nutritious food source that Westerners often underutilize.
Seaweed is packed with minerals and fiber. Growing seaweed can have positive environmental impacts, including absorbing carbon from the atmosphere, keeping oceans healthy, and reducing methane emissions from cattle.
But these aren’t the reasons why seaweed has become a hot topic among grocery store shoppers.
Hailey Bieber’s $20 Skin Glaze smoothie from 2023. The celebrity-sponsored drink contains sea moss, a gelatinous, translucent gel known scientifically as Chondrus crispus. This edible red seaweed is found on the rocky shores of the North Atlantic, where it earns its other nickname: Irish moss.
Beaver’s smoothie has brought renewed interest in sea moss, with champions praising it as the next healthy superfood, claiming it can support heart, gut and immune health, clear skin and even help people lose weight.
Earlier this year, it gained more attention on Shark Tank when Mark Cuban invested in a sea moss jelly company. Recipes for ice cream and jam also appeared on Pinterest, and a direct-to-consumer brand sprang up around the ingredient.
But what is the real benefit?
Looking at the composition of sea moss, it is rich in magnesium, iodine, iron, folic acid, calcium, and vitamins that are important for a healthy body. It is also low in calories, rich in fiber, and a good source of probiotics.
However, there are not many scientifically and rigorously evaluated studies on the effects of sea moss on humans. Some non-human studies have shown that sea moss can enhance the immune system of insects, has anti-cancer properties in mice, and has anti-inflammatory effects on isolated cells.
Although seaweed has not been studied extensively in humans, there has been a lot of research on seaweed more generally. Seaweed has been shown to have positive effects on blood sugar metabolism, blood pressure, and thyroid function, especially in people with type 2 diabetes. One study showed that seaweed may be beneficial in protecting against COVID-19.
The recommended dose of sea moss is no more than 1-2 tablespoons per day, not more than 1000 milligrams. Maintaining this dose will reduce the risk of heavy metal contamination and overdose due to the high iodine content in sea moss. High iodine levels can cause gastrointestinal problems and serious thyroid complications.
One major concern about sea moss is that it is not FDA regulated, meaning that not all sellers are verified and some may be selling questionable products. These claims have not been scientifically proven.
“The fact that something is not regulated by the FDA means that there are likely no large randomized controlled trials, which are the gold standard for this type of research.” cypress Rajagopal“There are some studies, but the evidence is pretty sparse right now,” an assistant professor at Johns Hopkins University told Eater.
