Latest news with #seaMoss
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Celebrities are eating sea moss to boost their health and prevent aging — I tried a tablespoon every day, and this is what happened to my body
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Touted as 'the plant-powered rival to Collagen' and loved by celebrities like Bella Hadid and Kim K, sea moss is having its moment in the spotlight as a potent superfood that can supercharge your health and wellbeing. But is it fad or fact? I decided to take a tablespoon every day and find out for myself. The benefits of sea moss are said to include boosting skin health, immunity, gut health and thyroid function while reducing inflammation. It's a nutrient-dense bomb of beauty benefits that people are using as a 100% natural skincare supplement — no tablets, capsules, or powders in sight. Could sea moss transform my skin? Here's what I really think. Sea moss is part of the red algae family found in places like the Caribbean. Its scientific name is Chondrus crispus, which I (personally) think is catchier for the market, and incidentally sounds like either a character from the Harry Potter franchise or my future rap name. It's also low in calories and fat and is packed full of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and iodine. According to Wyld Herbs (more on that shortly), sea moss promotes natural collagen production to improve skin health, fight inflammation and boost immunity. Its fiber and live bacteria content can also support optimal gut health. Sea moss contains iodine, which supports thyroid and hormone function; however, it's worth consulting your physician first if you have a thyroid condition and use medication already. Then there's the iron content, which can help battle tiredness and fatigue and boost energy, and nutrients like calcium and phosphorus are also present. Although your diet should ideally contain all the vitamins and minerals you need, sea moss is a great supplement to include to give you that little extra boost. Prices start from £15, depending on the product, and can be shipped internationally, although you may have to pay extra for imports. You can also mix and match flavor bundles before Deal A common method for consuming sea moss is a gel, which is what I've been using. I used Wyld Herbs, which offers sea moss gel in a range of flavors such as turmeric, raw honey (sourced from local beekeepers) and strawberry (my favorite — it tastes like a jam tart!). There are other ways to consume, but I found this the easiest, as I could just swipe a tablespoon straight from the jar. I also sometimes added it to smoothies, shakes, or my go-to oats recipe. Wyld Herbs works with female farmers and wild forages their sea moss from protected Caribbean waters. You can even apply it topically to your face twice per week as a mask if you prefer. Sea moss is high in iodine, so intake should be discussed with your physician if you have a thyroid condition and use medication. General guidelines suggest that one to two tablespoons of sea moss gel consumed daily is safe for most people. The British Dietetic Association doesn't recommend consuming brown seaweed or kelp every day, though, and warns against using seaweed or kelp supplements as iodine levels can vary. You should also avoid sea moss gels if you are pregnant or have a seafood or shellfish allergy. First, the sea moss gel I used tasted delicious, so I consumed it each morning straight from the jar or added it to my smoothies or oats, opting for one heaped tablespoon. I do have a thyroid condition, but didn't experience any adverse effects using this amount. However, always listen to your body, and as mentioned before, ask your physician if you're unsure. I'm going to say straight up that I've been using this product for more than a month, and I haven't noticed any physical or mental benefits so far. That isn't to say that consuming extra vitamins and minerals isn't doing my body good, but I haven't noticed a change to my skin or physical well-being that I can chalk up to sea moss. I'm enjoying the product, and it's a great low-fat and low-calorie topper for yoghurts, oats, or smoothies — or even just straight from the jar when you're feeling peckish. But I wouldn't stray from a balanced diet or expect a wonder cure for your skin, gut and well-being needs. Further research is needed, and I'll be reporting back if I notice any changes to my health over the coming months. Although sea moss is related to seaweed, the majority of research supports the health benefits of seaweed as opposed to sea moss specifically. The benefits are reported to be similar, but the research is (at this stage) limited. A 2021 study suggests marine seaweeds contain 'bioactive components that promote a healthy diet,' listing properties like anticancer, antiviral, antihypertensive, antiinflammatory, neuroprotective and antifungal — to name a few. However, it adds that seaweeds can accumulate heavy metals and minerals, so consumption should not exceed the recommended daily allowance (150 mcg for adults). A risk assessment published by Environmental Science and Pollution Research suggests 4g per day of dehydrated Irish moss seaweeds contributes 'greatly' toward the recommended daily allowance for iodine in children (roughly 25.7%). A study published in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine on Chondrus crispus (sea moss) found that it could have prebiotic effects, improving gut health and immune modulation. However, the research was conducted on animals (rats) and not on humans. It's promising, at least, but a gamechanger in tablespoon form? Not yet. 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BBC News
25-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Sea moss na miracle cure or just anoda wellness trend?
Some pipo dey see sea moss as di secret to glowing skin, easy weight loss and beta gut health. Sea moss, wey be spiny seaweed wey pipo fit chop, don become trend for celebrities and TikTokers alike. Social media dey flooded wit recipes for sea moss lattes, DIY (Do it yourself) face masks and videos of di #SeaMossChallenge - one viral trend wey influencers dey swallow a mouthful of fishy-smelling, gooey sea moss gel. But any truth dey behind di superfood claims, or na just anoda wellness trend? Wetin be sea foam? Sea moss - also dey known as Irish moss - na one type of red algae wey dem dey generally find along di rocky coasts of Ireland and oda parts of di Atlantic. E also dey grows in di warmer waters of Asia, South America and Africa. According to di International Council for Food Additives, humans don dey harvest and consume sea moss for around 14,000 years, wit evidence of medicinal use in China as far back as 600 BC. Di plant dey produce one additive wey dem dey call carrageenan, wey food manufacturers dey use as thickener and gelling agent in products like ice cream, chocolate milk and jelly. Like many seaweeds, sea moss dey rich in nutrients, including iron, magnesium, iodine and vitamins, wey dey contribute to overall good health, according to di British Nutrition Association. E dey widely available online in both raw and dried forms, but di most popular products on social networks na pills, powders, gels and gums. Di global sea foam market dey expected to pass $3 billion by 2032, e dey driven by strong demand in China, according to data from Polaris Market Research. Fair skin? Inside one article about managing psoriasis, one chronic inflammatory skin disease, reality TV star Kim Kardashian bin tok say she dey drink sea foam smoothies as part of a plant-based diet. But wetin di science tok? Sea moss contain vitamins A and E wey, according to di UK National Health System (NHS), dey important for skin health. E also contain antioxidants, like polyphenols, wey don 'well-established anti-inflammatory effects', according to di NHS. Leah de Souza-Thomas dey qualified biomedical scientist based in di UK and a member of Nutritionist Resource, a database for qualified nutritionists and dieticians. She say na 'little direct evidence dey say to dey eat sea foam improves skin condition or appearance'. Studies wey show di skin benefits of sea moss don focus on topical treatments, like creams, rather dan consumption, she bin tell di BBC. Weight loss Di diet culture dey very present on TikTok. In 2022, one study by di University of Vermont in di United States bin count 9.7 billion videos wit di hashtag #weightloss. Users don promote sea moss as superfood wey dey help wit weight loss, but Bridget Benelam, tok-tok pesin for di British Nutrition Foundation, say no evidence dey to suggest say sea moss suppose get superfood status. 'We know very little about di specific benefits wey to dey eat sea moss fit get on human health,' she bin tell di BBC. Sea moss dey rich in fibre, wey fit help you feel full, according to Richelle Isaacs, one registered naturopathic nutrition therapist in di UK. But she add say no 'enough evidence tsay e dey contribute to weight loss'. Love of guts Seaweed, including sea moss, dey rich in polysaccharides, a type of prebiotic carbohydrate wey dey beneficial to di gut. 'Prebiotics be like fertiliser for our gut microbes,' British Dietetic Association expalin. "Dem be essentially foods wey dey feed our good bacteria. Di Harvard School of Public Health note say healthy gut dey linked to oda benefits, including boosted immunity, better brain health and fit even reduce di risk of diabetes. De Souza-Thomas acknowledge say sea moss don show 'promise' for gut health, but tell di BBC say 'more research dey needed to fully understand im role'. Potential risks Some risks dey associated wit eating sea foam, as e dey highlighted by di experts wey speak to di BBC. E contain high levels of iodine, wey fit cause thyroid problems if you consume too much. 'Make you no pass di amount wey dey recommended on di pack,' Ms Benelam tok. She add say, like seaweed, sea moss fit absorb heavy metals from di water, depending on where e dey grown. Di European Food Safety Authority say di accumulation of metals in di body fit get harmful long-term effects. Nevertheless, de Souza-Thomas believe say sea moss fit dey consumed in small quantities as part of a healthy diet. But e fit no be di miracle cure wey TikTokers claim say e be. 'E dey best to think of sea moss as complement to, rather dan substitute for, a varied diet rich in vegetables, fruit, whole grains, quality proteins and healthy fats,' de Souza-Thomas add.
