{"id":604742320434,"title":"Sea Moss: Ancient Medicine or Dangerous?","created_at":"2023-02-09T17:07:00-05:00","body_html":"\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e\/\/ \u003c![CDATA[\n{\n \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n \"@type\": \"Article\",\n \"headline\": \"Sea Moss: Ancient Medicine or Dangerous?\",\n \"keywords\": \"sea moss, sea moss benefits, sea moss health benefits, irish moss, sea moss gel, benefits of sea moss, irish sea moss, sea moss gel benefits, what is sea moss, what is sea moss good for, irish moss benefits, irish sea moss benefits, benefits of irish sea moss, sea moss benefits and side effects, how to make sea moss gel, sea moss side effects, what does sea moss do, best sea moss, sea moss health benefits, sea moss supplement, sea moss benefits list, sea moss powder, how much sea moss to take daily, sea moss minerals, how to make sea moss, sea moss smoothie, the benefits of sea moss, best sea moss to buy\",\n \"description\": \"Our research team reviews medical studies on sea moss to highlight some of its health benefits that are backed by research. We explain if sea moss causes side effects and share real, unsponsored user reviews that describe its effects.\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/sea-moss-benefits\",\n\"author\": {\n \"@type\": \"Person\",\n \"name\": \"Calloway Cook\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/calloway-cook\",\n \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/calloway-cook\/\",\n \"jobTitle\": \"President\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"entrepreneurship, dietary supplements, herbal supplements, eCommerce, medical research\",\n \"alumniOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"EducationalOrganization\",\n \"name\": \"S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University\"\n },\n \"memberOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n }\n},\n\"editor\": {\n \"@type\": \"Person\",\n \"name\": \"DJ Mazzoni\",\n \"honorificSuffix\": [\n \"M.S.\",\n \"R.D.\",\n \"C.D.N.\",\n \"C.S.C.S.\"\n ],\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/dj-mazzoni\",\n \"sameAs\": [\n \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/dj-mazzoni-rd-cdn-cscs-00a33038\/\",\n \"http:\/\/djmazzoni.com\/\"\n ],\n \"jobTitle\": \"Medical Reviewer\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"exercise, drugs, pharmaceutical, health, workout, strength and conditioning, nutrition, dietetics, medicine, medical research, scientific research, scientific method, healthcare, patient care, wellness\",\n \"alumniOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"EducationalOrganization\",\n \"name\": [\n \"State University of New York College Oswego\",\n \"D’Youville College\"\n ]\n },\n \"memberOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n }\n},\n\"image\": {\n\"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\"url\": \"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Sea_Moss_Thumbnail.png?v=1675980900\",\n\"width\": \"2467\",\n\"height\": \"2467\"\n},\n\"citation\": [\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/32908248\/\", \n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC7798825\/\",\n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8241699\/\",\n\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/black-seed-oil-review\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/32803579\/\",\n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6551690\/\"\n],\n\"mentions\": [{\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"Irish sea moss\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"fucoidan\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"minerals\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"iodine\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"Dr. Jen Caudle\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"side effects\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"Divas Can Cook\"\n }\n],\n\"datePublished\": \"2023-02-09\",\n\"copyrightHolder\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n},\n\"publisher\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/\",\n \"description\": \"Illuminate Labs is the most transparent supplement company in the U.S., and is a leading publisher of research-based health information.\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"supplements, science, nutrition, exercise, health, medication, pharmaceutical, wellness, diet, weight loss, medical research\",\n \"publishingPrinciples\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/editorial-guidelines\",\n \"memberOf\": [\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"U.S. Chamber of Commerce\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.uschamber.com\/\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Certified B Corp\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.bcorporation.net\/en-us\/\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Natural Products Association\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.npanational.org\/\"\n }\n ], \n \"logo\": {\n \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Illuminate_Labs_Favicon_48x48_7595c3cc-e27b-47b8-a4fe-edcc7ed9b29a.png?v=1666502785\", \n \"width\": 48,\n \"height\": 48\n},\n \"foundingDate\": \"2019-01-30\",\n \"sameAs\": [\n \"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/illuminatelabs\",\n \"https:\/\/twitter.com\/illuminatelabs\",\n \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/illuminate-labs-supplements\",\n \"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCpgSJAsIPb-fZ25djtTxBEA\"\n ]\n }\n}\n\/\/ ]]\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Sea_Moss_Article_Header_Image_Optimized.png?v=1675980076\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"dc\"\u003eS\u003c\/span\u003eea moss is one of the most popular nutritional supplements in the world, and is used by millions of people daily. Many health and wellness influencers claim that sea moss can have life-changing health benefits while others are more skeptical. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBut is sea moss proven in medical studies to have any specific health benefits? Are there any health risks or dangers associated with its use? What’s the best sea moss brand? And how do real users rate and describe the effects of sea moss use?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIn this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more as we review clinical studies on sea moss to determine whether it actually has proven health effects.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe’ll also explain if it can be dangerous or cause side effects, share our top sea moss brand recommendation, and highlight real, unsponsored sea moss user reviews.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhat Health Benefits Does Sea Moss Have?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eSea moss is a general term that is used to refer to a few different species of seaweed. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eEucheuma spinosum\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e is the botanical name for the sea moss native to Indonesia, and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eChondrus crispus\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e, also called Irish sea moss, is another widely-cultivated variety. Both have been studied in clinical research.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eGeneral nutrition\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e is the first research-backed benefit of sea moss consumption. A \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/32908248\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that the minerals, dietary fibers and phytonutrients in sea moss may contribute to a reduction in disease risk.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eMany Americans eat a nutritionally-deficient diet, and all of the different nutrients in sea moss can be effective for preventative health, somewhat like a multivitamin.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCold and flu prevention\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e is another potential health benefit of sea moss. A 2020 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC7798825\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e found that sea moss has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiviral effects which may help consumers reduce the risk of illness.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eSea moss contains a compound called fucoidan which reduces the body’s production of proinflammatory cytokines and has direct effects against influenza A, hepatitis B and HIV according to the above-linked medical review.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFertility and libido\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e is what sea moss is frequently used for. While we can’t identify any clinical trials with human trial participants proving this effect, a 2021 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8241699\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eanimal study\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e found that sperm count increased by over 35% and testosterone levels increased by over 20%.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAs we explained in our review of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/black-seed-oil-review\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eblack seed oil\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e, results from animal studies don’t necessarily mean the same results will apply in humans, but the hormone systems of all mammals are similar so this early research is promising. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eOverall, sea moss has the potential to improve human health due to its rich nutritional status. We would consider it a functional food rather than a supplement because it can be consumed whole and no processing is required.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA doctor named Jen Caudle describes some of the health benefits of sea moss in a YouTube video:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Ed63Es3nucI\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBut how do real people describe the effects of regular sea moss use? We’ll analyze in the next section.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReal, Unsponsored Sea Moss User Reviews\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA YouTube creator named “ListedFit” shared his experience on sea moss in a video with over 700,000 views:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/yWZGsQWXFuk\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA TikTok user named Ebony B explains why she stopped using sea moss due to contamination concerns:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote class=\"tiktok-embed\" cite=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@thesecretlifeofeb\/video\/7191981139513609518\" data-video-id=\"7191981139513609518\" style=\"max-width: 375px; min-width: 325px;\"\u003e\n\u003csection\u003e\u003ca target=\"_blank\" title=\"@thesecretlifeofeb\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@thesecretlifeofeb?refer=embed\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e@thesecretlifeofeb\u003c\/a\u003e Why i stopped taking seamoss.. Also prepping my hair for a hot oil treatment!!! \u003ca title=\"seamoss\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/seamoss?refer=embed\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e#seamoss\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca title=\"seamossgel\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/seamossgel?refer=embed\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e#seamossgel\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca title=\"whyistoppedtakingseamoss\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/whyistoppedtakingseamoss?refer=embed\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e#whyistoppedtakingseamoss\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca title=\"naturalhair\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/naturalhair?refer=embed\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e#naturalhair\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca title=\"hotoiltreatment\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/hotoiltreatment?refer=embed\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e#hotoiltreatment\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca title=\"type4hair\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/type4hair?refer=embed\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e#type4hair\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca title=\"type4naturalhair\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/type4naturalhair?refer=embed\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e#type4naturalhair\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca title=\"supplements\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/supplements?refer=embed\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e#supplements\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca target=\"_blank\" title=\"♬ original sound - Ebony B\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/music\/original-sound-7191981150473210670?refer=embed\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e♬ original sound - Ebony B\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cscript async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/embed.js\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eAre There Any Health Risks to Sea Moss Use?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eOne of the most frequently-discussed risks of sea moss use is related to iodine overconsumption. Iodine is a trace mineral that can cause thyroid issues when consumed at too high of a quantity. However, we don’t believe this is an issue based on medical research.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/32803579\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e published in the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eEnvironmental Science and Pollution Research\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e journal examined the risk of iodine intake from two common types of sea moss. The study authors found that there was no health risk at normal intake levels of around 4 grams per day, and at this level the iodine intake would actually be beneficial.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eOnly at an intake of 286 grams a day of sea moss consumption was there a risk of iodine toxicity, and this dose is far higher than what most consumers would take daily.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6551690\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emeta-study\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e published in the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eNutrition Reviews\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e journal examined the risks of sea moss intake and concluded that there were no specific risks beyond potential environmental contamination, which exists for all food products grown outdoors (including rice, oats, etc).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eOverall, we do not consider sea moss use likely to cause side effects\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e, but sourcing from quality suppliers is important.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eIs Sea Moss Gel Better Than Regular Sea Moss?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eSea moss gel is the same product nutritionally as whole sea moss or sea moss powder. It’s just processed differently.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe gel is created by soaking sea moss, blending and cooling it. The consistency and density of the solution changes, making it more “gel-like,” and it can be easier to take in this form.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWe recommend that consumers be wary of any companies making claims that sea moss gel is healthier than any other format of sea moss, because it suggests a lack of understanding about this food, and suggests a low-quality brand.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA YouTube channel called “Divas Can Cook” has a video on how to make sea moss gel:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/H7lKK-ggkls\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eOur Sea Moss Brand Recommendation\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Sea_Moss_Product_Image.png?v=1675980455\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003ca rel=\"sponsored\" href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3Mu5DUD\"\u003eElderwise Organic Sea Moss\u003c\/a\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eis our top sea moss product pick. It’s in powder form which makes it easy to add to smoothies or any liquid, and most importantly \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003ethere are no questionable additive ingredients like flavoring agents or preservatives.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe only ingredient in Elderwise Organic Sea Moss is pure Irish sea moss, and it's lab-tested for heavy metals and contaminants.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eInterested consumers can check out Elderwise Organic Sea Moss \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca rel=\"sponsored\" href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3Mu5DUD\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eat this link\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e to the product page on the brand’s official Amazon listing.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eConclusion\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eSea moss is a functional food that has promising health benefits based on a review of medical research. It’s been clinically shown to improve general nutrition status, aid with cold and flu prevention and potentially improve fertility and libido. Sea moss is one of the most nutritionally-rich food products we’ve reviewed on Illuminate Health.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThere are no differences between whole sea moss, sea moss powder or sea moss gel in regard to health effects. These are all different formats of the same food which are processed differently.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWhile we don’t recommend taking sea moss to treat or prevent any specific health condition, it may be a useful preventative measure to add to your daily routine to boost vitality. We consider it somewhat like a naturally-derived multivitamin.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eSea moss can be contaminated with heavy metals due to environmental pollution which makes sourcing a quality brand an important consideration, but this is no different than any other food grown outdoors. We don’t believe that sea moss is likely to have any specific health risks because we couldn’t find any in clinical studies.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eMost online reviews of sea moss are favorable and many users report improved energy levels.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","blog_id":49281925193,"author":"Calloway Cook","user_id":26601750601,"published_at":"2023-02-09T17:19:43-05:00","updated_at":"2023-05-16T10:49:55-04:00","summary_html":"We review medical studies on sea moss to highlight some of its health benefits that are backed by research. We explain if sea moss causes side effects and share real, unsponsored user reviews that describe its effects.","template_suffix":"","handle":"sea-moss-benefits","tags":"_related:nutrition"}

Sea Moss: Ancient Medicine or Dangerous?

Sea Moss: Ancient Medicine or Dangerous?


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Read our Editorial Guidelines to learn more about what makes our site the premier resource for online health information.

Sea moss is one of the most popular nutritional supplements in the world, and is used by millions of people daily. Many health and wellness influencers claim that sea moss can have life-changing health benefits while others are more skeptical. 

But is sea moss proven in medical studies to have any specific health benefits? Are there any health risks or dangers associated with its use? What’s the best sea moss brand? And how do real users rate and describe the effects of sea moss use?

In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more as we review clinical studies on sea moss to determine whether it actually has proven health effects.

We’ll also explain if it can be dangerous or cause side effects, share our top sea moss brand recommendation, and highlight real, unsponsored sea moss user reviews.

What Health Benefits Does Sea Moss Have?

Sea moss is a general term that is used to refer to a few different species of seaweed. Eucheuma spinosum is the botanical name for the sea moss native to Indonesia, and Chondrus crispus, also called Irish sea moss, is another widely-cultivated variety. Both have been studied in clinical research.

General nutrition is the first research-backed benefit of sea moss consumption. A medical review published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that the minerals, dietary fibers and phytonutrients in sea moss may contribute to a reduction in disease risk.

Many Americans eat a nutritionally-deficient diet, and all of the different nutrients in sea moss can be effective for preventative health, somewhat like a multivitamin.

Cold and flu prevention is another potential health benefit of sea moss. A 2020 medical review found that sea moss has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiviral effects which may help consumers reduce the risk of illness.

Sea moss contains a compound called fucoidan which reduces the body’s production of proinflammatory cytokines and has direct effects against influenza A, hepatitis B and HIV according to the above-linked medical review.

Fertility and libido is what sea moss is frequently used for. While we can’t identify any clinical trials with human trial participants proving this effect, a 2021 animal study found that sperm count increased by over 35% and testosterone levels increased by over 20%.

As we explained in our review of black seed oil, results from animal studies don’t necessarily mean the same results will apply in humans, but the hormone systems of all mammals are similar so this early research is promising. 

Overall, sea moss has the potential to improve human health due to its rich nutritional status. We would consider it a functional food rather than a supplement because it can be consumed whole and no processing is required.

A doctor named Jen Caudle describes some of the health benefits of sea moss in a YouTube video:

But how do real people describe the effects of regular sea moss use? We’ll analyze in the next section.

Real, Unsponsored Sea Moss User Reviews

A YouTube creator named “ListedFit” shared his experience on sea moss in a video with over 700,000 views:

A TikTok user named Ebony B explains why she stopped using sea moss due to contamination concerns:

@thesecretlifeofeb Why i stopped taking seamoss.. Also prepping my hair for a hot oil treatment!!! #seamoss #seamossgel #whyistoppedtakingseamoss #naturalhair #hotoiltreatment #type4hair #type4naturalhair #supplements ♬ original sound - Ebony B

Are There Any Health Risks to Sea Moss Use?

One of the most frequently-discussed risks of sea moss use is related to iodine overconsumption. Iodine is a trace mineral that can cause thyroid issues when consumed at too high of a quantity. However, we don’t believe this is an issue based on medical research.

A medical review published in the Environmental Science and Pollution Research journal examined the risk of iodine intake from two common types of sea moss. The study authors found that there was no health risk at normal intake levels of around 4 grams per day, and at this level the iodine intake would actually be beneficial.

Only at an intake of 286 grams a day of sea moss consumption was there a risk of iodine toxicity, and this dose is far higher than what most consumers would take daily.

A meta-study published in the Nutrition Reviews journal examined the risks of sea moss intake and concluded that there were no specific risks beyond potential environmental contamination, which exists for all food products grown outdoors (including rice, oats, etc).

Overall, we do not consider sea moss use likely to cause side effects, but sourcing from quality suppliers is important.

Is Sea Moss Gel Better Than Regular Sea Moss?

Sea moss gel is the same product nutritionally as whole sea moss or sea moss powder. It’s just processed differently.

The gel is created by soaking sea moss, blending and cooling it. The consistency and density of the solution changes, making it more “gel-like,” and it can be easier to take in this form.

We recommend that consumers be wary of any companies making claims that sea moss gel is healthier than any other format of sea moss, because it suggests a lack of understanding about this food, and suggests a low-quality brand.

A YouTube channel called “Divas Can Cook” has a video on how to make sea moss gel:

Our Sea Moss Brand Recommendation

Elderwise Organic Sea Moss is our top sea moss product pick. It’s in powder form which makes it easy to add to smoothies or any liquid, and most importantly there are no questionable additive ingredients like flavoring agents or preservatives.

The only ingredient in Elderwise Organic Sea Moss is pure Irish sea moss, and it's lab-tested for heavy metals and contaminants.

Interested consumers can check out Elderwise Organic Sea Moss at this link to the product page on the brand’s official Amazon listing.

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Conclusion

Sea moss is a functional food that has promising health benefits based on a review of medical research. It’s been clinically shown to improve general nutrition status, aid with cold and flu prevention and potentially improve fertility and libido. Sea moss is one of the most nutritionally-rich food products we’ve reviewed on Illuminate Health.

There are no differences between whole sea moss, sea moss powder or sea moss gel in regard to health effects. These are all different formats of the same food which are processed differently.

While we don’t recommend taking sea moss to treat or prevent any specific health condition, it may be a useful preventative measure to add to your daily routine to boost vitality. We consider it somewhat like a naturally-derived multivitamin.

Sea moss can be contaminated with heavy metals due to environmental pollution which makes sourcing a quality brand an important consideration, but this is no different than any other food grown outdoors. We don’t believe that sea moss is likely to have any specific health risks because we couldn’t find any in clinical studies.

Most online reviews of sea moss are favorable and many users report improved energy levels.




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