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I Tried Sea Moss Gel for 2 Weeks — Here’s How It Went

A smiling young woman holds up a jar of sea moss gel.

Once again, the health and wellness side of TikTok has piqued my interest. After seeing video after video of people trying sea moss to improve their gut health, I decided to see how effective it was for myself. Read on to learn what sea moss is — and for my honest thoughts after taking sea moss gel for two weeks.

Disclaimer: This post is not intended to substitute as advice of a qualified healthcare professional. Always seek medical advice that is specific to your situation and before starting to take new supplements.

Related: I tried 3 gut health hacks — here’s what I learned.

What is sea moss?

Often found in the northern Atlantic, sea moss (Chondrus crispus) is a type of algae (specifically, it’s a type of red seaweed, according to WebMD). You can find sea moss in the form of capsules, gels, powders and more, and many people consume it as part of their diet.

It’s been suggested that sea moss may have healing properties and can be added to smoothies, juice, dips or be made into a face or hair mask.

See also: My story: cooking is one of the most selfish things I do (here’s why).

For the sake of my personal experiment, I took the sea moss gel on its own. The recommended use is one to two tablespoons, so I did one tablespoon every morning (the one I got (EverSmith Organics Sea Moss Gel, Amazon, $40 plus shipping) was made with raspberries, which made the experience all the better).

See also: 7 pressure points to help with headaches, digestion and period cramps.

@slicedotca sea (hehe) you later, bloating 🫡 #seamossgel #seamossbenefits #healthhack #seamoss ♬ ditto – ! 4ever.s0ngs &lt3

What are the benefits of using sea moss?

While we may see lots of stories on TikTok, it’s important to note that there hasn’t been a lot of scientific study into the substance.

“There seem to be quite a few health benefits of sea moss, but they aren’t heavily studied,” registered dietitian Beth Czerwony, RD, told the Cleveland Clinic’s Health Essentials. The dietician added that, “sea moss supplements are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.”

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Still, people have claimed anecdotal benefits to using sea moss. Here are some of the benefits I was looking out for:

  • It may boost your immune system. Sea moss is full of prebiotics, which can help our bodies fight off diseases, while keeping healthy bacteria in.
  • It may help to get rid of excess mucus: Less excess mucus is helpful in reducing congestion. and I found this completely accurate in my experience! I got an intense cold, and the phlegm buildup in my throat lasted for three weeks. Nothing I did ease the feeling, but a couple days into taking sea moss, I noticed the congestion practically disappear overnight.
  • It may help to increase digestive health: As a strong source of fibre, sea moss may help keep your digestive system healthy, replenishing the good bacteria in the gut.
  • It may boost your mood: Magnesium and potassium are known for keeping you in a more upbeat, positive mood – the lack of either mineral can regularly make you cranky, so having these in the sea moss gel is a big plus for me.
  • It can be healthy for your heart: The magnesium and potassium aid in reducing blood pressure and lowering any inflammation.
  • It can help increase your energy: The anti-inflammatory properties reduce the feeling of being tired and the vitamins increase energy levels. I’ve noticed I’ve had an easier time getting up in the morning lately and that I get less tired throughout the day.

The two “side effects” I was most looking forward to seeing for myself were the weight loss and skin-clearing effects I’d seen so many people talk about on TikTok, but I haven’t noticed a change in either of these just yet. Maybe it’s just that I need to use the product for a longer period to see results with that (which, understandably makes sense, since weight and skin are two things that take a while to see a change in with any product).

What about risks? As with any food or supplement, there are always risks to consider — especially if you’re thinking of consuming large amounts. When it comes to sea moss gel, for example, Dr. Melinda Ring, the executive director of the Osher Center for Integrative Health at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, recently told the New York Times that people “should be careful to not overdo it” as sea moss may contain trace amounts of heavy metals.” Dr. Ring also pointed out that sea moss has high levels of iodine (which may damage the thyroid when you take large amounts).

Related: A nutritionist shares 10 vegetables that aren’t as healthy as you think.

Overall, while it didn’t hit every single benefit on the checklist within the two-week period, my experience with sea moss gel has been positive and the effects have been evident for me. I love that I’m less groggy when I wake up, I haven’t been getting physically tired as easily, the bloating I experience after a big meal or coffee is hardly there anymore and I feel fuller faster. Once you get over the gooey texture, the taste isn’t bad (I even started to really like it after a few days, but, as we mentioned earlier, because of the amount of iodine in sea moss, remember not to have more than two tablespoons a day!).

2023 is definitely the year of adding sea moss into my regular diet – how about you?

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Disclaimer: This post is not intended to substitute as advice of a qualified healthcare professional. Always seek medical advice that is specific to your situation and before starting to take new supplements.



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