{"id":129038,"date":"2025-11-08T16:45:26","date_gmt":"2025-11-08T16:45:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/129038\/"},"modified":"2025-11-08T16:45:26","modified_gmt":"2025-11-08T16:45:26","slug":"what-does-sea-moss-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/129038\/","title":{"rendered":"What does sea moss do?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Dietitian reveals which supplements to add to your diet<\/p>\n

Registered dietitian Abbey Sharp explains how to best benefit from taking dietary supplements if you’re thinking about adding them to your routine.<\/p>\n

The internet has tilted the scales of skincare once again, this time, in favor of an approach that claims to help achieve a glow from the inside out. From influencers touting the benefits of \u201ceating your retinol,\u201d<\/a> to creators \u201cdeinfluencing\u201d<\/a> you from buying superfluous beauty products, there\u2019s one supplement people can\u2019t stop talking about: sea moss.<\/p>\n

So, if you\u2019ve seen scores of influencers taking spoonfuls of sea moss<\/a>, hyping up the supplements’ potential benefits for radiant skin and better digestion<\/a>, you might be wondering: Is there research to back the benefits<\/a> of sea moss, and does the supplement come with any risks?<\/p>\n

If sea moss has piqued your interest, here\u2019s what an expert needs you to know first.<\/p>\n

What is sea moss?<\/p>\n

The active ingredient in most sea moss supplements is Irish sea moss, a reddish seaweed incredibly rich in minerals. It’s particularly high in iodine, and contains other nutrients like calcium, vitamin B2, potassium, magnesium, iron and some zinc, says Maura MacDonald, MS, RD, CSSD, LDN and Medical Education Specialist, Sports Nutrition at Thorne<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Sea moss supplements can be found in a few different forms \u2013 from capsules to liquid droplets \u2013 but thanks to wellness influencers, one of the most popularized forms of the supplement is sea moss gel. Manufactures often throw in some additional ingredients, like aloe vera, which could enhance the gel-like texture to potentially aid with digestion, says MacDonald.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also common to come across sea moss gel that’s been formulated with vitamin B12<\/a>, which might benefit someone who is plant-based, and therefore has difficulty getting enough B12 from natural sources alone, she says.\u00a0<\/p>\n

What is sea moss good for?<\/p>\n

There\u2019s some research to support<\/a> that sea moss has prebiotic benefits, which could potentially help aid digestion, says MacDonald. Even if there\u2019s not much fiber in sea moss, the supplement might help \u201cfeed good gut bacteria for digestive health,\u201d she says.\u00a0<\/p>\n

There have also been studies that suggest<\/a> the iodine found in sea moss may support your thyroid function. For those with a pre-existing thyroid condition, it\u2019s best to steer clear of the supplement, says MacDonald.<\/p>\n

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Is sea moss good for your skin?<\/p>\n

When it comes to skin health, the logic behind many of the claims surrounding sea moss\u2019 benefits for skin \u2013 from restoring radiance to clearing hormonal acne<\/a> \u2013 is that the \u201chealthier you are on the inside, the healthier you are on the outside,\u201d says MacDonald.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Yes, sea moss does contain a plethora of vitamins and minerals, many of which, on paper, could be very nourishing for your skin \u2013 if you have a deficiency in those nutrients, says MacDonald. But Irish sea moss\u2019 benefits for skin aren’t well studied, and there\u2019s limited evidence that directly links the two.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Who should avoid sea moss?<\/p>\n

Perhaps the greatest concern surrounding sea moss is the possibility of heavy metal contamination<\/a>. In its natural form, sea moss is hyper-absorbent. If it\u2019s harvested from an area that\u2019s been polluted, there\u2019s a possibility it could be contaminated with unsafe minerals like mercury or arsenic.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Look for a brand that\u2019s disclosed that the supplement has undergone third-party testing, such as NSF<\/a>, says MacDonald. \u201cIf it’s NSF content-certified, that means (the supplement has) gone through really rigorous testing to make sure there is nothing unsafe,\u201d she says.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Before taking sea moss \u2013 or any supplement for that matter \u2013 have a conversation with your healthcare provider first. If you have a pre-existing thyroid condition<\/a>, have been prescribed to follow a low iodine diet, are pregnant and breastfeeding or have an allergy to sea moss or the ingredients added to the supplement, avoid taking sea moss, says MacDonald.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cFor a healthy population, (with) no thyroid concerns, it is generally considered safe, so long as the supplement is regulated and third party-tested,\u201d says MacDonald. If you have any concerns about taking sea moss, talk to your doctor, she says.\u00a0<\/p>\n