If you’ve never heard of sea moss gel, well, neither have I before giving it a try. Hailed as a new superfood, this strange gelatinous substance has incredible effects on our well-being. But it works? I decided to give it a try; here is what i found.

What is Sea Moss Gel?

Sea moss is a seaweed-like plant that grows on the Atlantic coasts of North America and Europe, especially Ireland. It naturally grows in a few different colors, including purple and brown, but most sea moss gel is red or golden. You can cook it in its original form, but it’s much easier to consume in its gel form.

If you decide to cook with sea moss, be very careful about how much you consume, as it’s harder to measure how much you’re consuming than when it’s in gel form. Too much sea moss can be bad for you, especially if you have a thyroid condition (discussed below).

When made into a gel, sea moss comes in a jar and you can eat it by the spoonful or mix it with water or other drinks, or you can use it in cooking. You can also find it sold as a prepackaged drink, and it’s now used in some skincare products.

The rise in popularity of sea moss gel

Sea moss gel has many purported health benefits, which is why it is currently so popular as a dietary supplement. The main benefits of taking sea moss gel are

• increased energy
• weight loss
• heart health
• mood improvement
• blood sugar management
• skin health
• thyroid health

The latter is the one you need to pay more attention to. Sea moss gel is high in iodine, which is good for your thyroid, but too much can be harmful. While it’s great to find a supplement that supports thyroid health, if you’re already taking medication for thyroid problems, you need to be careful. Too much iodine is not good for us, and if you are on thyroid medication, you should consult a doctor before taking sea moss gel.

It’s also worth noting that these health benefits are claims, as with many other supplements. Most of the studies are done on seaweed and show health benefits, but sea moss has yet to receive the same level of study.

It’s great for overall health

I didn’t have any specific health issues before trying sea moss gel, but I’m going through menopause and suffer from tiredness and fogginess. I wanted to try sea moss gel as I was hoping it would boost my energy, help me be more focused and possibly help me lose some weight. So I bought a jar of sea moss gel to give it a try. I approached it with a healthy dose of skepticism, the next big supplement was always being sold, which may or may not benefit us, but I felt a jar was worth a try.

Three tablespoons a day

When I first received my jar of sea moss gel from Wakuda, it felt like a weird lumpy gel, kind of like crystallized honey. But it sure doesn’t taste like honey! It took a while to get used to the taste, I won’t lie: it tastes slightly bitter, a little salty, a little seaweedy, and definitely tastes like the sea. I can’t tell you it’s a great taste, but it’s not terrible, and I soon got used to it. I took it as directed on the jar, which recommended 3 tablespoons a day. You can mix it with drinks if you prefer, and if you think you’re struggling with the taste or texture, I highly recommend you do.

Here’s a recipe for a breakfast drink from Jana Fritzsche, who teaches nutrition chef classes for the UK’s Healthy Living & Aging Goldster platform.

ingredients

• 3/4 cup sea moss gel
• 1 mango, ripe, chopped and frozen
• 1 cup pineapple cut into chunks and frozen
• 1 cup of coconut water or plant milk, such as oats, almonds, etc
• 1/2 inch grated ginger, peel for extra fiber

Instructions

1. Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth.
2. Serve in a glass.
3. Store in the refrigerator in a sealed bottle for up to 3 days.

Pro tip: Consider adding raspberries or blueberries, bananas, apples, cinnamon, chia seeds, or turmeric as well.

Voluminous hair, from the inside out

Sea moss gel may help you lose weight because it makes you feel full, apparently, although that wasn’t the case for me. I felt more energized and focused, but the overwhelming difference for me was in the condition of my hair. I haven’t noticed any changes in my skin, but within a few days of taking the sea moss gel, my hair was softer, fuller, and more luscious looking than it has been in years.

My hair has been restored to how it was 20 years ago, instead of the dismal menopausal flop it has been lately. This alone was enough to make me want to keep taking sea moss gel. It was a very pronounced change that I could feel and see, and that in turn lifted my mood.

Don’t let it go bad

On the jar of sea moss gel it says it lasts 3 to 4 weeks in the fridge. However, be careful with this one. Around the 3 week mark, I noticed mine started to smell a bit pungent. I still took my three spoonfuls that day as I thought it would still be okay, it wasn’t four weeks yet and I had a terrible stomach ache that night and the next day.

If you open your sealmoss gel one day and it smells funny, don’t eat it! You can also freeze your sea moss gel and it will last up to 3 months when stored in a freezer. I recommend freezing it in an ice cube tray so you can easily use it in drinks.

More tips for trying sea moss gel

For starters, definitely try it. I think different people will see different results, but I really don’t think anyone would see any results, even if it’s just more energy and focus. This is definitely a superfood. It’s still not that easy to get hold of here in the UK and not that many retailers are stocking it, despite its popularity. I ordered a jar online to try and had to wait for the next jar to arrive when mine was past its best. I recommend trying it first, but if it’s doing well, order more before you’re more than half the jar. In the time between my jar going bad and the next one coming, the benefits to my hair have worn off. So, it definitely works!

Editor’s note: Want tips for a healthier life? Considering The natural supplements that every woman over 50 should take AND 9 glycerin-free skincare products I won’t travel without.