Are Those Buzzy Sea Moss Smoothies a Gift from the Gods of Gut Health or Way Overhyped?

A few years ago, you might have immediately felt uncomfortable at the prospect of putting a lot of kale, spinach, or even tomatoes in a smoothie recipe. My go-to smoothies in the early 2000s were only strawberry and banana blends, and my Jamba Juice order was always the 16-ounce Razzmatazz with additional strawberries.

However, as I grew older and my taste buds evolved, I began to like and, dare I say, even want the idea of gulping down a green smoothie (TYSM, Ina Garten). As trendy as Hailey Bieber these days is experimenting with tons of new, healthful ingredients in smoothies (and her 17-dollar smoothie at Erewhon).

To be honest, when I add a little bit of coconut kefir, a touch of cayenne, and a dash of maca to the blender, I sometimes feel as like I'm running a complex scientific experiment. Additionally, many menus now include a ton of incredibly nutritious add-ons like collagen powder or blue spirulina as smoothie and juice bars rise to the occasion. However, marine moss is one that has recently drawn our notice. You've come to the correct place if you're wondering whether sea moss actually has any health advantages and why everyone appears to be putting it in their smoothies at the moment.

Sincerely, Well+Good predicted this last year. Eating sea greens, or the 145 edible forms of algae like wakame, kombu, nori, and, of course, sea moss, was one of the major wellness trends we anticipated will be quite popular in 2020. According to Diego Norris, chief marketing officer of gimMe snacks, "the seaweed category has grown over 63 percent in sales with high double digit growth year over year since 2018 in particular." This year, sea greens have already appeared as vegan crab cakes, pre-packaged ramen noodles, and even kelp cubes intended for smoothies; just FYI, spirulina is also a type of seaweed.So, are we surprised by this new smoothie trend? Not quite. However, given that sea moss smoothies are the most recent application of the sea greens craze, we definitely had to find out more information about them.

We chatted with two trained dietitians to get their honest opinions on sea moss and learn whether it makes a good smoothie or not in order to better grasp what the issue is with this marine beverage. Their response: maybe.

What exactly is sea moss?

Irish moss, or sea moss, is a common edible red seaweed that can be found on rocky coasts in the Northern Atlantic. It can come in a variety of hues, including green, yellow, red, brown, and even black. Sea moss, like other varieties of seaweed, algae, and kelp, is an edible sea plant that boasts a wide range of remarkable health advantages.

Although you might not be familiar with sea moss as an ingredient on its own, you might be surprised to learn that it can be found as carrageenan in a number of regularly consumed items, including ice cream, cottage cheese, and non-dairy milk. Carrageenan is found in the cell walls of sea mosses, and C. crispus is the original source of this thickening and gelling ingredient that is widely utilized in the food business. This food additive is created by combining alkaline materials and seaweed extract.

Health benefits of sea moss

According to Roxana Ehsani, MS, RD, CSSD, LDN, a registered dietitian nutritionist and a national media spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, "Sea moss is undoubtedly making significant waves as the new smoothie go-to ingredient." While it might not be the first ingredient that comes to mind when making a smoothie, it is highly nutrient-dense and offers a number of health advantages. One of its claimed benefits is that it is antibacterial, antiviral, supports gut health, a robust immune system, and improves heart health.

A quarter cup of sea moss, according to Ehsani, has ten calories, zero grams of fat, three grams of carbs, half a gram of dietary fiber, and an additional half gram of protein. She also point out that much more investigation is necessary before definitive proof of the health advantages of sea moss can be assessed.

Dietitian Amy Shapiro, MS, RD, CDN, creator and director of Real Nutrition, also applauds the potential health benefits of consuming this ocean moss. According to Shapiro, "We love all things seaweed and sea moss because these plants give a range of elements, including iodine, that we do not efficiently acquire through our ordinary diet." Sea moss contains a lot of fiber, which may help with digestion, regularity, and overall gut health in addition to lowering cholesterol levels. Additionally, according to Shapiro, sea moss is a rich source of iron and antioxidants.

Shapiro cautions that it's a good idea to keep in mind that sea moss is not yet subject to FDA regulation before you jump into the ocean or dash to the store to acquire some for your daily smoothie preparations. "Sea moss's nutritional composition varies depending on the environment in which it grows. Some sea moss might have an excessive amount of iodine, which could be bad for thyroid health, says Ehsani. She suggests taking sea moss in moderation up till more conclusive evidence is available in order to err on the side of caution.

What’s the best way to consume sea moss?

Sea moss has a potent aroma, flavor, and texture that some people could find challenging to adapt to. You might not notice the flavor, though, when combined with wonderful, decadent smoothie components, according to Shapiro. Ehsani says that before ingesting sea moss, you should speak with your doctor.