Gummies have become a popular way to consume superfoods, multivitamins and supplements. CBD, melatonin and vitamin C gummies are among the most popular. However, another superfood that’s increasingly becoming mainstream is sea moss, which is available in various forms, including gummies.
Sea moss gummies have various health benefits, from supporting immunity and thyroid health to improving and promoting weight loss. Here’s a comprehensive guide covering the basics of sea moss gummies, including their health benefits, popularity, pros, cons and selection criteria for finding good quality options:
What Is Sea Moss?
Sea moss, also known as Irish moss, is a type of seaweed or algae that grows in water. The algae primarily grow along the rocky Atlantic coasts from North America to Europe and is similar to other edible sea plants like kelp and dulse. Sea moss leaves take on various colors, including shades of green, yellow, brown, red, purple and black. The most common variety grows in the warm waters of Europe and has reddish leaves. This type of sea moss is known as Irish moss. Scientifically, sea moss is known as Chondrus crispus and is harvested for its minerals, vitamins and antioxidants. The spiny vegetable is used in health supplements and some commercial foods as a thickening agent.
What Are Sea Moss Gummies?
Sea moss gummies are a type of health supplement featuring ingredients extracted from the superfood. The fan-like branches of sea moss contain carrageenan, which is used to thicken various commercial products. Sea moss is also available and edible in its raw state. Its taste is closer to that of oysters and clams. For those who don’t like raw seafood, sea moss comes as gummies, capsules, gels, and powder supplements that mask the strong sea flavor.
Gummies contain raw sea moss and other ingredients like elderberry, evaporated cane juice, vitamin C, and calcium.
The elderberry provides a more satisfying taste, while the cane juice adds sweetness to the gummies. Most sea moss gummies also include pectin starch to provide the gummy-like consistency seen in other products. The gummies offer a simple and enjoyable way to take in the nutrients found in sea moss, which many doctors consider a superfood. Sea moss gummies also come in many forms, including the following:
- Natural Store-Bought Gummies – This refers to gummies that don’t contain any artificial ingredients as per the FDA definition of the term ‘natural.’ However, some products may still feature fertilizer and genetically modified ingredients.
- Organic Store-Bought Gummies – These are produced in organic farms that don’t use artificial fertilizers and herbicides. They also don’t feature artificial ingredients as regulations of the term ‘organic’ by the USDA.
- Homemade Gummies – This refers to sea moss gummies that anyone can make at home using online recipes. You can create your gel, add apple juice, agave nectar, maple syrup and other sweeteners.
Are Sea Moss Gummies Healthy?
Sea moss is seen as a superfood with many health benefits. Its nutrient-dense leaves and branches can be consumed to deliver vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and polyunsaturated fats. The seaweed also contains small amounts of protein and is low in calories.
Sea moss is taken for various reasons, including nutrition, heart health, gut health, weight management, muscle recovery, immunity, thyroid health, blood sugar management, fertility and other uses. The gummies provide small amounts of protein, carbs and fiber and are good sources of iron, iodine, magnesium, zinc, copper, phosphorus and calcium.
Here’s an overview of the purported health benefits of sea moss and studies that back them:
Sea Moss Is a Nutritional Supplement
Sea moss gummies deliver the same nutritious ingredients found in raw sea moss weed and more. According to the USDA, sea moss contains vitamins and minerals like magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, iodine and vitamin A. The gummies also provide antioxidants, which can help combat oxidative damage and free radicals. Regular consumption of sea moss gummies can bolster the levels of these nutrients, which are essential for overall health and wellness.
Sea Moss Is Good for Your Gut Health
Seaweeds are generally good for gut health because they contain live bacteria and fiber. One review published in the Marine Drugs journal examined seaweeds and found that the family featured specific components essential for a healthy gut microbiome. Although the study looked at seaweed in general, the Irish moss is part of the family and can potentially be used as a probiotic. Prebiotics encourage the growth of good gut bacteria.
Sea Moss May Support Your Immunity
Some lab studies have shown that supplemental seaweed, including sea moss, can improve immune response and modulation. These studies have been done on salmon, with excellent outcomes. However, human studies aren’t available, calling for more research. Sea moss may strengthen your immunity in various ways, from improving gut health for optimal digestion and absorption of food to fighting infections, cancer and other diseases.
Sea Moss May Promote Heart Health
Studies indicate that seaweed can lower the levels of bad cholesterol LDL while acting as a blood thinner. These effects can help reduce the risk of heart disease. Sea moss also contains fiber, which is good for heart health. However, gummies contain much less fiber and won’t meet your daily dietary requirements. You can use it to supplement other sources. Nonetheless, a study found that people who consume seaweed have a reduced risk of total stroke, credited to potassium, flavonoids and fiber.
Sea Moss May Support Weight Loss
Microalgae and seaweeds provide healthy fiber that helps to clean the digestive tract, brood good gut bacteria and keep you satiated much longer than other foods. Fiber makes you feel full, which is important when looking to cut down food portions and lose weight. Sea moss is also low in calories and compounds such as fucoxanthin promote fat metabolism, although this has only been shown in lab results in rats. It’s important to note that sea moss gummies have a low amount of fiber per serving, so you shouldn’t rely on them alone.
Other Benefits of Sea Moss
Sea moss can improve blood sugar management thanks to compounds such as fucoxanthin and alginate. Fucoxanthin reduces high blood sugar, while alginate prevents blood sugar spikes and has yielded positive outcomes in pigs. The high iodine content in sea moss and seaweeds also helps to improve thyroid function. Sea moss has anecdotal use in traditional fertility treatment, although further investigation is required. Other health benefits of this natural superfood include anti-cancer (credited to carrageenan), muscle recovery, fatigue and pain.
Pros of Sea Moss Gummies
The pros and health benefits of sea moss have been well advertised. Athletes, fitness trainers and even celebrities all use sea moss powder, gels, capsules and gummies to leverage the potential health benefits of the superfood. Here are five pros of taking sea moss gummies:
- Offer Healthy Nutrition: Although some nutrients might only be available in low portions, sea moss gummies are still nutritious. Consuming gummies regularly increases the levels of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants your body takes in.
- Easy to Consume: Unlike raw sea moss and capsules that require swallowing with water, gummies are very easy to consume. They also have rich berry flavors and sweet tastes that mask the raw under-sea-water flavors. You can pack gummies conveniently and eat them any time of the day.
- Feature Other Ingredients: Sea moss gummies can feature additional ingredients to supplement the already extensive list of nutrients available in the seaweed. This can be other seaweed nutrients unavailable in sea moss or superfoods with known health benefits.
- Safe to Consume: Sea moss gummies are generally safe to consume. The seaweed is edible in its raw state and can be added to other food preparations. However, the gummies are more convenient and don’t require any preparation.
- Backed by Science: Many potential health benefits of sea moss gummies require further investigation. However, preliminary research has shown great results and people have been consuming sea moss for ages.
Cons
Despite their many benefits, sea moss gummies, like most supplements, have drawbacks. The most obvious one is the low fiber content and loss of other nutrients in the transformation from raw leafy moss to gummies. Here are other cons of sea moss gummies:
- May Contain Too Much Iodine: While seaweed and sea moss are excellent sources of iodine, the levels vary. This may expose users to iodine overconsumption, which can cause fever, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and weak pulse. Make sure you check the levels of iodine in your gummies.
- May Contain Heavy Metals: Seaweeds like sea moss usually absorb heavy metals in larger proportions, explaining why they’re not recommended to pregnant mothers. However, studies indicate that the levels of heavy metals in seaweeds don’t pose any significant health risk. Just make sure you don’t overconsume such supplements.
- No Strict Regulations: These gummies and supplements aren’t strictly regulated. It’s common for sellers to slap labels like natural on products containing artificial ingredients, even though the sea moss component might be natural. Make sure you review the label and all ingredients in the formula.
Why Are Sea Moss Gummies Trending?
The number of news publications mentioning sea moss gummies and supplements has recently increased. CNBC, Forbes and Vogue all have articles promoting sea moss as a recommended superfood for overall health and wellness. Celebrities and athletes have been seen adding sea moss powder to their smoothies. Fitness trainers and enthusiasts are also proud to show clips of them using sea moss supplements pre-and post-workout. All this publicity makes sea moss one of the trending supplements in 2024.
A series of preliminary studies, increased availability and widespread use drive the recent craze. Social media platforms also help to advertise the supplement, as curious users can find short videos of other people taking sea moss gummies and showing the results. Sea moss gummies are available in online stores like Amazon and can be delivered straight to your home.
How To Buy Quality Sea Moss Gummies
Sea moss gummies have many potential health benefits, but that’s only true if you consume high-quality supplements from credible brands. Not all sea moss gummies you encounter are worth consuming. The ambiguous regulations governing health supplements make it easy for some manufacturers to add labels like natural and organic without providing clear details about what ingredients meet those requirements. As such, it’s important to find reliable sources. Look for credible supplement stores with a track record of providing quality products. You can go through user reviews on Amazon and other stores and do your research before using any supplement. Stick to gummies with transparent label information and positive reviews from customers.
Key Takeaways
Sea moss gummies are gummy supplements primarily made of sea moss, a leafy sea vegetable. The seaweed contains vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other nutritious ingredients you need for good health. By making gummies out of sea moss, you can conveniently ingest these nutrients on the go. However, make sure you don’t overconsume sea moss gummies to avoid exposing yourself to too much iodine or heavy metals that the plant might have absorbed. More importantly, purchase your sea moss gummies from reliable shops that provide quality products with accurate and transparent labeling.
