Sea bass is trending TikTok as a so-called superfood that is linked to a long list of purported health benefits, but is it worth the hype?

In a TikTok video posted earlier this year that currently has 2.1 million views, beauty guru Tatyana – of the @tatlafata channel – said she’s been taking sea moss for two years.

“I swear by it,” she said in the video. “It’s the best thing I’ve ever incorporated into my holistic healing journey. Sea moss is a crazy superfood. It contains 92 out of 102 minerals in the world. It’s crazy. I take a spoonful of it every day .”

She credited sea buckthorn with clearing up her hormonal acne, getting rid of anxiety, getting rid of brain fog, giving her a glow from within, and improving her energy and cortisol levels. “He has done so much for me. I can’t. even explain it to you,” she said.

In another TikTok video posted in August by @herbal.ash, an herbalist said the “92 out of 102 minerals” claim was unconfirmed, but added: “I still like and recommend taking sea moss “. The video currently has over 900,000 views.

The benefits he listed about sea buckthorn include supporting thyroid function, increasing energy levels, improving skin health, aiding detoxification, improving oxygen transport in the blood, and anti-inflammatory properties, depending on the color.

NewsweekMeanwhile, he spoke with a nutritional therapist and herbalist to learn more about sea moss and its health benefits.

“Male has recently gained popularity in wellness circles with claims of its many health benefits,” said nutritional therapist Janie Perry of Janie Perry Nutrition. Newsweek. “It is praised for its rich nutrient content, including essential vitamins, minerals – especially iodine, omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants.”

Dr Chris Etheridge, president of the British Herbal Medicine Association, said Newsweek that “sea muscle (Chondrus crispus) is not actually a moss, but is actually a type of red sea algae – kelp – that grows on the Atlantic coasts of Europe and North America”.

He added: “It is also known as Irish moss or carrageenan moss. Sea moss is full of thin, fan-like heads that can be many colors – from green or yellow to dark purple.”

Etheridge said the plant contained a lot of a starch called carrageenan, which was used in the food industry as a thickener and stabilizer in ice cream, non-dairy milk and toothpaste.

“Sea moss has traditionally been used as an infusion to soothe coughs, indigestion and acid reflux and can be made into a lotion to use on dry hands and hemorrhoids – as it has a soothing and anti-inflammatory effect,” said he.

Both experts noted, however, that sea moss could be helpful—or dangerous—for the thyroid because of its iodine content.

“Mussels are a natural source of iodine, which is essential for proper thyroid function,” Perry said. “The thyroid regulates metabolism, energy levels and other hormonal functions. Too much iodine can have a negative impact on thyroid function, especially for those with thyroid disorders. Therefore, if you are considering sea buckthorn for its thyroid-stimulating effects, consult a health professional. first.”

Besides iodine, Etheridge said it contains sea moss lots of beneficial nutrientsincluding calcium, magnesium, zinc, potassium, and B vitamins, as well as antioxidants—which can help calm inflammation in the body.

Perry explained that seaweed has been associated with good skin health, immune health, muscle function and heart health because of all the nutrients it contains.

Both experts also said that sea moss could be good for the gut, due to the prebiotic fiber it containedwhich could support the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut, in turn supporting other systems associated with gut health, such as immunity.

“Studies have shown that sea moss dietary supplements can reduce the risk of salmonella infections in humans and animals and that it contains a protein that has antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus,” Etheridge said. Both salmonella and staph are bacteria that can cause dangerous infections in humans.

However, Etheridge said the evidence to support all these claims was relatively limited.

“Clinical studies on the medicinal use of sea moss are rare,” he said. “But in vitro and animal studies suggest a number of possible beneficial effects on the gut microbiome and immunity, a reduced risk of salmonella infections, a possible anticoagulant effect and that it may increase male fertility.”

Anticoagulants are drugs that help prevent blood clots to reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack.

Etheridge added that he would recommend sea moss to patients “to soothe a dry cough following a chest infection or those with occasional mild acid reflux,” but not those with thyroid problems.

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