Could seaweed be the next superfood?

Seaweed is trending on TikTok as a so-called superfood linked to a long list of health benefits, but is it worth the hype?

In a TikTok video published earlier this year that currently has 2.1 million views, beauty expert Tatyana – of the channel @tatlafata – says she has been drinking seaweed for two years.

“I swear by it,” he said in the video. “It’s the best thing I’ve ever added to my overall healing journey. Seaweed is an amazing food. It has 92 of the 102 minerals in the world. It’s crazy. I take it by the spoonful. every day.”

He credited sea moss with getting rid of his hormonal acne, getting rid of his anxiety, clearing his brain fog, giving him a glow from within, improving his energy and mood. a cortisol, “It did a lot for me. I can’t even explain it to you,” he said.

In another TikTok video posted in August by @herbal.ash, a medical herbalist said the claim of “92 out of 102 minerals” was unproven but added: “I still like to encourage the consumption of seaweed.” The video currently has over 900,000 views.

The benefits he listed for seaweed included supporting thyroid function, boosting thyroid function, improving skin health, supporting detoxification, improving blood oxygenation, and anti-inflammatory properties. swelling—depending on the color.

Newsweekmeanwhile, she spoke to a nutritionist and herbalist to find out more about seaweed and its health benefits.

“Seaweed has become popular in the health community recently, with claims about its many health benefits,” nutritionist Janie Perry, of Janie Perry Nutrition, said. Newsweek. “It is praised for its many nutrients, including essential vitamins, minerals – especially iodine, omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants.”

Medical herbalist Dr. Chris Etheridge, chairman of the British Herbal Medicine Association, said Newsweek that “seaweed (Chondrus crispus) is not actually a moss, but actually a type of red seaweed—a seaweed—that grows on the Atlantic coast of Europe and North America.”

He added: “It’s also known as Irish moss or carrageen moss. Sea moss has thin, fan-like leaves that can be many colors—from green or yellow to dark purple.

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

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

However, both experts said that seaweed can be good—or bad—for the throat because it contains iodine.

“Sea moss is a natural source of iodine, which is important for proper thyroid function,” Perry said. “Ideology regulates metabolism, energy levels and other hormonal functions. Too much iodine can negatively affect thyroid function, especially in those with thyroid problems. Therefore, if you are thinking about seaweed for its thyroid-boosting effects, consult a health care professional first.”

In addition to iodine, Etheridge said seaweed contains many beneficial nutrients, including calcium, magnesium, zinc, potassium, and B vitamins, as well as antioxidants—which can help reduce inflammation. swelling in the body.

Perry explained that seaweed is linked to healthy skin, healthy body, muscle and heart health because of all the nutrients it contains.

Both experts also said that seaweed can be good for the gut, due to the prebiotic fiber it contains, which can support the growth of good bacteria in the gut, and support other processes related to gut health, such as immunity.

“Studies have shown that seaweed food can reduce the risk of salmonella infection in humans and animals, and it contains a protein that has antibacterial activity against salmonella. Staphylococcus aureus“Etheridge said. Both salmonella and staphylococcus are bacteria that can cause serious infections in humans.

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

“Medical studies on the medicinal use of seaweed are very limited,” he said. “But in vitro and animal studies suggest a range of potential beneficial effects on the gut microbiome and immunity, a reduced risk of salmonella infection, a potential anticoagulant effect, and that I increased male fertility.”

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

Etheridge added that he would recommend seaweed to patients “to relieve a dry cough after a cold, or in those with mild acid, sometimes reflux,” but not in those with thyroid problems.

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