Sea moss is the latest trending wellness supplement—is it worth the hype?

Sea moss, also referred to as Irish moss or its scientific name, Chondrus Crispus, is typically “used as a stiffening agent in instant puddings, sauces, and dairy products such as ice cream,” according to the medical journal Elsevier’s book series, “Advances in Food and Nutrition Research.”

But some people believe that the leafy red algae — consumed in the form of a powder, capsule, or gel — can boost your immune system and even aid in weight loss.

In recent years, edible sea moss has gotten a lot more attention on social media, including from celebrities like rapper Meek Mill.

The trending supplement has even piqued the interest of wealthy investors.

In 2022, Mark Cuban and Kevin Hart invested $600,000 into a start-up company that sells edible sea moss gel. The selling point for them was that the company’s founder, Alexiou Gibson, says he lost 300 pounds by including the sea moss in his daily lattes.

There are many people like Gibson who have shared their success stories after taking sea moss daily, but is there concrete evidence to support their claims? Here’s what the science says about if sea moss is actually beneficial for weight loss, immunity, and other health-related changes.

Is sea moss worth the hype? Here’s what a dietician says

Sea moss is very nutrient-dense and contains vitamins A, C, E and certain B vitamins, Samar Kullab, a registered dietitian nutritionist in the Chicago area, tells CNBC Make it.

These vitamins can cause “an increase in energy levels, a boost in our immune system, brighter skin, and support [for our] body’s natural detoxification pathways,” Kullab says.

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How much is health and how much is hype?

YouTube: Sea Moss on Shark Tank