For the past few months, I’ve started each day the same way: with a big spoonful of a nasty-tasting golden gel.
The best way to describe its texture is lumpy Vaseline, and the pungent chemical aftertaste is so intense that the only thing that can wash it away is a strong black coffee.
It may sound like a miracle medical treatment from the 19th century, but it’s actually a £17 health supplement made from moss harvested from the shores of the Caribbean island of St Lucia.
And while this gel, known as sea moss, won’t win any awards for taste, I think it’s changed my life.
Since I started taking it every morning, I have experienced what can only be described as a complete personality change.
Better than vitamins? Our reporter Dolly Busby put sea moss to the test, which is becoming increasingly popular among Gen Z
American supermodel Bella Hadid swears by the benefits of sea moss and claims to drink a glass of it every morning.
Suddenly I have a lot of energy and I no longer yawn at 5pm. My friends have commented on how good I look, some even describing my skin as glowing. I have also stopped having hangovers.
I’m not the only fan of sea moss. Over the past two years, its popularity has skyrocketed among women under 25 (generation Z).
There are over 1.4 million posts about sea moss on Instagram, including gushing endorsements from famous influencers.
It is basically promoted as the ultimate vitamin supplement. However, sea moss also has a dark side: there are reports of users becoming seriously ill.
So what’s the truth? Could this disgusting substance spell the end of vitamin supplements?
Sea moss is a type of algae that looks a bit like seaweed and grows in tide pools.
There are several types, the two most common being Irish moss and Caribbean moss.
Records show that it was used as a medicine as early as 600 BC, when the Chinese harvested it to treat respiratory diseases.
During the Irish potato famine of the 19th century, sea moss was eaten to combat hunger.
But in recent years, companies have begun turning it into a gel that can be stored in a jar and stays fresh for several months.
These gels, which come in a variety of bright colors, have gained popularity in part due to endorsements from celebrities like reality TV star Kim Kardashian, who says she drinks sea moss smoothies.
American supermodel Bella Hadid claims to drink a glass of sea moss every morning.
As the Mail’s entertainment reporter, I keep a close eye on the lives of A-list celebrities, and after seeing these influential women rave about it, I thought I’d give it a try. I even picked up the same brand as Bella: Planted Seeds Gold Sea Moss Gel.
Our reporter tried the same brand preferred by Bella Hadid: Planted Seeds Gold Sea Moss Gel
Its main appeal is that it is supposedly packed with minerals. According to Island Moss, one of the UK’s largest suppliers, one tablespoon contains magnesium, potassium, iodine, sulphur, calcium, selenium, fibre, copper, phosphorus, zinc, riboflavin and manganese.
The company claims that these ‘provide energy, regulate digestion and detoxify the body.’
I am 24 years old and I follow a fairly healthy diet. Although I don’t know what many of these minerals are for, it is a very attractive promise.
But some experts have raised concerns about the safety of sea moss, warning that excessive consumption can lead to thyroid problems due to high levels of iodine.
While iodine is crucial for the functioning of the thyroid (a small gland located in the neck that produces important hormones), too much iodine can cause it to become overactive, resulting in symptoms such as mood swings, fatigue and difficulty sleeping.
Earlier this year, a 28-year-old woman in Connecticut, US, was hospitalized with severe thyroid disease after taking sea moss “sporadically” for a month.
Dr Duane Mellor, a dietician at Aston University in Birmingham, said: ‘If someone has an overactive thyroid then excess iodine can be a problem.
‘Most people usually struggle to get enough iodine, but sea moss contains plenty.’
Experts also question whether sea moss may be healthier than multivitamins, which are carefully formulated to contain a good balance of nutrients.
“Sea moss is certainly rich in vitamins and minerals, but it’s unlikely to be a superior substitute for a good multivitamin,” says Harley Street nutritionist Kim Pearson.
‘Sea moss occurs naturally, so the chances of it containing the same health benefit are low.’
As for me, I’m thinking of giving up sea moss.
The energy boost it initially gave me has been slowly fading away. My theory is that when I started taking the gel, my body suddenly got nutrients it didn’t have before.
But now that that’s gone, I’m not sure I want to continue eating a disgusting – and surprisingly expensive – gel every morning.