TikTok influencers are eating sea moss to clear their skin, but experts say too much of it could be harmful

• People on TikTok are trying Irish sea moss to help clear skin and alleviate bloating.
• Irish sea moss has existed as a form of alternative medicine for centuries, with roots in Ireland and Jamaica.
• There aren't many studies that support Irish sea moss' health benefits.

Influencers on TikTok are recommending sea moss to their followers, touting its purported benefits to clear skin, to help you breathe better, and to eliminate toxins from the body.

Naomi Maldonado told her 44,000 followers on TikTok that ingesting raw Irish sea moss, a type of red algae, results in a plethora of health benefits.

"You're gonna notice that you'll start to cough up a lot of phlegm, which is OK," Maldonado said.

"It's a good thing because you're clearing out all that stuff that doesn't belong in your lungs and you're gonna be able to breathe so much better."

As Shape previously reported, Irish sea moss has historically been used as a homeopathic remedy in Ireland, Scotland, and Jamaica. However, there isn't a significant amount of science to back the claims being aired on TikTok.

Eating sea moss has been an alternative medicine practice for years

Eating raw sea moss everyday for its health benefits is a new trend on TikTok, but the practice of using sea moss to heal has existed for centuries.

According to the International Food Additives Council, people have been harvesting and eating Irish sea moss for 14,000 years. Irish sea moss became particularly important to supplement people's diets in the 1800s during the Irish potato famine.

Irish sea moss made its way to Jamaica in the 1800s after the Irish potatoes famine, and became a remedy for colds and lung ailments.

Sea moss has not been extensively studied for its health benefits

Studies have found ingesting seaweed in your every day diet could lower your blood pressure and better your heart health, and past studies have suggested blue-green algae can be effective in lowering high blood pressure.

However, there are few long-term studies that support its health benefits.

One 2015 study in rats, published in BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, found sea moss may contain probiotics that are beneficial to better digestive health, though the study authors wrote there needs to be more research to say so conclusively, and whether it would apply to humans.

Sea moss can contain heavy metals and iodine, which can lead to health complications when consumed in excess

While ingesting raw sea moss in moderation is fine, doing so excessively could expose you to toxins and heavy metals.

There is no recommended daily dose of Irish sea moss, but one study published in the journal of Environmental Science and Pollution Research found taking up to two tablespoons a day did not have negative side effects on the body.

Sea moss contains iodine, a mineral necessary for hormone regulation. However, studies have shown ingesting too much iodine can damage your thyroid and interfere with the balance of your hormones.

In addition, eating sea moss in excess can expose you to heavy metals such as mercury and arsenic. Pollution in certain areas can make sourcing uncontaminated sea moss a gamble.

"The shorelines where Irish moss grows are not certified clean of these toxic metals, or petrol products, or pesticides and herbicides for that matter, and for this reason, I would only suggest using certified organic Irish moss," Lisa Borg, a UK-based nutritionist, told Byrdie.