I added sea moss to my morning routine for a month and this is what surprised me most

Before I get into it, let’s get something straight: I didn’t expect to love sea moss.

I had seen it everywhere—drizzled over smoothie bowls, scooped into mason jars on TikTok, blended into the morning routines of people with glowing skin and alphabetized spice drawers. But as someone who believes in slow food and even slower mornings, I wasn’t sold on the idea of adding what is, essentially, ocean jello to my daily ritual.

Still, I’m curious by nature. And as a plant-based chef, I love testing trends to see if they’re more than just hype. So I gave myself 30 days. One tablespoon of sea moss gel, every morning. No skipping. No excuses.

Here’s what happened—and why I’m still doing it.

But first: What exactly is sea moss?

Sea moss (also called Irish moss) is a type of red algae that grows along the Atlantic coasts of North America, Europe, and the Caribbean. While it’s been used for centuries in cultures like Jamaican, Irish, and St. Lucian cuisine, it’s having a major modern glow-up as a vegan superfood.

The reason? It’s packed with minerals. Sea moss contains 92 of the 102 minerals the human body needs—including iodine, magnesium, potassium, zinc, and iron. That’s a big deal, especially for those of us following a plant-based lifestyle, where certain nutrients (like iodine and B12) can be trickier to source.

When prepared as a gel, sea moss turns into a smooth, tasteless jelly that can be stirred into smoothies, teas, or even used as an egg substitute in baking.

So yeah. I was intrigued.

Week 1: The texture test

Let’s be real—the texture is weird at first. It’s like aloe vera’s cooler, more gelatinous cousin. I started with a half tablespoon, blended into my morning mango-spinach smoothie with oat milk and ginger. And to my surprise? I couldn’t taste it at all.

No fishiness. No saltiness. Just smooth, barely-there nutrition.

By the end of the week, I had bumped up to a full tablespoon and started experimenting with adding it to chia pudding and hot lemon water.

The biggest challenge wasn’t flavor—it was remembering to take it. But I started treating it like brushing my teeth: a non-negotiable part of the ritual. A grounding act.

Week 2: Hello, gut reset

This was the week I noticed a big shift in digestion.

Without getting too graphic, let’s just say things became more… regular. A 2020 study published in Marine Drugs found that sea moss may act as a prebiotic, feeding the good bacteria in your gut and helping balance your microbiome.

For me, that translated to less bloating, less afternoon sluggishness, and a general lightness that made me more mindful about the rest of my meals. I wasn’t reaching for as many random snacks mid-morning. My stomach felt satisfied, not stuffed.

I started wondering: was this what people meant by “clean energy”?

Week 3: Skin wins, mood shifts

By week three, I started getting compliments on my skin.

“Did you change your moisturizer?” a friend asked. I hadn’t. But I had been drinking more water and staying consistent with sea moss—and that’s when I learned about its collagen-supporting effects.

While sea moss doesn’t contain collagen itself, it’s rich in nutrients like vitamin C, sulfur, and zinc that help support natural collagen production and skin elasticity. Some anecdotal evidence even suggests sea moss may help ease conditions like eczema or acne due to its anti-inflammatory properties.

Internally, I also felt a bit more emotionally even. This might sound woo-woo, but there’s science behind it: magnesium, which sea moss has plenty of, plays a role in stress regulation and mood balance. And when you start your day with one small act of care, it tends to snowball.

Week 4: The quiet discipline of morning rituals

By week four, it wasn’t really about the sea moss anymore.

It had become a symbol—a reminder that I could show up for myself every day, even in a tiny way. And that matters. Because building sustainable habits is at the heart of both personal and planetary wellness.

Sea moss didn’t change my life. But it did change how I started my days.

That one-minute act—scooping, blending, sipping—set a tone of nourishment. And that ripple effect led me to make more plant-forward, whole-food choices throughout the day.

I also learned that rituals don’t have to be flashy to be powerful. Sometimes they’re just quiet consistency.

So, should you try it? Here’s how to start.

If you’re curious about adding sea moss to your own morning routine, here’s what I’d recommend:

Start small and source wisely

Look for wildcrafted sea moss from reputable vendors. It should be sun-dried and free from additives. Gel is the easiest to work with, but you can also buy it dried and soak it yourself.

Start with 1/2 tablespoon a day and see how your body feels. Most people can tolerate up to 1–2 tablespoons per day, but if you have thyroid issues, check with a healthcare provider due to sea moss’s high iodine content.

Keep it simple

Add it to smoothies, oatmeal, tea, or lemon water. If you’re into DIY, you can also mix it into homemade face masks for a skin boost.

Don’t expect magic—but do expect momentum

Sea moss isn’t a cure-all. But it can be a catalyst. And sometimes, the act of choosing something nourishing is what makes the biggest difference.

The bigger why: food as gentle activism

When we talk about plant-based living, it’s easy to focus on the flashy headlines: “save the planet,” “fight climate change,” “live forever.”

But often, it’s the tiny, personal shifts that sustain the bigger picture.

Choosing sea moss over a processed breakfast bar. Adding minerals instead of just counting macros. Starting your day with plants grown in the ocean, not a factory.

These choices don’t just support your health—they support seaweed farming communities, reduce dependency on land-based agriculture, and open the door to low-impact, regenerative food systems.

In fact, according to a 2021 report by the World Bank, seaweed cultivation could help absorb carbon, restore marine ecosystems, and create jobs—all while feeding the planet.

Now that’s a morning routine worth rooting for.

Final thoughts: Ocean-grown, life-giving

A month in, I still take sea moss most mornings. Not because I have to. But because I want to.

It makes me feel connected—to the ocean, to my body, to a deeper sense of intention.

And in a world of overhyped trends and fast fixes, that quiet grounding? That’s what surprised me most.