How to Make Sea Moss Gel to Boost Immunity, Energy, and Your Metabolism

|Updated Jun 14, 2022
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Sea moss is enjoying a surge in popularity right now with good reason. The incredible health benefits will make you consider ditching all your supplements and protein powders and buying sea moss instead because the nutrient-packed red seaweed, also known as Irish Moss, contains 92 trace minerals your body needs to be optimally healthy. To incorporate sea moss into your diet, first make it into a gel that can be used in your favorite soups, smoothies, salads, and more. Below we share an easy recipe on how to make sea moss gel which stores for up to thirty days in your fridge or longer in the freezer.

The algae is native to the Atlantic coastlines of North America, Europe, and the Caribbean Islands and became mainstream with the help of natural herbalist, Dr. Sebi, who recommend the algae as a go-to herb for cleansing and fasting to his patients. Whether or not you stand by his alkaline diet or not, Dr. Sebi sure had at least one thing right, because sea moss is a healthy food that everyone can benefit from adding to their diet.

Sea Moss Contains 92 Trace Minerals

Sea moss contains 92 of the 110 trace minerals your body needs to function at its healthiest, including iron, mostly found in red meat which makes this one of the most important minerals for plant-based eaters or vegetarians. In fact, there is 9 times more iron in sea moss than there is in chicken. Another plus side for plant-based eaters is that there are 6 grams of vegan protein per 100 grams of sea moss, an easy way to make sure you're supporting your muscles.

Aside from the extraordinary nutritional benefits, sea moss is also used to treat or reduce flu-like symptoms due to its immune-boosting and anti-inflammatory properties. Its also been used as a weight-loss tool because the moss contains a vital thyroid hormone that aids healthy thyroid function and metabolism. To reap all these important benefits and feel your healthiest, learn how to make sea moss gel with this easy recipe and video tutorial so you can add it to your smoothies, soups, salad dressings, use it as an egg replacement, and more.

The video produced by longtime vegan and The Beet's Strategic Advisor Sun Sachs, (who is also our unofficial Godfather) takes you through a step-by-step process on how to turn the scruffy, sandy seaweed into a soft gel so you can store it in your fridge for a few weeks or your freezer for a couple of months and use it daily. Sun ordered his sea moss from Amazon, but we also recommend using wild-crafted sea moss as its harvested directly from its natural habitat, rather than man-made pools. After you make the gel, use it in one of these five sea moss recipes. Try this recipe and tag us @thebeet in your post so we can share your final masterpiece in this article. Watch the video and see how the cat goes wild for sea moss.

Easy Sea Moss Gel Recipe

Makes 1 container 

Ingredients

  • 1 cup soaked sea moss aka Irish moss (thoroughly cleaned)
  • 1/2 cup water, or less if possible
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice

Instructions

  1. Rinse approximately 1 cup of dried sea moss in a strainer under cold water to remove all sand and foreign elements
  2. Add sea moss to a small bowl with approximately 1/2 cup of water
  3. Add one teaspoon of lemon juice to the bowl
  4. Let sea moss soak for 3-4 hours. (Don’t exceed this time or it may decrease the gelling potential)
  5. Blend the sea moss using a high-speed blender or electric hand blender by adding a tablespoon of water at a time to ensure that you maintain a thick paste-like substance
  6. Once sea moss is smooth, transfer to a container and refrigerate

Your Guide to The Best Plant-Based Protein Powders: We Tasted 9 Bestsellers

1. Vega Protein & Greens

The base of Vega is pea protein, brown rice protein, and sacha inchi (a seed eaten like a nut) protein. One serving of Vega has only 80 calories and 15g of protein. Vega's protein powder is a great choice for anyone who struggles to get enough greens in their diet. The proteins are combined with alfalfa powder, spinach powder, broccoli powder, and organic kale powder giving you 2 servings of veggies in one scoop. The taste of this protein was described as "artificial" whereas others thought it tasted like birthday cake. We recommend adding this into a smoothie, but luckily all you have to add is fruit since Vega has the greens covered. This low-cal powder won't break the bank at $1.20 a scoop.


2. TB12 Vanilla Plant-Based Protein

Tom Brady's TB12 pea protein powder consists of simple ingredients with no additives. For anyone who is allergic to soy or nuts, TB12's pea protein-based powder is a great option. It's hard to say no to this powder with 24 grams of protein. Don't hide this powder in a smoothie, mix it with water and you will immediately see a thick consistency resembling a vanilla milkshake. Not only does it look like a milkshake, but it tastes like it too. TB12 recommends drinking this powder up to 20 minutes after a workout for the best recovery. You have to order this powder on the TB12 website since it isn't available in stores or on Amazon. Less than $2 per serving!


3. PlantFusion Complete Protein

PlantFusion is a blend of peas, artichokes, algae, and superfoods. The deep yellow-gold coloring of PlantFusion's protein powder set this brand apart from the rest. Some testers found the flavor wasn't overwhelming, making it a great addition to a smoothie, whereas others felt the powder was sweet. For those of you who aren't a fan of Stevia, buy the natural, no-stevia blend. This protein powder is low in fat, and carbs, making it a great choice for anyone wanting to lose weight while still getting enough protein (21g a serving). PlantFusion's powder has a sweetness not everyone enjoyed since Stevia is an ingredient. $1.20 a scoop, makes this a deal!


4.Vivo Perform

Vivo Perform is the most superfood-packed protein powder of this bunch. Athletes will appreciate this protein powder made of pea protein, hemp protein, plant-based BCAA (branched-chain amino acids), reishi mushrooms, acai berries, lucuma fruit powder, maca powder, and turmeric extract. Vivo Perform is $59 on Amazon so go straight to their website for a cheaper price at $51 for the pouch pictured below. With 25g of protein and complete amino acid profile helps athletes to build, perform, recover, and absorb. If you want a quick protein drink after a workout, use a shaker bottle when mixing or this powder will stick to the sides of the cup. In the mood for a protein-filled breakfast? Add to your oatmeal or smoothie bowl with this recipe.


5. Elevate Plant-Based Performance Protein

Elevate is a pea and hemp protein-based powder that also is made with sweet potato powder. For anyone looking to convert from whey protein powders, Elevate is the plant-based protein for you. This powder is meant to be used in beverages such as smoothies. The thin consistency doesn't mix well with water and becomes chalky. If you aren't in the mood for a protein smoothie, add a scoop to your pancake batter. For a complete recipe check out Elevate's Chocolate Chip Banana Protein Pancakes. This powder is another affordable choice at $1.60 a scoop.


6. Momentous Absolute Zero

Momentous protein powder is a combination of pea and rice protein concentrate. Testers liked the initial scent of mint and thought it was refreshing. This powder is perfect for anyone who likes sweeter drinks. Momentous powders are NSF International Certified for Sport, which means the product label is 100% accurate and there are no banned substances present in this powder. This is one of the pricier protein powders at $60 a tub but is worth it for athletes looking for a clean and effective post-workout powder. We recommend either mixing with water or adding to a smoothie for a more nutrient-dense drink. The priciest powder of the bunch at $3 per serving.


7. Garden of Life

Garden of Life is made of pea, buckwheat, amaranth sprout, and brown rice. We didn't love the green color of the powder or the way it smelled but once we mixed it with water, it tasted surprisingly good. Garden of Life is the easiest to mix with water, plan-based milk or in a smoothie. The vanilla flavor isn't overpowering so you can add this to any combination of smoothies and not be overwhelmed by the taste of vanilla. And it's only $1.20 per scoop!


8. Tone It Up Plant-Based Protein Vanilla

Tone It Up protein powder is a blend of sunflower seeds and pea protein. The minute we opened the container, everyone loved the smell of this powder. Tone It Up is known to be a great addition to baked goods. The next time you make your protein muffins, add Tone It Up to the mix. We don't suggest adding this powder with just water but instead a smoothie with fruits and veggies.


9. Nuzest Clean Lean Protein

The name of this powder says it all. Nuzest is the cleanest protein powder since it is made out of only 3 simple ingredients: Pea protein isolate, natural vanilla flavor, and thaumatin (a low-calorie sweetener). For $45, you are supposed to get 20 servings out of one container, but at a glance that didn't seem accurate. This high protein, low carb powder is perfect to blend with plant-based milk and ice. The consistency is smooth and adds thickness to any protein shake.