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  • Skip the Sea Kelp Supplements (2024)

    Skip the Sea Kelp Supplements (2024)

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    If you’re on HealthTok, you may have noticed a buzz around sea moss, sea kelp, or brown seaweed, which has become the latest “superfood” to capture the attention of wellness enthusiasts. Historically, seaweed has been used in indigenous medicine for a variety of ailments; today, you can purchase it in capsules, powders, and teas.

    There is some science to back up bladderwrack’s more hyperbolic health claims. However, given some of the risks associated with consuming unregulated algae-derived products, you will probably be better off improving your diet in general. We break it down for you here. Interested in more wellness research? Don’t forget to check out our advice for living forever in Silicon Valley and whether you should apply snail mucus to your face (you probably should).

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    What Is Bladderwrack?

    Closeup of entangled brown seaweed

    Photograph: Brook Science Photo Library/Getty Images

    “Bladderwrack is a brown seaweed in the genus Fucus that grows in the intertidal regions of temperate areas,” says Loretta Roberson, an associate scientist at the University of Chicago’s Marine Biological Laboratory. “You can find it here in the United States and in Europe—Ireland to England—and most places on that same latitude.” The name comes from the air-filled sacs, or “bladders,” on the seaweed’s thallus. These teeny bladders help the plant float and stay closer to sunlight for photosynthesis.

    Bladderwrack’s medicinal use dates back for centuries. “There was actually a large seaweed industry [in North America] where people would collect big wagonfuls of seaweed, and they would use it for a bunch of different purposes,” Roberson says. Indigenous peoples used it for poultices and teas, and by the early 1800s, it gained a reputation as a remedy for goiter—a swelling caused by thyroid issues. By the 1860s, it was promoted as a metabolism booster and treatment for obesity. Today, bladderwrack is available in various forms, from dried and powdered to capsule supplements and teas.

    Why Would You Take Bladderwrack?

    Bladderwrack supplements make bold claims: weight loss, glowing skin, thyroid support, and more. Some of the most common reasons why people take bladderwrack include:

    • It can help alleviate gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms. Bladderwrack contains alginic acid, which, when combined with magnesium carbonate, may relieve symptoms of GERD. This combination forms a barrier that protects the stomach lining from irritants, potentially reducing inflammation and heartburn.
    • It can relieve constipation and diarrhea. Alginic acid also promotes smoother digestion.
    • It can help soothe digestive irritation. The mucilage in bladderwrack—a gel-like substance—can benefit individuals with gastritis or indigestion by coating irritated mucous membranes along the digestive tract.

    What Does the Science Say?

    Bethany Marie Doerfler, a gastrointestinal specialist at Northwestern Medicine, says the touted health benefits are tied to bladderwrack’s antioxidant properties, but there have been very few studies evaluating its efficacy or safety in humans.

    Like many seaweeds, bladderwrack is packed with antioxidants, including phenolics, phlorotannins, fucoxanthin, alginic acid, fucoidans, and small amounts of vitamins A and C. Doerfler points to alginic acid—found in over-the-counter products like Gaviscon Advance—as a compound with proven effectiveness.

    “These derivatives are studied and considered safe, unlike bladderwrack supplements, which remain largely unregulated and untested,” Doerfler explains. “People often leap from identifying healthy components to assuming health outcomes, but [bladderwrack supplements] aren’t backed by research.”

    Are Bladderwrack Supplements Safe?

    Despite the “natural” label often attached to these kinds of supplements, they come with risks. Algae-derived products can accumulate heavy metals like arsenic and mercury from polluted waters, and even low concentrations over time can lead to serious health problems such as nerve damage or kidney dysfunction.

    Another concern is the high iodine content in bladderwrack, which can interfere with thyroid function. According to Roberson, in some countries, there are regulations due to high iodine levels, which can affect thyroid health. There are no clear guidelines in the US on how much iodine is safe to consume, and the risks associated with excess iodine remain misunderstood. “We don’t know thresholds, doses, or potential interactions with other medications due to the absence of research,” Doerfler says.



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  • JLab JBuds ANC 3 Review: A $60 Alternative to Apple AirPods Pro

    JLab JBuds ANC 3 Review: A $60 Alternative to Apple AirPods Pro

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    Sometimes, I’m convinced JLab is conjuring its prices from a corporate time machine. How else can it make utterly decent wireless earbuds for less than I’d pay for a meal for two at Olive Garden? Or the new ANC 3 buds, which have nearly all of the same features as AirPods Pro (8/10, WIRED Recommends) and clock in at $59.99?

    There simply isn’t another pair of earbuds at this price that has excellent dust and water resistance, decent noise-canceling, and quality sound. If you find yourself in need of a bit more silence than other cheap buds can muster, whether working out or working at home on Zoom, these are a great, easy-to-use pair you won’t freak out about losing.

    Cheap Date

    The plasticky pillbox charging case that comes with the JBuds ANC 3 is probably the biggest giveaway that these headphones cost significantly less than AirPods, Jabras, or any other much more expensive buds. That said, one of the things that sets JLab apart from competitors is that it often includes the charging cable in the design of the charging case. On the ANC 3, a slim little USB-C cable nestles perfectly in the bottom of the case, so you’ll never have to remember a cable when in a pinch.

    Open the clamshell and you’ll find two black buds that are ergonomically designed to fit in your ears without the elephant-nose design of AirPods and others. These aren’t as small as the Jbuds Mini, which we recommend even to folks who often struggle with fitting even the tiniest earbuds in their canals, but they’re not too far off. I have hilariously average ears, and buds fit perfectly in my ears with the medium-size silicone ear tips on (they also come with smaller and larger tips, depending on your ears).

    They’re light, comfortable, and stable enough that they didn’t get dislodged when running at the gym or doing my biweekly weight-lifting sessions (when earbuds often slip out as I lie on my back on the bench).

    The ANC 3 are IP55 rated for dust and water resistance, and that was very confidence-inducing when bringing them with me. I wore them in the shower, took them on muddy trails with my dog, and rinsed them off when they got gross from my hands. It’s nice to be able to treat a digital appliance like this, especially one this affordable.

    Sound On

    Inside the earbuds are 10-mm dynamic drivers that do well to compete with the vast majority of earbuds on the market, providing robust bass and relatively crisp and clear mid- and high-end response. If you’ve heard other, cheaper JLab buds, these are a bit clearer and better sounding.

    They sound good in a wide variety of settings and with a wide variety of material. I liked using the buds to listen to both Netflix episodes and my classic rock workout playlist. They have really nice balance at lower volumes, which means you don’t have to turn them up really high to get good bass during your reps.

    Even classics like Eddy Arnold’s Cowpoke sound fantastic in these earbuds, with the acoustic guitar hiding on the left side and the vocal harmonies on the right, and Arnold’s rich baritone in the middle of the mix. Everything sits perfectly in the mix, as though you’re listening to it on a pair of headphones that, truly, would have cost hundreds of dollars just a few years ago.

    JLab also offers features that would have cost you that much, too, with an app that lets you control equalizer settings, noise-canceling, and transparency mode (pumping in the sound of the outside world so you don’t have to take the buds out for a quick chat).

    Battery life is a solid nine hours with ANC off, and about six with it on in my testing (depending on volume and what you’re listening to). Call (and Zoom) quality is good, too. Controlling the buds on the go is easy, with presses on the outside of each bud enabling you to play or pause music, switch songs, and toggle noise-canceling settings.

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