What is Spirulina?
Spirulina is a type of algae or healthy bacteria, known as cyanobacteria, that is considered a superfood for its incredible health benefits.
It is made up mostly of protein and essential amino acids but also contains plenty of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other nutrients that benefit your entire body.
It has a dark-blue and green color and is prepared and processed into a powder form that is safe for human and animal consumption. Being high in protein and filled with fiber, this superfood has become one of the most powerful sources of nutrition all around the world.
Where does it come from?
This special type of algae grows in fresh and salt water lakes in warmer climates, such as Hawaii, Mexico, Africa, and South America, and has been harvested for nutritional supplementation for centuries.
It was used by the Aztecs in the 15th century but regained popularity when NASA suggested that this superfood can be grown in space and used by astronauts as a powerful food source.
What are the Health Benefits of Spirulina?
1. Nutrient-Dense Superfood
Just one teaspoon of spirulina offers 3900% more iron than spinach, 600% more protein than tofu, 280% more antioxidants than blueberries, and 2800% more beta-carotene than carrots.
It is loaded with protein, essential amino acids, B-vitamins, copper, iron, magnesium, potassium, fiber, and plenty of life-saving antioxidants, which is why it is classified as a powerful superfood.
Including spirulina in your diet will help you to meet your daily nutritional requirements with minimal effort- it’s light, compact, and an incredibly powerful supplement.
2. Gives You Energy
The incredible boost of nutrition that spirulina offers on a cellular level helps to naturally increase energy without any negative side effects. It is a highly alkalizing and healthful substance that boosts the vitality of each and every cell in your body. It also helps to optimize digestive function and support the functioning of vital organs for better health, which naturally makes you feel rejuvenated and alive.
3. Supports a Lean and Strong Physique
Being high in protein and low in fat makes this the perfect supplement for building lean, strong muscles. Research has shown that it also helps to increase your metabolism while simultaneously improving digestion, which is excellent for naturally shedding any excess weight.
4. Reduces Blood Pressure
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, can cause strokes, heart disease, and chronic kidney disease, which are life threatening conditions.
Studies have shown that taking 4.5 grams of spirulina per day can help to lower blood pressure back into the ideal range, which significantly reduces the risk of disease and premature death.
Japanese researchers have demonstrated that a pigment, known as phycocyanin, in spirulina is responsible for this incredible antihypertensive effect, which is proving to be a promising solution for those suffering from blood sugar imbalances.
5. Lowers Cholesterol
A study, published in The Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology found that the cholesterol of laboratory rabbits decreased by 41% after just 8-weeks of spirulina supplementation. It was demonstrated that the higher the dosage, the more beneficial it was to the cardiovascular system, helping to prevent the development of atherosclerosis and heart disease by keeping cholesterol levels in check.
6. May Reduce Allergies
During clinical trials, researchers found that spirulina reduced itching, nasal discharge, nasal congestion, and sneezing, which are symptoms associated with common seasonal and certain food allergies.
Animal studies showed that spirulina has an anti-histamine and therefore an anti-inflammatory effect, which helps to combat allergies at the source.
7. Helps to Prevent Cancer
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world today, accounting for more than 8 million deaths per year. Because of its incredible antioxidant content, spirulina is one of nature’s best antidotes to this deadly disease, helping to prevent oxidative stress to damaged cells while keeping healthy cells in their strongest form.
A study conducted in India showed that supplementing with just 1 gram every day for 1 year helped to reduce the risk of the development and spread of oral cancer by 45%, which added to the evidence from animal studies that showed it not only reduced but also prevented tumor development in the body.
8. Detoxes Heavy Metals
According to the World Health Organization, people in the US, India, China, and all over the world are affected by a condition known as “chronic arsenic poisoning” because arsenic and heavy metals are often present in drinking water.
Studies have shown that daily spirulina extract supplementation could decrease the amount of heavy metals in the body by as much as 47%, which makes it an incredible source of detoxification.
9. Eliminates Candida
Candida, also known as thrush, is a type of fungus that can thrive in the mouth, intestinal tract, and vagina, which can be a very uncomfortable imbalance even though it is not considered to be dangerous.
Spirulina promotes the growth of healthy bacteria flora in the intestines, which restores balance and stops candida from thriving. It’s also excellent for the immune system, which helps to bring any disruptions and imbalances back into normal functioning.
10. Natural Anti-Inflammatory
Phycocyanin, the pigment that gives spirulina its beautiful blue-green color, has the unique ability to eliminate free radicals and to prevent the production of inflammatory molecules, which makes it an excellent natural anti-inflammatory to treat several conditions.
Inflammation is associated with the development of more than 60% of diseases, including cancer, heart disease, and arthritis, which means that a simple spirulina regime could literally contribute to saving your life.
Our bodies are exposed to free-radical damage from the sun, environmental pollution, and daily chemical exposure, which causes oxidative stress to cells. This can lead to premature aging, disease, and even death, which is why it’s important to supplement with powerful antioxidants, such as spirulina.
Not only does it help to reduce free-radical damage but it also helps to boost and nourish healthy cells, keeping skin, organs, and tissues healthy and young.
12. Helps to Treat Anemia
Anemia is characterized as a condition of the blood where there is a deficiency of red blood cells, leading to poor circulation, oxygenation, and therefore fatigue, headaches, and migraines.
Spirulina offers an intense dose of both iron and B-vitamins, which is excellent for boosting red blood cell count and has been shown to reduce anemic symptoms significantly.
By boosting red blood cell count, oxygen is more readily circulated throughout the body, which can also improve brain function, heart function, and the health and vitality of every cell in your body.
Possible precautions?
In 1974, the World Health Organization (WHO) said that spirulina is “an interesting food for multiple reasons, rich in iron and protein, and can be administered to children without any risk”, and considered it as a “very suitable food source.”
While there are no known side effects of taking spirulina, your current state of health might require an adjustment period, which could include symptoms such as mild diarrhea, increased energy, and slight changes in sleeping patterns.
If you are pregnant, nursing or have any medical conditions, it is best to check with your medical doctor before starting to use any new supplement, even though it is 100% natural.
How to take it?
Spirulina can be bought in the form of a powder, tablets, flakes or capsules, which can be taken with any drink of your choice or added to smoothies.
The strong taste takes a bit of getting used to but is so incredible for your health that it is worth your while to build it into your morning routine.
While there is no official recommended dose, the average amount varies between 1 and 5 grams per day, and can be increased up to 10 grams per day over time.
Where to buy it?
You can buy it online or in most health food stores and it is highly recommended to get it from an organic source.
Check the labels to make sure that you are getting the highest quality spirulina for the most powerful benefits.
Sources:
http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/spirulina
http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/worldwide-cancer
http://www.wcrf.org/int/cancer-facts-and-figures
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs297/en/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1742758/
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00004024
http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/jmf.2005.8.27