Many studies and researches have been conducted to understand the benefits of Spirulina for health. If you search online, you will be able to find numerous articles and websites explaining the several benefits of Spirulina and its miraculous nutritional properties.
However, most of these articles and websites fail to explain some important information that you should know before purchasing Spirulina powder or capsules. In this post, we will dig deeper and help you understand the nutritional properties and health benefits of Spirulina in a simple and easy manner.
Spirulina for Health
In simple terms, Spirulina is a spiral shaped, microscopic blue-green algae which is usually being compared with chlorella. It grows in salt water and mineral rich freshwater sources. Many health and fitness experts have called Spirulina the next “Super Food”.
According to some studies and researches, organic spirulina can help alleviate starvation and malnutrition in many backward countries. Spirulina benefits have been validated and proven by many different studies and researches. Here are some key health benefits of Spirulina.
Protein – Spirulina contains around 60-70% high quality protein which is the same with other protein-rich foods. Moreover, it contains all those essential amino acids which cannot be synthesized by our bodies. Even though Spirulina has a low concentration of methionine, lysine and cysteine, high quality protein can still offer numerous benefits to improve your overall muscle strength and health.
Vitamins – Spirulina is considered to be one of the “best foods” because of its high concentration of Vitamin B12. Thus, it can have a major impact on your health and fitness levels. In addition to this, Spirulina also contains a lot of other essential vitamins like Vitamin B1, B3, B9, B2, A, E, D and K.
Minerals – Spirulina contains a very high concentration of some essential minerals. Some of these include Chromium, Calcium, Magnesium, Selenium, Iron, Phosphorus, Zinc and Sodium. Thus, it can promote bone density, haemoglobin levels, memory and other areas of your health.&
Essential Fatty Acids – Lipid content in Spirulina is around 7%. In addition to this, it also contains many essential fatty acids. Most of these are inherent in vegetable oils, like linoleic acid. At times, these essential fatty acids are also marketed as individual dietary supplements for treatment of autoimmune diseases and inflammation problems. With Spirulina, you will not need to buy these supplements independently.
Brain Function – Spirulina contains a lot of essential amino acids, including leucine and tryptophan. These aminos acids can promote brain chemistry by improving neurotransmitter function. Spirulina can also help you fight stress and calm nerves.
Body Function – According to scientific researches and studies, Spirulina can repair damaged tissues, increase energy levels and improve organ function in the human body. It also aids digestion by simply increasing intestinal flora like bifidus and lactobacillus.
Boost Immunity – It is worth mentioning that Spirulina acts as an alkalizing agent. Since most of the foods ingested by the human body are acidic in nature, Spirulina can easily counteract your body’s acidic levels and even counter arsenic poisoning. Thus, it supports a very effective and robust immune system.
Cell Damage – Spirulina is known for its high levels of antioxidants. These antioxidants can slow cell damage, oxidative damage, boost red blood cells, and offer anti-aging effects. Some examples of antioxidants in Spirulina include Vitamin E, Beta-Carotene, Zeaxanthin, Chlorophyll, Phycocyanin and Superoxide Dismutase.
Weight loss – It is very important to understand that Spirulina is not a weight loss supplement. However, it can be used as a dietary supplement because of its nutritional properties. Since Spirulina offers most essential nutrients, you can diet safely without starving yourself.
In other words, you will be able to eat less, while still providing essential minerals, vitamins and high quality protein to your body. Eventually, this would lead to regulated blood sugar levels and fixing high blood pressure. According to most fitness experts, you can experience best weight loss results if you take Spirulina one hour before your meals.
Reducing Cholesterol and Inflammation – It is worth mentioning that Spirulina can help in reducing inflammation, lowering cholesterol, avoiding heart disease and cleansing the body of any toxin, heavy metals or free radicals building up. It can also resolve problems related to anemia, chronic fatigue, ulcers, allergic rhinitis and low blood sugar.
Spirulina Capsules vs Spirulina Powder
If you have chosen a pure, organic and tested Spirulina product, it won’t make much difference if you are consuming capsules or powder. The only difference will be in the absorption rate of the product into your blood stream, and the quantity you’re supposed to take.
Powder form absorbs very quickly into your blood stream. It is able to provide a more concentrated dosage of the product. Due to this, most people prefer powdered form as a diet aid. People who need an instant hit of essential nutrients, like athletes for post or pre workout nutrition, always choose powdered form.
In addition to this, some Spirulina products in powdered form dissolve very quickly in water. Since every Spirulina powder is consumed after mixing up with water, you need to check product details to make sure the powder blends perfectly with water. This will allow your body to obtain instant nutritional value of the product.
Recommended Dosage
According to most health experts, recommended dosage of Spirulina powder is one tablespoon per day. If you’re taking capsules, two capsules per day would be fine. Since Spirulina is a natural food item, and not a medicine or artificial compound, it does not have any specific maximum dosage.
However, eating a lot of Spirulina powder in just one sitting won’t have a great impact on your health than eating a small amount. You should keep in mind that eating over 50 g per day can result in some mild side effects. Before you start taking Spirulina powder or capsules, you should consult a medical professional or general physician.
There’s no doubt that Spirulina is a very powerful source of essential vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids and high quality protein. It certainly offers numerous health benefits. However, there are a lot of fake products available in the market. Therefore, while choosing this product, you should only consider buying it from reputed and trustworthy brands. You can also make a natural smoothie out of fresh spirulina.
A lot of people who’ve used this product swear by its health and medicinal benefits. Most of the people are completely satisfied with results. In coming years, a lot of new scientific researches and studies may prove what numerous people already know.