26 AMAZING BENEFITS OF SPIRULINA (#7 AND #18 ARE SURPRISING)

Spirulina health benefits?

Spirulina is a form of blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) which is cultivated around the globe. It can be used as both a dietary supplement and as a whole food in and of itself. Spirulina needs a PH of 8.5 and above to flourish, and a temperature of around 30 degrees Celsius.

Spirulina can make its own food and is quite easy to cultivate. It can be grown with a combination of sea salt, iron sulphate, baking soda, potassium nitrate and potassium phosphate. And, of course, a water solution. All these compounds are easily found in any aquarium, with the possible exception of iron sulphate.

WHERE CAN YOU FIND SPIRULINA?

Spirulina is mostly found in freshwater lakes, ponds, and rivers. Spirulina has existed on the planet for thousands of years and uses the sun as a source of energy.

Spirulina was a food source for both the Aztecs and the Mesoamericans until the 16th century. It is the food of astronauts for long-term space missions, endorsed by both NASA and the European Space Agency. The nutritional profile of spirulina is outstanding. There are almost 1200 peer reviewed studies on the different benefits of spirulina.

Spirulina has been declared by the United Nations to be the food of the future. Spirulina is the very same algae that can be seen on the top of lakes, though it is recommended that you buy a recognized brand that is guaranteed to be free from pollution.

Spirulina is much like the sea vegetables kelp and chlorella, and a little higher than marine phytoplankton on the food chain. Spirulina is not true algae in biological terms, as it is not organized in a membrane-bound nucleus like other algae.

WHERE TO BUY SPIRULINA?

Is spirulina safe to use? While spirulina is undoubtedly one of the best food sources available, it is important to get the best brand from the best source. There are some regions which tend to be less polluted than others. Spirulina sourced from Japan may have high levels of radiation, due to the nuclear disaster in Fukushima in 2011. Any spirulina bought from Japan needs to have valid radiation testing certificates.

PLACES TO GET SPIRULINA – BEST AND WORST

China is one of the worst places to get spirulina due to high levels of toxicity. Spirulina purchased from China has been found to have high levels of mercury, lead, and arsenic in them. Make sure it is tested for heavy metals before you purchase it.

“Wild” spirulina (spirulina grown in lakes) is not controlled and often comes with high levels of contamination. It is not possible to regulate levels of heavy metals and bacteria in these environments.

Good places to get spirulina include Hawaii and California, as these places are generally toxin free. Spirulina binds toxins of all kinds which is good when it is inside your stomach, but not good when it binds toxins outside and you then ingest the spirulina along with the toxins.

Hawaiian spirulina benefits are more numerous than other types of spirulina. Nutrex Hawaii is a popular brand selling an excellent type of Hawaiian spirulina. The only issue is that with greater quality often comes a much greater cost. It is up to each individual person to decide whether or not this extra cost is worth it.

IS SPIRULINA SAFE TO USE?

Aside from natural toxins, there are a number of toxins that can be added to the product by the manufacturer. Many spirulina manufacturers add Chilean nitrate to the product, which is known to damage the environment and is banned by organic standards. You can hedge against this cost cutting measuring by buying organic Spirulina.

Another dangerous element found in some strains of spirulina is known as BMAA(β-Methylamino-L-alanine). This is a neurotoxin linked to neurodegenerative diseases. Spirulina which undergoes a proper drying process is not able to produce BMAA.

Microcystin is probably the most commonly cited issue with spirulina, aside from the fear of heavy metals from Chinese spirulina. Microcystin is found when spirulina is grown in polluted waters, and this compound is particularly damaging to the liver if taken in high doses. Lake spirulina will commonly have Microcystin in it and is best avoided.

SPIRULINA – WHAT SHOULD YOU CHOOSE

There are many conflicting claims with regard to spirulina. Some claim that outdoor spirulina is more natural, however, most claim that a controlled environment is much safer. Other manufacturers will claim that seawater is best for producing spirulina, with others saying underground mineral water is preferable.

It is best to do your own research but the general recommendation is that controlled environments are safer and organic Spirulina is the way to go, particularly from safer locations. The most important thing is that it has a certificate for a low level of heavy metal contamination, as this is the main danger.

HAWAIIAN SPIRULINA BENEFITS

To sum up, simply buy spirulina that is not grown in Japan or China and that is certified organic, preferably from a region such as Hawaii, Taiwan or California. Spirulina sourced from Hawaii has more nutritional value gram for gram than any other source currently on the market. Make sure Spirulina is grown under controlled conditions instead of a lake or river to avoid unwanted toxins.

Additionally, it is a good idea to avoid spirulina that is grown using untested seawater or surface water. It is a good idea to choose a spirulina brand that uses underground mineral water and only plant-based, organic fertilizers to minimize the chances of pollution.

Heavy metals are the most serious concern and it would be unfortunate to purchase one of the best superfoods only to buy a poor brand which damages your body.

HOW TO TAKE SPIRULINA?

How to use spirulina powder? With the rise of awareness of the sheer brilliance of spirulina, there are now many different types of products and different forms of spirulina available for purchase. It has to be said at the outset that spirulina does not taste nice, at least not for the majority of people.

Few things that are so healthy taste pleasant. And there are many ways to mitigate the taste of spirulina. While Spirulina may not taste very well for the first few weeks, like everything else you can get used to it.

Spirulina can be purchased as either a powder or a capsule. There is not that much of a difference between the two, as both are ultimately broken down in the stomach. The capsules may be easier to store and manage, as well as cheaper.

Generally speaking, powders are more absorbable than capsules. And it all comes down to absorbability. You have gone to the trouble of taking spirulina, you may as well get maximum absorption out of it.

While Spirulina capsules may be easier to swallow, they often come with fillers and binders which are not what you want to consume. They can come with more than 30% binder in some tablets. So, your spirulina is actually 30% trash at the end of the day.

HOW TO USE SPIRULINA POWDER?

Powders are ultimately recommended. Spirulina can be added to many smoothies to take away from the taste. You can easily mix the powder into dishes of your choosing, including salads and pasta sauces. You can get inventive and create spirulina based tortilla wraps. There are endless variations of the way you can consume spirulina.

My advice is to get used to drinking it straight with water. You will get used to it and it is the easiest and quickest way to digest it. The only downside is that you may find yourself looking like an alien. Spirulina will turn your tongue green and acts like green paint. What is spirulina powder?

WHAT IS SPIRULINA POWDER?

Ground up spirulina. Spirulina before and after will make all the difference. Spirulina extract is another term used for spirulina. The most important thing is that organic spirulina powder is purchased as opposed to harmful, inorganic brands.

SPIRULINA V CHLORELLA

The most obvious health benefit of spirulina is the protein. Protein is the fundamental building block of life. Spirulina is one of the richest sources of protein on the planet and is 60-70% protein by weight depending on the brand of spirulina. Protein is itself made up of complex chains of amino acids, which are very important in terms of repairing muscles. But these amino acids, of which there are 22, also serve a variety of other functions.

The human body cannot produce eight of these amino acids by itself, so has to obtain them from external sources. These 8 amino acids are known as essential amino acids because the body cannot produce them on its own.

Unlike other forms of protein, spirulina is a “complete” protein, as it contains all of the amino acids. The protein in spirulina is also highly digestible (in the region of over 90%) and it is, therefore, one of the best sources of protein available. Spirulina offers more protein per gram than beef, fish, and chicken.

A GREAT PROTEIN SUBSTITUTE

Some studies have shown that as little as two tablespoons of spirulina is sufficient to substitute for protein in a meal. However, using spirulina as an exclusive protein source might not be the most cost-effective solution, given that it is far more expensive to purchase than milk or meat. Especially if you are buying a safe and recognized brand, which is recommended.

Spirulina also contains the hard to find gamma linolenic acid (GLA), which is particularly effective for skin health. Gamma linolenic acid is the perfect compound for those suffering from psoriasis, eczema and other skin issues. It also reduces inflammation and is good for dealing with high cholesterol, ADHD, depression, and chronic fatigue syndrome. It is a very useful acid which is not readily available in other food types.

#2.ARSENIC ANTIDOTE