Spirulina / Gram

Origin Indonesia

Spirulina is a superfood plant source of protein, minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants. Benefits include fighting anemia, good for blood and heart. Spirulina platensis is a seaweed that lives in salt lakes with alkaline waters and warm , known since ancient times by the peoples of the tropical region, it is considered an excellent natural food supplement .

It has immunomodulatory properties, useful for the treatment of allergies and it has a very high protein content (60%).

Suggested Uses

A standard daily dose of spirulina is 1€“3 grams, but doses of up to 10 grams per day have been used effectively.

Stir spoonful of spirulina powder into a glass of water or juice and drink it straight, or you can add some to a smoothies or add to raw chocolate brownies or truffle-style energy balls often made with puréed dates, nuts, coconut, and other natural ingredients.

Super foods are also effective when applied to the skin

Benefits

Gram for gram, spirulina may be the single most nutritious food on the planet.

Phycocyanin is the main active compound in spirulina. It has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

It may improve your levels of blood lipids, suppress oxidation, reduce blood pressure and lower blood sugar.

Contraindications/Toxicity

Not known

Benefits of Spirulina
Though it does taste like pond scum, Spirulina has some great health-boosting qualities:

1. Most Nutrient Dense Food On the Planet
The concentration of protein and vitamins in Spirulina has led many to classify it as the €œmost nutrient dense food on the planet.€ Compared to other foods gram for gram, it lives up to this reputation and is a great source of:

Protein: It is considered a complete source of high-quality protein and is often compared to eggs for the amount of protein per gram. The protein in Spirulina is highly usable and has a net protein utilization rate of between 50-61%
Vitamin B1: Also called Thiamin, this vitamin is necessary for the digestion of fats and proteins. It is often taken for increased energy, eye health, brain function and for improving nerve functioning.
Iron: Spirulina is a favorite food for vegetarians and vegans because it is one of the best plant sources of iron. Even for those who consume meat, it has a highly absorbable form of iron that is gentle on the digestive system.
Calcium: Spirulina is also incredibly high in calcium with over 26 times the calcium in milk.

Spirulina nutrition benefits

Spirulina is a great source of other nutrients including (according to Wikipedia): €œIt contains vitamins B-1(thiamine), B-2 (riboflavin), B-3(nicotinamide), B-6 (pyridoxine), B-9 (folic acid), vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin A and vitamin E. It is also a source of potassium, calcium, chromium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, selenium, sodium and zinc. Spirulina contains many pigments which may be beneficial and bioavailable€.

Important Note: Contrary to many claims, Spirulina is not a good source of Vitamin B12 for humans. While it does contain a form of B12, it is pseudovitamin B12 which is not absorbable or effective in humans according to studies.

2. Contains Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA) & Omega-3s
Spirulina contains Gamma Linolenic Acid andOmega-3sSpirulina is 65% protein and amino acids including the essential fatty acid gamma linolenic acid (GLA) which has gotten a lot of attention for its anti-inflammatory properties, especially when taken with other quality Omega-3 supplements.

3. May Help Balance Blood Sugar
Studies show that spirulina may be especially helpful in balancing blood sugar, and may even be as effective as diabetes medication in some instances. Other studies show that it not only lowers blood sugar but may also lower HbA1c, which is a long term marker of blood sugar levels.

4. Powerful Antioxidants
Antioxidants are powerful substances that protect our cells from damage. Thanks to decades of research, many of us understand the importance of consuming enough antioxidants from natural sources, and spirulina is a great choice.

The antioxidant that makes spirulina unique is called phycocyanin, which is a potent anti-inflammatory.

5. May Help Those with Allergies
Some research has suggested that Spirulina may be helpful for those with allergies and allergic reactions. (source)

This is likely because it reduces inflammation that leads to nasal congestion and other issues. In studies, those who took spirulina noticed a reduction in nasal congestion, itching, and sneezing.

6. Helps Remove Heavy Metals
Spirulina can bind with heavy metals in the body and help remove them.

It is also extremely high in Chlorophyll, which helps remove toxins from the blood and boost the immune system. In fact, one study found that 500 milligrams of spirulina daily combined with zinc supplementation was enough to reduce arsenic toxicity by almost half!

Emerging evidence also suggests that it binds with radioactive isotopes and may be useful for radioactivity exposure or radiation therapy.

7. Muscle and Endurance Benefits
Spirulina is known to increase fat burning during exercise. Its high antioxidant content makes it beneficial in reducing exercise induced oxidation which leads to muscle fatigue and inability to gain muscle.

In fact studies found that it:

Increased endurance
Decreased muscle damage from exercise