Known as the superfood, spirulina is believed to be one of the oldest life forms on earth. There are various names for Spirulina, but few are mostly known, like blue algae and microalgae. The name spirulina comes from the genus, Arthrospira, which means spiral.
Usually, people harvest it from water bodies like lakes and rivers. The ancient Greek people used it to increase endurance and muscle stamina to help them sustain working for long hours. Due to its supper food benefits, spirulina has become a preferable diet food for astronauts. NASA used it to create a complete nutritious diet for the astronauts. Packed with nutrients, it has a sky blue, eye-catching color.
If you have been thinking of including Spirulina in your diet, you need to know some things before, which we are here going to explore. So, keep reading the guide to find out about this supper food.
Has There Been Any Studies To Support the Claims About Spriluna’s Benefits?
Yes, there has been a lot of research around the Spirulina, and one of the most well-known research was led by NASA. After the success of the research, NASA used this blue-green alga as a dietary supplement for astronauts on space missions. The organization found that blue Spirulina can modulate immune functions and have antioxidative properties.
Multiple studies have tried to investigate the efficacy and the benefits of potential clinical applications of Spirulina in treating diseases. Researchers have performed a few randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews suggesting that the alga improves several bacterial infections and disease symptoms.
So, Is It Just Hype, or is it Worth Trying?
After the success of toxicological studies that have supported its benefits, the FDA (US food and drug administration) have recognized it as safe to consume. Compared to the other herbs, Spirulina is relatively easier to cultivate than the other herbs. All you need is a highly alkaline lake with extremely high pH levels. It can be grown in ponds under controlled conditions. So not only is it safe for the consumers but also for its producers too.
However, because of the strict climate conditions, it needs to be cultivated. It is only produced in some parts of the world. For more than 10 years, it has been used as a dietary supplement without significant side effects. So, you can buy it yourself and decide if it is worth it for you or not.
How Can Spirulina Help To Improve Your Health?
Spirulina is packed with a number of benefits that can improve your health. And some of them are as follows:
Repair the Oxidative Damage
Pollutants and heavy particles in the environment can damage the cells resulting in oxidative damage. Further, this oxidative damage can cause cancer and chronic inflammation.
Antioxidants found in abundance in spirulina chlorella can aid in preventing oxidative damage.
Its primary active ingredient is phycocyanin, which helps the body to find anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. It is even employed in researching and developing a prospective anti-cancer medicine. Also, just to mention, phycocyanin is responsible for spirulina’s blue-green hue.
Balance the Protein And Vitamins In Your Diet
Spirulina is a fairly protein-dense and low-calorie food. It includes significant calcium, niacin, magnesium, iron, potassium, and B vitamins.
If we go into detail, Spirulina has 25 calories, 0.5 grams of fat, 1 gram of carbohydrates, and 4 grams of protein. So, you can count it as a full protein-induced diet.
Prevent You From The Heart Disease
Spirulina helps decrease the risk of heart disease by lowering “bad” cholesterol and raising “good” cholesterol. The studies have supported the fact that Spirulina can prevent heart disease.
Protect You Against The Chronic Disease
Many have marketed Spirulina as “the diet of the future” because it has special components to boost energy. Some of these components are polysaccharides, rhamnose and glycogen, and fatty acid GLA, which are widely absorbed by human cells and release energy.
Spirulina boosts the quantity of healthy lactobacillus in the colon, allowing it to produce vitamin B6, which aids in releasing energy.
Packed With Omega 3 Benefits
Spirulina is one of the best origins of omega-3 fatty acids. The omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids ratio in Spirulina is about 1.5 to 1. Which is great.
Numerous studies have verified that omega-3 fatty acids protect you against Alzheimer’s disease and age-related mental decline. It improves the health of the developing and fetal brains.
Omega-3 fatty acids increase brain function, reduce the risk of heart disease, fight inflammation, and enhance bone and joint health.
Enhance The Endurance
Spirulina may increase strength and endurance. That’s why athletes use it more frequently. Spirulina supplementation in trained cyclists was the subject of one study. Fifteen male cyclists took a placebo or 6 grams of spirulina daily for 21 days.
Following a lactate threshold test and repeated sprint performance tests, they conducted a one-hour submaximal endurance test. The people in the spirulina supplementation group had considerably higher hemoglobin, lower lactate levels, and lower heart rates.
Thus proving the endurance-related benefits of the Spirulina. Supplementing with Spirulina may help athletes gain more strength and stamina.
Some side effects That You Need To Know Before Including Spirulina?
Although experts consider Spirulina safe, it can show some side effects and drawbacks. Especially for people with certain health conditions. And here are some of those health concerns that you may want to look through before including it in your diet.
Possibly Tainted with Toxins
Wildly collected Spirulina carries a great danger of contamination. If the algae in a body of water have been contaminated because of bacteria, heavy metals, or dangerous microcystins, it may contain toxins.
In actuality, blue-green algae manufacture microcystins as a defense mechanism against predators. They poison your liver if you eat too much of them.
Slow Blood Clotting
Due to its properties, Spirulina might thin your blood and prolong the time it takes for blood to clot. So, clotting helps stop excessive bleeding or bruising if you have an injury.
Also, if you have any condition like diabetes, Spirulina may be harmful to you. It may also impact your blood’s capacity to clot, increasing bruising and bleeding.
Spirulina can slow down blood clotting time, affecting those who are already on blood thinners. So, if you have a bleeding issue or are using blood thinners, you should stay away from Spirulina.
Can You Avoid the Side Effects?
Please consult your doctor before including Spirulina in your diet or supplement regimen. It may have downsides or side effects for some people.
Also, you should only buy spirulina goods from reputable companies undergoing independent testing. You can always prefer a plant-based company to provide you with the supplement. LifenotLabs is one such plant-based company that can provide you with organic supplements. With Lifenotlabs, you can expect the Spirulina to be free from contamination with microcystins or toxins.
Since nutritional supplements in the US are mainly unregulated, remember that even items that have received certification may not be 100 percent free of toxins. So, try to save money and health from the companies that claim to be plant-based and 100% organic but are not.
Wrapping Up!
This was all about the Spirulina. This green alga has many health benefits and side effects, which you can easily avoid. Make sure to consult with your doctor before including it in your diet. Ensuring that you shop the Spirulina only with a plant-based company to receive quality.