10 Health Benefits Of Spirulina
Spirulina is a blue-green spiral-formed alga, which thrives in warm alkaline waters. Through the natural process of photosynthesis, Spirulina has all 8 essential amino acids, organic iron, vitamin B-12 and B-complex, beta-carotene, antioxidants, chlorophyll and a high concentration of all-vegetable protein (approx. 60%).
Spirulina is called a superfood, and it makes a great whole food alternative to isolated vitamin and minerals.
Spirulina has a long history of safe use that includes early African and Mexican aborigines. For the past 20 years, millions of people around the world have used it as a safe food supplement. Moreover, the United Nations and the World Health Organization recommend Spirulina as safe and particularly nutritious food for children.
But spirulina is more than just a food supplement. It has awesome health benefits and has been found to improve many conditions, from cancer to overweight to HIV.
Here are Top 10 Health Benefits of Spirulina:
#1 Detox From Heavy Metals
In today’s world, we are constantly being poisoned with heavy metals, and even though it might be surprising, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), the United States is one of the worst countries when it comes to heavy metal poisoning.
One of the main culprits is arsenic and arsenic toxicity is an even bigger problem in Asia.
According to researchers from Bangladesh:
Millions of people in Bangladesh, India, Taiwan, and Chile are consuming high concentration of arsenic through drinking water, and thousands of them have already developed chronic arsenic poisoning. There is no specific treatment.
In fact, even 3% of people from all over Bangladesh showed signs of arsenic poisoning! As one of the Bangladeshi researchers pointed out, there is no special treatment for poisoning with this heavy metal, which is why alternatives such as spirulina are being investigated.
24 patients suffering from arsenic poisoning were monitored and given spirulina (250mg) and zinc (2mg) twice daily. Then, researchers compared the results with 17 people taking a placebo and found that the combination of zinc and spirulina works great! Eventually, the participants recorded a decrease in arsenic in the body by as much as 47%!
#2 Spirulina Eliminates Leaking Gut
The leaky bowel syndrome and many other digestion problems are directly related to microflora imbalances.
Due to a diet rich in sugar, unnatural ingredients and lack of fiber, most of the people have digestive problems.
A special advantage of spirulina is that it positively influences the growth of normal intestinal microflora, which in turn not only prevents leaking gut but also inhibits the development of Candida. Also, thanks to the immunity-enhancing properties, it helps the body to eliminate Candida cells.
A lot of animal studies have shown that it is an effective antibacterial agent, especially when fighting Candida.
#3 Spirulina Improves Health of HIV / AIDS patients
Scientist spent years trying to understand why people in Japan, Korea, and Chad have relatively low HIV / AIDS rates. One of the possible explanations was revealed in 2012 in the Journal of Applied Phycology. It was discovered that people in those countries regularly consume excessive amounts of algae and that leads to HIV/ AIDS resistance.
Researchers took 11 HIV patients who have never used antiretrovirals before. Then they divided them into 3 groups: the first one received 5 grams of seaweed every day, the second 5 grams of spirulina, and the third a combination of both. After the trial period of three months, two key discoveries were made:
- There were no negative effects on both seaweed and combination varieties.
- CD4 cells and HIV-1 viral load remained stable.
The results were so promising that one participant volunteered to continue the study for another 10 months. This has given him many benefits found by the researchers as “a clinically significant improvement in CD4 and a reduction in HIV burden”!
Comparable results were found in Cameroon study:
Daily supplementation with S. platensis to diet combined with a reasonable balanced diet has significantly increased the CD4 cells and reduced the viral load after 6 months.
#4 Spirulina Can Prevent Cancer
Numerous studies found that spirulina has properties to increase the production of antibodies and other cells that boost immunity and help fight off cancer and other chronic diseases.
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center:
A number of animal and test tube studies suggest that spirulina increases production of antibodies, infection-fighting proteins and other cells that improve immunity and help ward off infection and chronic illnesses such as cancer.
This is not surprising since more than 70 scientific articles have been published confirming the ability of Spirulina to affect cancer cells.
Similar findings are the conclusion of the recent study by Czech scientists:
Spirulina platensis is a blue-green alga used as a dietary supplement because of its hypocholesterolemic properties. Among other bioactive substances, it is also rich in tetrapyrrolic compounds closely related to bilirubin molecule, a potent antioxidant, and anti-proliferative agent.
In conclusion, S. platensis and its tetrapyrrolic components substantially decreased the proliferation of experimental pancreatic cancer. These data support a chemopreventive role of this edible alga. Furthermore, it seems that dietary supplementation with this alga might enhance systemic pool of tetrapyrroles, known to be higher in subjects with Gilbert syndrome.
As you can see, it proves that spirulina can prevent several types of cancer
#5 Spirulina Lowers blood pressure
Phycocyanin is a pigment found in spirulina, which has an antihypertensive effect (lowers blood pressure).
As with anti-cancer benefits, many studies have confirmed that spirulina is effective in lowering blood pressure.
#6 Spirulina Reduces Cholesterol
In the same series of studies, it was shown that spirulina prevents atherosclerosis and reduces elevated blood cholesterol:
The Spirulina maxima showed a hypolipemic effect, especially on the TAG and the LDL-C concentrations but indirectly on TC and HDL-C values. It also reduces systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
Recently, a study in rabbits was published in the Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology. They were fed a high cholesterol diet (HCD) having 0.5% cholesterol for 4 weeks, then, along with such nutrition, they were given about 1-5% spirulina for an extra 8 weeks.
After the eighth week, the trial was ended. The results are as follows: a 26% reduction in cholesterol in the group consuming 1% spirulina and 41% in the group consuming 5% algae, which suggests that …
The more spirulina you eat, the more health benefits you will get!
The concentration of triglycerides and total cholesterol also decreased significantly.
#7 Spirulina Lowers Probability of a Stroke
In the above study, the researchers also found that spirulina supplementation reduced the inner surface of the aortic membrane from 33% to 48%.
This is a direct indicator that it can prevent atherosclerosis and stroke.
#8 Spirulina Increases Your Energy Levels
When you look closely at the composition of spirulina, you will not be surprised that people who eat it regularly have a lot of energy. Spirulina is full of protein, vitamins, and minerals, plus has a lot of fiber.
Dr. Oz recommends combining 1 teaspoon of powdered spirulina with 0.3 ml of lime juice and freezing the mixture on the ice cubes.
According to dr. Oz, spirulina increases energy efficiency because it unblocks sugar in your cells. When spirulina and lime are frozen, the cold from the ice cubes increases the metabolic energy even further, telling your body to wake up.
#9 Spirulina Can Help You Lose Weight
Diets high in nutrients and protein-rich products such as spirulina support weight loss and keep your body low-fat through a variety of mechanisms. Because your body needs more energy to metabolize nutritious and protein-rich diet, you burn fat.
Spirulina can also help you cut hunger and is beneficial for people who are overweight.
#10 Spirulina Can Save Your Sinuses
More and more people have an allergy, and it is estimated that even up to 25% of adults have allergic rhinitis, which comes from exposure to allergens such as pollen. Symptoms like sneezing, itchy nose, and nasal congestion are typical in this condition.
According to studies taking spirulina has a beneficial effect on the body by reducing inflammation, which causes people to experience problems with sinuses. Compared to the placebo test, spirulina is effective in reducing pruritus, nasal secretion, nasal congestion, and sneezing.