Spirulina, a dark green powder supplement with bluish overtones, is one of the most promising superfoods that is gradually gaining recognition for its outstanding powers to treat nearly every form of health issue.
What is Spirulina?
Spirulina is a cyanobacteria, a special kind of bacteria that draws energy through photosynthesis. It is hailed for its amazing nutritional and medicinal qualities and is a readily available source of chlorophyll, which imparts a dark green hue.
It is a type of algae obtained from both freshwater and saltwater that has earned fame as a health food in recent years owing to its prolific health-nurturing abilities.
Spirulina can readily meet daily suggested nutrition needs for a variety of nutrients that are only available in trace amounts in everyday foods.
This superfood, being high in proteins, omega fats, calcium, iron, and other key minerals like thiamine and riboflavin, can easily replace energy supplements to keep you stocked with all the nutrients you need to maintain healthy functions in your body.
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What is the Source of Spirulina?
Most of the spirulina you’ll find in markets is usually sourced from ponds and lakes where it grows naturally.
However, in an attempt to increase the bioavailability of spirulina to meet the ever-rising demand of the medical industry, scientists have found a way to grow it in labs under certain conditions where this alga grows just like in ponds and other water bodies.
Nutritional Value of Spirulina
| Nutrient | Amount per 100g |
| Calories | 290 kcal |
| Protein | 57.47g |
| Carbohydrates | 23.9g |
| Fat | 7.72g |
| Fibre | 3.6g |
| Vitamin A | 5700 IU |
| Vitamin C | 10.1mg |
| Iron | 8.03mg |
| Calcium | 12mg |
| Magnesium | 195mg |
Source: USDA Food Data Central.
Note: Spirulina Nutritional value may slightly vary based on the source and specific brand.
Surprisingly, a lot of people who want to include some sort of additional nutrition in their daily lives lack information on which foods would be suitable for their particular needs or are just not interested in studying the pros and cons and buy health supplements anyway without giving a thought to any aftereffects they might bring.
However, trying any kind of health supplement without prior approval from your physician can sometimes land you in trouble.
For this reason, it becomes pertinent to gain knowledge about a particular superfood, who should consume it, and the right method of incorporating it into a daily diet.
Find out more about 12 of the amazing health benefits of Spirulina here.
12 Health Benefits Of Spirulina
Spirulina has a lot of nutritional value which is not exactly a secret among the health buffs. The health benefits of spirulina do not limit to providing energy or muscle building. It has so many beneficial effects on the overall health of the body, including skin, hair and essential functions like respiration and digestion.
Read more to learn in detail how spirulina health benefits make it an essential nutrient supplement.
1. Aids Muscle Building
For fitness freaks, spirulina can easily replace off-the-shelf protein supplements to increase muscle mass.
An active source of proteins and some vital amino acids required to build and strengthen muscles, spirulina can work wonders in helping you attain maximum muscle-building benefits from your daily exercise regime.
The protein content of spirulina makes it popular among sportspeople and athletes.
2. Treats Anaemia
No wonder what gives this supplement a deep, dark greenish hue also accounts for its rich iron profile. This nature of spirulina makes it a wonderful health food for vegetarians.
The high iron content, coupled with abundant protein levels, makes it particularly good for female athletes who need some additional sources of iron and proteins to go along with high-intensity workouts.
Being the most fundamental nutrient that supports healthy body functioning, taking iron-rich supplements is believed to guarantee good health on a long-term basis.
3. Boosts Metabolism
The most desirable trait of a healthy and thriving body is a high metabolism. Intake of spirulina can help you attain this goal without compromising your body’s overall nutrition needs.
It helps the body release CCK – cholecystokinin (as spirulina is a rich source of the amino acid phenylalanine which is the precursor to CCK), a kind of peptide hormone that promotes feelings of satiety and controls hunger cravings. In other words, it makes you feel full for longer.
Alongside its appetite-reducing qualities, it’s known to be a low-calorie food, which accounts for its ability to shed weight without any need to put in hard labour to get rid of extra pounds.
4. Aids Digestion
Spirulina is a great fix to ease digestion and ensure proper absorption of vitamins, minerals, and other micronutrients. It is a fibre-rich supplement that keeps your gut health in proper shape. It is easily digested by the system and helps improve metabolism.
5. Boosts Cognitive Function
If you’re thinking of giving your memory and mental agility a boost, then you can safely do so with spirulina in your diet.
Being richly loaded with omega-3 fats and B vitamins, spirulina helps sharpen memory and prevents the occurrence of mental disorders resulting from poor nutrition.
Spirulina is also an active source of tryptophan, an amino acid that helps trigger serotonin release and keeps issues like depression, mental fatigue, and sleeplessness at bay.
6. Strengthens Immunity
Spirulina also figures among the best natural supplements with high antioxidant levels, enough to protect you from harmful bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens. In turn, it helps raise your immunity against these microbes and helps you stay fit and disease-free.
7. Regulates Blood Sugar
Spirulina consumption has been shown to exhibit blood sugar-lowering properties.
In a few studies conducted on type 2 diabetes patients, the blood sugar levels significantly dropped within two months of regular supplementation with spirulina. The effect was observed to be better on fasting blood sugar compared to regular blood sugar.
8. Improves Respiratory Function
With spirulina in your daily diet, you can expect to improve lung function, especially if you’ve had a tough time dealing with lung infections, asthma, coughs, and flu in the past. This quality comes from the anti-inflammatory nature of spirulina, which helps maintain healthy respiratory function.
9. Promotes Heart Health
Here’s another reason to add spirulina to your daily meal plan! It’s the impeccable heart-protecting abilities that come from its high concentrations of heart-healthy omega fats, vitamin E, and antioxidants.
Daily intake can prevent issues like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and arterial blockage from disrupting your heart health.
10. Give You A Glowing Skin
Spirulina benefits skin too. Ever heard of green juice, marketed as a miracle beauty shot with nearly 10 times the glow-boosting effects of regular juices?
In reality, it is mostly spirulina powder mixed with water or fruit juice that has become a favoured beauty concoction for many women around the globe ever since it appeared on the market.
This drink claims to detoxify your skin and leave a healthy glow. The claims might appear gross, but spirulina does have amazing toxin removal abilities and can restore health, glow, and youth to dull-looking skin.
11. Prevents Premature Greying of Hair
Spirulina benefits hair as it proves to be a miracle potion that helps your greying mane regain its original colour and volume.
This superfood is an affluent source of copper, a mineral that imparts pigment to hair. Taking this supplement helps meet the copper deficiency that is likely causing grey hair. Other vital nutrients that support healthy hair are also found to be abundantly present in spirulina. So, you can surely expect your hair to transform from dull and lifeless to luminous and bouncy.
12. Prevents Cancer
This powder supplement offers long-term protection against cancers of all kinds. It works by halting the production of free radicals, which in turn leads to oxidative damage to cells within the body.
Particularly, spirulina is observed to be highly effective in oral cancer. This ability to fight cancer cells in the body makes it a winning superfood you can grab on the go to address all kinds of health problems invading your peace of mind.
Too Good To Be True?
While spirulina is a nutrient-dense superfood with multiple nutritional benefits, it is not a miracle cure-all. For best results, add spirulina to a well-balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. Individual experiences and reactions to spirulina may also vary, and some individuals may be allergic or sensitive to it.
Before incorporating spirulina or any other novel supplement into your routine, as with any nutritional adjustment, contact a healthcare expert.
From a horde of health supplements vying for your attention in health stores, you’ll only be able to identify the one that works for you if you possess enough information about the said supplement and its possible health outcomes.
Make spirulina an essential part of your life today and tap into its benefits for a healthy and thriving future.
