Top 13 Health Benefits of Superfood Spirulina

Mark Twain once said “The only way to keep your health is to eat what you don’t want, drink what you don’t like, and do what you’d rather not “. He may have been right on some levels, but what if I tell you that with spirulina, you can eat foods that you like and still be healthy Firstly, how to take spirulina is very important for achieving the best results. It has 50-60% protein, which means that spirulina has the highest content of protein than any other food. The NASA is researching spirulina as a substitute for food for the astronauts. This research began as soon as they found out that 1kg of spirulina had the same nutrients found in a 1000 kg of assorted vegetables. Spirulina is also filled with the rich vitamin sources, such as vitamin B-1 and B-2, iron and boron. With its long list of benefits, it very well lives up to its title of being a superfood. Spirulina is the most popular superfood on the market. It’s been used for thousands of years and is known for giving Aztec and Inca fighters endurance and strength. Spirulina is an ideal food to feed a starving world.

It’s been used in third world countries to relieve hunger with great effectiveness, because it’s inexpensive, nutritionally compact, doesn’t spoil easily and doesn’t require a refrigerator. The most protein intense food than any other food on the planet. Spirulina gets digested 100% in comparance to any other food. When you start eating spirulina, your body responds in a very positive way. The green colour present in spirulina is derived from chlorophyll and the blue colour is derived from the exotic phycocyanin. This ancient algae’s life-forms from the Earth’s lakes and oceans. Spirulina are strong survivors and can even survive in a dormant state when the water evaporates. Spirulina is so great, that the astronauts will be using it soon!

Nutritional Facts of Spirulina

Spirulina contains an important compound called Gamma-Linolenic Acid (GLA) found in human breast milk to help promote a healthy development process in babies. Spirulina benefits everyone with a poor nutritional diet or lifestyle through helping the body absorb as many nutrients possible. It does not only help with the digestive system, but it also works to stimulate flora in the digestive system, which is important to promote good digestion and normal bowel function. All these nutrients found in spirulina, naturally cleanse your system and help to get rid of all toxins in the body.

Benefits of Spirulina

1. Protect Against Allergic Reactions: If you suffer from any allergies, you can benefit from spirulina by choosing to make it part of your daily lifestyle. Spirulina stops the release of histamines, which are the main substance that cause allergic reaction, such as soft-tissue swelling, sneezing, itching and much more.
2. Detox the Body: The production of free radicals is the most natural result of aging. These are molecules that can damage body tissues and may cause some diseases. Antioxidants are substances that get rid of free radicals. Spirulina contains several antioxidants that can help fight off free radicals. Some of these are Beta-carotene, Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) and Zeaxanthin
3. Promoting Anti-aging: Spirulina is the best natural source of vitamin B12, which promotes healthy tissue and nerves in the body. It’s an excellent supplement for people who follow a vegetarian diet, which may need extra nutritional support. Spirulina also helps to fight off free radicals, which are molecules that cause damage to the cells in the body. This aids in fighting against degeneration.
4. Preventing Cancer: Spirulina is the richest food in beta carotene as well as containing 10 mixed carotenoids. In spirulina, orange carotenes are found that includes alpha, beta and gamma, which are responsible for making up to 50% of carotenes. The remaining 50% of carotenes are called the yellow xantophyl’ls which are the yellow pigments of the leaves. All these carotenes work in a co-operative manner in the body to promote antioxidant protection, which has been found to offer protection from developing cancer. Natural carotenes can be found in vegetables and algae, such as spirulina have been found to provide the most anti-cancer and antioxidant power as opposed to synthetic versions of beta carotene.
5. Protein: Spirulina is a complete raw source of protein. Protein is need in our everyday diet. It isn’t just useful for building muscle and strength, but for endurance, balanced blood sugar levels, balanced brain chemistry, rapid healing, strong bones and in every aspect of healthy living. Spirulina contains the highest concentration of protein in food, between 65% and 71% protein. Spirulina is an excellent dietary supplement to replace meats high in cholesterol as well as high fat dairy products. Switching from animal protein to spirulina protein is one of the most effective ways to consume natural resources and improve the environment. Spirulina is more readily absorbed than animal protein, because it can be blended in shakes, water and all beverages. Each gram of spirulina protein is four times more absorbable than the same amount of grams in the protein of beef.
6. Balanced Brain Chemistry: Spirulina is a full spectrum protein source, which is very important in the balancing of brain chemistry. The absence of protein blocks such as amino acids in the diet can cause a number of problems in your health system. For example: The absence of amino acid tryptophan in the diet will lead to a deficiency in serotonin. Serotonin is essential for generating emotions as well as a “stress-defence shield” which enhances your happiness. A deficiency in serotonin will cause depression, chronic stomach problems and neurological disorders and loss of appetite. The importance of amino acids is critical.
7. Blood Building: Spirulina helps to decrease Anaemia, which is a health condition where the body doesn’t have enough red blood cells. This can cause fatigue, shortness of breath, weakness and poor appetite. Aside from this, spirulina contains as much iron as red meat. This makes it a healthier alternative, especially to those people who are cutting back from meat. Spirulina has a high level of chlorophyll, one of the building blocks of blood, which will increase haemoglobin to improve blood quality and increase red blood cells, which creates oxygen for your body.
8. Weight-Loss: Spirulina provides additional nutrients, while reducing hunger at the same time. It’s recommended to take between 5-8 spirulina tablets, 30min before eating in order to lose the extra pounds. This will reduce calorie intake and provide all nutrients needed. It provides your body with essential proteins that are easier to digest and absorb than meat and vegetables, which is the richest food groups in proteins. The nutrients contained in this natural dietary supplement will be transported throughout the body quicker. It is also recommended for physical exercises because it gives you extra energy, if you are trying to build your muscles, or in diets low in carbohydrates. Your body needs help to get all the nutrients you need to perform at your best and spirulina is the most natural way to achieve this.
9. Spirulina is a Whole Food, Unlike Vitamins and other Supplements: Most vitamins on the market are filled with laboratory-synthesized chemical compounds, rather than natural sources. Vitamin companies are trying to duplicate nature, which can never be done.
10. Improves Digestion: Spirulina contains chlorophyll, which regularize the digestive system and ease the passage of waste through the system. It promotes healthy bacteria in the gut and can drastically boost the body’s digestive system to fully absorb nutrients from food, while supressing bad bacteria like e-coli and candida. The healthy bacteria in the spirulina provide you with better digestion, protection against infection and absorption in the immune system.
11. Immune System Booster: Spirulina is a powerful substance for the immune system. It’s one of the highest sources of anti-oxidants, even higher than milk thistle. It is also scientifically proven that the intake of spirulina in your daily lifestyle or diet, consistently improves the immune system. Spirulina helps to increase the production of antibodies and cytokines (several regulatory proteins that are released by cells of the immune system and acts as intercellular mediators in the generation of an immune response). Once the production of new immune system cells circulate in the blood, they begin to concentrate on the appendix, liver, tonsils, bone marrow and spleen, increasing the overall health in the body’s immune system. Small amounts of spirulina will help to balance and stabilise the immune system, which will free more of your metabolic energy for vitality and healing.
12. Boost Endurance Levels: Spirulina is a superfood that is suited for the human to endure a high intensity workout. It delivers energy and stamina, taken before exercising. It is also helpful in reducing calorific intake, which is essential for boxers and body builders. The Cuban athletes have taken spirulina for many years as it helps them intensify training before each competition. Spirulina helps to create and repair muscles in the body as well as retaining the iron in the body. It is beneficial for the use of all sports and work outs.
13. Pets: Spirulina is not only beneficial for humans but for your pets as well. Spirulina is an excellent supplement for all cats and dogs to ensure healthy skin and shiny lustrous coats. It has also been used many years in the bird feeding process to increase colour, growth and improve fertility rates. It enhances the yellow skin colour of chickens and increases the colour of the egg yolk. Spirulina also improves the performance and recovery in all race horses.

How to Take Spirulina

This powerful little algae can provide a wide variety of health benefits, and is available in either tablet or powder form. Spirulina is a hard survivor and can even survive in 160 degrees Fahrenheit. It does not matter if you take spirulina in a powder or tablet form, the nutrients will stay as same as fresh spirulina. When choosing spirulina, make sure you choose it organic as others may have nitrate compounds as additives.

This post is an item in this series about superfood.

To experience all the great benefits of  a variety of super food and living a more energized and uplifting healthy life, you need to read further in this series about superfood:

The Top 13 Benefits of Superfood Spirulina

Who Should Take Spirulina and How Often

Exploring the Top 10 Benefits of Goji Berries.

 

References:

[amazon_link id=”1556437765″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Superfoods: The Food and Medicine of the Future[/amazon_link] by David Wolfe

[amazon_link id=”1893910466″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]The Green Foods Bible: Everything You Need to Know about Barley Grass, Wheatgrass, Kamut, Chlorella, Spirulina and More[/amazon_link] by David Sandoval

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