Spirulina - Benefits, Uses, Side Effects

HERBAL GUIDE

SPIRULINA

AKA: platensis, Arthopira maxima, microalgae, phytoplankton

Algae is more than just that scummy gunk on top of the pond, there are 25000 different types living just about everywhere: in water, in soils, on rocks, on plants. They come in different shapes and sizes, ranging from giant kelp (macroalgae) to microscopic phytoplankton (microalgae), which is the base of the ocean’s food chain. Spirulina is an algae that occurs naturally in tropical or subtropical lakes that have a high PH and high concentrations of carbonate and bicarbonate. It was first thought to be harvested by the Aztecs up until the 16^th Century, skimmed off of lakes and then dried into squares. It was later rediscovered as a food source in the 1970s and has gone on to become an important dietary supplement with many beneficial nutritional properties.

Benefits and Uses

Dietary supplement
Super Food
Antioxidant
Immune system booster
Lowers Cholesterol
Supports cardiovascular function
Cleanses and detoxifies
Provides Energy
Improves digestion
Helps curb Appetite

Spirulina is one of the richest sources of Beta Carotene that you can find in the plant kingdom. It contains a full spectrum of ten mixed carotenoids (alpha, beta and gamma orange carotenes and yellow xanthophylls) which work to enhance antioxidant protection in our body. For the past several decades, scientists have been stressing that eating foods that are rich in beta carotenes and high in antioxidant properties helps our bodies fight control free radical damage and limit our chances of getting cancer. Further research has indicated that naturally derived beta carotene is much more effective than synthetically produced beta-carotene because of the presence of the key 9-cis isomer, which makes it easier for our bodies to assimilate.

Spirulina has almost ten times the amount of concentrated beta carotene than carrots allowing you to get all of the antioxidants that your body needs even if you do not happen to get your 4 to 9 recommended servings of fruits and vegetables a day (most only get 1 or 2 including fries with ketchup). Consuming it daily will help boost your immune system, repair your cardiovascular system and improve your heart health as well as help protect you from cancer and slow the aging process.

Research has even indicated that spirulina will help protect vitamin C (another potent antioxidant) from losing its potency and studies have shown that taking spirulina daily reduced eye infections in children in India and caused a regression on mouth cancer lesions in 44% of the male tobacco chewers who took just one gram of the substance a day. Other studies have shown that taking the supplement helps enhance important parts of the immune system including bone marrow stem cells, macrophages, T-cells, natural killer cells, spleen and thymus glands. It has been shown to inhibit the replication of HIV, Herpes, Influenza, Mumps and measles while at the same time being safe for human cells.

Spirulina is unusually high in proteins and essential amino acids while containing no fat or cholesterol and only a few calories. If you are looking to eat less meat and dairy to combat your expanding waistline and rising cholesterol levels, it is one of the most ideal super foods that you can use. It is also rich in the Iron you need to help build a strong system as well as B-12 and B complex vitamins which are needed to build up healthy nerves and tissue. It is also a good source of Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) which is a rare essential fatty acid that is found in mother’s milk and key for the development of healthy babies. It has also been shown to support a healthy heart by lowering bad cholesterol levels and improving circulation.

Taking Spirulina can also help improve your digestive and bowel functions helping with both regularity and elimination. It has been shown to suppress bad bacteria such as e-coli while at the same time encouraging beneficial flora such as lactobacillus and bifidobacteria. Healthy flora helps us absorb more nutrients from the foods that we eat helping older people with restricted diets and poor digestion maintain a higher level of energy and receive more nourishment.

Being rich in vitamins, minerals and essential nutrients while low in fat makes Spirulina a ideal supplement for just about everyone: athletes, pregnant and nursing mothers, children. It has been praised by people in underdeveloped countries for helping to feed undernourished children. It can be utilized as an easy to carry survival food by backpackers, mountain climbers and bikers. Body builders can use it for its protein and amino acid content while keeping their weight down. Competitive athletes around the world are starting to use this super food to gain the edge in various sports and to help recover from injuries quicker.

Spirulina is also beneficial for cleansing and detoxifying. It can help reduce toxins in the kidneys and studies have found that it is beneficial for people who are suffering from heavy metal poisoning. It has also been found to help people recover from radiation sickness and normalize allergic sensitivities. The cholorphyll, phycocyanin and polysaccharides that spirulina contains helps cleanse our bodies of the toxins that we accumulate in this modern world of ours. It is also valuable in fasting, providing an easy to digest low calorie food source that allows the body to cleanse and renew itself.