Health Exploding Nutrients with Spirulina

Introduction

Do you need more engery? Do you want better health? If so, Spirulina's benefits may be the answer for you. According to distributor's claims, Spirulina contains over 100 nutrients and is believed to be the most complete food source in the world. Easily digestible, it is sold in capsules, powder, and flakes.

Spirulina is about 3.6 billion years old. It is a cyanobacteria of the genus Spirulina. One of the oldest life forms of photosynthetic life, it was an evolutionary bridge between bacteria and green plants. It is adaptable and grows in a wide range of conditions. Prefering brackish water, spirulina can even grow in adverse conditions.

Because Spirulina has so many nutrients, it’s health benefits are amazing. Some of the claims are:

• Stimulates hematopoiesis (the creation of blood)
• Immune enhancer
• Stimulates the growth of beneficial intestinal bacteria, improves bowel and digestive functions
• Provides energy, endurance, and speed recovery
• Helps regulate blood pressure
• Facilates insulin function and helps the body utilize glucose
• Retards aging
• May lower plasma triglycerides and increase HDL cholesterol
• Anti-inflammatory effects
• Promotes weight loss
• May alleviate the symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Reduces the symptoms of sinusitis, allergies, and asthma
• Zinc deficient children improved their deficiency with less side-effects by taking spiraling rather than a supplement.
• Slows the progression of HIV
• Anti-viral properties
• Anti-oxidant protection
• Anti-cancer effects
• Reduces toxicity
• Provides energy and improves stamina
• Makes skin and hair more soft, shiny, and durable
• Builds and mends muscles
• Useful for people with rheumatoid arthritis and diabetic neuropathy

Spirulina Nutrients

In addition to consisting of 60% protien, spirulina has many other nutrients. The following are some of the nutrients:

• Protien - Contains the highest protien of any natural food, approximately 60% vegetable protien
• Carbohydrates - The primary forms are rhamnose and glycogen
• Fats - A unique composition of fatty acids, it contains gama linolenic acid, glycolipids, and sulfolipids. Glycolipids and sulfolipids are active against viral infections.
• Natural pigments - Phycocyanin (15,000 - 18,000 mg./100 grams) makes iron more bio-available and may stimulate the immune system.
• Chlorophyl (1300 -11500 mg./100 grams) - Known to be a cleansing agent.
• Cartenoids (400-500 mg./100 grams) - Contains beta-carotene (160 -200 mg./100 grams) and xanthorphylls (170-200 mg./100 grams). It contains 10 times more carotene than carrots.
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin B complex, especially B₁₂
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E
• Selenium
• Maganese
• Magnesium
• Potassium - Contains 10 times more than the common vegetable
• Zinc
• Copper
• Iron
• Chromium
• Dismustase
• Glutathione peroxidase

Cautions for Spirulina

Although the ingredients in spirulina are safe for most people, however, it should be avoided in certain situations. The situations are:

• Spirulina can absorb toxins in the environment. Therefore, care needs to be taken where spiraling is grown and harvested. Spirulina should be bought from reputable distributors only.
• People with PKU should avoid it since it contains a high amount of protien, and protien contains phenylaline. PKU stands for Phenylketonurics. This is a genetic, metabolic disorder where people lack an enzyme to metabolize phenylalanine into the amino acid tyrosine. In babies if left untreated, it can cause mental retardation and central nervous system problems.
• Since spirulina is high in bio-available iron, people with hyperparathyroidism should avoid it.
• People that are allergic to seafood or seaweed may want to avoid it.

Conclusion

Considering spirulina’s numerous health claims, can it all be true? Although 4,000 scientists have researched spirulina over the past 40 years, the health benefits cannot be proven because most tests were either test tube studies or animal studies. Furthermore, in Australia and overseas, the tests were uncontrolled clinical trials so the results cannot be used in the United States. Therefore, more research has to be done. Regardless, I believe there is an element of truth in most claims. Whether all the tests can be proven, enough claims have been made to where I am willing to let it speak for itself. If you’re interested in Spirulina as a dietary supplement, research it and decide for yourself. Except for a few instances, it is safe. The recommended dose is 3 - 5 grams per day. Be sure to check with physician before taking it.