What is the contribution of the food you eat towards your personal health?
Is it providing you all the nutrients and protecting you from diseases?
You think that it’s impossible? It is not!
Yes. Certain foods contain extreme amounts of nutrients that help restore your health and protect you from various diseases.
Spirulina is one such super-food which has many benefits just like the supper-food Avocado.
Those who have attended their high school science classes well will remember that spirulina was the first living organism on earth. Don’t worry I am not writing about science or history, this million years old plant has many health benefits. Due to its immense nutritional value, It is commonly known as ‘green gold’ among the nutritionists.
What is Spirulina?
Spirulina is a salt-water-plant which is unicellular microorganism that looks like spiralling curls. It belongs to cyanobacteria family and consists of 60-70% of protein which is 95% digestible.
There is no exaggeration in calling spirulina, a super-food, because it is a pack of about 18 amino acids among which 8 are essential and 10 are non-essential amino acids, unlike any single grain, herb or plant.
It is also a good source for other nutrients like iron, vitamin B12, Vitamin E, beta-carotene, gamma linolenic acid (GLA), linoleic acid, zinc, manganese, etc. Due to its antioxidant nature, it prevents cell damage.
Being packed with so many nutrients, organic spirulina has many health benefits.
Spirulina Benefits
1. Anti-inflammatory
About 65 % of spirulina constitutes amino acids and protein, along with essential fatty acids like GLA, which gives it the property of anti-inflammation. Spirulina when consumed with omega-3 fatty acids has proven to be more beneficial with this property.
2. During Pregnancy
Spirulina has high concentrations of bio available iron compound which makes it an excellent choice during pregnancy and for those with anaemia. It has also been proved that consumption of iron and folic acid during pregnancy is also beneficial for the mental health of the baby.
3. Produce Antibodies
Studies have revealed that spirulina possesses good immune boosting properties. It aids in antibody creation and also has infection fighting proteins.
4. Detox Your Body
The chlorophyll content of spirulina helps to remove toxins from your blood and the antioxidants boost the immune system. It is good for almost all parts of the body such as heart, liver, brain, etc.
5. Calcium and Phosphorous
Calcium content of spirulina is 26 times more than the calcium in milk which makes it an excellent option for children, elderly and during pregnancy. Phosphorous present in spirulina makes it a good tool in teeth remineralization.
6. Radiation Therapy
Emerging evidences suggest that spirulina binds with radioactive isotopes and may be useful for radiation therapy or exposure to radioactivity.
7. Spirulina for Weight Loss
Spirulina protein can bind with heavy metals in the body and help remove them. It also increases fat burning during exercise.
8. Liver Damage
Preliminary evidence suggests that the spirulina help protect against liver damage and cirrhosis in people with chronic hepatitis.
9. Oral Cancer
Spirulina is also proved to be effective in oral cancer according to a study where the precancerous lesions in the mouth almost disappeared in the people who took spirulina unlike that of the placebo group.
10. Neural Health
Presence of the major share of vitamin B12 makes it good for neural tissue and to fight fibromyalgia.
Though there are many spirulina health benefits, you should be very careful while choosing the source or brand because it contains toxins if it is not grown with complete.
Spirulina Side Effects
Spirulina nutrition is safe, but you should not exceed the recommended dosage. It is suggested that spirulina should start with weak doses which is gradually increased. It can be consumed in many forms like spirulina tablets, spirulina capsules or spirulina powder.
It can provoke few side effects like light fever, migraines, diarrhoea or constipation. Due to its detoxification process, spirulina may cause black or green stool.
Hence, it is very important that you consume a high quality and trustworthy product of spirulina.
Don’t forget to share it with your relatives and friends, especially pregnant woman, as it is very beneficial to them.
Photo Courtesy: lamolina.net
Hi Akshata Madam,
Thanks a lot for the Article.
I would like to know where can we get Spirulina.
Is it available in the market and also would like to know how should it be consumed ?
Thanks in advance.