Spirulina

Spirulina is a food supplement based around organisms called cyanobacteria. These cyanobacteria are naturally prevalent in tropical areas, and particularly warm places with a high pH value and low amounts of carbonates.

The use of spirulina as a beneficial health food dates back many hundreds of years to the Aztecs of South America, who harvested the cyanobacteria from warm lakes. They called it, rather unappetizingly, ‘tecuitlatl’, which means ‘excrement of stone’. Spirulina was traditionally eaten in a kind of dried cake form, and not thought to be particularly appealing but for its reputed health benefits. Today, spirulina is one of a select group of foods chosen by NASA for use during space shuttle missions, due to its concentration of many essential vitamins and minerals, as well as protein.

Around one-half to three-quarters of dried spirulina ‘cake’ is comprised of protein, which is complete, quality protein containing all eight essential amino acids that the human body needs in order to function properly. It is found to be technically superior to all other forms of plant protein, but slightly deficient to good quality lean meat, eggs and dairy products in some respects.

Spirulina contains all of our essential fatty acids. Essential fatty acids are needed by the body in order to carry out a variety of functions, but the ‘essential’ part mean that our bodies cannot synthesize the amino acids themselves, so we must obtain them through dietary means. Having all eight essential amino acids in one compact, dried food source is very convenient.

Spirulina also contains healthy levels of all of the B vitamins, as well as vitamin C, vitamin E and vitamin D, and is a rich source of many minerals that are needed by the body, such as calcium, iron, selenium, sodium, zinc, chromium, copper and phosphorus.

In fact, if one were to design a synthetic foodstuff which contained all of the nutrients that the human body required in one convenient, compact package, spirulina is pretty close to what you would end up with. It is, essentially, a completely safe and natural multivitamin supplement with quality protein on the side.

Various studies have shown spirulina to have beneficial health effects over and above this status as a simple vitamin and mineral supplement. Some publications have referred to it as a superfood after finding concentrations of GLA and various powerful antioxidant chemicals in spirulina, which may help to protect the body from various diseases including cancer, which can be caused by the destructive action of free radicals released during the body’s production of energy. Antioxidants combat the effect of these free radicals, helping to prevent tissue damage and build-up of plaque in the arteries, amongst other things. The presence of several antioxidant chemicals in spirulina then can only increase its effectiveness as a dietary supplement and beneficial health food.

Spirulina has also been shown in some cases to limit the severity of strokes and to assist in recovery following a stroke. It was also shown to be able to reduce the damage caused to some tissues by anti-cancer treatments including chemotherapy. A similar study found that spirulina could reverse some of the symptoms of age-related mental degeneration, helping to restore both the memory and cognitive function of elderly patients who took the supplement. It is also sometimes employed by doctors as an effective natural treatment for hay fever.

Spirulina can help to treat some of the nutritional problems caused by HIV AIDS, particularly in children, including anemia and substantial weight loss. It is also effective as a remedy for arsenic poisoning. Spirulina is being tried as a cost-effective nutritional treatment for the chronic malnutrition present in some of the world’s poorest countries.

Spirulina can be an effective natural multivitamin and mineral supplement for most people. It may also be a convenient snack for those who need a convenient, dry way to carry what is essentially a complete nutritional package in a handy cake-formed foodstuff.

Spirulina may be useful for some endurance athlete, and anyone who is counting on being away from civilization for some time while needing a reliable source of nutrients including a complete protein. Possibly explorers and mountain climbers would find a particular use for this supplement.

Spirulina is a completely safe and natural nutritional product, and could be taken by just about anyone to ensure a good supply of vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients such as the essential fatty acids. It may also help to prevent the onset of some serious diseases due to its richness in antioxidants.

You should always speak to your doctor about taking a new supplement, and especially if you experience any negative reaction as a result of taking a new supplement or medication.