Although I’m not a huge fan of powders and supplements, spirulina is one of the exceptions I gladly make. Especially when you are committing to a (mainly) plant-based lifestyle it is worth adding this superfood to your daily diet. It houses a fair share of health-promoting nutrients and is also packed with proteins.
What Is Spirulina
Before we take a look at what spirulina can do for you, let me first introduce you to this incredible superfood. Spirulina is a naturally occurring alga (or cyanobacteria) that grows in both fresh and salt water. It is often referred to as blue-green algae. It uses photosynthesis, just as plants, to produce its energy out of sunlight.
Spirulina can be found in tablet or powder form. A standard dose range between 1-3 grams, although some people successfully use up to 10 grams per day. It is incredibly high in complete protein, iron, magnesium, calcium (26 times more than milk), antioxidants, copper and many of the B vitamins.
Complete protein makes up about 60 to 70 percent of spirulina’s dry weight. Therefore, it is often recommended to vegetarians or vegans.
Although many people claim that spirulina is a good source of vitamin B12 too, this is highly debatable. It mainly contains pseudo-vitamin B12, which has shown to be ineffective for humans.
Click here to learn more about vitamin B12.
Spirulina Health Benefits
#1 Powerful Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Properties
Free radicals can harm our DNA and cells which over time can lead to chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation is linked to many of our modern day diseases. One of spirulina’s primary active compounds, phycocyanin (responsible for its blue-green color), can fight these free radicals and inhibit inflammation.
#2 Anti-Cancer Benefits
Some studies have found spirulina to be effective in preventing and reducing tumor growth, especially the ones occurring in the mouth.
#3 Fat-burning Properties
Spirulina can increase fat burning during exercise. If you are on a weight loss mission spirulina is an excellent addition to your pre-workout smoothies or juices.
Looking for a way to live a healthy lifestyle while eating delicious, colorful meals and losing or maintaining weight the healthy way, CLICK HERE!
#4 Heavy Metal Detoxifier
Spirulina is a great way to help your body get rid of heavy metals such as arsenic.
#5 Heart-Friendly
Adding spirulina to your daily diet can help you lower LDL (or bad) cholesterol and raise HDL (or good) cholesterol. It also prevents oxidation of fatty structures, which is the culprit of many diseases. It also reduces blood pressure which can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and chronic kidney disease.
#6 Control Blood Sugar
Spirulina helps lower blood sugar levels and has actually shown to do this better than many diabetic drugs available on the market. However, more research is needed in this field.
#7 Treat Anemia
Thanks to its high nutritional values, spirulina can help fight anemia in vegans, vegetarians, and elderly.
ALSO READ: 3 Key Nutrients That Vegetarians Must Be Mindful Of To Avoid Nutrient Deficiency
#8 Improve Endurance and Muscle Strength
Some studies suggest that spirulina supplementation can enhance endurance and increase muscle strength.
As you can see spirulina has some amazing benefits and is packed with protein, iron, and many other beneficial nutrients to keep your body in perfect condition. It is incredibly healthy and truly deserves its spot among other superfoods such as moringa, goji berries, and chia seeds.
We add it in powder form to our morning green smoothie or juices (1-2 teaspoons/person) or opt for tablets instead.
FYI: make sure to buy spirulina from an organic, trustworthy source as some of them are derived from algae grown in doggy, heavy metal-containing waters. Click on the links to get redirected to the brand I’m using at home: spirulina tablets or spirulina powder
Thanks for reading. I hope this information was helpful. Until next time!
Amy Goodrich
Crazy cat lady, life and food lover, certified biologist, and holistic health coach.
