A few days ago, a friend of mine gave me a bag with a green powder. She told me it’s called spirulina, and it is very good for the brain and immune system. So I decided to do a little research and see what its benefits are and how to use it.
What is Spirulina
Spirulina is a powder made from blue-green algae and it is very high in protein and antioxidants. It has a really specific strong taste, like pond water, which is why people mostly give up on using it after their first try. If you also happen not to like how it tastes, it is also available in the form of a capsule.
Content and Health Benefits
1 tbsp of spirulina has only 20 calories, most of which are coming from protein (4g). Its protein and antioxidant (4 times more antioxidants than blueberries) richness make spirulina a great anti-inflammatory ingredient, because of which it is highly recommended for usage during and after pregnancy, surgeries, radiation, or any illness. High antioxidant levels help in removing free radicals from the body, making spirulina one of the greatest food-fighters against some serious diseases, like cancer.
Aiding in the boost of the immune system is the high level of chlorophyll, which also helps in the removal of toxins from the blood.
Spirulina is also high in calcium (26 times more than milk), because of which it’s recommended for children and elderly people, especially those who have bone problems and osteoporosis.
It also has a high content of bio-available iron, because of which is recommended for women during pregnancy and for people who suffer from anemia.
It is also rich in B1, B,2, and B3 vitamins and omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. Although it’s rich in vitamin B-12, this vitamin from spirulina cannot be absorbed by the human body.
Many studies show that spirulina can loathe the LDL (“bad”) cholesterol while raising the HLD (“good”) cholesterol.
Animal studies show that it can help against allergy reactions by stopping the release of histamines ( substances that cause allergy symptoms). However, this has not been proven for humans yet.
How to Consume It
Nutritionists suggest that the best way to use spirulina is to mix 2 tbsp (more than 2 when you’re sick) with water and drink it. But if you cannot drink it like that because of its taste, add it to a smoothie to cover the taste or buy capsule supplements.
When you buy spirulina make sure that is organic and USDA-approved. Like any other blue-green algae, it can be contaminated with toxins from the water where it grows, which is why it is very important to buy it from a trusted brand.
Precautions
If you have any health issues make sure to consult your health-care provider before you start using spirulina. Even though it appears to be safe in interaction with other medications can cause negative side effects.
Although is considered to be beneficial for pregnant women, nutritionists advise you to talk to your doctor if you want to take spirulina during pregnancy and another breastfeeding period.
Spirulina is not recommended for people who suffer from autoimmune diseases, like sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, or lupus, because it can stimulate your immune system and thus make your condition worse.
It is also not recommended for those who have phenylketonuria a (metabolic condition because of which the body cannot metabolize the amino acid phenylalanine, contained in spirulina.