Spirulina - Health benefits.

 

Spirulina

 

 

Spirulina is a type of seaweed used as a food additive due to its favorable source of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and proteins.

It is currently considered a superfood because it provides various health benefits. 

 

Some studies indicate that Spirulina can improve the metabolism of fats and glucose, reducing the liver's accumulated fat and protecting the heart. This seaweed is available in powder form and capsules and can be ingested with a little water or added to juices or smoothies. The powder and the supplement can be purchased in health food stores, pharmacies, online stores, and even supermarkets. 

 

 

What is Spirulina for?

 

Spirulina is used to prevent and treat various diseases such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, allergic rhinitis, anemia, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. It is an alga abundant in vitamins and minerals, chlorophyll, high-quality proteins, acids essential fats, and antioxidants.

In addition to this, it has compounds that are immunostimulant, such as inulin and phycocyanin, which have demonstrated anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-tumor properties. This alga could also play an essential role in treating neurological disorders and arthritis. 

 

Health benefits of Spirulina

 

Spirulina, thanks to its various properties, provides multiple health benefits, these are: 

 

1.  lower blood pressure, helping to open blood vessels and promoting development of nitrogen oxides;

2. Reduce cholesterol and triglycerides by inhibiting lipid absorption and rising healthy HDL cholesterol;

3. Boost allergic rhinitis signs, raising nasal secretions, coughing, sneezing, and scratching as it improves the immune system;

4.   Prevent and control diabetes since it appears to help increase insulin sensitivity and rapidly lower glucose levels;

5.   Promote weight loss because it reduces inflammation at the level of adipose tissue and, as a consequence, increases fat loss in people with metabolic syndrome;

6.   It could increase attention, improve mood and disposition, avoiding depression because it is rich in magnesium, a mineral that helps to produce hormones that cause well-being;

7.   It could improve memory and exert a neuroprotective effect, because it is rich in phycocyanin and antioxidants, for this reason, it is believed that it could be beneficial for people with Alzheimer's and to reduce the cognitive deterioration that occurs with age;

8.   It could reduce inflammation because it contains omega-3 fatty acids that act as antioxidants and anti-inflammatories in the body;

9.   Improve and strengthen the immune system because it activates the immune cells. Some studies even indicate that it may be beneficial for people with HIV to help improve their immunity;

10. It could help in the treatment of arthritis since it has an antiarthritic effect protecting the joints;

11.                      It prevents premature aging, as it is rich in antioxidants such as vitamin A, vitamin C, among others, which help reduce cell damage caused by free radicals;

12. Prevent cancer, as it is rich in antioxidants and micronutrients such as zinc and selenium, which prevent cell damage caused by free radicals;

13.   Promote hypertrophy and muscle recovery because it is rich in protein, omega-3 and minerals such as iron and magnesium, in addition to this it can also improve performance in resistance exercises; 

14.                      Purify the body because it has a hepatoprotective effect, avoiding damage to liver cells and protecting it from toxins, thanks to its antioxidant effect. In addition to this, Spirulina can reduce the accumulated fat in the liver. It could also exert an antiviral influence against the herpes simplex virus and hepatitis C;

15.   It could improve the symptoms of anemia due to its iron content. 

 

Spirulina is indicated in various phases of life and for the prevention and treatment of multiple diseases, especially in obesity, localized fat, to prevent aging and for muscle recovery in individuals who perform physical activity, because it is a superfood and provides all these benefits to the body

 

Several studies have been carried out on the properties of Spirulina to combat malnutrition and child malnutrition. The latter constitutes a public health problem, whose presence occurs mainly in developing countries (Simpore, Kabore, Zongo 2006).

 

Iron deficiency today is one of the essential nutritional problems in the world. It can be caused not only by a diet deficient in iron but also by poor bioavailability and low assimilation of iron from the menu. The fortification of foods with iron and the use of supplements with high doses of iron tend to reduce the deficiency significantly. a 27% higher formation of the ferritin compound has been found from diets with Spirulina, when comparing the bioavailability of iron from Spirulina with that of meat, yeast, wheat flour, and ferrous sulfate preparations, adding ascorbic acid as a reference.

This contains a high protein content (65 to 70%), all essential amino acids and nine non-essential; minerals such as potassium, calcium, zinc, magnesium, manganese, selenium, iron, and phosphorus; all B vitamins, vitamin E, etc. This includes normal complex sugars, carotenoids, enzymes, and just 7% fat in essential fatty acids. Many find it an alternative food in the future, particularly for third world countries.

 

Nutrition Supplement

 

It is recommended that 2-3 tablets or capsules (400 mg) be taken with food as a dietary supplement. In powder form, one tablespoon can be added to one ounce of fruit juice to make the taste more friendly. For a supplement to slimming diets, 6-9 tablets are prescribed daily (0.5-1 hour before meals).

 

 

 

Thanks to the nutritional quality of tecuitlatl, it is now recognized that tecuitlatl has played a significant role in ensuring an adequate, right, and healthy diet in the Aztec people, with a low level of nutritional diversity and primitive agriculture.

 

Aware of the richness of Spirulina, they are currently promoting experimental and intensive cultivation in different latitudes. In farming, the average yields per hectare are of the order of 15 to 20 dry t / year, that is, from 9 to 12 t / ha/year in protein, although there are many times higher values ​​(1 ha of corn produces approximately, only 400 kg). This plant organism has become a target of dietetics. Investigations with exciting and optimistic results have shown that it is possible to treat and improve states of protein-energy malnutrition in children using Spirulina. Many consider it as alternative food in the future, especially for third world countries.

 

Possible side effects

 

 

Consuming Spirulina can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The maximum recommended dose of this supplement should not be exceeded. In rare cases, it can cause allergic reactions.

 

Contradictions

 

People with phenylketonuria should avoid Spirulina. Because it contains high levels of phenylalanine or because they have disorders related to this amino acid. In addition to this, it should not be used during pregnancy, breastfeeding, and children or adolescents because its effects are unknown.