Spirulina powder benefits? Spirulina is highly concentrated in nutrients and has detoxifying properties, it is recommended to start with a dose of 1 g per day (1 / 4 tsp) during the first week and increase the dose gradually over the following weeks.
Spirulina is named for its spiral shape, it belongs to the family of cyanobacteria or blue-green microalgae. There are nearly 1500 species of algae, spirulina and 36 species are edible. The main species currently on the market is spirulina platensis. First grown primarily in California and Hawaii, Spirulina is now produced in a controlled manner throughout the world where the climate permits: Chile, China, Cuba, India, West Africa, etc.. Commercially, spirulina is usually in the form of a powder blue-green dried, in bulk or in capsules.
During the 1970s, spirulina has become popular in industrialized countries as health food or nutritional supplement. For example, theay claim about weight loss and attention deficit disorder and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). These uses are not based on a practice of traditional medicine, which relies on the fact that algae is a food rich in nutrients.
Nutritional composition. Spirulina is low in calories, contains a wealth of nutrients in a very small volume. Here are the key. Its content may vary by geographical origin, but also by the methods of cultivation, drying and grinding.
Spirulina contains 55% to 70% protein of good quality (proportion of amino acid digestibility and optimal) or 2.5 g to 3.5 g of protein per 5 g of powder. Spirulina is an exceptional source of various carotenoids (beta-carotene mainly, but also cryptoxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, etc.). It is an excellent source of iron, is 3 mg to 8 mg per 5 g. It contains a significant amount of gamma-linolenic acid (40 mg to 50 mg / 5 g), an unsaturated fatty acid omega-6.
In addition, spirulina is rich in phycocyanin, the only blue pigment that can serve as natural food coloring and which is assigned an important antioxidant activity. It also contains chlorophyll and small amounts of several minerals. That is why we often speak of this alga as a “superfood”.
Research on Spirulina
Several tests on animals have shown that spirulina has antioxidant, immunostimulant, anti-diabetic and can reduce lipid. However, despite claims of some producers and distributors, little evidence supports its effectiveness in humans. Indeed, although it has undergone several clinical trials, many of them are small (30 subjects or less) and their methodological quality is often poor.
Allergic rhinitis. Tests indicate that taking spirulina can positively influence some markers of immunity in healthy people. A recent trial in Turkey has focused on 129 people with allergic rhinitis and gave promising results: taking 2 grams of spirulina daily for 16 weeks was more effective than placebo in reducing symptoms of allergic rhinitis.
