Using Spirulina - What Is Spirulina Good For?

It is believed that the use of Spirulina as a food source in Chad, the "Dead Heart of Africa", dates as far back as the 9th century Kanem Empire. It is still used daily today, dried into cakes called Dihé, which are then used in broths. The Spirulina is harvested from small lakes and ponds around Lake Chad.

In the Americas, there is evidence that Spirulina was a food source for the Aztecs and other Central American societies until the 16th-century. The harvesting it from Lake Texcoco in Mexico and the sale of Spirulina cakes is described by one of Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés' soldiers in the Florentine Codex.

Spirulina is a "super food" and may eliminate the need for taking extra supplements.

"Spirulina is one of the most concentrated natural sources of nutrition known. It contains all the essential amino acids, is rich in chlorophyll, beta-carotene and its co-factors, and other natural phytochemicals. Spirulina is the only green food rich in GLA essential fatty acid. GLA stimulates growth in some animals and makes skin and hair shiny and soft yet more durable. GLA also acts as an anti-inflammatory, sometimes alleviating symptoms of arthritic conditions.

"Spirulina acts as a functional food, feeding beneficial intestinal flora, especially Lactobacillus and Bifidus. Maintaining a healthy population of these bacteria in the intestine reduces potential problems from opportunistic pathogens like E. coli and Candida albicans. Studies show when spirulina is added to the diet, beneficial intestinal flora increase."

- The Study of Spirulina Effects on the AIDS Virus, Cancer and the Immune System

"Spirulina offers remarkable health benefits to an undernourished person. It is rich in beta carotene that can overcome eye problems caused by Vitamin A deficiency. The protein and B-vitamin complex makes a major nutritional improvement in an infant's diet. It is the only food source, except for mother's milk, containing substantial amounts of an essential fatty acid GLA that helps regulate the entire hormone system."

- IIMSAM - Benefits of Spirulina
(Intergovernmental Institution
for the use of Micro-algae
Spirulina against Malnutrition)

There are warnings that some of the claims of Spirulina's benefits may be overstated:

"There are claims (as with every so-called Superfood) that spirulina can fight cancer, slow HIV progression and more. Of course, these claims are generally overstated or refer to the individual nutrients in spirulina in high laboratory doses."

- Health and Nutritional Benefits of Spirulina

Overall, it seems clear that Spirulina is a valuable source of nutrition:

"Spirulina is sustainable food, offering more nutrition per acre than any other food. It is able to provide 20 times more complete protein per acre than soybeans, and 200 times more per acre than beef. It contains the eight essential amino acids as well as ten non-essential amino acids, making it an excellent choice for anyone not consuming animal protein. It is rich in enzymes, chlorophyll, magnesium, potassium, calcium, and phosphorous. It is rich in B complex vitamins including B6, biotin, B12, pantothenic acid, folic acid, inositol, niacin, riboflavin and thiamine. It is a good source of essential fatty acids, including linoleic, and arachidonic acid. Spirulina contains 4,000 mg/kg of carotenoids as alpha and beta carotene, xanthophylis, cryptoxanthin, echinenone, zeaxanthin, and lutein."

- Add Spirulina to Your Diet and Replace those Expensive Supplements

I've only had one cold since I began taking it on a daily basis in 2005, compared to normally coming down with at least one minor cold, or touch of the flu each year before that.

Nature's Way® is my personal choice for Spirulina, it is powered and comes in gel caps which are easy to digest:

Encapsulated Spirulina grown in environmentally controlled cement ponds specially constructed for this purpose.

Spirulina may be considered a dietary 'super food' useful in nutrient boosting diets such as the programs competitive athletes use to enhance performance.

Spirulina is naturally rich in beta carotene (provitamin A), vitamins B12 and E, minerals, iron, amino acids, GLA, protein, chlorophyll, probiotics, enzymes, and antioxidants which may improve energy, vitality, digestion, assimilation, elimination, memory, mental clarity, depression, weight reduction, neurological function, cholesterol levels, blood pressure, arthritis, PMS, eczema, skin, bones, immune function, inflammation and metabolism.

Earthrise® introduced Spirulina to the natural foods market in 1979. In 1982, they built the first U.S. Spirulina farm to grow it in the pure California desert sunshine using ecological, earth-friendly methods.

Today, Earthrise Nutritionals' farm is the world's largest Spirulina farm. Earthrise products are marketed in the USA and in 30 countries on six continents.

Supports Immune System: A healthy immune system defends, cleans and maintains the body. Scientific studies show Spirulina supports immune system health.*

Boosts Energy: Earthrise Spirulina boosts energy by providing your body with the nutrients it needs for peak performance.*

3 Vegetables a Day: Just 3 grams of Earthrise Spirulina a day provides the antioxidants and phytonutrients of three servings of vegetables. Maintains Healthy Cholesterol: Limited scientific studies show Spirulina can contribute to healthy serum cholesterol levels.*

Promotes Cellular Health: Natural Beta Carotene is an antioxidant nutrient which may help maintain cellular health. Spirulina has a high content of natural Beta Carotene in an antioxidant complex of ten carotenoids, synergistically promoting health at multiple sites in the body.*

60% all-vegetable protein and one of nature's best sources of vitamins, minerals and amino acids in a whole food. Easy-to-digest so nutrients are absorbed quickly.

Potent phytonutrients: the antioxidant Beta Carotene, the rare essential fatty acid GLA, sulfo-glycolipids and polysaccharides.

Its deep green color comes from its rainbow of natural pigments - chlorophyll (green), phycocyanin (blue) and carotenoids (orange) - that harvest the sun's energy.

Take 3 grams of powder a day.

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

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