Once declared the \u201cbest food for the future\u201d by the World Health Organization, this blue-green algae is a protein-rich antioxidant that may support and maintain your immune system. Read on to learn more about spirulina.<\/p>\n
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Spirulina is a dried supplement made from two species of blue-green algae, Arthrospira platensis <\/em>and Arthrospira maxima<\/em>. The Kanembu tribe in Chad call it dih\u00e9<\/em>; the Aztecs who lived in the valley of Mexico called it tecuitlatl<\/em> [R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n The algae naturally grows in warm freshwater lakes like Lake Texcoco in Mexico and Lake Chad, which sits on the border of Chad, Niger, Nigeria, and Cameroon. Locals traditionally harvest the algae and dry it in \u201ccakes\u201d [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Once it\u2019s been dried, spirulina contains up to 70% protein, is a nutrient-rich antioxidant, and takes less land, water, and energy to produce than staple crops like corn and soy<\/strong>. Farmers use it to enrich their animal feeds and improve the quality of meat they produce. It pulls huge quantities of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, and it may even be used to convert city sewage back to clean water [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Spirulina gathered attention as a possible pharmaceutical in the 1940s and 50s. In 1974, the World Health Organization declared it the \u201cbest food for the future\u201d to combat malnutrition, especially in children [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n To learn more about spirulina\u2019s nutritional value and how it might work, check out this post<\/a>.<\/p>\n Spirulina supplements have not been approved by the FDA for medical use and generally lack solid clinical research. Regulations set manufacturing standards for them but don’t guarantee that they’re safe or effective. Speak with your doctor before supplementing.<\/p>\n When free radicals build up, they disrupt structures, machinery, and even DNA inside cells. This process is linked to a great many diseases, including cancer, Alzheimer\u2019s disease, Parkinson\u2019s disease, and arthritis [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n The most robust benefit of spirulina is probably its antioxidant effect<\/strong>. Multiple cell, animal, and human studies have demonstrated its ability to reduce oxidative stress; furthermore, spirulina contains diverse active compounds with antioxidant activity. It may contribute to whole-body health<\/strong> and, when combined with diet and lifestyle choices, delay or prevent disease onset [R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\nSnapshot of Spirulina<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
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Health Benefits of Spirulina<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
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1) Antioxidant Activity<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n