Spirulina is often referred to as a great superfood and scientific studies point to a range of potential benefits. But what substances can you really find in spirulina? And how do we recommend taking it? That's what we'll look at in this article.
Basic information about spirulina
Due to its nutritional properties, spirulina is considered one of the best superfoods today. Although it may seem that it is just some recent fad and another pseudo health food that no one will hear about in two years, the opposite is true. It is said that spirulina was used by the ancient Aztecs for its remarkable effects. Spirulina itself has been on the planet for about 3.5 billion years, and is even thought to have beenthat it was one of the organisms responsible for the initial release of oxygen on the Earth's surface. So what is this mysterious algae? First of all, it should be pointed out that although in the vast majority of cases you may see claims that spirulina is an algae, it is in fact biologically an algae. But that doesn't sound so appealing anymore, because almost everyone thinks of cyanobacteria as dirty water and spoiled summer swimming.
The main health benefits of spirulina
As mentioned at the beginning, spirulina is now widely referred to as a superfood. It earned this name thanks to its remarkable range of positive effects on the human body. Their list is really extensive, so let's take a look at only the most interesting ones.
Removes heavy metals from the body
Spirulina is highly regarded for its ability to remove heavy metals from the body - typically lead, mercury and other dangerous toxins. It contains proteins and peptides that naturally bind to toxins and are eliminated from the body along with them.
It fights chronic fatigue and promotes brain health
Thanks to its exceptionally high protein and nutrient content, spirulina has a beneficial effect on brain function. In addition, it helps to replenish all important nutrients, which has a positive effect on how much energy a person has during the day.
Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties
Spirulina acts as a very effective antioxidant (it effectively prevents the action of free radicals) and also fights inflammation. As a result, it acts as a prevention against many chronic diseases.
Beneficial effect on eyesight and eye health
Although carrots are considered the symbol of vitamin A, spirulina actually contains up to 10 times more of it. This makes it much more beneficial in the treatment of various eye diseases.
Relieves stress
Spirulina is rich in vitamin B12 and other substances that support the proper functioning of the brain and nervous system. It owes its ability to promote cognitive function, good mood and performance to these nutrients.
Other benefits
Among other benefits, spirulina's ability to support heart health, the functioning of the immune system, andmu, fight acne and warts, maintain proper blood glucose levels, and much more.
What substances does spirulina contain?
We have mentioned several times that spirulina is very rich in many useful nutrients. All of its positive effects stem from these as well. The truly impressive nutrient content of spirulina is evidenced by the fact that the ancient Aztecs supposedly used it to promote performance and endurance and, of course, as a cure for countless diseases.
First of all, we must point out the very high protein content. Its content varies according to the origin of the spirulina, but in general it accounts for up to 60-70% of the weight of this cyanobacterium. In addition, there are 8 essential amino acids (isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine) and 10 non-essentialamino acids (alanine, arginine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, glycine, histidine, proline, serine and tyrosine), which are characterised by their fast and easy digestibility. The benefits of protein perhaps do not need to be discussed further - in fact, in strength sports, protein is an absolutely essential macronutrient.
Vitamins
When it comes to vitamins, spirulina contains pretty much all of them, with the exception of vitamin D. Above all, there is a generous dose of vitamin A, which, as mentioned, makes spirulina beneficial for eye health. It also contains the all-important vitamin C, which is crucial for the functioning of the immune system. We must not forget the B-complex and vitamins E and K, which also contribute to the health benefits offered by spirulina.
Minerals
Many important minerals are also found in spirulina. In addition to calcium, which is mainly responsible for bone and dental health, we must also mention iron. Spirulina contains a surprising amount of iron. That is why it is considered one of the best foods for supplementing iron for vegans and vegetarians who do not take this important metal in meat. However, the magnesium, potassium and phosphorus content is certainly not negligible. The role of these minerals in the body varies, but all of them are essential for the proper functioning of our bodies and their sufficiencyintake is especially important for athletes, who have much higher demands on their bodies than the non-sporting population.
Potential risks associated with the use of spirulina
To be fair, we must also point out a few risks that are associated with the use of spirulina.But first I would like to point out that spirulina is a safe food, its useis approved in the Czech Republic and there is certainly no need to be too worried about it. But before you start taking it regularly, it is good to take into account possible digestive problems. Spirulina is really "packed" with various nutrients and this load can make a persona person who has no experience with it can be quite a surprise to their digestive system. Other potential problems include the possible presence of harmful substances, whichwill be discussed in the next paragraph, and in rare cases allergies to spirulina. However, the latter is very rare and usually occurs in people with iodine allergy.
What to look out for when choosing?
When buying any dietary supplements, it is necessary to look in detail at their composition. With spirulina, however, one does not notice much, as the packaging will always simply state "spirulina". To make sure that the product you buy meets strict quality criteria, look for products with an organic label or a quality certificate. Spirulina grown in areas with high levels of toxins in the air may itself contain these harmful substances. In this case, using spirulina would paradoxically have a negative effect rather than a health benefit. Our comparison of the best spirulina supplements can help you make the right choice.
How to prepare spirulina?
The vast majority of dietary supplements with spirulina are sold in tablet/capsule or powder form. In the first case, there is no need to worry about taking it. As for the powder, it's a bit more interesting. It's not rocket science to dissolve the powder in water, but spirulina has a rather distinct bitter taste that may not suit everyone. But there are plenty of ways to make taking spirulina more enjoyable. For example, you can add it to your smoothie, breakfast porridge, yoghurt or even mix it in with your protein.
You can also make taking spirulina easier by reaching for a complex product that contains spirulina rather than spirulina itself. A prime example is Czech Virus Day Starter, which you can read about in our separate review.
If you have any questions on the subject of spirulina, we'd love to hear from you in the comments.
Why can you trust us?
Sport has been my lifelong passion, I have been close to it since I was a child. For a long time I was primarily involved in athletics, which also eventually led me to the gym. Every good sprinter knows that to get one tenth of a start, he must therefore sacrifice hundreds of hours in training. And it was this toil behind the curtain, which no one sees, that was my greatest passion.
Every kilo in the gym helped me to move a little closer to my goal and I fell in love with the gym very quickly. Even though I don't race anymore, nothing has changed in my relationship with uncompromising training.