9 Health Benefits Of Spirulina

With the increasing need for good foods and a healthy lifestyle, humans are foraging new highs and new depths. We mean it literally since the latest health food to hit the block is Spirulina right from the depths of the ocean.

Among the various spirulina benefits, the most notable one is weight loss.

Spirulina is a highly nutritious plant. Let’s know about spirulina health benefits and side effects of spirulina so that Spirulina can be used effectively. Spirulina powder nutrition is very impressive, one of the superfoods for weight loss

Not 1 or 2, we are listing 9 Spirulina benefits backed by science for all of you. Blue-green algae like spirulina or its cousin chlorella have been studied for a variety of health benefits.

Broadly, they seem to exert an antimicrobial, antiallergic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and even antitumor properties. Let us elaborate on it in detail with necessary studies.

Weight Loss

That is the central premise of our article; spirulina weight loss. You may know that protein and fiber work hand in hand to reduce the appetite and recurrence of hunger.

Much to your benefit, spirulina is rich in both. Animal studies find long-term spirulina supplementation to be beneficial in reducing appetite.

In addition, an early study supplemented 2.8 grams of spirulina 3 times a week for a month to a section of obese participants whereas the others were given a placebo.

At the end of the study, the researchers found a small but statistically significant reduction in the body weight of the obese individuals given spirulina.

Anti-allergic Effects of Spirulina

The Spirulina plant with its host of vitamins and antioxidants have shown to help with allergies.

Yes, the same feeling when your nose becomes stuffy and eyes watery. Little do you know, spirulina’s health benefits include allergies too.

Another study conducted on humans (phew!) found that spirulina helped improve some irritating symptoms of allergy such as sneezing, nasal discharge. Itching and nose block when compared to placebo (mock drug).

Although allergy may seem to be trivial, those down with chronic conditions really suffer due to poor quality of life. Although spirulina powder benefits allergies, some more studies are warranted to understand how exactly it helps.

Reduce High Blood Pressure Reading

Knowing the health benefits of Spirulina plant could even calm the most frayed minds. By that we mean spirulina benefits lowering of blood pressure too.

In a study, people aged 18 – 65 years were given 4.5 grams of spirulina to be consumed for 6 weeks. This seemed to reduce their systolic blood pressure (the higher reading) and even diastolic blood pressure (lower reading).

Elevated blood pressure is one of the risk factors for heart disease. Spirulina’s ability to reduce its benefits to heart health eventually.

However, a note of caution. By just consuming spirulina but having foods with high salt content is not going to help you in the blood pressure crusade.

So practice a healthy lifestyle and diet but supplement it with spirulina for best results.

Benefits Heart Health due to its Action on Cholesterol Levels

One of the most common causes of heart disease is cardiovascular disease which is characterized by artery blockage. No points for guessing that excess fat ends up blocking the arteries.

Although dietary regulations and lifestyle amendments are key to preventing or managing heart disease, due to the health benefits of spirulina, it can be sneaked into the regime.

Research has found glorious results as well. Two grams of spirulina was given to patients with type 2 diabetes for 2 months seemed to significantly lower triglyceride concentrations, the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL C.

When the dosage was raised to 8 grams, the effects seemed to improve. Although these were experimental dosages, the fact that spirulina helps reduce triglyceride concentration can be used to good advantage.

And how does Spirulina do this? By reducing the secretion of an enzyme that helps make cholesterol in the body.

Immunity boost with spirulina

We have research which finds that spirulina helps battle away microbial infections at the cellular level by activating some immune system agents.

Spirulina is known to improve the functioning of the immune system thus battling the condition. Being choc-a-block with antioxidants also helps in improving the immune system’s action.

Spirulina is indeed a helpful supplement. When you keep healthy, weight loss is also easy. Spirulina weight loss is thus achieved.

Improves Memory

Little would you have thought that spirulina powder nutrition could benefit children for improved memory and better scores too?

A study in Senegal supplemented 2 grams of spirulina with honey to 6 schools for 2 months. And Voila! At the end of the study, the students reported better scores and academic performance [9].

Although there would have been many factors at play here but remember spirulina is rich in proteins?

Proteins are the building blocks to neurotransmitters, the little enzymes which connect and transfer information between brain cells. Try our TruGreen with the goodness of Spirulina.

Prevents Iron Deficiency Anaemia

Although you must have heard heart disease, diabetes or cancer to be the bigwigs in the disease world, there is yet another condition which is not taken seriously.

We are talking about iron deficiency anemia. Studies peg the prevalence of anemia at 42% in women and almost 45% in older adults over 60 years of age.

Leave the numbers, iron deficiency manifestations include tiredness, fatigue, lackluster skin, and hair. Now, do we have your attention?

Well, the point is a study showed that spirulina benefits older adults to treat anemia and related immune-related problems. However, these are the findings from preliminary studies.

Improves workout capacity and muscle endurance

Physical activity accounts for 30% of the share in the weight loss story but what if you get tired pretty soon? Good news is around. Studies have shown that spirulina helps to improve exercise ability and muscle endurance.

In this study, 9 men accustomed to training received spirulina containing supplement for 4 weeks. They then had to exercise and the performance was noted.

This 4-week supplementation period was followed by a washout period wherein they didn’t take any supplement. Returning back, these men consumed the placebo (mock drug) for 4 weeks.

However, there was a difference! They could work out more and their exercise performance improved. It means their muscles didn’t tire out soon.

Good for the Skin

We all know that pollution, free radicals, nutrient deficiencies are skin enemies. What if we tell you that one of the Spirulina uses is its role in benefitting good skin health by being a one-stop-shop to counter all this?

The Spirulina plant is rich in protein, B-complex vitamins, and minerals like iron which are known to be skin-friendly. It is also rich in antioxidants which fight off pollution and other environmental damage. What more could you ask for!

We have capped the benefits of spirulina to include just 9 of them however, it is just the tip of the iceberg. Spirulina has shown to help in the treatment of certain oral cancers too.

Apart from that, research finds it to be beneficial to deal with some liver issues and PMS symptoms too.