What is spirulina and what benefits does it have?

Food takes up a very important place in health and well-being in general: it’s an open secret. For this reason, fans of alternative therapies and alternative medicines such as naturopathic medicine are constantly looking for ways to improve their diet.

In recent years, superfoods have been increasingly in the limelight. Among them, one that stands out is spirulina, which has extraordinary nutritional qualities and from which phycocyanin is extracted.

Find out the most important things to know about spirulina and the benefits you can get from consuming it! 

What is spirulina?

Contrary to popular belief that it is a microalga, spirulina is actually a cyanobacteria based food. These organisms created via photosynthesis are more commonly referred to as blue algae or blue-green algae.

The name spirulina stems from that fact that spirulina naturally develops by forming its characteristic spirals. Spirulina has been present on Earth for billions of years, and has been consumed in various forms.

The peoples of countries such as Mexico, Chad or India consume spirulina for its recognised nutritional potential. The success of this micro-organism as a nutritional complement in recent years has led to its being grown intensively throughout the world.

China, the United States and France are emerging as the world’s largest producers of spirulina. More than 36 different species of edible spirulina can be produced, depending on the region where it is grown and how it is cultivated.

Even before details of its nutrient composition were revealed in the 20th century, spirulina was used to enrich a number of meals.

Spirulina contains a large amount of chlorophyll and phycocyanin which are the plant pigments that give it its special colour. Nutritionally, spirulina is a complete food, because it contains in particular:

• vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6, B8, D, E and K;
• mineral salts, including sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium;
• trace elements such as iron, zinc, copper, manganese, chromium and selenium;
• beta-carotene;
• enzymes;
• essential fatty acids such as omega 6;
• gamma-linolenic acid.

This composition is therefore very rich: spirulina is one of the foods that contains the most nutrients essential to a balanced diet. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared it the most nutritious food for humanity in the 21st century.

The benefits associated with spirulina

Thanks to its high content of active ingredients and nutrients, spirulina has many benefits. This cyanobacterium is acclaimed throughout the world mainly for the virtues it provides for health and well-being. A course of spirulina is sometimes recommended for the benefits it can provide for various organs.

Spirulina, a vegan source of protein

Almost 70% of the mass of spirulina is composed of protein. Unlike most animal proteins, spirulina contains very little fat. Athletes can incorporate it into their diet to gain muscle more easily.

Cyanobacteria is mainly involved in the muscle recovery stage, which is very important for sustainably building up muscle. By facilitating this process, spirulina optimises athletic performance as well as the endurance of athletes who consume it.

It also helps create lean muscle if consumed in the right proportions. Due to its entirely natural origin, spirulina is an essential food to build muscle for those on a vegan diet.

The proteins in spirulina comprise essential amino acids for muscle regeneration. The size of the molecules that make up the structure of spirulina means it is a food quickly absorbed by the body.

Athletes who consume it absorb the nutrients almost instantaneously. Spirulina can be used to supplement meals taken before sports sessions.

It contains many vitamins that form a source of energy that can then be used up during physical activity. This is also the case for vitaminsB1, B2 and B3, which are known to play a very important role in the synthesis of energy in the body.

Spirulina can help to detoxify the body.

The balance of different nutrients in the body can easily be disrupted if the diet is not nutritious enough or the environment is not sufficiently healthy. At a time when food is increasingly processed before it reaches the plate, many foods contain high levels of toxins.

This imbalance can result in a negative impact on the general well-being as well as on the health of the skin or hair. To restore a balance, it is sometimes necessary to resort to a detox period to get rid of toxins that have built up and to avoid more serious ailments.

The liver as the body’s main purification centre should be the main target for toxin removal periods. The amino acids contained in spirulina are very effective for this, because they allow the liver to eliminate accumulated harmful substances.

Iron, selenium and superoxide dismutase (SOD) that are some of the enzymes found in spirulina have antioxidative properties. So, the effect of toxins is gradually reduced and the cells are protected from attack.

The antioxidant functions of cyanobacteria also help with the various purifying functions of the body.

Spirulina and natural defences

To always maintain your vitality, strengthening your natural defences is essential. Although your natural defences depend mainly on lifestyle and genetics, it is quite possible to strengthen them with the right diet and dietary supplements.

Spirulina can be useful with this, because it has a stimulating action that helps to support the body’s natural defences. By consuming spirulina alongside a healthy and balanced diet, we help build up an extra bulwark against external attacks.

Spirulina is also useful for making up for deficiencies in trace elements and nutrients. Iron deficiency, which is very common in women in particular, can be reduced by adding spirulina to the diet.

Indeed, it contains enough iron to easily meet daily iron needs as well as those of other nutrients. Vegetarians and vegans will, therefore, find a solution for making up for certain nutrients found in foods of animal origin.

Spirulina and beauty

Spirulina is good for the body, but it also offers beauty benefits. So, you may increasingly come across spirulina-based cosmetic products in supermarkets and in specialised shops.

The cocktail of minerals and vitamins in cyanobacteria can be good for taking care of the skin, nails and, of course, the hair. Whether you have oily or dry skin, spirulina treatments can help you regain a brighter complexion and healthier skin.

It can also be used to develop anti-wrinkle treatments, as vitamins A and E are widely used to prevent the appearance of signs of skin ageing. The restorative virtue of spirulina is considered to eliminate imperfections or scarring for a smoother skin.

Spirulina contains high levels of amino acids, which promote the production of keratin responsible for hair growth. So, a hair mask containing spirulina could promote hair growth.

Vitamins in the B group which make up part of spirulina help to strengthen the hair fibre by creating a sheathing around it.

Some ways to take spirulina

Consuming spirulina can, therefore, be beneficial for your general well-being. How should I take it?

Spirulina capsules

Spirulina comes in various forms, but the most common is spirulina capsules and tablets . In this form, they are easy to carry and swallow, avoid the taste of spirulina that some people don't like. In this form, it’s much easier to consume the right dose of spirulina.

However, it sometimes contains additives that can degrade its quality. To avoid this, always check that the capsules you are buying were dried at a low temperature and then compressed without excipients.

You should also check the list of ingredients to make sure no products such as talc or silica are included.

Spirulina flakes

Spirulina flakes  are certainly the least transformed form of cyanobacteria. Spirulina in flake form comes from traditional producers, but its benefits are not as high as those of fresh spirulina, which is the only form that respects the integrity of the food in its original state. The nutritional quality of spirulina in flakes remains good if it is dried at a low temperature of between 40º and 45ºC. Depending on the production method and the quality of the growing medium, the taste may vary and be more or less pronounced. Flakes can be added sparingly to food, such as salads, or to drinks.

Liquid spirulina

When in liquid form, in syrup or in breakable ampoules, we usually refer to it as phycocyanin, which is a cyan blue pigment, composed of 3 liquid proteins bound to water.

Phycocyanin, based on research undertaken, appears to be one of the most powerful energy catalysts in the world as a food substance.

Dehydrated phycocyanins on the market are no longer bound to water, so they lose their native potential for health, since only the pigment remains.

To enjoy the benefits of phycocyanin, always choose a phycocyanin in its native liquid form, extracted pure, and stabilised from fresh quality spirulina, with a sufficient phycocyanin content. It is this type of phycocyanin that Phycomania is offering you.