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12 Unbelievable Reasons to Consume Spirulina (#4 is Awesome!)

Photo credit: bigstock.com

Photo credit: bigstock.com

5. Powerful Protection from Disease

Oxidative damage can cause serious damage to our DNA and cells. This damage is a main driver for the development of chronic inflammation, which is the underlying cause of many chronic diseases, including cancer. Spirulina is a super source of antioxidants, which fight the free radicals that cause oxidative damage. One active ingredient is called phycocyanin. This is another antioxidant that fights free radicals and inhibits inflammation in the body. It is also what gives spirulina its beautiful blue-green color!

 

6. Fights Malnutrition

You can find spirulina growing wild in the alkaline lakes of Africa and Mexico, although it is also commercially grown and harvested world-wide. Spirulina reproduces quickly and is super easy to harvest. Japan is the largest producer of spirulina, as well as the largest consumer. India, however, is a close second. This food is so nutritionally dense that the European Space Agency and NASA is researching into the benefits of adding these algae into their astronaut’s diet. Research has shown that children who consumed a spirulina supplement 5 days a week over an 8 week period had an improved nutritional status and intellect when compared to those who did not consume spirulina. This means spirulina can be used to fight malnutrition throughout the globe.

 

7. Lowers Cholesterol Levels

Heart disease is currently the biggest killer in the US and many other countries. One of the main factors contributing to heart disease is LDL (the bad type) of cholesterol. Spirulina has been shown to lower LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and even total cholesterol levels while increasing HDL (the good) cholesterol levels. In one study that involved 25 persons with diabetes, giving them 2 grams of spirulina improved their overall cholesterol levels. Yet another study involving those who had high cholesterol levels showed that when they were given just 1 gram of these algae each day that it lowered their LDL levels by 10 percent and their triglyceride levels by 16 percent.

 

8.  More About Cholesterol

Spirulina has been shown to protect our LDL cholesterol from becoming oxidized. Since the fatty structures in our body are extremely susceptible to oxidative damage, which is one of the major causes of chronic disease, knowing that consuming spirulina can offer us some protection is yet another reason to add these algae to our diets. One of the steps towards heart disease is the LDL lipoproteins in our blood becoming oxidized. The antioxidants in spirulina reduce lipid oxidation. This has been proven in several tests, both in animal and human studies.

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6 Comments

  1. BOKinLarksville

    Sep 18, 2015 at 11:39 am

    What is a reputable brand? I heard Spirulina can potentially have lots of heavy metals/toxins.. It’s very hard to trust manufacturers these days.. Nothing is regulated.. Hell we can’t even trust the FDA/USDA.. They only protect the greedy corporations..

    • Catherine McCoy

      Sep 18, 2015 at 3:51 pm

      naturalnews.com sells tested and heavy metal free spirulina and chlorella

      • krackerhac

        Sep 19, 2015 at 2:02 pm

        That’s kind of like the fox guarding the henhouse isn’t it?

        • Catherine McCoy

          Sep 19, 2015 at 4:10 pm

          it sounds like it unless you know the company. They have agents going out in the field testing batches before they buy them. In some cases they have looked a long time before finding a clean source, in which case they bought the whole supply

  3. Catherine McCoy

    Sep 18, 2015 at 3:49 pm

    There is anther biggy you didnt mention about spirulina. It helps with atomic radiation by binding to uranium in the body. In fact, one anti-radiation supplement contains chlorella and spirulina