Technology, medicine, and many other sciences develop rapidly. This is how we know now what is good for our health, even besides food and lifestyle choices. One of those things you want to add to your nutrition is spirulina. And if you haven't heard about it, here is a little guide on what it is, what are the benefits, and how to use it.
Each benefit of spirulina will seem logical once you read that it is also one of the oldest life forms in the world, and is called the superfood of the future. It is a blue-green microalga that provides oxygen and has many healthy ingredients. First of all, protein is one of the main reasons to start using it, especially because it has more of it than chicken or beef, for example. It has essential and non-essential amino acids, gamma-linolenic acid, nucleic acids, vitamin B12, Iron, Calcium, and many more minerals and vitamins.
When you think about all the vitamins, and minerals we have mentioned, imagine how many health benefits spirulina has
Research shows that spirulina helps with lowering blood pressure, increasing insulin levels, and improving liver enzyme markers. This means that it lowers blood sugar levels and that it is very effective in treating symptoms of diabetes.
High cholesterol levels are something many people are dealing with, mostly because of poor diet choices. Spirulina is a great supplement in this case because it helps control fats in your blood by lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and increasing HDL (good).
If you are having trouble taking all the vitamins, minerals, and protein through your meals, you want the healthy spirulina supplement. Aside from these ingredients, it also has fat, sodium, potassium, vitamin C, and magnesium. It does not have any side effects, so you can take it safely, and fulfil your daily nutritional needs.
Since we are on the subject of nutrition, spirulina is a food that can help you lose weight. It doesn't contain too many calories, yet is nutritious enough, so you can take it and not be afraid you are not taking all the needed nutrients. Spirulina can also help with suppressing appetite. For the purpose of losing weight, take one spoonful of spirulina and mix it with water, smoothie, or even soups and salads.
People who are overweight often have high blood pressure, and certain studies show that spirulina can help regulate blood pressure. This further helps in fighting heart disease because high cholesterol and high blood pressure are the main causes of many heart problems.
Allergic rhinitis is a common companion of season allergies to dust, animal hair, pollen, or dirt. Often time, nasal inflammation happens, and spirulina can relieve these symptoms, and reduce the levels of histamine in your body, which means no runny nose, sneezing, or itching.
Spirulina comes either in tablets or powder, so you can choose how to use it and with what. The recommended daily dosage is 3-5 grams a day for adults. This means 6-10 tablets a day, or 1-2 spoonful of powder. If you are just getting started, make sure you up the doses gradually. If you are taking tablets, take them with water before meals, and make sure you drink lots of water, especially if you are using it to lose weight. As for powder, you can mix it with water, juices, or smoothies, just make sure not to take it late at night because it can increase your activity. However, if you do have to stay up late, this is a great and healthy way to do it.
As we already said, spirulina is a superfood. It has enough calories, protein, and vitamins to serve as a dietary supplement. Astronauts have dehydrated food that has to be prepared a certain way, which is why spirulina is perfect for practical reasons, and why NASA approved it. Since powders and tablets don't go bad easily, it is also easy and practical to use them. All the nutrients help astronauts with eyesight, digestion, and keeping normal haemoglobin levels. It also boosts energy and helps them get rid of toxins, which is very important because they need to stay healthy while on a mission.
One tablet of spirulina contains your daily doses of vitamins, minerals, and healthy nutrients that have many benefits on your overall health. It is easy to use, so there is no reason not to try it, especially when you know astronauts drink it as well.
Luke is a fitness and health blogger at Ripped.me and a great fan of the gym and a healthy diet. He follows the trends in fitness, gym and healthy life and loves to share his knowledge through useful and informative articles.