The Top 10 Spirulina Powders for Daily Nutritional Boosting

Considerations When Purchasing Spirulina Powder

Spirulina is a dietary source in certain regions of Africa, where it is turned into dry cakes and is high in protein, vitamins, minerals, and particular antioxidants. Spirulina is also eaten in Mexico, where spirulina was gathered as food even during the Aztec period.

Spirulina is a cyanobacterium or blue-green algae that develops in subtropical salt and fresh water at circumstances that other water-dwelling species consider severe. It is often grown in natural or man-made lakes, collected, and freeze-dried.

Spirulina is a genus of many species, the most common of which being Spirulina maxima and Spirulina platensis, which are used as supplements.

It is manufactured commercially for use as an additive or color in some meals and, of course, supplements. Spirulina was originally classified as a plant, but as scientists learned more about its DNA, biochemistry, and physiology, it was reclassified as a Bacteria kingdom and Cyanobacteria phylum. Spirulina develops as minute spirals that adhere together and are simple to collect, and it is a protein complex called phycocyanin that gives spirulina its unique blue-green hue.

Spirulina is high in protein and vitamin content, and it also includes minerals such as zinc, magnesium, and selenium. Some of these vitamins and minerals may work as antioxidants in the body, preventing damage caused by molecules known as free radicals.

Spirulina: How to Use It

Since spirulina has a marine vegetable taste and savory tang, it might be unpleasant in certain dishes and beverages. When combined with sweet fruits such as mango or pineapple, the spirulina may counteract the sweetness while also taking the edge off some of the spirulina’s harsher taste. It’s also delicious mixed with pineapple or other sweet fruit juices. Try incorporating it into energy balls, baking it into cookies, or incorporating it into salad dressings. You may also combine two tablespoons with an avocado and seasonings to make homemade guacamole.

A tiny spoonful of spirulina powder may also be mixed into a glass of water and then drunk; however, be prepared for the water to become virtually black, and have a new glass of water nearby to drink immediately after to help avoid teeth discoloration.

Cleaning your teeth properly after taking spirulina powder will also aid in the prevention of tooth discoloration over time. Spirulina powder, not pills or capsules, causes tooth discoloration.

Spirulina Security

Spirulina is typically safe, with minimal negative effects recorded from individuals who take it at the prescribed amounts.

The United States Pharmacopeia (USP) indicates that when spirulina is correctly identified, manufactured, and utilized, there is no evidence of a major danger to health or other public health issue.

Most individuals may eat spirulina without experiencing any negative side effects; however, mild adverse effects may include headaches, sleeplessness, and nausea. Nevertheless, spirulina may not be acceptable for those with certain medical issues.

Spirulina is popular due to its immune-boosting characteristics; however, for persons who have autoimmune illnesses such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or multiple sclerosis, spirulina may potentially make these problems worse. It has also been connected to a very unusual adverse effect characterized by a strong autoimmune reaction affecting skin and muscle. Anybody suffering from an autoimmune illness should avoid using spirulina or any other sort of algae supplement.

Spirulina contains phenylalanine, which should be avoided by anybody suffering from the metabolic condition phenylketonuria (PKU), since the body is unable to process it.

Spirulina may function as an anticoagulant, thinning the blood and increasing the time it takes for it to clot. If you have a bleeding problem or use blood thinners, spirulina may lower your blood’s capacity to clot, causing increased bleeding and bruising.

Spirulina, like everything else, may cause an allergic response, which can be lethal in rare situations. It has been indicated that those with pre-existing allergies are more likely to develop an adverse response to spirulina and should see their doctor before taking it.

Spirulina Contamination with Heavy Metals and Toxins

Wild-harvested spirulina is more likely to be polluted with heavy metals, bacteria, or microcystins, which are chemicals generated by blue-green algae as a defense against predators. Sadly, if ingested in large numbers, microcystins may be hazardous to our livers.

Certain supplements tainted with microcystin have been discovered in the United States, Italy, and China, suggesting that wild spirulina poses some public health risks. Spirulina cultivated in controlled circumstances has lower levels of microcystins because scientists can regulate its formation and eliminate it from the spirulina.

Nevertheless, the FDA does not regulate spirulina, so unless the producer does their own testing and makes the findings accessible, there is no assurance that the spirulina you purchase is free of toxins. Several respectable supplement makers disclose their findings, generally in the form of a certificate of analysis.

Many firms also adhere to good manufacturing principles, or GMP, and other production standards in order to assure a higher quality and safer product.

A limited number of spirulina powder producers in the United States may also have GRAS certification. This indicates that a chemical or substance added to food (food additive) is deemed safe by specialists, making it exempt from the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act’s tolerance standards (FFDCA). To get GRAS designation, a company must demonstrate that there is expert consensus that the chemical or additive is safe for the intended purpose.

Spirulina’s Nutritional Value and Metabolic Advantages

The nutritional profile of spirulina is one of the reasons it is so popular as a supplement. One tablespoon of dried spirulina has about 20 calories and the following nutrients:

It also includes vitamins A, B, C, and K.

Since it is so nutrient dense, spirulina may assist increase weight control programs. In a 2016 research, overweight people who ate spirulina for three months improved their BMI or body mass index. It may also aid in weight reduction by increasing metabolism. One tiny research found that ingesting 6 grams of spirulina daily might enhance metabolism while also helping persons with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease lose weight.

One animal research found that giving spirulina to mice with type 1 diabetes resulted with decreased blood sugar levels, greater insulin levels, and better enzyme markers in their livers. Spirulina supplementation has also been demonstrated to reduce fasting blood glucose levels, indicating that spirulina may be useful as a support meal for type 2 diabetes.

Spirulina’s Potential Significance in Cardiovascular Health

Spirulina has been found to lower blood pressure in a small sample of overweight persons with hypertension (high blood pressure). Spirulina may also assist to lower total cholesterol levels, as one analysis of previous studies found that spirulina was able to considerably lower total cholesterol levels as well as LDL or bad cholesterol while increasing the amount of good or HDL cholesterol. After three months, only one gram of spirulina per day was enough to lower total cholesterol.

Since hypertension and high cholesterol levels are connected to an increased risk of heart disease, it seems that spirulina may help lower our risk of heart disease. While research into the advantages of spirulina is still in its early stages, it will be some time before more is known about its impacts; nonetheless, preliminary findings are promising.

Additional Potential Advantages of Spirulina Supplementation

Allergic rhinitis occurs when the inner nose starts to expand as a result of an allergic response to pollen, bugs, or dust. Spirulina may help alleviate sneezing, nasal congestion, runny nose, and other symptoms of allergic rhinitis, as well as lower histamine levels in the body (which produces the allergic reaction).

Since spirulina contains tryptophan, an amino acid that aids in the manufacture of serotonin in the brain, it may aid in mental well-being. Since people with anxiety or depression generally have low serotonin levels, tryptophan may help enhance serotonin levels and reduce symptoms.

Spirulina may also be able to benefit our gut health by keeping good gut bacteria as we age, albeit this may be more beneficial when ingested as part of a high fiber diet rich in healthy stomach foods.

Spirulina may potentially have a function as an antitoxic agent in the body, combating toxins such as lead, mercury, arsenic, fluoride, and iron. As a result, spirulina may be effective as a therapeutic agent in addition to standard therapies for certain sorts of poisonings.

Conclusion

We hope you liked our in-depth examination of a variety of pure spirulina powders now on the market. We also hope you enjoyed learning about spirulina nutrition, how early medical research is pointing to some beneficial and hopeful future applications for spirulina, and the safety considerations you should keep in mind while purchasing and supplementing with spirulina powder.

If you have yet to include this superfood into your diet, we hope you now have the confidence to not only choose the finest spirulina powder for your diet and lifestyle, but also the simplest approach to incorporate it into your daily diet.