Why is Spirulina so Good for Your Health?

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by: Darrell Miller
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Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2011 Time: 12:10 PM
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Spirulina has generated a great deal of buzz in the neutraceutical community and medical circles in recent years, and for good reason. It contains an unusually high content of a variety of nutrients and other bioactive compounds. Studies involving controlled clinical trials provide very strong evidence for its purported roles in warding off diseases and keeping up overall health.

The earliest mention of spirulina was in the Spanish accounts of city states in the New World of present-day Mexico where the Aztec and related ethnic groups collectively known as Mesoamericans consumed as a vegetable source the blue-green algae that they referred to as the stone's excrement. This food source was quite popular, being a common sight in the marketplace where it was sold as cakes. Today spirulina is collected from lakes and ponds in Chad and used in the same way. It is dried out in the sun and added as broth stocks to soups and stews.

The cultivation of spirulina has surged to a large-scale production since the latter half of the 20th century when two separate groups of European researchers conducted initial studies in Lake Texcoco in Mexico and Lake Chad in Africa, and learned the enormous potential of spirulina. Before long the United Nations World Food Conference in 1974 highlighted the many health benefits of spirulina, and thus catapulted it to the mainstream press, dubbing spirulina the best food for the future.

Why? Let's examine how Spirulina contributes to maintaining a healthy human body.

Complete Protein

The protein content of spirulina is surprisingly higher than those in red meat and vegetable sources like soy, amounting from 55 up to 77 percent. In fact, it holds dietary amounts of essential amino acids in proportions adequate for use by the human body, the reason why it is classified by nutritionist in the same category as most dairy products, poultry, and fish, all identified as a source of complete protein. Sufficient intake of sources of complete protein translates to being able to support physiological functions that require the presence of amino acids.

Essential Fatty Acids

Certain forms of omega-3, omega-6, and omega-9 fatty acids are present in spirulina, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) reputed for their roles against cardiovascular diseases. More importantly, it is one of the food sources that contain all essential fatty acids: alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and linolenic acid (LA). Both of which are necessitated for cellular functions but not produced inside the human body. It's labeled essential because we must get them from our diet.

Vitamins and Minerals

In addition, spirulina is a good source of a list of vitamins and minerals. It contains vitamins A, C, D, E, and B complex such as thiamine, riboflavin, nicotinamide, pyridoxine, folic acid, and cobalamin. No one will ever contest the health benefits of potassium, calcium, chromium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, selenium, sodium, and zinc, all present in spirulina.

Make no mistake about it: spirulina is of utmost nutritional value and can easily be added to anybodies diet. Look for quality spirulina at your local or internet vitamin store.

About the Author

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