Spirulina
About Spirulina
Spirulina is a blue-green alga that is classified under the cyanobacteria family. It is believed to be one of the oldest forms of life consumed by early men. Mainly due to its rich nutritional values and related health benefits. Up to date, these supplements are top-rated and in high demand. This is because of their potency compared to other superfoods. These supplements are also known as ‘miracles from the sea’. They have rare therapeutic values compared to animals and humans alike.
Spirulina supplements gained fame after their use in NASA. It is used to support the protein needs of astronauts on their voyage to space. The plant is autotrophic, meaning that it can manufacture its food without carbon compounds or energy sources. This plant takes very little water to grow and delivers a high level of proteins. Therefore it is better and more eco-friendly than cattle and poultry. It grows naturally in tropical and subtropical water bodies with high pH and high salt concentrations. One significant advantage of spirulina over other algae supplements is that it does not have cellulose cell walls. It is easy to digest in the human body. Indeed, you can consume it immediately after picking it up. But tablet supplements are ideal because of the dense concentration with a special formulation.
Getting the best out of your spirulina supplements
The health benefits of spirulina supplements are endless. In fact, it contains more proteins than meat. Besides it also contains a huge amount of nutrients, minerals, and antioxidants. All these elements are helpful in treating a wide range of illnesses. Many of these supplements have proven benefits in treating issues like cancer and heart disease. This is mainly because of their anti-inflammatory properties. Additionally, it has powerful antioxidants, making it preferable for several illnesses, including mental health issues. Integrating spirulina supplements into your daily diet will enable you to facilitate your organs with nutrients and antibodies for optimum functioning. These supplements will lower your blood pressure, suppress oxidation, and lower your blood sugar levels. Nevertheless, you should rely on quality products for excellent results.
Nutritional values of spirulina protein powder
It is a rich source of proteins and contains about 60% proteins. Apart from its high protein content, spirulina supplements contain provitamin A, iron, and Vitamin B12. It is also rich in tocopherols, γ-linolenic acid, and phenolic acids. 7 grams of spirulina supplements/1 tablespoon contains 20 calories, 1.67 grams of carbohydrates, 0.54 grams of fat, 8mg of calcium, 2 mg of iron, 14 mg of magnesium, 8 mg of phosphorus, 95 mg of potassium, 73 mg of sodium, and 0.7 mg of vitamin c. Spirulina also has a high abundance of riboflavin, thiamin, folate, niacin, vitamins B-6, and K. Spirulina supplements have all the components required for cell and organ functions. Adopting spirulina as part of your balanced will help you to always keep fit.
How to include spirulina supplements in your diet
Spirulina supplements are available in powder form, capsules, and tablets. If you prefer using the powder form, you can add it to your smoothies to give them a dark green colour. You can also mix it with vegetable or fruit juices. Additionally, you can sprinkle the powder on your meals, soup, and salad or use it for cooking energy balls. If you prefer tablets, you should take them with water or fruit juice before your meals. Moreover, it is acceptable to take spirulina supplements as a quick snack in the middle of the day. Nevertheless, you must not cook it, boil it, microwave it, or use it to prepare meals, as this will affect the quality of its nutrients. Additionally, you can freeze it and defrost it only once but remember to consume it immediately after defrosting.
Using spirulina supplements for weight loss
People generally lose weight if they consume fewer calories than their body utilizes. Several studies conducted on the impact of spirulina supplements on weight loss have confirmed that they are effective. Spirulina supplements are rich in essential nutrients and low calories, enabling individuals to lose weight while maintaining their nutrition. Additionally, spirulina supplements enhance lipids and glucose metabolism, suppress appetite, lower blood sugar, and facilitate fat mobilization, which reduces liver fat. If you obtain spirulina tablets for weight loss, it is advisable to consume about 500mg daily, from 15 minutes to one hour before your meals. Spirulina is a reliable supplement for vegans who want to limit their calorie intake. Nevertheless, always ensure that you take spirulina supplements daily for outstanding results.
Spirulina capsules dosage and preparation
Nutritionists suggest different doses of spirulina supplements when addressing various health concerns because the results obtained from several studies vary significantly. When using spirulina supplements to manage cholesterol levels, a dosage of 1g to 8g is advisable. For endurance and muscle performance, you can use 2g to 7.5g daily. To control your blood sugar levels, you can start at 2g and then advance according to your practitioner’s instructions. Spirulina supplements have a notable impact on blood pressure and liver fat when administered from 3.5g to 4.5g daily. Your body’s appropriate dosage will depend on several factors like your age, medical history, and gender. However, never exceed the dosage. Always consult your doctor before administering spirulina supplements.
Tips on how to buy Spirulina supplements online in the UAE
These supplements are available in several drug stores, health food retail stores, and online distributors. Unfortunately, there are thousands of producers and suppliers with multiple products to meet the high demand. Some may take advantage of the market by offering low-quality products. Finding the best spirulina capsules to buy may not be easy, but you can improve your chances using a few buying tips. Always ensure that you have factual information about a product before purchasing it to avoid unnecessary problems.
- Always go organic – Buying organic supplements has a range of benefits like ensuring that the plant is grown without chemicals and pesticides that may introduce foreign particles to the product. Additionally, you will be sure that its production process is inspected and government-approved. You will also ensure that the farmers handle the products appropriately with high hygiene and proper practice levels. Organic spirulina will help you to avoid several issues associated with buying the wrong product.
- The visual appearance – Top quality supplements have a dark attractive green mate colour. When you view spirulina over a shiny surface, you will notice that it is crushed and coated to prevent it from breaking down. Moreover, ensure that the particles do not have any dust as this may indicate that the product was broken apart. Low-quality supplements cannot assure the same benefits as right-quality products because they have lost most of their nutritional qualities.
- Area of origin and environmental issues – You will never find supplements listed for toxins or harmful/heavy metals. Luckily, you can quickly determine a product’s contamination level by investigating its origin. Try to avoid buying supplements from places like Japan and China because of high radiation levels, lead, mercury, and arsenic contamination. Even though the best supplements come from natural lakes, it would help investigate their growing conditions for contaminants to make a better decision.
- Purity – Ensure that it has all the nutritional components without fillers. Some companies use fillers to lower their production costs or boost a product’s nutritional value. When going for a preferable product, always ensure that it is 100% pure and that it has all the nutritional components of the medicine. The most essential elements to look out for are Carotenoids, Vitamin B12, Selenium, Iron, Zinc, Magnesium, Chlorophyll, Phycocyanin, Zeaxanthin, and Gamma-linoleic acid (GLA).
- Third-party lab testing – Third-party testers are certified organizations and regulatory authorities that check products for quality, radiation, toxins, and harmful chemical components like bromine. Additionally, confirming third-party testing will ensure that you purchase a useful and versatile product to satisfy your needs. You can find a product’s third-party testing by reading through the website. All testing agencies must be listed to ensure credibility.
Even though your research may require some time, it will pay off exceptionally when your body begins reaping the benefits of quality supplements. You may find several top-rated products online, but your decision will depend on what you prefer. If you encounter challenges, feel free to consult a registered dietitian or healthcare professional for advice. Alternatively, you can explore our product search engine to buy organic spirulina protein powder online in Dubai. You can also check out our health & beauty category for more choices of food supplements .
Question & Answer
What are the benefits of spirulina supplements?
Studies conducted on the health benefits of spirulina suggest that its high concentration of nutrients and antioxidants help to effectively treat disease conditions. These supplements can help you to manage diabetes by controlling blood sugar levels. Its anti-inflammatory properties are essential in lowering blood cholesterol, thus preventing heart disease and high blood pressure. Additionally, these supplements can boost metabolism and reduce allergic symptoms associated with allergens like dust, pollen, and fur. Also, it effectively promotes eye and oral health, offers immune system support, and is effective against anaemia. It also aids in enhancing muscle health and endurance due to its antioxidative characteristics.
What are the side effects of spirulina supplements?
Just like many superfood supplements, it is not regulated by any standardization bureaus. Nonetheless, there are very few reports of side effects due to administering the supplements. Potential side effects can include muscle pain, headaches, allergies, and sweating in some cases during the first weeks of use. Most risks associated with it usually arise from toxins, heavy metals, and pollutants absorbed in the wild water or obtained from environmental factors during planting and harvesting. Therefore, it is not advisable to consume it during pregnancy to avoid issues. Additionally, it diminishes blood clotting. Do not consume spirulina if you are suffering from any bleeding disorders.
Does spirulina thicken your hair?
It is used by beauticians worldwide because it has multiple benefits for the skin and hair. It has a high concentration of fatty acids, amino acids, and iron, giving it restorative and revitalizing properties. Integrating these supplements into your daily diet will enable you to strengthen brittle hair as well as split or damaged hair. Your hair will also grow faster due to better blood circulation. It will thicken your hair by fortifying, revitalizing, and restoring its volume and texture. Moreover, it can combat hair loss and it can fight against several hair infections like dandruff and the factors that lead to sensitive scalp.