Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Spirulina: Super Food
Posted on 11:03 AM by Dr. Saleh M. Aarif
What is Spirulina?
It was discovered in South American and Africa in natural alkaline lakes. This spiral shaped algae is a rich food source. For a long time (centuries) this algae has constituted a significant part of the diet of many communities. Since the 1970's, Spirulina has been well known and widely used as a dietary supplement.
Why choose Spirulina?
• Richest nutrient source
• Energy booster
• Vegetarians best nutrient supplement
• Concentrated of protein and essential fatty acid
• Weight reduction
• Adjust your body's PH value
• Ideal supplement food for the pregnant women and infant
• Natural Nutrient source
Typical Analysis
• Protein 60-63%
(3 times higher than beef, fish or pork . 6 times higher than eggs. 2 times higher than soy beans)
(3 times higher than beef, fish or pork . 6 times higher than eggs. 2 times higher than soy beans)
• Minerals7-13%
(including Calcium, Potassium, Magnesium, Zinc, Phosphorus)
(including Calcium, Potassium, Magnesium, Zinc, Phosphorus)
• Fibre8-10%
(4 times higher than flour or corn)
(4 times higher than flour or corn)
• vitamin B12 0.2-0.3mg
( 3~4 time higher than animal liver)
( 3~4 time higher than animal liver)
• Beta Carotene 140-330mg
(5 time higher than carrots, 40 times higher than Spinach)
(5 time higher than carrots, 40 times higher than Spinach)
• Carbohydrate15-25%
• Lipid6-8 %
• Chlorophyll1000-2000mg
(more than 20 times higher than wheat grass)
(more than 20 times higher than wheat grass)
• calcium130mg
(10 times higher than milk)
(10 times higher than milk)
• iron33mg
(65 times higher than spinach, 30 times higher than beef, 5 times higher than soy bean)
(65 times higher than spinach, 30 times higher than beef, 5 times higher than soy bean)
Spirulina Comparison
Vitamin | Spirulina (6g) | Other Sources | Insufficient vitamins may cause diseases |
Beta Carotene Pro Vitamin A | 12mg | 28 bottles of milk 550 pcs apples | Infection, lack of smell, acne, dermatitis, eczema |
B1 | 0.24mg | 16 pcs sardines 8 bowls of rice | Insomnia, muscle pain, Memory impairment. Acne, eczema, reduce body resistance, heart malfunction |
B2 | 0.24mg | 4 whole potatoes 420 pcs grapes | Cataracts, deteriorated vision, insomnia, stomatitis, rough and dry skin, growth retardation, eczema, vaginal itching |
B3 | 1.02mg | 8 pcs lemons | Nervousness, dermatitis |
B6 | 43.2ug | 90 g bread 4 pcs Asparagus | Heart diseases, insomnia, stomatitis, rough and dry skin, nervousness, eczema, dermatitis |
B12 | 7.2ug | 4 pcs eel 240gcheese | Pernicious anemia, ageing fatigue, menstruation problems |
Nutrition Information
Vitamins Supplied by Spirulina
• B6 or pyridoxine helps in the breakdown and assimilation of proteins. It offers protection to the heart and reduces edema.
• B12 or Cobalamin is very difficult to extract from vegetables, but Spirulina is rich in this rare vitamin. The deficiency of B12 is indicated in cases of pernicious anemia, nerve degeneration etc.
• Pantothenic Acid is used in the adrenal glands along with vitamin C and cholesterol to produce steroids such as cortisone in response to physical and mental stress.
• Folic Acid is essential for making new red blood cells.
• Inositol keeps the liver healthy and balances blood cholesterol. It is probably the most abundant vitamin in the body after niacin.
• B2 or Riboflavin prevents eye problems and severe eczema.
• B1 or Thiamine maintains glucose level in the blood. A serious deficiency of this vitamin may result in death.
• E or Tocopherol. Preserves heart and vascular health and retards ageing.
• Beta-Carotene is a very important antioxidant. There are some sources which are artificial, and others which exist within some of our vegetable foods.
Other Good Things!
• Here again Spirulina is different in that it contains a total of 18 amino acids in the exact proportion to mother’s breast milk.
• It has these eighteen complete amino acids regarded as ideal for the human body.
• Regrettably, the human body is unable to store amino acids, so when incomplete foods are taken, there is frequently an imbalance in the diet. Spirulina can come to the rescue with its full range of complete amino acids.
Essential amino acids
• Isoleucine (4.13%). Needed for growth, intelligence development and nitrogen balance within the body. Also assists with synthesising other nonessential amino acids.
• Leucine (5.8%). Helps to increase muscular energy levels and stimulate brain function.
• Lysine (4.0%). used for forming blood antibodies, improves the circulatory system and promotes cell growth.
• Methionine (2.17%). Vital for metabolising fats and lipids that maintain a healthy liver. Also helps calm the nerves.
• Phenylalanine (3.95%). Used by the thyroid for the production of thyroxin which in turn governs metabolic rate.
• Threonine (4.17%). Improves competence of the intestines and thus aids digestion.
• Tryptophane (1.13%). Enhances the use of B group vitamins, improves nerve fibres. This in its turn contributes to emotional stability and calmness.
• Valine (6.0%). Assists with the co-ordination of the muscular system as well as contributing to improved mental capacity.
• Alanine (5.82%). Strengthens the walls of cells.
• Arginine (5.98%). Important for the production of (male) seminal fluid which is about 80% arginine. Assists in keeping the blood clean.
• Aspartic Acid (6.34%). Helps with the transformation of carbohydrates to energy.
• Cystine (0.67%). Aids with pancreatic health and thus stabilizes blood sugar etc. May help towards alleviating food allergies.
• Glutamic Acid (8.94%). Along with glucose it fuels the brain cells. Can reduce the craving for alcohol and also stabilize mental health.
• Glycine (3.5%). Promoter of energy.
• Histidine (1.08%). Improves nerve relays, especially in the hearing organs. Has even been used as a remedy for deafness.
• Proline (2.97%). A Precursor of Glutamic acid.
• Serine (4.0%). Helps with the formation of the fatty sheath surrounding nerve fibres.
• Tyrosine (4.6%). May slow the ageing of cells and suppresses hunger. Involved in the coloration of hair and skin, and indeed helps with sunburn protection.
Chlorophyll - The Green Gold
• Spirulina is very high in chlorophyll. It has an average of three times the amount of the green gold of other highly developed green plants. The dark green color of Spirulina omes from the large amount of plant blood or in other words, chlorophyll, which is only one molecule different from hemoglobin in human blood and with it, a very important substance in a healthy diet.
• Dr. Ingfried Hobert, Germany, Chairman of the International Federation to Research and Develop Traditional Healing Methods and author of the book “Das Algen Gesundheits Buch” (The Algae Health Book), highlights in his book the benefits of chlorophyll in maintaining good health.
Minerals
• Calcium (1,315 mg/Kg). The most abundant mineral in the human body. Essential for strong bones and teeth. Calcium also contributes to nerve transmission ability and absorbs acids in the body.
• Potassium (15,400 mg/Kg). Used for regulating electrolytes. A deficiency can lead to heart attack and muscular collapse.
• Zinc (39 mg/Kg). Assists with mental health, skin tone, prostate function and the ability for wounds to heal quickly.
• Magnesium (1,915 mg/Kg). Assists with the assimilation of vitamins B and C and also some proteins. A deficiency may lead to muscular and cardiac problems.
• Manganese (25 mg/Kg). Activates enzymes together with zinc. Helps stabilize blood sugars.
• Selenium (0.40 ppm). Improves cardiac efficiency, reduces some types of toxicity and may retard ageing processes.
• Iron (580 mg/Kg). Used for making hemoglobin, the oxygen carrier in the blood.
• Phosphorus (8,942 mg/Kg). Found in almost every cell of the human body, and together with calcium contributes to strong bones, and assists with digestion of carbohydrates.
Who should take Spirulina?
• Children who don’t like or get enough vegetables and or have an imbalanced food intake.
• Teenagers during their rapid growing period need a sufficient injection of nutrients. Spirulina is ideal for this.
• Pregnant mums who need extra nutrients.
• Seniors who have difficulty in having reasonable average 3 meals per day.
• Sport lovers or athletics who need extra nutrients to keep their energy levels up.
• Modern busy people who don't have the time to eat good meals.
• Patients or people who need high volumes of nutrients to assist recovery (please consult your doctor)
• Vegetarians who require extra nutrient sources
Who shouldn't take too much Spirulina?
• People with hyperparathyroidism
• People who have serious allergies to seafood or seaweed.
• Patients current experiencing high fever.
How should Spirulina be taken?
• Take only with cold or warm water, (not juice, soft drinks, coffee or tea)
• After taking Spirulina, avoid alcohol, soft drinks or coffee for 30 minutes as these drinks can destroy some of the Spirulina nutrients and enzymes
• Take at least an extra half liter of water a day
• It doesn't matter if you take it once a day or twice a day, so long as you take enough for a day.
What are the Spirulina effects?
Spirulina is a totally natural product and will not normally cause any problems to the body. Even if too much is taken, there will be no harm to the body, but doing this is a waste.
• However some people may experience some of the following symptoms after taking Spirulina;
• Slight fever due to the body's need to burn the extra protein from Spirulina
• Slight dizziness. If this occurs, take less of the product. If the symptom does not improve please stop taking Spirulina
• Thirst and constipation. After taking a high volume of Spirulina we recommend at least an extra 1/2 litre of water per day to help our body absorb the Spirulina
• Stomach ache
• Skin itch or slight body rash
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No Response to "Spirulina: Super Food"
Leave A Reply