Spirulina

What is Spirulina Good For? – Health Benefits of Spirulina

To most people, the thought of consuming algae of any kind, is one which they find repulsive.

After all, algae is a green slimy substance found in garden ponds, fish tanks, lakes, rivers, the sea, and seemingly many other places where you find open stretches of water.

Despite algae’s appearance, certain forms of algae such as Spirulina, are in fact incredibly beneficial for you.

Spirulina is a blue-green algae that has been consumed for hundreds of years due to its many healing properties.

Spirulina grows naturally in salty lakes and oceans in sub-tropical climates and it is packed full of powerful vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, making it a superfood.

Spirulina can boost the immune system, it reduces blood pressure, it can reduce LDL cholesterol, and a whole lot more besides.

Here’s a look at the main health benefits of Spirulina.

Reduced LDL cholesterol

One reason why LDL cholesterol is so beneficial is due to the fact that it has been found to help reduce LDL cholesterol.

Heart disease claims more lives each year than any other illness in the world.

LDL cholesterol is a huge contributor to this, as it causes fatty deposits to accumulate in the blood vessels and arteries which in turn can lead to hypertension, stroke, heart disease, heart attacks, and a whole lot more besides.

According to research, just 1g of spirulina per day can significantly reduce a person’s overall LDL cholesterol levels, by just over 10% to be precise.

Impressive nutritional profile

Spirulina has been found to help strengthen the immune system and therefore help people to avoid illness and disease.

Spirulina is packed full of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other nutrients that the human body thrives upon.

Just some of the nutrients found in Spirulina include:

• Vitamin C
• Vitamin K
• Sodium
• Iron
• Copper
• Magnesium
• Phosphorus
• Potassium
• Calcium
• Vitamin A
• B vitamins
• Folate
• Riboflavin
• And many more...

Rich in protein

Protein is essential for cellular health and function, along with muscle growth and repair.

For most people, protein is found in meats, fish, seafood, eggs, and other animal products. This is all well and good, but what about people that don’t consume these ingredients?

Spirulina is a great option in this case, due to the fact that it is a great source of plant-based protein.

Spirulina can be used for baking, it can be added to shakes, protein shakes, soups, and smoothies, or it can simply be mixed with water and consumed that way.

Reduced blood pressure

Hypertension, or high blood pressure as you may know it, is a condition that claims thousands of lives every year.

Hypertension can cause strokes, heart attacks, renal failure, and a whole lot more besides.

Spirulina is incredibly beneficial for people suffering with hypertension, as it helps increase nitric oxide production in the body.

Nitric Oxide is a vasodilator that dilates the blood vessels and improves circulation. This in turn means more blood can be pumped through the body, putting less pressure on the heart and blood vessels.