Side Effects & Health Benefits of Spirulina, Uses of Spirulina.
Many of my readers have been messaging me to write about the health benefits, side effects of spirulina + the availability of spirulina in Nigeria especially where to get the product spiruluna in cities like Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano, Benin and so on.
The truth is, i don’t have much knowledge about spirulina and in fact I heard about it for the first time from a reader. So I decided to do a research about it and here are my findings….i culled the side effects and health benefits of spirulina from a very reputable health page on Facebook called World’s Miracle Algae.
Spirulina in Yoruba language : None found
Spirulina in Hausa: None yet found
Spirulina price in Nigeria: #3,500 – #10, 000 Naira.
What is Spirulina ?
Spirulina is a biomass of bacteria that can be consumed by both humans and animals. It can be made into tablets, supplements, capsules, powder + skin and hair products. It can also be used as skin masks and hair masks. Spirulina has numerous nutritional value or benefits and medicinal properties.
The health benefits of spirulina are undeniable. Spirulina is hailed as a superfood that promotes body and brain health. This blue-green “miracle” algae grows naturally in oceans and salty lakes in subtropical climates.
Health benefits of Spirulina
Abundant Nutrients For The Body
Spirulina is rich in nutrients, some of which aren’t found in the average daily vitamin. According to the FDA, the health benefits of Spirulina include significant amounts of calcium, niacin, potassium, magnesium, B vitamins and iron. Spirulina is a great source of B complex vitamins, beta-carotene, vitamin E, manganese, zinc, copper, iron, selenium and antioxidants. It also has essential amino acids (compounds that are the building blocks of proteins). In fact, protein makes up about 60 to 70 percent of Spirulina’s dry weight.
An Antioxidant Powerhouse
One of the health benefits of Spirulina comes from its antioxidant properties. Spirulina protects our cells by warding off inflammation and other dis-eases in the body. Spirulina has been shown to positively reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering “the bad” LDL cholesterol and triglycerides in the body while promoting HDL “the good” cholesterol. In higher doses, spirulina could reduce blood pressure.
It’s Full Of Protein
Anemia is a fairly common ailment which can lead to fatigue due to a reduction in hemoglobin or red blood cells in the blood. When one’s diet is supplemented with spirulina, it has been documented that an increase in the content of hemoglobin in red blood cells occurs.
Spirulina has 4 grams of protein in a single tablespoon making it a more concentrated source of protein than red meat and only 20 calories. With a high concentration of bio-available iron, it is excellent during pregnancy and for those with anemia as it will not cause constipation. The health benefits of Spirulina are compounding in the body as the proteins and nutrients are bioavailable and easily absorbed.
Detox The Body
The health benefits of Spirulina include its ability to detoxify the body. It is great at cleansing the body of heavy metals by binding to them and removing them from the body. Evidence suggests that it can bind to radioactive isotopes and may be useful for radioactivity exposure or radiation therapy. A combination of zinc and Spirulina may help the body clear arsenic in people whose drinking water has unusually high levels, according to the National Institute of Health (NIH).
Prevent What Ails You
Many people promote Spirulina as a treatment for a range of metabolism and heart health issues, including weight loss, diabetes, and high cholesterol, according to the NIH. The health benefits of Spirulina help a range of eclectic health problems, including premenstrual symptoms and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease), according to the NIH. People also recommend Spirulina as an aid for various mental and emotional disorders, including anxiety, stress, depression and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
🔷Spirulina powder is excellent for hair growth
🔷Spirulina powder is good for skin.
Side Effects of Spirulina
It’s Non-Toxic.
Toxicological studies of the effects of spirulina consumption on humans and animals, including feeding as much as 800 mg/kg, and replacing up to 60% of protein intake with spirulina, have shown no toxic effects. Fertility, teratogenicity, peri- and postnatal, and multigenerational studies on animals also have found no adverse effects from spirulina consumption.
Where to get Spirulina in Nigeria?
You can get Spirulina from many pharmacies stores supermarkets and online stores in Nigeria. You can order for Spirulina tablets, or supplements, masks, or powder for online stores like Jumia, Konga, Yoota, Alibaba, Aliexpress etc.
Culled from World’s Miracle Algae
