Can Spirulina Cause Joint Pain?

January 18, 2023 By Nemira Leave a Comment

Can Spirulina trigger joint pain?

Spirulina, photosynthetic bacteria, is a full product of biological origin. People call Spirulina the superfood, the food of 21 century.

This blue-green alga is potent food that contains all vital nutrients.

Spirulina can change our planet when feeding, nourishing, and improving the health of people.

Spirulina has nutrients that protect from inflammation that could damage joints.

Can our joints suffer from usage of Spirulina?

Thankfully, Spirulina brings only benefits to our joints. Spirulina contains phycocyanin, which strengthens the body’s resistance through the lymph system. This alga contains sulfolipids and glycolipids, which are anti-cancer and anti-AIDS substances. GLA, gamma-linoleic acid, being in Spirulina, helps with inflammation, blood pressure, cholesterol synthesis, and cell proliferation. Spirulina protects joints from inflammation.

Positive feedback from a user of Spirulina

Nothing is better than word of mouth. Michael Sansone, D.C., presents one of many cases of a woman who had problems with multiple joint pain and stiffness. She had more problems.

His patient took Spirulina phytoplankton along with other food supplements.

After one year, the follow-up evaluation showed that woman had no pain symptoms and had plenty of energy.

Michael Sansone, D.C., explained this situation. A woman was unable to digest foods that would give her vital nutrients.

Spirulina is an easily digestible food that provides all the needed nutrients.

The mechanism of the Spirulina’s help to joints and other body’s systems

Inflammation symptoms are:

Pain
Redness
Swelling
Heat

Cytokines and chemokines are small proteins involved in cell signaling. When they are activated, they target local blood vessels enhancing blood flow, and induce vasodilation.

It means that blood vessels expand and become permeable. Fluids and plasma proteins leak into the affected tissue causing joint pain and puffiness.

Joints can be affected by various diseases too.

Importance of phycocyanin

Phycocyanin in Spirulina has anti-inflammatory properties.

It means that Spirulina can help with inflammation, in this case, with joint problems.

Doctors M.E. Gershwin and Amha Belay, the authors of Spirulina in Human Nutrition and Health, point out that in the animal model of rheumatoid arthritis

oral administration of S.fusiformis(800 mg/kg per day) from Day 11 to Day 18 after arthritis induction resulted in significant suppression of inflammation.
Orally administered phycocyanin at doses of 25,50 or 100mg/kg significantly inhibited inflammation and structural joint damage in the same model.
Since phycocyanin constitutes ~20% of Spirulina’s dry weight, these observations are consistent with the hypothesis that phycocyanin is mainly responsible for the anti-inflammatory activity of this alga in experimental arthritis.
M.E.Gershwin and Amha Belay, Spirulina in Human Nutrition and Health, 184

Why do people experience joint pain?

Your joints can suffer when you hurt yourself after exercise or bump into something hard. Inflammation can hurt joints badly, especially if you wait till it is not easy to walk or move.

Inflammation can occur when your immune system is weak, and the body needs additional help to strengthen it.

Free radicals can induce damage to joints. Lifestyle, the lack of sufficient nutrition, such as vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and proteins, can affect not only joints, but the whole body.

Wrapping up

Spirulina does not hurt joints or cause pain. It is the opposite. Spirulina relieves inflammation thanks to active ingredients such as GLA and phycocyanin. Taking this blue-green alga, you can enrich your body with essential nutrients, take care of your immune system, which in her way will protect your joints, organs, and tissues from inflammation and foreign intruders. Viva, Spirulina!

What is Zinc for Humans?

July 5, 2022 By Nemira Leave a Comment

What is zinc for human beings is a question that is essential nowadays when health professionals offer zinc as one of the supplements to stay well and be safe.

What is zinc?

Zinc is a widespread mineral, a nutrient, and, at this exciting time, is one of few buried down. What does it mean? Why? Zinc is an innocent mineral that helps the immune system.

Somehow, somebody discovered that this mineral helps deal with many problems, especially when the immune system is lazy or broken down.

Zinc is vital for humans because of helping the immune system fight intruders, protects skin, helps absorb magnesium, and heals wounds. Zinc is vital for human growth and development, DNA, and protein synthesis.

Maybe somebody wants to keep this mineral for themselves. I have in mind big companies that want to synthesize most of everything that is natural. Who knows? Fortunately, minerals are part of nature. Besides, they are part of us.

Zinc is abundant in the body. It takes second place after iron. Unfortunately, the body does not produce zinc, and we need to take supplements to keep our immune system strong.

As I wrote in a previous blog, when we lose something, we can perform in our best way as we would when our bodies do not lack anything.

It is the same with zinc.

Additionally, zinc does not act alone in the body. It needs company. One of the vital companions is magnesium. Do you see?

The magnesium line goes through all body systems and correlations between them. What does it mean?

Zinc helps to absorb magnesium

What is funny is that we cannot escape the reality that tells us everything is connected in our bodies.

Nutrients in the body help each other to perform in the best way. When we lack something, as in the example, of zinc, our bodies cannot absorb magnesium.

What happens when magnesium is deficient in the body?

Magnesium deficiency can cause depression

You do not have the energy
You can be depressed
Panic attacks can occur
Bones can break
Stomach acid needs magnesium
You can grind your teeth
Calcium will overwhelm your cells, and they die without sufficient magnesium
You can experience cramps
Your heart can have problems
Electromagnetic fields will attack you more powerfully

What is zinc for human beings?

Zinc participates in various systems and is responsible for proper functions in the body, such as

Wound healing
Protein synthesis
Enzyme reactions
DNA synthesis
Growth and development
Immune function
Genes activities

Do you see the immune system in the listing?

I guess that nobody needs additional explanation about how is important is immune system for us. Without a properly functioning immune system, we will catch a cold and get bacteria, microbes, or viruses to take over our health.

The immune system is a complex mechanism. Scientists do not reach their potential to discover till the end how immunity works for us.

Zinc helps the immune system to prepare against invaders and keep them in check. Doctors recommend zinc in their protocols in dealing with nasty intruders such as viruses or bacteria.

You can read more about the immune system and its warriors here.

Zinc is essential for many functions in the body

For example, zinc participates in over 300 enzyme systems. Without enzymes, the body cannot properly metabolize nutrients, detoxify, and so on.

Your skin health depends on zinc too. Think about it. Who does not want to look at their best despite some years? Everybody does; maybe others do not manifest so much.

Children and teenagers need zinc a lot too. The body’s growth and development depend on zinc as one of many essential nutrients.

Taste and smell

These senses are important to us because of the coloring of our world. Without that, the environment would be dull. Of course, we can hear and touch people, but it is not a complete picture of life.

Do you know the famous saying about smelling roses? A smell allows us to enter new worlds, especially when people are young and looking for partners. Of course, it is a primitive instinct. However, if Mother Nature created smell for humans (animals, too), in this way, it is supposed to be like that.

Taste is important too. We can live without fancy dishes, but losing the taste of crisp bacon pieces would be a bad idea.

Unfortunately, it does happen, and supplementing the body with zinc is the right thing to avoid disaster.

Zinc helps heal wounds

Zinc participates in collagen function. Do you know that skin looks young and is elastic till collagen is sufficient in the body?

It works as the net, keeping fat cells and others in tiny chambers. Without collagen, skin becomes loose, wrinkles show up, and plenty of people run to plastic surgeons and buy expensive face creams.

Fortunately, it is a way to keep skin young. Taking zinc supplements that go straight to the cell will see faster results than those with zinc, which does not absorb so well.

Zinc keeps skin healthy. Zinc removes inflammation that occurs when a wound appears in the body. It is essential because it knows how much damage can cause inflammation.

People who take zinc can get rid of acne. This condition primarily affects teenagers, and you know how it is essential for teens to look their best. Maybe some of the movies can persuade us that boys with glasses and acne can be an undiscovered treasure. Unfortunately, in a real-life, it does not work.

I think it is better to take zinc; that helps the growth and development and helps rid of acne. Sexual maturity depends on zinc too. Who does want to be a child forever or for a prolonged time? Childhood is great, but life does not stay in the same place. It goes according to Nature’s plan, especially when the body gets all its needed nutrition at every age.

Zinc aids for age-related diseases

Age-related problems occur when inflammation takes over or weakens the immune system.

Zinc strengthens killer cells that can deal with all intruders and tear them to pieces.

Additionally, zinc improves mental health and vision. Both things are essential for adults. Everybody wants to be at their best and enjoy life.

How do we feel about the deficiency of zinc?

These symptoms are:

Behavioral problems
Impaired wound healing
Skin rashes
Constant diarrhea
Delayed sexual maturity
Not sufficient growth and development
Hair thinning
Lack of appetite

What is the best supplement with zinc?

The best absorbable at the cell level is Pico Zinc from RNAReSet.com.

Why is this particular supplement so good?

It goes to the cell
It is pure zinc, a pico-ionic size
It is a liquid that is measurable. It helps you to control the right dosage amount.

Wrapping up

Zinc is one of the essential minerals that participate in more than 100 enzyme reactions and helps the immune system fight intruders. Natural killer cells need zinc to strengthen them and keep the ready to deal with bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other intruders.

Zinc keeps the inflammation away and helps heal wounds.

It would be best to use a pico-ionic Zinc supplement to get most of the benefits from zinc. The absorption of Zinc is close to the 100 percent range. It means that the mineral goes straight to the cells. There is no waste of precious minerals. The body gets everything.

Osteoarthritis: How To Help?

May 2, 2018 By Nemira Leave a Comment

Osteoarthritis: how to help? This question can bother everybody who encountered or knows somebody who suffers from it. Osteoarthritis is a disease. The cartilage layer between bones wears out. There is no fun experiencing pain and discomfort accomplishing tasks. The cartilage does not have free nerve endings. Most of us can feel pain and discomfort when the problem becomes advanced.

Osteoarthritis occurs in people who are obese, have inflammation, participate in high-impact sports, eat junk food without nutrients, have injuries, or have some genetic occurrences in family history.

What causes osteoarthritis?

There are a few factors that can make an impact on the birth of osteoporosis:

Obesity
Inflammation
High impact sports
Injuries
Family history

Mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress can contribute to osteoarthritis too.

Can you escape osteoarthritis?

What do you think about the prevention of this unpleasant condition? These factors, as mentioned above, profoundly influence the beginning of osteoarthritis. If cartilage were in good shape, individuals would never have arthritis. When inflammation occurs, and joint pressure happens every day, the cartilage wears out. Bones became naked and exposed to each other. They rub, touch each other, and create pain.

Later on, bone erosion occurs with further consequences. Surrounding areas around joints suffer too.

It would be nice not getting with this problem so far that we feel the pain and discomfort. Some people need replacement because they cannot bear the torture.

How can you support joints?

Some supplements help improve joint functions.

Chondroitin
Glucosamine
Hyaluronic acid
Sulfur compounds
S-Adenosylmethionine

Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Krill
Undenatured Type-II Collagen
Avocado oil
Curcumin
Ginger
Boswellia
Korean angelica
Proteolytic enzymes
Vitamin D
Niacinamide
Gamma-linoleic acid GLA

Antioxidants

Astaxanthin
Vitamin C
Green tea extracts

How to avoid osteoarthritis?

Prevention is the best thing for every situation. It does not matter what it is. Of course, you cannot prevent asteroids or sun eclipses, but you can watch what is on your plate and how much you transfer from the container to the mouth.

We all are not saints. We have weaknesses and habits which are like weeds. Without constant cultivation, our garden could be helpful in hiding and seeking, not for growing harvest.

However, when you think that is better health or constant visits to doctors, you could try at least to change your lifestyle.

Obesity

Obesity is one of the leading reasons osteoarthritis can be heavy on you. You are not the car. Your joints adapted to bear the weight as Nature created you. You were not born with additional pounds or kilograms. You gain weight continuously or after some events. It happens.

Fortunately, you are the master of your life, not somebody else. You sneak at night to the refrigerator or stuff the pantry with processed food. There are plenty of excuses, but people can lose weight the same way they gained it. Of course, if your case is the same as Randy’s from Chicken and Fat Correlation, you will need more will and strength to conquer these problems.

Inflammation

Inflammation is a condition that can be local or chronic. The local inflammation ended when the trigger was removed, and the wound healed. Chronic inflammation can last ages because the causes are not eliminated.

There are plenty of triggers that start inflammation. Toxins, infection, and stress can initiate autoimmune reactions. For example, the immune system can attack tissues and organs. Rheumatic fever is autoimmune. It can hurt joints and heart valves.

Inflammatory processes are under the control of hormones. These hormones are prostaglandins and leukotrienes.

Food can be an essential part of prevention. Food choices can push us into the anti-inflammatory state or pro-inflammatory one.

We need vital nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, enzymes, fats, proteins, and carbohydrates to keep the body safe and sound. Without them, the body gets out of balance. For example, omega-3 fatty acids help prevent inflammation. Seeds, nuts, and oily fish from cold waters, such as salmon, herring, mackerel, sablefish, and leafy greens, contain omega-3 fatty acids.

Omega-6 fatty acids help synthesize hormones that upregulate inflammation. Unfortunately, plenty of us consumes more food, such as processed meats, refined fats, cookies, and candies that contain omega-6 and do not have omega-3 fatty acids.

Problems start slowly. Everything bundles up, and voila, we have discomfort, pain, inflammation, and stiffness in joints.

High impact sports

It is better to use trampolines for exercising compared to running. Joints do not have a substantial impact when touching the ground. Trampolines work gently. However, we can get a high workout without being hurt.

People created to work jump. However, we do not do it consistently. Professionals reach for results giving all reserves of their vitality and health. Heavy workouts such as weight lifting or jumping can negatively impact the future. Besides, there are traumas and injuries involved.

Oxidative stress

Oxidative stress happens when free radicals damage cells. Factors such as radiation, environmental pollution, smoking, and finding food can trigger oxidative stress.

Our bodies are protected with antioxidant defenses. There are helpers such as

Physical barriers
Enzymes that neutralize ROS (reactive oxygen species)
Active substances from the diet, such as vitamins C and E
Mechanisms that take care of oxidative damage to DNA, proteins, and membranes

Wrapping up

Osteoarthritis is a problem that bothers many people. Prevention measures can help immensely for it if we have the discipline to change our lifestyle and avoid harmful habits. Nutrition plays a vital role in keeping us safe and sound. Why? The body needs nutrients to protect, strengthen, replenish, and detoxify cells, tissues, and organs.

When we get enough minerals, especially magnesium, vitamins, and other nutrients, we feel energetic and able to accomplish tasks. We are not cars. It is not enough to give some of the empty calories such as processed food and soda drinks and think everything will be fine.

We need to watch what we eat and what we drink. For example, water from the tap can be harmful to bones if it contains fluoride. You can read more about it here.

The body is a complex mechanism. Everything is connected. Joints are part of the body too. It needs nutrition, care, and protection. However, injuries are another thing. It can harm us severely depending on the nature of the event. However, medicine is advanced in emergencies. Following advice from experts and not skipping supporting measures, we can get back on track.

My personal experience

My personal experience. I had some impact injuries, which started to bother me. Horses are great, but sometimes you get something as a reminder from them. There was no swelling, but I began to feel the discomfort. Why do I need to wait till something more uninteresting happens? I started to take Cordyceps Sinensis and Spirulina as the source of nutrients. Besides it, I take ReMag, which helps to keep inflammation away.

For outside help, I use the Comfrey Root, which is a real savior for me. I buy certified Organic Comfrey Root from mountainroseherbs.com. This company has plenty of excellent quality products. It comes in this package:

I usually keep it in the refrigerator to protect fit from temperature swings. When I need it, I take a couple of spoons.

Before usage, I blend the whole amount of Comfrey Root in the blender. It smells nice. I add some coconut oil and hot water to the powder. The texture must be even without additional pieces. After it, I take a bit of cloth. This cotton works best because it is natural, and the skin can breathe.

Later on, I add the whole thing to the painful place as soon as possible and wrap it with the band’s piece. I keep it warm during the night. When I take the entire thing off in the morning, it looks like this strange piece of hardened Comfrey Root.

I feel the real difference after using Comfrey Root poultice overnight. Do you know that Comfrey Root has an active ingredient: GE-132 Sesquioxide? It is the organic form of germanium. GE-132 Sesquioxide is the active ingredient in Comfrey Root, and it is found in other botanicals such as aloe vera and garlic.

According to scientists, it increases the body’s defense mechanisms.

How about you? Do you know natural remedies for the joints? It would be nice to hear from you. Please, leave a comment below.

What Is Inflammation In The Body?

November 12, 2017 By Nemira Leave a Comment

What is inflammation in the body? Inflammation is a common root of many chronic diseases. Oxidative stress influences the beginnings of inflammation.

Types of inflammation

Types of inflammation are:

Normal inflammation
Abnormal inflammation

Normal inflammation

Healthy inflammation occurs when the body’s healing system reacts to a localized attack or injury. The process happens in one area. It starts here, is maintained, and is finished with healing here.

Inflammation could happen when a sudden injury to the skin from impact or burn affects a particular area.

Some changes occur together one by one. The heat and redness show the influx of blood to the affected area. The swelling happens because small blood vessels allow plasma to go to tissues. The pain follows. The immune system participates in the healing process. It takes time, but the inflammation disappears when the problem resolves. We can be disappointed when we have pain and redness or swelling. Fortunately, it takes a short time and a restricted area of inflammation.

Abnormal inflammation

Abnormal inflammation differs in space and time. When healthy inflammation starts in one place and ends simultaneously, abnormal inflammation can attack the whole body.

What is worst is that inflammation lets the immune system attack all cells. These powerful immune killer cells go after affected cells and healthy ones.

How do they work these killer cells?

The immune system has the best army in the world. Immune cells have different tasks in the body and act according to the situation. Some enzymes could destroy cell walls and digest the vital components of cells and tissues.

Usually, when healthy inflammation occurs, the body is able to control the process. It deals with the consequences of impact or invasion in one place. When healing ends, the body stops control over the inflammation process because there is no need to take care of it.

What is wrong with abnormal inflammation?

The body does not control the abnormal inflammation. It spreads over all tissues and does not quit easily. The immune system participates in healing. Unfortunately, it could lead to autoimmune disorders when it does not get the command from the body on what to target and when to stop.

What does it mean?

Autoimmune disorders occur when the immune system attacks cells without a difference. Sick or healthy cells suffer from powerful killer cells. It can lead to:

Discomfort
Disability
Failure of organs
Irreparable damage to essential structures

For example, type I diabetes is autoimmune from the start:

The immune system starts an abnormal attack triggered by an unknown cause
The beginning is early in life
Insulin-producing cells in the pancreas destroyed

Rheumatic fever, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus are autoimmune disorders.

What does trigger autoimmune reactions?

There are some origins, such as:

Infection
Toxic injury
Stress
Environmental issues such as air, water, and food pollution

New findings are causes of disorders

Dr. Andrew Weil states that doctors have a consensus about the triggers of some diseases. Asthma, atherosclerosis, Alzheimer’s, ALS, and Parkinson’s disease have components of abnormal inflammation.

Irritable bowel syndrome(IBS) can start from microinflammation. It can be seen just with a microscope examining damage to the GI tract tissue.

Previously, other triggers were to blame. For example, cholesterol was responsible for atherosclerosis. Now doctors think that the damage was done at first by inflammation. Later on, cholesterol deposits can be a response to protect damaged areas covering defects.

First, abnormal inflammation occurs. Second, the body attempts to heal affected areas.

Regulation of inflammatory process

Before digging into this inflammation topic, I thought hormones are primarily for growth and fertility. Nope. Hormones take a respectable place in our body’s metabolism.

What do the control mechanisms of inflammation?

Prostaglandins and leukotrienes were responsible for the control of the inflammation process. Hormones work synergetically. Imagine a swinging pendulum. When you do not move it, the swing stays in one place. The balance was achieved. Hormones work in the same way in the body. They interact and make sure that processes would not go wild.

Some of the hormones increase inflammatory activity; some of them dampen it. These hormones must be in equilibrium.

Interestingly, the same hormones which increase inflammation can trigger cells to proliferate. Other hormones that decrease inflammation can cease the abnormal division of cells.

What Does It Mean?

What does it mean?

It means that disrupted balance in hormonal activity can trigger inflammation and lead to nasty diseases.

Is there an escape from this misery?

Yes, it is. Education is the first thing that would help us make the right choices. Second, a fit lifestyle is a way to avoid significant problems and consequences from it.

Do you see a connection here?

According to Dr. Andrew Weil:

food choices we make can determine whether we are in a pro-inflammatory state or an anti-inflammatory one.

Hormones are prostaglandins and leukotrienes synthesized in the body. The body uses polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), essential nutrients. We do not make these vital nutrients. We must get them from food.

There are two types of PUFAs:

Omega-3 fatty acids
Omega-6 fatty acids

The demand for these fatty acids is a constant and vital one.

Hormones made from omega-6 acids intensify inflammation, and hormones produced from omega-3 fatty acids downregulate it.

Sources of fatty acids

Omega-6 fatty acids come from the fat of grass-fed animals, oil-rich seeds, and vegetable oils extracted from them.

Omega-3 fatty acids are found in :

Leafy greens
Walnuts
Flax seeds
Hemp
Soy oils
Canola oils
Sea vegetables
Salmon
Sardines
Herring
Mackerel
Black Cod
Bluefish
Fat from grass-fed animals

Nutritionists think that the balance between the consumption of omega-6 and omega-3 was stable in the past. When processed food takes over, especially in Western countries, this balance is disrupted.

You know about the fattening of animals and birds with hormones and antibiotics, keeping them in confined places. Vegetable oils heated. Snack foods provide omega-6 fatty acids. There is no place for omega-3. So what, you would ask?

Omega-3 fatty acids dampen inflammation. Period. If you do not get enough of these acids, your body cannot produce the right hormones that regulate inflammation. Do you see how it goes? It is a chain reaction. One thing leads to another.

Processed food disrupts the balance of hormones. It leads to inflammation. Inflammation is the root of diseases. No fun? Yes, I agree.

Again, there are words from Dr.Andrew Weil:

In a nutshell: you can reduce the risks of abnormal inflammation and diseases associated with it and shift your body from a pro-inflammatory to an anti-inflammatory state by increasing your intake of omega-3 fatty acids, decreasing your intake of omega-6 fatty acids, and excluding from your diet the kinds of fat known to promote inflammation.

Are fats only to blame for inflammation?

I am sorry, but carbohydrates are responsible for inflammation too.

The chemical reaction’s name is glycation when proteins and sugar react. Glycation produces pro-inflammatory compounds. They are called advanced glycation end products (AGEs).

For me, it correlates with aging. AGEs promote inflammation through the deformation of proteins, cross-linking them.

The glycation could be measured. Doctors check blood levels looking for hemoglobin AIC. It is a form of glycated hemoglobin.

Knowing the numbers of glycation is essential. This process affects proteins and generates AGEs.

Do We Need To Be Afraid Of Glycation?

Typically people have low levels because the body’s defense mechanisms protect us.

How to choose wisely carbohydrate sources?

Learn about the glycemic index and glycemic load

Eat foods with a low glycemic index and glycemic load. Change snack foods with whole grains, beans, sweet potatoes, and other vegetables. Eat more temperate fruits compared with tropical fruits such as pineapple, mango, or papaya.
Consume less processed food
Avoid fast food
Eat fewer products made with flour of any kind
Skip products made with high-fructose syrup.

Conclusion

Healthy inflammation benefits the body. At the time of impact, the body pulls all helpers and starts to take care of the confined area at a particular time. When the consequences of injury or invasion are removed, inflammation disappears.

Abnormal inflammation occurs when the body can not control the immune system, and defense mechanisms start to attack its cells.

The quality and origin of diet have a strong influence on inflammation evolution. Watching the menu and changing lifestyles could enormously impact the quality of our lives.

If you have questions or would like to leave a comment, I would be glad to answer it.

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