Spirulina is a fascinating alga for weight loss and management. These small tiny algae forms synthesize high-quality concentrated food more efficiently than any other algae. Spirulina is 65 to 70 percent complete protein. All essential amino acids are in perfect balance. Besides it, Spirulina contains excessive concentrations of nutrients – chelated minerals, pigments, amino acids, vitamins, complex natural plant sugars, enzymes, and trace elements.
All nutrients assimilate easily.
Spirulina’s background
- Spirulina is a single-celled alga
- Sizes are from 0.5 millimeters and more significant. You can see it with the naked eye.
- Spirulina has prolific reproduction capabilities, allowing it to grow artificially in fresh-water ponds.
- The color of Spirulina is from pigments. Chlorophyll gives a green and phycocyanin blue tint to the alga.
- Spirulina thrives in warm waters. The ideal temperature is from 32 to 45 Celsius. It would be approximately 85 to 112 Fahrenheit.
- Spirulina grows in an alkaline environment, which ensures high hygienic levels of the product.
- Spirulina is one of the cleanest, naturally sterile products grown in nature.
- Spirulina grows in high temperatures and can preserve all nutrients that are active and beneficial for the body. Think about one hundred Fahrenheit. It is sweltering. Spirulina algae enjoy it and could provide you with high-value nutrients.
- There are thirty-five species of Spirulina that have grown in several alkaline lakes in the world.
How could you benefit from Spirulina?
- Spirulina provides excellent nutritional value. It helps to manipulate the body’s metabolism in several beneficial ways.
- When you take Spirulina, you get all the nutrients for the body’s prosperous existence.
- The body does not crave processed food because of all its nutrients. You want cookies and soda when you lack the necessary materials to survive and flourish. Unfortunately, sugar and chemicals cannot support and give building blocks for the body’s metabolism. Spirulina fills this gap with all packages of highly concentrated nutrition.
Spirulina’s power
Spirulina strengthens willpower and ensures dietary success in the weight loss journey. How does it happen?
The help from proteins
We have highly concentrated Spirulina proteins that are easily absorbed into the body. It contains polysaccharides that raise glucose levels in the blood. We feel hunger when blood glucose or amino acids are at low levels. When blood glucose or amino acids are at low levels, we feel the need. Spirulina, full of rich nutrients, can fool the brain into thinking that the stomach is sated.
Keeping the blood sugar in the check
The Hypothalamus gland controls appetite, which is triggered by falling blood sugar. When we consume Spirulina, highly absorbed nutrients reach the bloodstream maintaining blood sugar levels in moderation without dropping or spiking up. The brain thinks that we are full and does not send signals to request more food.
Influence of amino acids
Spirulina supports the appetite-curbing mechanism. Everybody knows how it is difficult to leave a beautiful-looking piece of snack. We think that it will not hurt. Unfortunately, grams add to grams, and it converts to pounds. It nicely sits on the most embarrassing places in the body: the abdomen and waist.
Here Spirulina comes to rescue us. We will not drop the portion of ice cream or run away screaming from a refrigerator. We only will feel sated and full. Who needs more to eat if you got everything that your body needs?
Doctors William Goldwag and Marquetta Hungerford of the Center for Holistic and Preventive Medicine in Stanton, California, adapted Spirulina to their weight-loss program. They saw empirical success with their patients.
According to Dr. Passwater, Ph.D., amino acid structure in Spirulina could directly impact levels of neurotransmitters, which control mood, appetite, and ambition in the brain. Brain chemistry can be changed thanks to Spirulina.
How does this miracle happen?
I call it a miracle because of knowing how it is difficult to resist the temptation of food.
How does it work? In the body, amino acids are broken down during digestion. Then they are resembled by their metabolic processes to build human proteins.
However, some amino acids are straight used to synthesize brain hormones that influence alertness, sense of well-being, resistance to fatigue, energy levels, and mood. All these senses lead to one immense feeling: hunger.
When we get all amino acids from Spirulina, it keeps the body in a relatively equal balance. The brain chemistry remains stable. There are no terrible fluctuations toward any emotional extremity.
Let’s check the picture without Spirulina. When one or a few amino acids are present in excessive amounts, the competition begins. What does it mean? Synthesized brain chemicals start to predominate over others. When it happens, the mood can be distorted and manipulated.
Exceptional amino acids in Spirulina
Spirulina contains high values of phenylalanine and tyrosine. These two amino acids synthesize brain hormones, for instance, norepinephrine. This particular hormone can influence blood pressure and create nervous tension—amphetamines and stress stimulate the release of norepinephrine.
Scientists believe that it is a lot beneficial to the body naturally manipulate norepinephrine secretion through dietary changes. It can lead to long-lasting and less harmful results.
You would ask, what does norepinephrine do? The primary function of the brain hormone is to mobilize the brain and body for action. It means that if we use amphetamines which are artificial chemicals, the body can lose the ability to produce the hormone naturally.
Interesting facts about Spirulina
Do you know that the beautiful pink or coral flamingos could thank pigments of Spirulina for their appearance? Thousands of birds feast on Spirulina and other algae in Africa, Caribbean islands, and South America. Their beaks are adapted for scooping off the algae from the bottom. It is a similar principle to what whales do. They filter water leaving plankton in their mouth and spitting water out.
How about scientific research on Spirulina? This alga is so fascinating, and why does nobody scream so loudly about the benefits of ice cream? Japanese scientists have shown scientific interest in the therapeutic effects of Spirulina. In the United States of America, Spirulina was the mysterious object of weight loss.
Thankfully, a resource comes out where you can find astonishing scientific facts about Spirulina. This book Spirulina in Human Nutrition and Health,
Here is an excerpt from one page about Spirulina’s antibacterial activity:
- Spirulina contains vitamin A, which is essential in preventing eye diseases;
- iron and vitamin B12, useful helpful in treating hypoferric anemia and pernicious anemia;
- to alleviate premenstrual syndrome and an immune system stimulation.
Edible microalgae such as Spirulina are rich in protein, lipid, polysaccharide, fiber, microelements, and bioactive substances. It has been reported to have health and pharmacological properties that can help prevent and cure peptic ulcers and anemia, enhance immunity, and antitumor, antiradiation, and antipathogenic activities against microorganisms; it can decrease blood lipid some may act as antiatherosclerosis agents.
The source: Spirulina in Human Nutrition and Health, edited by M.E. Gershwin and Amha Belay, page 247.
I wanted to show that Spirulina is a real thing and is praised by scientists and doctors for their unique abilities, as you see from the excerpt above.
Wrapping up
Spirulina is an excellent source of vital nutrients. It is a high source of proteins. When spirulina has 65-71 percent protein, beef has only 22 percent.
You lose weight without struggling and craving sweets because algae provide the body with all the needed elements for metabolism.
How does it happen?
The body’s metabolism is balanced. All processes go smoothly and efficiently. Spirulina delivers excellent nutrition four for our bodily needs.
There is no need to store fat just in case you have a food shortage. It happens when we consume junk food and drink excessively sugary drinks. The body starves for nutrients, does not find them in processed food, and requires more. You or I go to check the next container of ice cream. Unfortunately, we will gain more pounds and pave the easy path to chronic disorders such as diabetes.
Spirulina is a twenty-first-century food. It is easy to harvest, store, and consume. Japanese philosopher Toru Matsui lived only on the Spirulina and other algae for fifteen years.
I could not survive only on Spirulina mentally for such a long time. However, I experienced the benefits of this fascinating algae. The satisfaction of eating a moderate amount of dinner and the disappearance of cravings shows me that Spirulina is the “green gold of the future.”
Fascinating algae for weight loss and management of the body’s metabolism provide optimal nutrition. If you are nutritionally aware, Spirulina is an excellent choice for you.
How to use Spirulina?
Spirulina comes in the form of powder, tablets, and capsules. Spirulina is a food. Usually, people consume 6 to 10 grams of Spirulina. It would be 12 to 20 tablets daily. I used the powder or tablets. Pills work for me better because I can eat them like candies. They slowly melt in the mouth. The powder usually has a slight metallic taste that does not appeal to some users.
Some people like to add Spirulina to smoothies. The metallic taste disappears when some banana is involved or another sweet fruit.
Do you have experience with Spirulina? I would be glad to hear your thoughts about this fascinating alga. Please leave a comment below.