Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Spirulina – Protein-packed Superfood



In 1519, a Spanish Conquistador named Hernando Cortez discovered spirulina deep down in South America.  Cortez found out that the people of this region have been drying and eating it since ancient times. The mighty Aztecs for example, supplied the low-calorie super green to their warriors and athletes in order to boost their strength and endurance. Indigenous tribes have been reaping the innumerable benefits of spirulina for centuries.

An explorer by the name of Pierre Dangeard was the first to discover the health benefits of Spirulina. He observed that flamingos were able to survive by consuming these blue-green algae. Soon people started to commercialize it and today it is treasured for its impressive immune boosting, anti-aging, weight loss and cancer fighting properties and is well known for its ability in promoting an alkaline (pH) in the body and boosting a healthy digestion by crushing the growth of bad bacteria at the same time simultaneously stimulating the growth of ‘friendly’ bacteria instead.

Now, Let us take a closer look and see what makes this superfood a valuable part of our modern diet. Spirulina in the raw is a blue-green, unicellular, freshwater algae that is literally loaded with beneficial ingredients.  It contains highly digestible protein – an amazing 60 percent protein which can be absorbed up to four times faster than animal protein. Recent scientific studies have also indicated that it acts as a natural appetite suppressant and the high protein content makes it an attractive alternative to protein powders for high performance athletes. How’s that for a powerful boost of energy?

This superfood is overflowing with vitamins including B1, B2, B6 and B12 (contains four times as much vitamin B12 as raw liver!). It consists of up to 13 percent essential minerals including magnesium, potassium, calcium phosphorus and zinc.  It is rich in iron, copper and chromium – minerals that can help combat anemia, chronic fatigue and high blood sugar levels. Spirulina also contain a wide range of high concentration of omega 6 fatty acids which are important for healthy heart function. It has sulfolipids, which can help to protect against HIV infection. 

Try throwing some of these Spirulina into your daily diet.  It’s easier than you think. The tablet form can be taken with a glass of (spring) water and powder type can be mixed into your favorite smoothies and juices or added to a variety of liquid dishes of your choice.  

Now that’s the kind of health food we all need!

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