What is Spirulina And Its Role in Cancer Prevention
Ever wondered what is spirulina? Facts state it is a kind of blue green algae. Its name comes from its shape -- spiral coil. It grows in tropical salt lakes (both sea and fresh water). It has existed for more than 300 billion years. According to spirulina information, Dr. G. Clement, a scientist, discovered the remarkable nutritional benefits of spirulina (including prevention of cancer) in 1962.
How safe is Spirulina?
Based on spirulina facts, its uniqueness and superiority among blue-green algae lie in its enduring history of safe use. Proofs of its safety include...
It was used by the Aztecs in Mexico as their food for more than 5 centuries.
It is being consumed by indigenous African people today.
Millions of people world-wide have taken it as a food supplement for the past 20 years.
The United Nations and the World Health Organization recognize the importance of this algae and call it as a complete food. They both endorse Spirulina as safe and healthy for children.
It is a highly alkaline food. In 1983, it won the Best Natural Food Award in the International Food Expo in West Germany.
Today, spirulina is used as a food supplement. It is cultivated in ponds that are under controlled settings to prevent it from being contaminated with heavy metals.
What are other nutritional Spirulina facts?
It is a superior source of vegetable protein. In fact, it contains up to 77% level of highly digestible protein. Wow! Just imagine that. This is beneficial if you suffer from poor digestion or if you are following a restricted diet.
And if you are a vegetarian and you get your protein supply from plants, let me share with you this great healthy bit of info: Its protein content is far superior compared to typical protein plant.
What is spirulina? It is a complete source of protein as it has all the essential amino acids. Although it has lesser methionine,lysine and cystine if you compare its protein content to proteins from milk, meat and eggs.
It is rich in Essential Fatty Acids or EFAs such as GLA, DHA, ALA and EPA. It is a very good source of Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, B9, C, D and E and minerals such as...
potassium,
calcium,
copper,
iron,
chromium,
selenium,
phosphorous,
zinc,
manganese, and
magnesium.
What are benefits of Spirulina on your immune system?
It can improve the functions of your immune system because it is rich in phytonutrients such as...
phycocyanin,
polysaccharides, and
sulfolipids.
A healthy immune system reduces your risks for mild to severe infections, different types of cancer and even auto immune diseases.
It is extremely rich in photosynthetic pigments such as beta-carotene and chlorophyll. Beta carotene is an antioxidant that enhance the health of your cells and providing protection against cancer. Chlorophyll aids in cleansing your body from the pollution you face everyday.
Some people think benefits of Spirulina and Chlorella are similar. Well, they are not.
What is Spirulina's difference from Chlorella?
Chlorella is also an algae. Being a green algae, it is also a nutritious food. But based on Spirulina facts, it is far superior than Chlorella because...
it has anti-viral, anti-cancer and immune enhancing properties while Chlorella does not have these.
its cell wall is made of digestible carbohydrates and complex proteins while the cell wall of Chlorella is made of cellulose that your stomach can't digest (the same with green grass).
it does not contain saturated fats while Chlorella does. In fact, the total fat content of Chlorella is relatively high.
Now that you know how these 2 algae differ and what is Spirulina, be aware also that not all Spirulina that are available in the market are the same in terms of quality. It is important to scrutinize its source. A danger of Spirulina lies in low-quality supply. Make sure to choose only superior quality.
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