Organic Spirulina
Scientific research has convinced us of the many health benefits of plant pigments, so it comes as no surprise that the intense blue-green of organic spirulina packs a phytonutritional punch unequaled by other contenders. A peek through the microscope reveals the spiral coil shape of the tiny organisms, belonging to the group of blue-green algae. Their characteristic shape gave rise to the peculiar name, spirulina. Designed by nature 3.5 billion years ago, spirulina holds within its DNA the potential for filling the nutritional needs of Earth’s 6 billion+ people. Because of its rapid growth in fresh water and its whopping protein content, it yields over 20 times more protein per acre than soybeans.
Spirulina contains an unusually high amount of protein, between 55% and 77% by dry weight, depending upon the source. It is a complete protein, containing all essential amino acids, superior to typical plant protein, such as that from legumes.
Spirulina is rich in gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), and also provides alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), linoleic acid (LA), stearidonic acid (SDA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and arachidonic acid (AA). It contains vitamin Bl (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (nicotinamide), B6 (pyridoxine), B9 (folic acid), vitamin C, vitamin D, and vitamin E. Spirulina is a rich source of potassium, and also contains Calcium, Chromium, Copper, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Phosphorus, Selenium, Sodium, and Zinc. Spirulina contains many pigments including chlorophyll-a, xanthophyll, beta-carotene, echinenone, myxoxanthophyll, zeaxanthin, canthaxanthin, diatoxanthin, 3′-hydroxyechinenone, beta-cryptoxanthin, oscillaxanthin, plus the phycobiliproteins c-phycocyanin and allophycocyanin.
Scientific studies suggest that Spirulina has been successful in the following health benefits:
- Supports healthy cholesterol levels and cardiovascular function
- Lowers blood pressure
- Improves digestive health by increasing beneficial intestinal flora
- Powerfully stimulates immune function with antibiotic, antiviral and anti-infective properties
- Builds blood, both white and red cells and detoxifies the blood
- Reduces inflammation and repairs tissues
- Assimilates easily, richly nourishing the body
- Soothes the nerves, relieving anxiety and promoting upbeat mood
- Relieves seasonal allergies and other breathing difficulties
- Satisfies the body’s hunger for genuine nutrition, thus restoring natural body weight
- Jump starts body’s energy production within hours
- Reduces cancer risk with its powerful antioxidants. Phycocyanin, the brilliant blue polypeptide pigment abundant in spirulina and found virtually nowhere else, destroys existing colonies of cancer and prevents growth of new cancer cells. This powerful anti-oxidant provides protection for the kidneys and scavenges those dangerous hydroxy radicals, inhibiting lipids in the liver from oxidating.
- Calcium spirolan, a sulfonated polysaccharide keeps many viruses at bay, including HIV and herpes.
- Chlorophyll in great abundance aids in detoxifying our bodies from the by-products of metabolism and from our polluted environment, detoxifying the body and aiding in natural cleansing
- Mucopolysaccharides in spirulina lower fats in the blood. These healthy compounds prevent lipoproteins, including cholesterol from attaching to the artery walls.
- Spirulina extract inhibits HIV replication in human T-cells, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), and Langerhans cells.
- Spirulina helps prevent heart damage caused by chemotherapy using Doxorubicin, without interfering with its anti-tumor activity.
- Spirulina reduces the severity of strokes and improves recovery of movement after a stroke; reverses age-related declines in memory and learning; and prevents and treats hay fever.
- Spirulina is effective for the clinical improvement of melanosis and keratosis due to chronic arsenic poisoning;
- Spirulina corrects anemia in both HIV-infected and HIV-negative undernourished children; and protects against hay fever.