Spirulina is a blue-green algae used as a dietary supplement in many regions of the world due to its high protein content and nutrients. It has been historically used to supplement lean diets and flavor food. While it has been claimed to treat various medical problems, there is unclear scientific evidence to support these claims. It can be consumed in various forms, including tablets and gel caps, for those who dislike its taste and texture.
Spirulina is a blue-green algae that is used as a dietary supplement in many regions of the world. Blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria, are known to thrive in very harsh conditions and often store large amounts of nutrients to sustain themselves when their environment is compromised. These stored nutrients may benefit people who consume spirulina, although studies seem to suggest you’d need to eat a fairly large amount of this algae to benefit from it.
People in Mesoamerica have been using spirulina as a dietary supplement for centuries, as have the inhabitants of some regions of Africa. This alga naturally inhabits brackish lakes and can also be easily cultivated to increase the algae yield. Historically, people used this seaweed to flavor food and to supplement lean diets, and it continues to be used for this purpose in some developing nations. Health food enthusiasts eat it because they believe it is a valuable dietary supplement, consuming spirulina tablets, powders and drinks.
Depending on growing conditions, spirulina can contain up to 70% protein and the protein is complete, rather than partial, as is the case with most plant-derived proteins. It also contains vitamins and nutrients such as iron, calcium, vitamin B, magnesium, zinc, and beta carotene, among others. However, you need to eat a significant serving of seaweed every day to really benefit from its nutritional value, rather than having a small sprinkling every now and then.
Numerous claims have been made of this seaweed’s miraculous abilities to treat a variety of medical problems. The National Institutes of Health in the United States generally gives a “C” grade to most of these health claims, meaning that there is “unclear scientific evidence” to support the use of spirulina to treat things like viral infections, malnutrition, diabetes, high cholesterol and eye disorders, among others. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean eating it is a bad thing, and most health food stores make it readily available in an assortment of forms for people who want it.
Pure spirulina has a slightly musky flavor and can taste a bit marine, depending on how it is grown. Some people like the flavor, along with the texture, which tends to be a little lumpy. For people who dislike the taste, smell and texture, tablets and gel caps can be found, which allow people to ingest spirulina without tasting it.
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