If you’ve never heard about spirulina, it’s a bluish-green algae that most commonly grows in freshwater lakes. But the reason we’re talking about spirulina today doesn’t have much to do with the way it looks nor with where it grows. Instead, it has everything to do with the amazing health-benefits spirulina has on our bodies. Listed among superfoods, spirulina has some amazing properties which help our bodies stay healthy and fight off various diseases. That being said, here are just some of the reasons spirulina should become your new awesome secret weapon.
Chapter Overview
It can relieve allergies
Spirulina is quite rich in antioxidants and it exhibits some amazing anti-inflammatory properties. By preventing the release of histamine, it in turn lowers the possibility of your body going through an allergic episode. This is just one of the health benefits of spirulina but quite an important one if you consider how many people are struggling with different allergies. Allergies can not only be super annoying but they can also be life-threatening. That’s why it’s important to note that spirulina won’t actually cure any allergies but it will significantly reduce the symptoms, especially when allergic rhinitis is concerned.
It’s packed with nutrients
Such a simple algae is very heavily packed with plenty of different nutrients. Spirulina contains high amounts of protein, all 9 essential amino acids, only 20 calories, and high doses of vitamin B1 and B2. Additionally, spirulina also contains high levels of iron and copper. However, it’s important to note that spirulina should never be used as a replacement for your regular meals. It works best if consumed on a regular basis as a simple addition to your already healthy meal. Spirulina can most commonly be found in powder or pill shape, which makes adding it to your meals quite easy.
It can improve muscle strength
Thanks to its compounds, spirulina can help prevent muscle damage. That’s why it’s a great addition to any sports diet. When you work out, your muscles are exposed to a lot of stress. That’s why ever professional athlete emphasizes the importance of proper rest and recovery after a workout. And even though you will still need to get your rest and recovery after a workout, y adding spirulina to your diet, you’ll ensure that you protect your muscles from any unnecessary damage. On top of that, some studies show that spirulina can improve muscle strength as well as your overall performance.
It lowers cholesterol
According to some studies, spirulina can help with lowering the LDL (bad) cholesterol, while it doesn’t seem to affect the HDL (good) cholesterol. This is particularly good news for anyone suffering from high cholesterol levels, as such a condition can lead to some very serious diseases, such as heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases.
It improves the health of your skin, hair, and nails
Thanks to the high concentration of iron (11% of the RDA), spirulina also has great benefits for our skin, nail, and hair health. Since our skin is our biggest organ, anything that can improve its health should be more than welcome. Nails and hair, on the other hand, don’t affect us too much in the physical sense, but they can greatly boost our confidence and improve our mental well-being if they’re healthy and looking nice.
To find so much power in a single algae is simply amazing. It’s a real wonder just how much good spirulina can do for your body. So, if you’re looking to improve your diet and your overall health with superfoods, don’t hesitate to make spirulina your awesome secret weapon.