Spirulina: Beyond Food

Considered by some as a superfood for its high nutrient density, Spirulina (a blue-green microalgae) has demonstrated uses beyond its nutritive content.

Spirulina seems to improve exercise performance and increase fat oxidation (fat burning), improve oxidative stress in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and may even help treat cold sores!

Allergy Away!

Anyone with seasonal allergies can attest that they are no fun. Allergic rhinitis is characterized by sneezing, itching, congestion, and a runny nose. Who wants that?

Spirulina has demonstrated clinical effectiveness for improving allergy symptoms. This is partially attributed to spirulina’s capacity to mediate inflammation and decrease histamine (an immune response stimulator).

I used to think my occasional runny nose and itchy throat and eyes were due to the cold or lack of sleep, but once I started adding some of the green stuff to my smoothies, these symptoms seemed to decrease.

It’s no holy grail, but it could help!

If you experience seasonal allergies, you are likely familiar with over-the-counter anti-histamines, such as Zyrtec, Allegra, or Benadryl, but they can carry undesirable side effects.

Spirulina does not seem to have negative side effects besides small amounts of heavy metals or water contaminants.

Heavy metals

Spirulina is a biological organism that can bind to pollutants such as heavy metals and toxic organic and/or inorganic contaminants. It can be used to clean out contaminated waters.  

Just like mercury in tuna can be dangerous if consumed in excess, some of the heavy metals that spirulina binds to could accumulate in your body if consumed at high levels.

However, this is only a concern if the spirulina is cultivated in contaminated waters or if you consume too much of it (moderation is key).

Generally, if being produced for human consumption, the supplement will be tested to ensure contaminants do not exceed a certain threshold well below levels of toxicity.

Spirulina’s property of binding contaminants may even occur within your body! Preliminary evidence in rats shows that spirulina could limit the negative effects of heavy metals within an organism.

You shouldn’t have any worries about heavy metal toxicity when consuming spirulina. If anything, it could help flush some contaminants out of your body!

Fatigue Fighter?

While evidence for spirulina’s anti-fatigue potential is conflicting, its nutrient profile combination of several B vitamins, essential fats, iron, and polysaccharides could help, especially if one of the previously mentioned nutrients is missing from the diet.

The B vitamins help make energy more available from food, while the essential fats and polysaccharides also contribute to energy release within the body, contributing to Spirulina’s fatigue fighting potential.

As for iron, you may be lacking it in your diet and not even know it! According to the WHO, iron deficiency is the most common nutritional disorder in the world, and the only one still prevalent in industrialized countries.

If you’re frequently feeling tired, iron supplementation with spirulina could help!

Spirulina supplementation may improve energy levels by stabilizing blood iron concentrations, as iron deficiency is associated with higher levels of fatigue regardless of anemia (low healthy red blood cells). Inclusively, Spirulina may even improve anemia.

Maybe Yoda is so agile and green from eating Spirulina all his life!

Quick Tip: Iron is notoriously hard to get from a normal diet, whether due to its bioavailability (extent to which a substance enters the body’s circulation) or dietary inhibitors innate to many plant foods. When mixed with a source of vitamin C, such as orange juice or a serving of strawberries, absorption of iron is improved. Mix your powdered spirulina with a glass of orange juice to citrus-away the fishy flavor and make the iron more available!

To Sum It Up

Beyond its high nutrient-density, Spirulina has demonstrated evidence for fighting allergy symptoms as well as cleaning pollutants from lakes and possibly our own bodies.

Following its high content of B vitamins, essential fats, polysaccharides, and iron, spirulina may help combat fatigue. Mix it in with some orange juice, and you will absorb more iron, not only potentially preventing fatigue, but also iron deficiency and anemia.

Try out spirulina and let us know what you think! Does it keep your allergies in check or help you feel more energized? Let us know in the comments below!

-          Lucas Roldos

Disclaimer: The information provided is meant to spread knowledge and induce interest for educational purposes. It is based on limited research. We try to pull the overall message of the literature, but further research may be necessary.  What is done with the information or suggestions is solely the consumers decision. The information provided is not meant to treat or diagnose any medical condition. References are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute endorsement of any website or other sources.