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Sign Me Up. Print This Page Click to Print. Staying Healthy. You might also be interested in…. For further info, check the ingredients when you buy spirulina — different products have different values. And be sure to compare the amount you get to the daily values that apply to your age, sex, and pregnancy status. Oxidative stress happens when oxygen damages your DNA and cells over time. They protect against oxidation damage, and spirulina is full of them.
Phycocyanin is one of the key ingredients in spirulina. Researchers have studied its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties over the last decade.
Science nerds are claiming that it has a lot of potential for use in future pharmaceutical drugs. While phycocyanin-based anti-inflammatory or antioxidant drugs may be a little way off, spirulina might serve as a good stand-in.
You can still keep that oxidative stress at bay. They just have a harmful effect if too many of them circulate in your bod. Studies have shown that spirulina supplements can significantly lower levels of LDL cholesterol. In a study , the researchers found that 1 gram per day of spirulina reduced LDL cholesterol levels by over 10 percent. Levels of triglycerides fell by over 16 percent. Both of these findings are important.
When LDL levels are high, the risk of heart disease increases with them. Effective cholesterol management is also mega important for folks living with diabetes. Diabetes can lead to higher levels of LDLs and triglycerides, but not much HDL action that balances out the cholesterol content. These can be pretty darn helpful for peeps who live with diabetes. We know we just told you that one of the benefits of spirulina is it can lower LDL levels.
People with healthy LDL levels can, however, still be at risk of heart disease. A key reason that many folks develop heart disease particularly atherosclerosis, the hardening of blood vessels is the oxidation of LDL cholesterol in their blood.
LDLs are lipids a kind of fatty structure that naturally occurs in your body. Lipids are at particular risk from oxidation damage. In a study , the authors gave some rats diabetes and fed them either a 5-percent spirulina-enriched diet or insulin.
They found that the spirulina had the edge on the injected insulin when it came to defending against lipid peroxidation. The findings warrant further study into developing alternative drugs for diabetes treatment, and spirulina might be up there with the more promising options.
Oral submucous fibrosis OSMF is a precancerous condition in the mouth. A study gave 52 adults with dyslipidemia 1 gram of spirulina per day for 12 weeks and found that it may reduce blood pressure — but there was no control group to provide a comparison. It gives all the essential amino acids that you need. It is often claimed that spirulina contains vitamin B12, but this is false. It has pseudovitamin B12, which has not been shown to be effective in humans 3 , 4.
This damage can drive chronic inflammation, which contributes to cancer and other diseases 5. Its main active component is called phycocyanin. This antioxidant substance also gives spirulina its unique blue-green color. Phycocyanin can fight free radicals and inhibit production of inflammatory signaling molecules, providing impressive antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects 6 , 7 , 8.
As it turns out, spirulina positively impacts many of these factors. In a study in 25 people with type 2 diabetes, 2 grams of spirulina per day significantly improved these markers 9. Another study in people with high cholesterol determined that 1 gram of spirulina per day lowered triglycerides by Several other studies have found favorable effects — though with higher doses of 4.
This is known as lipid peroxidation, a key driver of many serious diseases 13 , Interestingly, the antioxidants in spirulina appear to be particularly effective at reducing lipid peroxidation in both humans and animals 16 , In a study in 37 people with type 2 diabetes, 8 grams of spirulina per day significantly reduced markers of oxidative damage. It also increased levels of antioxidant enzymes in the blood Some evidence suggests that spirulina has anti-cancer properties.
Research in animals indicates that it can reduce cancer occurrence and tumor size 19 , One study examined 87 people from India with precancerous lesions — called oral submucous fibrosis OSMF — in the mouth. When these people stopped taking spirulina, almost half of them redeveloped lesions in the following year. High blood pressure is a main driver of many serious diseases, including heart attacks, strokes and chronic kidney disease. While 1 gram of spirulina is ineffective, a dose of 4.
This reduction is thought to be driven by an increased production of nitric oxide , a signaling molecule that helps your blood vessels relax and dilate Spirulina is a popular alternative treatment for symptoms of allergic rhinitis, and there is evidence that it can be effective In one study in people with allergic rhinitis, 2 grams per day dramatically reduced symptoms like nasal discharge, sneezing, nasal congestion and itching The most common one is characterized by a reduction in hemoglobin or red blood cells in your blood.
Anemia is fairly common in older adults, leading to prolonged feelings of weakness and fatigue There is some evidence that spirulina could help improve the symptoms of this condition.
A study states that spirulina can relieve nasal inflammation and reduce histamine in the body. Compared to a placebo , it may reduce the symptoms of allergic rhinitis, including:. A review notes that there is a reasonable amount of evidence for the positive effects of spirulina on allergic rhinitis, but that larger trials are needed before researchers know the true impact.
In certain parts of the world, people are at risk of poisoning from contaminated drinking water and other sources of pollutants. Early research suggests that spirulina may offer a way to treat those affected. A later review found that spirulina had antitoxic properties that could counteract pollutants in the body, including:. The authors of the review suggest that spirulina could be a useful substance to use alongside clinical treatment of pollutant poisoning.
A paper highlights the potential role that spirulina could play in treating mood disorders. The theory is that spirulina is a source of tryptophan. Tryptophan is an amino acid that supports serotonin production. Serotonin plays an important role in mental health. People with certain mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety , may have reduced levels of serotonin.
Taking tryptophan supplements to maintain healthful serotonin levels may play a role in supporting mental wellbeing. Researchers need to conduct more clinical trials before they know the true role of spirulina in supporting mental health. The United States Food and Drug Administration FDA does not regulate spirulina, but a review notes that spirulina is well-tolerated by most people, so does not cause any significant side effects.
It is a good idea to check any drug interactions with a doctor before taking a new dietary supplement, including spirulina. People can buy dried spirulina from health food stores or online stores. Spirulina tablets are also available in health food stores, drug stores, and online. Alongside zinc, spirulina shows promise as a treatment for chronic arsenic poisoning.
More research is needed before doctors can recommend spirulina for the treatment of any health condition. Vanilla extract adds depth of flavor to recipes and baked goods, and substitutes can replace it in a pinch. Learn more about replacements for vanilla….
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