Spirulina is an ancient health supplement that has circulated around the world since the dawn of recorded history. However, with the health supplement business steadily growing over the past several decades as people look to squeeze a few extra years out of life, new attention has been focused on the possible spirulina benefits and risks. As with all unregulated health supplements, it helps it have a little knowledge of the product before moving forward. Here are some common questions and their answers about spirulina including any possible health benefits and health risks that should be considered.
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Q: What is spirulina?
A: Spirulina is actually a compound of two different types of cynobacteria, Arthrospira platensis and Arthrospira maxima. This bacteria is harvested from open water sources and then is formed into cakes, where it then dries and is consumed as either a cake, chopped into small pills or crushed to form a powder that can be sprinkled over food or added to a beverage.
Q: How long has spirulina been around?
A: Most records show that spirulina was most popular and widespread in ancient Mesoamerica where the Aztecs cultivated the food source on Lake Texcoco. Numerous references abound in Aztec records that show spirulina, or Tecuitlatl as they called, as a cornerstone of the Aztec diet. During Cortes’ invasion of the New World, European soldiers also remarked on this peculiar food source. However, spirulina’s use gradually diminished once Europeans began colonizing central and south America. However, spirulina also cropped up in 9th century Chad, in Africa, where tribal kingdoms cultivate the bacteria and consumed it in a very similar manner to the Aztecs. Spirulina is still popular in this part of Africa today.
Q: What are the health benefits of spirulina?
A: Exact health benefits of spirulina are hard to identify since very little research has been conducted to determine what spirulina is capable of. Be advised, spirulina is an unregulated health supplement which means there are no safety procedures for manufacturers to follow. Spirulina is rich in amino acids, containing far more protein than almost any other vegetable source. Furthermore, spirulina is purported to be a weight stabilizing agent, allowing undernourished people to gain and retain weight better and can help address anemia in addition to being a possible preventative measure against hay fever. Initial research has also found spirulina may have health benefits such as lower blood pressure and cholesterol.
Q: What are the risks of taking spirulina?
A: Besides being an unregulated supplement, the cynobacteria in spirulina are known producers of several types of toxins that can be lethal if consumed over time. Furthermore, spirulina contains large concentrations of phenylalanine, a compound that people with certain health conditions need to avoid. Spirulina benefits are also inflated. The vitamin content of this supplement is often unreliable or inferior compared to other, more proven, supplements. Furthermore, the rich protein in spirulina, while high compared to vegetables, is only a fraction compared to the protein in eggs, meat and dairy products and costs many times more, making it an inefficient and costly source of protein.