All About Spirulina Platensis

What is Spirulina?
Spirulina (Spirulina Plantensis) is a microscopic freshwater plant, an aquatic micro-vegetable/organism composed of transparent bubble-thin cells stacked end-to-end forming a helical spiral filament.

It is a whole-food, not a concentrate, not an extract. It is detoxifying. A person can not eat too much and overdose on Spirulina. It contains more bio-chelated organic iron than any other whole-food. Bio-chelated means that the iron will easily be assimilated into the body. Spirulina has 58 times the iron of raw spinach and 28 times that of raw beef liver.

It contains more beta-carotene than any other whole food. Beta-carotene determines how our cells communicate with one another. “Beta carotene opens the membrane communication channels of cancerous and pre-cancerous cells, allowing the body to signal the cancerous cells to stop dividing. Therefore, foods rich in beta carotene may not only be able to prevent but also reverse cancers. (Wolf 1992)” (Spirulina, Nature’s Superfood). Research has demonstrated that beta-carotene can lower cholesterol, treat wounds and reduce the size of tumors. Natural beta-carotene is far superior to synthetic, both chemically and physically. It absorbs better into the body than synthetic and it will NOT build up in the body and become toxic. There are NO toxic side effects with Spirulina the way there are with other blue green algae such as AFA (Afanzamon Flos Aqua, commonly known as Bluegreen Algae).

It is the richest source of natural antioxidants of any whole-food source. It contains every natural known antioxidant including zinc, manganese, selenium and copper, the amino acid methionine, vitamin E, vitamins B-1 and B-6, the amino acid methionine and of course, beta-carotene. It is rich in chlorophyll, much richer than wheat grass and alfalfa.

Spirulina contains more Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA) than any other whole-food source.

Phycocyanin, which is the natural blue pigment of Spirulina, is not found in any other food on the plant.

Glycolipid, which is found in Spirulina, have been found to be active against the AIDS virus (Boyd et al 1989).

WaterShed Spirulina tablets are unlike the granulation method which destroys Spirulina’s nutritional potency of pure Spirulina powder by allowing only minimal exposure to lignaturopaths.

Spirulina is a rich, natural source of phenylalanine-slimmers; Spirulina effectively suppresses the appetite. Its whole food nutrition facilitates low-calorie dieting without the energy draining and health destroying nutritional deficiencies that are the downfall of most weight-loss programs. Spirulina satisfies hunger because it fulfills the body’s nutritional and biochemical needs.

Virtually all multiple vitamin/mineral supplements today are laboratory-synthesized chemical compounds. Yet, according to internationally acclaimed author and nutritionist Dr. Paavo Airola: “It is wisest and safest to take vitamins and minerals in the form of food supplements where they occur in their natural form and strength, and in combination with all of the other nutritive factors such as enzymes and trace elements, for optimum assimilation and biological activity.”

Dynamic Energy and Endurance Nutritionally enlightened fitness enthusiasts, body-builders, professional coaches and competitive athletes are reporting increased energy, enhanced endurance and other exciting performance improvements with Spirulina.

Hundreds of Olympic and world champion athletes use Spirulina both during training and competition. Olympian Lees Evans, double gold medalist and holder of four world records in track and field, says: “Spirulina improved my training, resulting in faster times… increased my stamina and endurance.” Now as a coach, Lee insists all his athletes use Spirulina.

NASA considers Spirulina an ideal food to grow on space stations and has researched the possibility of using it on long-term space flights. It will become one of the first foods grown on the new Space Station when it is completed. It is one of the most efficient, oxygen-generating foods known.

Be Aware: There is another species of blue green algae, Aphanizomenon Flos Aqua (AFA), which grows naturally in Klamath Lake, Oregon, and a few other places in the world. It is widely available and sells under different names, including the generic name Blue Green Algae. It is recommended this algae not be consumed for several reasons. Klamath Lake is a migratory pathway for thousands of birds, thus the AFA algae is contaminated and extremely high in bacteria. Under these circumstances, AFA algae must be freeze dried to kill the bacteria. This process, however, destroys the enzymes in the AFA algae. The centerpiece of Spirulina and Chlorella are its enzymes because nothing is more needed by the body than enzymes.

Although they are both blue green algae and have somewhat similar nutritional profiles on paper, Aphanizomenon Flos Aqua and Spirulina Plantensis could not be more different. They are entirely separate species of algae, as can be inferred from their Latin names. AFA algae is one of six known algae that produce toxins, either hepatotoxins or neurotoxins. The neurotoxins in AFA algae are neosaxitoxin and anatoxin. “Structurally, anatoxin-a does not resemble decamethonium, but instead is similar to the tropane alkaloids, specifically cocaine.” ( Toxicon , vol. 17, “Pharmacology of Anatoxin-a, Produced by the Freshwater Cyanphyte, AFA NRC-44-1,” by Carmichael, Biggs and Peterson, 1979, pg 229. )

Spirulina produces all its nutrients by harvesting sunlight. It gathers and transforms sunlight into green and blue pigments that make it a blue green algae. The blue is an amino acid group found only in Spirulina called phycocyanin, which accounts for its high concentration of vegetarian protein. The green in Spirulina is chlorophyll, one of the best natural detoxifiers known.

Spirulina is an extremely high energy food. It contains all the B vitamins, which are themselves synonymous with high energy. Energy derived from whole foods such as Spirulina and Chlorella are natural and will never leave you flat after their nutrients have been consumed by the body. Scientific studies world-wide have demonstrated the incredible health properties of spirulina.

Water, nitrogen, phosphorus, carbon dioxide and sunlight are all that is needed to produce Spirulina, one of the most nutritionally packed foods in the world, an absolutely astounding array of enzymes and other nutrients.

Spirulina has been eaten by many cultures throughout history. The Aztecs and Mayas used Spirulina as a central part of their diet. The Kanembu people, who live along the shores of Lake Chad , still use it today. NASA considers Spirulina an ideal food and plans to grow and use it on long-term space flights. It will be one of the first foods grown on the Space Station. Spirulina is one of the most efficient, oxygen-generating foods in existence. It is extremely easy to grow and takes less room per cubic centimeter than any other crop known, yielding an enormous amount of nutrition.

Spirulina and Chlorella are ideal foods to feed a starving world. They have been used in Third World Countries to relieve hunger with great effectiveness because they are inexpensive, nutritionally compact and not given to quick spoilage.

You will never find a better nutritional buy anywhere on the market than you will with both Spirulina and Chlorella . Ounce for ounce, your dollar goes farther toward providing the body with proper nutrition than any other foods available. There are a lot of different Spirulina brands on the market. A rule of thumb is to only buy Spirulina Plantensis that is Certified Organic , ISO 9200 (international standards) and Certified Kosher.

For more information about the nutriceutical properties of Spirulina, Check out Bob’s book, Achieving Great Health

Spirulina (Spirulina Plantensis) is an absolutely pure food [top]
Watershed Spirulina is this very particular strain of Spirulina. It is a blue-green algae, one of the oldest foods on the planet. It has a 95% digestibility rate compared with only 10-15% for most foods. It is extremely high in Vitamins, Minerals & Amino Acids (protein).

Spirulina is a Whole Food Unlike Vitamins and other Supplements [top]
Most vitamins on the market are comprised of laboratory-synthesized chemical compounds rather than natural sources. Virtually all vitamins are mix and match amalgams of extracts and concentrates, some of which can accumulate in the body and become toxic if they are fat soluble. The other problem with the mix and match vitamin approach is that vitamin companies are trying to duplicate nature, which can never be done. Spirulina is a balanced natural whole food. It’s minerals and vitamins are naturally bio-chelated, meaning they are wrapped in amino-acids for excellent assimilation by the body. It contains over 100 synergistic nutrients and is nature’s richest and most complete source of total organic nutrition. Spirulina is a completely natural, and therefore superior, approach to nutrition. It is also much more economical than most mass produced vitamins!

Shown Helpful for joint pain [top]
Spirulina is a rich source Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA), which is the “miracle” ingredient of Spirulina. GLA is an essential fatty acid that has been shown very helpful in the relief of joint pain.

Spirulina Is Nature’s Richest Whole Food Source of Organic Iron [top]
It is biochelated and is completely nontoxic. It’s 58 times richer in organic iron than raw spinach and 28 times richer than raw beef liver!

Spirulina is a Powerful Nutriceutical [top]
The human body is perfectly capable of healing itself if it is provided with the necessary vitamins, minerals, enzymes and other nutrients it needs. There are many foods that have healing and preventative health qualities, but none possess such powerful and wide-ranging and diverse group nutrients as Spirulina. Spirulina provides the body with the proper nutrients it needs so it can heal itself.

Nature’s Richest Source of Vitamin B-12 [top]
It’s 4-6 times richer than raw beef liver, it’s nearest rival. B-12 is known for providing the human body with high energy.

Contains Natural Digestive and Other Enzymes [top]
Over 2000 different enzymes have Enzymes are critical for good health, weather digestive or metabolic. Spirulina has been scientifically demonstrated to increase the reproduction of lacto-bacilli, the bacteria that digests our food.

Contains SOD (Super Oxide Dismutase) [top]
This essential enzyme is crucial to the bodies ability to assimilate amino acids (protein). Without its presence in the body, we are unable to create the 10,000’s of long, complex chains of amino acids known as protein.

Richest Whole Food Source Of Vitamin E and Beta-Carotene (Pro Vitamin A) [top]
Spirulina has 3 times the Vitamin E than that of raw wheat germ and its biological activity is 49% greater than synthetic vitamin E. It has 25 times the Beta-Carotene than raw carrots. Unlike the preformed vitamin A of synthetics and fish liver oils, beta-carotene is completely nontoxic even in mega doses.

Show to Helpful in Fighting HIV [top]
Scientific studies has demonstrated the usefulness of Spirulina against HIV.

Powerful Natural Detoxifier [top]
Spirulina has a cleansing effect that works first on the digestive system and then on the blood and entire of body after several months of use.

Spirulina is a Complete Protein [top]
This means that Spirulina has all the eight essential amino acids as well as ten others. Most animal protein contain large amounts of fat, which Spirulina does not. Spirulina is less than four calories per gram and almost no cholesterol.

Spirulina is Alkaline and Helps Balance your Body’s pH [top]
It is important that we maintain a balance body pH of ideally about 7.2-7.4, which is about neutral. However because of our poor diet of junk food, fast food, over-cooked, processed foods, especially soft drinks (the worst is cola), which have a pH of 2.7. This is several thousand times more acidic than our bodies. This is important because all diseases start and live and thrive in an acidic environment and do not live well in an alkaline environment. Thus it follows that to keep ourselves as alkaline as possible.* Becoming too alkaline is rare but not unheard of. Cancer rates have risen steadily until now that fully one third of all people in the United States will get cancer in their lifetime! The rise of fast, junk and processed foods match those of rising cancer rates. Thirty years ago, cancer in children was almost unheard of. Now they have entire hospital wards given over to children with cancer. We are too acidic! That’s why we are getting sick!

Spirulina Plantensis Nutritional Analysis

GENERAL COMPOSITION
Protein Carbohydrates Lipids Minerals Moisture	60% 19% 6% 8% 7%
VITAMINS
Beta-carotene Vitamin A (100% as Beta-Carotene) Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) Vitamin B3 (Niacin) Vitamin B6 Vitamin B12 Inositol Biotin Folic Acid Pantothenic Acid	10 mg 15,030 IU 102 mcg 99 mcg 621 mcg 13.2 mcg 6.6 mcg 2.04 mg 0.969 mg 0.9 mcg 12 mcg
FATTY ACIDS
Omega 6 Family Gamma Linolenic (GLA) Essential Linolenic Dihomogamma Linolenic Omega 3 Family Alpha Linolenic Docosahexaenoic (DHA) Monoenoic Family Palmitoleic Oleic Erucic	30 mg 33 mg 1.59 mg0.0435 mg 0.0435 mg 5.94 mg 0.51 mg 0.072 mg
MINERALS
Calcium Magnesium Iron Phosphorous Potassium Sodium Manganese Zinc Boron Copper Molybdenum	12 mg 14.4 mg 3.18 mg 31.2 mg 45.6 mg 21.9 mg 78 mcg 36 mcg 30 mcg 3 mcg 3 mcg
PHYTONUTRIENTS
Beta-carotene 9-cis Beta-carotene 13-cis Beta-carotene 15-cis Beta-carotene all-trans Zeaxanthin Chlorophyll Total carotenoids* Phycocyanin Superoxide Dismutase**	1.60 mg 0.51 mg 0.12 mg 7.80 mg 0.95 mg 23.70 mg 14 mg 333 mg 2640 units
*Includes alpha carotene, beta cryptoxanthin & others. **Reported as units Ferric S.O.D. Subscribe To My Blog

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