I'm not going to sugar coat this, my daily shot of spirulina tastes awful. Every morning I mix 1/4 teaspoon of spirulina powder with enough water to fill a shot glass (my Mexico shot glass - classy gal) and try and get it down my throat as fast as possible. You may ask why I torture myself...well basically the benefits of spirulina far out way the taste (not exaggerating, it makes wheatgrass taste like sweet nectar).
So what is spirulina? Basically it's a type of algae formed in warm, alkaline lakes in Africa as well as Central and South America. What we eat is dried and comes in a powder form. The alkalinic properties of this algae contains a tonne of chlorophyll giving it it's dark green colour, which makes it an extremely powerful detoxifier.
Many studies have found it to be effective at detoxing heavy metals (including arsenic) from the body, helping to improve the blood health. It has also been found to eliminate Candida, the bacteria that can cause yeast infections, as well as disrupt the microfloral balance of the gut contributing to leaky gut syndrome and other digestive disorders. It can reduce nasal congestion, so make sure you hit it up when you're feeling fluey!
As well as helping to detox the body, spirulina has been found to promote production of anti-bodies, anti-inflammatories and infection fighting proteins in the body, which in turn can improve our immunity. It's even been found to affect cancer cells, helping to reduce the growth and development of cancer. Finally on the medical front, it has been found to reduce cholesterol and decrease blood pressure. This in turn reduces the chance of heart disease, stroke and diabetes.
Personally, I've found spirulina to boost my energy. I'm not a coffee drinker, but before my daily spirulina shots, I would get a little drowsy mid morning, despite doing everything 'right'. For me, it has also reduced bloating (thanks to balancing my gut flora) and I have seen a little weight loss in the past couple of weeks, but that may also be due to a slightly improved eating plan.
My main reason for starting to take spirulina, however, is my liver health. Spirulina has been found to improve liver health and function, most likely due to it's ability to help purify the blood and eliminate toxins from the body. Our liver acts a lot like a cleansing system for our bodies. It stores excess fat, processes antibiotics and medications, and of course, eliminates alcohol from our blood stream. Years of 'abusing' your liver can have severely detrimental effects, so a shot of spirulina can seriously help the liver out and improve your health.
Now, what we've all been waiting for....spirulina has been found to aid in weight loss!! It is thought to reduce appetite (I would definitely agree with that) due to it's high protein content and 18 essential amino acids. It is best consumed in the morning, on an empty stomach before breakfast. Obviously, following a healthy diet and exercising regularly will help you reach your health goals, but by incorporating spirulina daily, your results will be even better.
So man up, hold your nose and chuck that green goodness down your throat!
V x
