Benefits of Spirulina
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Benefits of Spirulina
Each day around forty thousand
children die because of severe malnutrition and related diseases across the
world. Malnutrition disempowers and affects the lives of around 852 million
people globally in a drastic way. According to the United Nations World
Health Organization (WHO: 1996), more than starvation the real challenge
today is malnutrition-the deficiency of micronutrients (vitamins, minerals and
essential amino acids) that no longer allows the body to ensure growth and
maintain its vital functions.
Malnutrition severely diminishes the human capital of a country and its multifarious impacts hinder the universal achievement of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. Developing countries are especially vulnerable to this easily avoidable catastrophe. Spirulina offers remarkable health benefits to an undernourished person. It is rich in beta carotene that can overcome eye problems caused by Vitamin A deficiency. The protein and B-vitamin complex makes a major nutritional improvement in an infant's diet. It is the only food source, except for mother's milk, containing substantial amounts of an essential fatty acid GLA that helps regulate the entire hormone system. One tablespoon a day can eliminate iron anemia, the most common mineral deficiency. Spirulina is the most digestible protein food, especially important for malnourished people whose intestines can no longer absorb nutrients effectively. Clinical studies have shown it helps rebuild healthy intestinal flora. These health benefits have made it an excellent food for rapid recovery of children from malnutrition related diseases in Mexico , Togo , Romania , China , Rwanda , Zaire , India , Ukraine , and Belarus . Spirulina is being produced in more than 22 countries and used in over 77 countries.
The United Nations World
Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed that Spirulina represents an
interesting food for multiple reasons, and it is able to be administered to
children without any risk. Other proposed uses of Spirulina are for cancer
prevention, fibromyalgia, hay fever, herpes infection, high cholesterol,
hives, HIV infection, liver protection, weight loss.
Advantages of Spirulina
“For WHO, Spirulina
represents an interesting food for multiple reasons, rich in iron and
protein, and is able to be administered to children without any risk. We at
WHO consider it a very suitable food”
-
United Nations World Health Organization (WHO), Geneva , Switzerland
June 8 th , 1993
Composition of Spirulina
* includes cystine
Table from Busson, F., Spirulina Platensis (Gom) Geitler et. Spirulina geitleri, J.Dr Toni, Cynophycées Alimentaires, Armée Française, Service de Santé, Parc de Pharo, Marseill,1971.
Carbohydrates,
Lipids, and Vitamins; Source- SOSA TEXCOCO, Mexico
Belarus
Spirulina,
a natural food supplement, reduced urine radioactivity levels by 50% in only
20 days. This result was achieved after giving 5 grams a day to children at
the Institute
of Radiation Medicine in
Minsk, Belarus. The Institute has
developed a program to treat 100 children every 20 days. This 1993 report
confirms 1990-91 research on the beneficial health effects of spirulina on
children with radiation sickness. It concludes: "Use of spirulina decreases
radioaction dose load received from food contaminated with radionuclides,
Cesium-137 and Strontium-90. Spirulina is favorable for normalizing the
adaptative potential of children's bodies in conditions of long-lived low
dose radiation."
Main
purpose of the study is researching the influence of spirulina platensis on
the immune system on normalization of peroxide lipid oxidation and
anti-oxidant activity, also on the content of long-life radionucleides. In
the studies were involved children and teenagers residing in the areas with
radiant pollution and people injured by the Chernobyl catastrophe. To achieve desirable
results with spirulina it is recommended to take it during 3 months and if
not continued, this course should be repeated in half a year again. Possible
therapeutic mechanisms: a) The natural combination of nutrients supports the
formation of non-absorbable complexes of radionucleides through analogues
such as calcium, potassium, etc., and promotes their excretion. b) the
general intake of easily digestible micro and macro elements of spirulina has
a positive influence on many functions of the immune system.
China
In Nanjing Childrens Hospital,
27 children, 2-6 years old, recovered in a short period from bad appetite,
night sweats, diarrhea and constipation from a baby nourishing formula
containing 1.5g spirulina, 12g baked barley sprout, Vitaimn B1 and Zinc. The
clinical effects showed spirulina is a genuine health food for children.
Spirulina with a high zinc
content may be twice as effective as a zinc supplement in curing zinc
deficiency in children. The effective dose of zinc from spirulina was 2 to 4
times less than the zinc from a common supplement, zinc sulfate. More than
two times the children were cured with high zinc spirulina. One hundred
children were diagnosed as suffering from zinc deficiency. For a three month
period, 50 children were given zinc sulfate and 50 were given spirulina
tablets. Doctors concluded spirulina's effect was much better than zinc
sulfate. Spirulina had no side effects and was easy to administer for long
periods of time. They theorized that high zinc spirulina had many bioactive
and nutritious substances which improved mineral absorption, general health
and the immune system.
Democratic Republic of Congo
Germany
India
The blue-green microalgae
spirulina, used in daily diets of natives in Africa
and America,
has been found to be a rich natural source of proteins, carotenoids and other
micronutrients. Experimental studies in animal models have demonstrated an
inhibitory effect of spirulina algae on oral carcinogenesis. Studies among
preschool children in India
have demonstrated spirulina fusiformis to be a effective source of dietary
vitamin A. We evaluated the chemoproventative activity of spirulina (1 g/day
for 12 months) in reversing oral leukoplakia in pan tobacco chewers in Kerala, India.
Complete regression of lesions was observed in 20 of 44 (45%) evaluable
subjects supplemented with spirulina, as opposed to 3 of 43 (7%) in the
placebo arm. When stratified by type of leukoplakia, the response was more
pronounced in homogeneous lesions: complete regression was seen in 16 of 28
(57%) subjects with homogeneous leukoplakia, 2 of 8 with erythroplakia, 2 of
4 with verrucous leukoplakia, and 0 of 4 with ulcerated and nodular lesions.
Within one year of discontinuing supplements, 9 of 20 (45%) complete
responders with spirulina developed recurrent lesions. Supplementation with
spirulina did not increase serum concentrations of retinal or beta carotene,
nor was it associated with toxicity. This is the first human study evaluating
the chemopreventive potential of spirulina. More studies in different
settings and different populations are needed for further evaluations.
The bioavailability of total
carotenes and beta carotene from spirulina was examined in apparently healthy
preschool children and found to be comparable to those values reported for
other plant sources like leafy vegetables and carrots. The study also showed
spirulina is a good source of Vitamin A, as there was a significant increase
in serum retinol levels. Researchers concluded spirulina can be used as a
source of Vitamin A in the diet, is relatively inexpensive, has higher beta
carotene than any other plant source and can be cultivated throughout the
year.
A one
year feeding program with 5,000 pre-school children showed a symptom of
Vitamin A deficiency, "Bitot's spot", decreased from 80% to 10%.
These rural children near Madras
consumed 1 gram of spirulina a day for at least 150 days. This small amount
provided the daily requirement of beta carotene (Vitamin A) which can help
prevent blindness and eye diseases. In another study with 400 school
children, a daily dose of beta carotene from spirulina increased their
Vitamin A status to the same level as those administered pure Vitamin A.
Spirulina was given to children in a unique way: extruded noodles, sweetened
with sugar to preserve the beta carotene. Called "Spiru-Om", it was
well accepted by the children. This project was sponsored by the Indian
Government.
Japan
Eight women had been limiting
their meals to stay thin and were showing hypochronic anemia - lower than
normal blood hemoglobin content. They took four grams of spirulina after each
meal. After 30 days blood hemoglobin content increased 21% from 10.9 to 13.2,
a satisfactory level, no longer considered anemic.
Thirty healthy men with high cholesterol, mild hypertension
and hyperlipidemia showed lower serum cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL
(undesirable fat) levels after eating spirulina for eight weeks. These men
did not change their diet, except adding spirulina. No adverse effects were
noted. Group A consumed 4.2 grams daily for eight weeks. Total serum
cholesterol dropped a significant 4.5% within 4 weeks from 244 to 233. Group
B consumed spirulina for four weeks, then stopped. Serum cholesterol levels
decreased, then returned to the initial level. Researchers concluded
spirulina did lower serum cholesterol and was likely to have a favorable
effect on alleviating heart disease since the arterioscelosis index improved.
Macedonia
Extensive training processes
are very often followed by changes in blood composition. There is evidence of
the high correlation between the training rate and intensity of exercise and
the athlete's hipochromy. In athletes we found a characteristic non-anemic
iron deficit. Our goal was to monitor the hematological parameters in
athletes with hipochromy and to examine the period of correction using iron
supplementation. 20 male and 20 female athletes ages 18-22 years took part in
the study. Blood samples were collected and the total number of erythrocytes,
hemoglobin, serum iron and the staining index were calculated. All athletes
received Earthrise Spirulina tablets, containing 1.5 mg Fe2+, 3 times a day
for 2 months. Monitoring was done for 3 months. Significant changes were
found in the female group for hemoglobin level, as well as increase of the
serum iron and staining index. Distinct rise of the serum iron was observed
in both male and female athletes. The clinical symptoms such as exhaustion,
muscle fatigue and somnolence disappeared after the correction of the iron
deficit. Addition of spirulina improves the prevention of non-anemic iron
deficiency in athletes expecially females. Improvement of the iron reserves
is a simple dietary modification that can optimize athletes health and
physical capacity.
Mexico
Clinical
experimentation with spirulina.
by R. Ramos Galvan. 1973 . National Institute of Nutrition, Mexico City, Mexico (in Spanish).
Romania
Spirulina tablets were given
to 21 patients with various nutritional deficiencies. They had suffered
weight loss in conjunction with gastric resection, tubercular infection,
chronic pancreatitis and gastritis, rheumatoid arthrtis, anemia and disbetes
mellitus. With spirulina the patients gained weight and their proteinograms
improved.
Russia
Immunoglobulin E (IgE) of
children living in highly radioactive areas is greatly above normal. Studies
with 270 children show that consuming about 5 grams per day of spirulina
tablets normalized IgE within 6 weeks. Children not consuming spirulina did
not change IgE levels. No side effects were observed. Spirulina lowers the
amount of IgE in the blood, which in turn normalizes and reduces allergies.
Ten Spirulina centers of ten hectares each, can produce over 360 million Spirulina doses annually, comprising 10 grams of Spirulina per dose, to be mixed with cereal(s) flour, that can recuperate and save lives of over six million people a year.
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