(NaturalHealth365)  Retirement is supposed to be a time of relaxation and reward, in which people finally have the leisure and the means to pursue their favorite activities.  But for many, the luster of these “golden years” is dimmed by poor health.  The sad fact is that two out of every three Americans over the age of 60 are affected by chronic conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer.  It turns out that spirulina, a single-celled blue-green algae, may potentially help protect against these conditions.

Holistic doctors and researchers increasingly report that wise lifestyle choices (such as getting proper nutrition, appropriate supplementation, sufficient exercise, and restful sleep) can play a major role in preventing these potentially life-threatening ailments.  And ongoing research continues to confirm this.  According to a new review published in the Journal of Dietary Supplements, spirulina can alleviate risk factors for heart disease.  Let’s take a closer look at the outsized benefits of this tiny microbe.

Spirulina supplementation can help prevent cardiometabolic diseases

The review focused on spirulina’s effects on risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases – a group of conditions that encompasses heart failure, heart attacks, strokes, type 2 diabetes, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.  Since obesity, inflammation, abnormal cholesterol profiles, and imbalanced blood sugar can all “set the stage” for cardiometabolic diseases, researchers were eager to see if spirulina supplementation could ease these risk factors.

The short answer to this question is an emphatic “yes.”  Extensive studies cited in the review revealed that spirulina supplementation reduced body weight and waist circumference while lowering levels of inflammatory markers, triglycerides, and harmful LDL cholesterol.  In addition, spirulina caused a beneficial increase in insulin sensitivity, leading to lower levels of both fasting and after-meal blood sugar.  Impressed researchers declared the supplement “effective in reducing multiple risk factors for heart disease” and praised it as a “promising dietary intervention” with “consistent” benefits.

Additional research supports spirulina’s anti-obesity effects

In a 2017 double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial published in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, obese participants who were given a gram of spirulina a day for twelve weeks significantly reduced their body mass and weight.  In a separate study, two grams of spirulina powder a day for 12 weeks also reduced appetite, weight, and waist circumference.

Multiple studies have also shown that spirulina suppresses pro-inflammatory cytokines and boosts important antioxidants such as glutathione and superoxide dismutase, helping ease oxidative stress and inflammation.  Incidentally, spirulina can help prevent fat deposits in the liver, making it a valuable addition to your toolbox of natural nutrients to use against nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

This nutritious algae is packed with antioxidants, essential minerals, vitamins, and high-quality protein

Spirulina’s “secret weapon” in supporting health appears to be a natural plant pigment known as phycocyanin.  This compound – responsible for the algae’s eye-catching blue-green color – suppresses oxidative stress in fat cells, discouraging inflammation and enhancing the body’s sensitivity to insulin.  Phycocyanin also increases cholesterol excretion – and gets a “helping hand” in this task from spirulina’s high levels of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA).  This essential fatty acid has also been shown to regulate cholesterol levels.

However, phycocyanin shouldn’t get all the credit for this algae’s health benefits.  Spirulina contains many heart-protective polyphenols – such as resveratrol and quercetin – also found in apples, grapes, and onions.  Finally, spirulina has an outstanding nutritional pedigree.

In addition to being low in fat and calories (and comprised of 70 percent high-quality protein), spirulina contributes healthy amounts of zinc – necessary for proper immune function – along with magnesium and potassium, both needed to regulate heartbeat and blood pressure.

While spirulina has played an important role in human diets worldwide since antiquity, its reputation as a “superfood” received a 20th-century boost when it was recommended by NASA as a food for astronauts on prolonged space voyages.  By the way, spirulina is also believed to modulate the immune system and boost athletic performance and stamina.  Aficionados claim that yet another of its “superpowers” is the ability to reduce the sneezing, itching, and congestion of hay fever (allergic rhinitis).

Sprinkle on the spirulina powder and optimize your health

Spirulina is available as a supplement in liquid extracts, powders, capsules, and tablets.  Holistic healthcare providers typically recommend amounts from one to eight grams daily, but consult your holistic physician before adding spirulina to your health routine.  Always use a high-quality product from a reputable vendor to avoid contamination with heavy metals and pollutants.

Spirulina powder can be sprinkled over salads, added to soups, dips, baked goods, or mixed into your favorite smoothie or protein shake.

As the new review suggests, spirulina seems custom-designed to support health and well-being.  While the idea of consuming powdered algae may seem initially unappealing, learning about the potential health benefits may help change your reaction from an automatic “Yuck!” to an enthusiastic “Yay!”

Sources for this article include:

Tandfonline.com
NIH.gov
Springer.com
Lifenotlabs.com
Tandfonline.com