The frenetic lifestyle that we increasingly tend to follow leads us to search for important allies who help us face everyday life with greater energy. Exhaustion, stress and commitments require a great expenditure of energy, for this reason we can rely on specific foods capable of providing our body with all the substances it extremely needs to stay strong and...
The frenetic lifestyle that we increasingly tend to follow leads us to search for important allies who help us face everyday life with greater energy.
Exhaustion, stress and commitments require a great expenditure of energy, for this reason we can rely on specific foods capable of providing our body with all the substances it extremely needs to stay strong and healthy.
One of the most appreciated foods in this sense is spirulina algae which is often used in diets also to give the body a sense of satiety; thanks to the concentration of proteins of plant origin, in fact, it is possible to take this powerful food to assist diets aimed at weight loss.
This unicellular organism, which we call spirulina algae, although it is not a real algae, proliferates above all in fresh, warm and alkaline water lakes and is present in around 1500 different species, although the best known are Spirulina Platensis, for use food and used by Severino Becagli, and Spirulina Maxima.
Not everyone knows that the Aztecs and other populations of Central America had been eating it since ancient times; while today this algae is used as a food supplement thanks to its many nutritional and therapeutic properties, in the form of powder, flakes, capsules or tablets.
What is spirulina algae
When we talk about spirulina, as already mentioned, we are not actually referring to a real algae, as the name would suggest, but to a cyanobacterium capable of developing in specific environments, where many other species have not been able to to do it. We are referring above all to fresh waters, for example those of the lakes of Central America or Central Africa.
The main characteristic of spirulina algae, which owes its color to the presence of chlorophyll, is the ability to generate bioactive compounds such as starch, enzymes, fatty acids, polysaccharides, polymers, antioxidants, carotenoids, proteins, sterols and peptides.
The quantity of noble vegetable proteins present in this organism is very high: to get an idea, we can compare its 70% with the 13% of legumes, or with the 20% present in fish and meat.
This plant-based protein concentrate is able to effectively replace animal-based proteins.
By noble proteins we mean those in which all 8 essential amino acids are found which are not present in our body and therefore we must necessarily consume them. But it doesn't end there, because spirulina algae guarantees the assimilation of all 21 amino acids present in nature.
What are the origins of spirulina algae
The first signs of the existence of this alga date back to around 3.5 million years ago, in the freshwater lakes of Texococo and Chad, which shared warm waters and their strong alkaline composition. The climatic conditions of these waters and the surrounding environment had proven suitable to welcome and allow the development of this algae, but not of other species.
The main testimonies have reached us, they did so mainly through the Hispanic colonizers of Cortes, who stated that the Aztecs considered it a qualitatively excellent nutrient, ideal for integrating their normal diet. They also pass down to us news regarding a typical Aztec dish, called Tecuitlati, very popular on the market of the time, in which the seaweed was cooked and eaten in the form of a pie made with thin filaments.
In Chad, spirulina algae was harvested and consumed as a sort of modern-day street food.
Furthermore, again through the writings that have come down to us, we became aware of the custom of the local inhabitants to dry the seaweed and use it to counteract symptoms such as exhaustion and to treat inflammation, in this case by applying it to the affected area .
Although it is a food already known in ancient times, it is as if today man was truly discovering it for the first time, simply due to the fact that it has long been underestimated.
Spirulina algae became a market object in France around the 1960s, after being extracted from South American lakes which today, not surprisingly, are completely dried up. Due to this and the ever-increasing demand, the product is currently specially grown in enormous quantities in special greenhouses.
Although the recommended daily dose of dried spirulina is 3 grams, even just one gram of spirulina taken daily is able to sufficiently support the body. FAO itself has arranged for the algae to be included in many projects and studies, finalizing its use to combat world hunger, especially in Africa, where nutritional deficiencies afflict everyone, especially newborns.
What is the purpose of taking spirulina algae?
As we have mentioned, spirulina algae is characterized by the microenvironment in which it comes to life, which guarantees a very high percentage of proteins of non-animal origin, present in a percentage between 55% and 70% of its total weight, lipids and amino acids essential. It also provides minerals such as magnesium, iron, manganese and copper and vitamins such as tocopherol, provitamin A, many B vitamins.
Specific scientific studies have been carried out in which spirulina algae has been used to counteract arsenic poisoning, allergic rhinitis, arthritis, hypertension, hyperlipoproteinemia, to improve exercise tolerance and even as an aesthetic treatment. The result of this research is still in the preliminary phase and in fact, the National Institutes of Health states that it is still early to recommend this algae as a suitable supplement for all these human conditions. However, although more research is needed, the studies are hopeful.
What are the real benefits of spirulina algae?
In addition to the interesting series of studies still underway and aimed at ascertaining the real effectiveness of spirulina algae, especially with regard to certain pathologies, it is however possible to list the benefits currently recognized when taking this particular unicellular organism.
Spirulina algae is therefore beneficial due to:
- exhibit a powerful antioxidant action conferred by vitamins, phycobilins and further pigments such as chlorophyll. The antioxidants contained in it preserve the functionality of memory and promote concentration; they hinder the formation of free radicals and protect our body from the potential damage that can cause diseases such as, for example, neurodegenerative diseases, dementia and Alzheimer's, premature aging, some tumors and atherosclerosis;
- boast a detoxifying and purifying action, especially valid during slimming diets. The detoxifying action is also useful for skin health, especially for those who suffer from blackheads and acne;
- help in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases thanks to the Omega 6 and gamma linoleic acid contained in it. It is able to optimize the levels of blood triglycerides and bad cholesterol, clean the arteries from accumulations of fat, toxins and waste, regulate blood pressure and take part in the generation of the myelin sheaths that cover our nerves;
- strengthen our body's immune system, helping it to increase its defenses, especially in the autumn and winter seasons, when it helps us prevent the typical ailments of the period, such as coughs, colds, fever and redness;
- make hair and nails stronger and more resistant;
- counteract the maculopathy that comes with the passing of the years;
- protect the bones;
- increase fat oxidation;
- ensure support for the general health of athletes who undergo intense training sessions. By integrating it into their diet, athletes gain a notable energy supply thanks to the presence of antioxidants and mineral salts contained in it;
- give a sense of greater satiety thanks to phenylalanine, in order to make weight loss easier and less costly;
- provide support to pregnant or breastfeeding women, thanks to the presence of folic acid and mineral salts;
- protect the body from damage that can potentially be caused by oxidative stress and exposure to ultraviolet rays;
- ensure our body has an effective energy reservoir, thanks to the presence of vitamin A, B and E, and important minerals such as calcium, potassium, iron and magnesium. Thanks to its regular intake, it will be like ingesting a real fuel that increases your energy charge and helps you face everyday life;
- increase iron reserves, therefore it is recommended for all those who suffer from anemia, as it releases folin which can be easily assimilated by the blood. Spirulina algae, in fact, is also an excellent ally for women facing the menstrual period;
- have an alkalizing power and in fact, by inserting it into foods, it is capable of rebalancing the general well-being of the organism;
- make the menstrual cycle less painful, as it reduces spasms and if taken regularly, rebalances it.
How is it possible to take spirulina as food?
We can take spirulina algae as a simple food supplement in capsules , but also as an ingredient in the kitchen, in the form of a powder to enrich foods.
For example, it is possible to prepare a centrifuge and insert the spirulina algae together with lemon, carrot and ginger, or add it to the dough of homemade bread or fresh pasta, using wholemeal flours with low gluten content. Finally, we can integrate it with sea salt and sesame, to flavor first and second courses, but also vegetable side dishes, salads, veloutés and soups.
Conclusions
Spirulina algae therefore proves to be a revolutionary food for our time, although, as we have already had the opportunity to clarify, it is a substance already known for several million years and used in ancient times precisely for its energetic qualities.
The regular intake of this revolutionary algae is a natural solution in many other situations in which a decisive nutritional contribution is required, capable of optimizing and rebalancing the general health of the organism, intervening when necessary.