Spirulina is in fact excellent both before and after a workout, because as well as giving energy for training it aids recovery by supporting blood oxygenation.
Spirulina and sport: a winning combination
Spirulina Becagli has always stood out as a support for top-level athletes, as shown by its many collaborations with athletes from different sports: from cycling to football, from rugby to triathlon, as well as athletics, volleyball and baseball.
The company also works with many professionals in nutrition and sport, and one of these collaborations produced an interesting case study by Dr Salvatore Ilaria, which we report in full to give a better understanding of the work carried out.
A case history that empirically shows the real benefits of spirulina for athletes engaged in high-intensity physical activity.
Who is Dr Salvatore Ilaria?
Dr Salvatore Ilaria is a doctor specialising in sports medicine and clinical nutrition, with a varied background that includes medical hydroclimatology and spa medicine. He is also an expert in non-conventional treatments such as mindfulness and homeopathic medicine, offering an integrated, multidisciplinary approach to athletes' wellbeing. His experience led him to explore the effects of natural supplements such as spirulina, assessing their effectiveness through in-depth clinical studies.
Gut health and sport: the role of spirulina
Intestinal endotoxicosis, or intestinal bacterial toxicity, is a well-known problem in people who practise very intense sporting activity. Only in the last ten years has it been properly classified and studied, helping to identify specific preventive and therapeutic measures.
Case study design and method
The case study involved five athletes practising extreme physical activity, particularly endurance, who almost constantly suffer from intestinal endotoxicosis with diarrhoea, cramps and dehydration.
The athletes voluntarily followed the prescribed diet, rich in plant protein and fibre, supplemented with phytosterols and specific hydration (1 litre a day on an empty stomach after and during races), in order to prevent possible deficiencies and to assess the impact of this diet, supplementation and hydration on the condition in question.
All were given Spirulina Becagli (one sachet of Spiruday powder after physical activity and three Spirucap capsules before physical activity), to assess its impact on symptoms and overall performance.
End point: aim of the study
The main aims of the study were to assess the reduction of the main symptoms (such as diarrhoea, cramps, tiredness and fever) and to improve tissue oxygenation, mood and physical performance.
In addition, the effect of spirulina on reducing hunger and on weight balance was observed.
Results of adding spirulina to an athlete's diet
After 30 days of supplementation, four of the five athletes showed a significant improvement in gastrointestinal symptoms and fatigue, with fever and nausea disappearing. In one case, symptoms remained unchanged, except for fever, which also improved.
All participants reported greater resistance to stress, less perceived fatigue and an overall improvement in physical performance. Tissue oxygenation increased from day 15 after starting to take spirulina, which also had a positive effect on hunger and body weight management.
Analysis of the benefits observed
The positive results can be attributed both to the fibre-rich diet, which helped reduce the symptoms of metabolic acidosis, and to the specific effect of spirulina. Spirulina provided protein, amino acids, antioxidants, vitamins and essential minerals, supporting the immune system and reducing intestinal inflammation. Spirulina Becagli also proved effective in increasing interleukin-10, a protein that modulates pro-inflammatory cytokines, thus improving the athletes' gut wellbeing.
Conclusion: a superfood for athletic performance
This case study confirms that supplementing with Spirulina Becagli, an Italian organic product dried at low temperatures, is a real and valuable resource for anyone who practises high-intensity sport. Not only does it improve blood oxygenation and post-workout recovery, it also helps maintain energy balance and reduce gastrointestinal symptoms.
Spirulina is not just a supplement: for athletes, it is an essential ally.
