By now a lot of people have heard how spirulina benefits the body, but just what the heck is it?
Spirulina is actually a single celled organism from the cyanobacterium family, which is really just a fancy way of saying algae, (which is just fancy way of saying green pond scum). Don’t let his small size fool you though, spirulina has a higher nutrient concentration then almost any other natural food!
Cyanobacterium are also known as ‘blue green algae’ and they grow all over the world, thriving in warm climates with lots of sun. Although blue green algae often lives in the ocean, spirulina is naturally found in lakes. These lakes are very high alkaline, meaning they are very salty, and usually do not support other life forms. The saline water in which it grows is what gives this supplement it’s salty taste!
The deep green color, not to mention the health benefits of spirulina, come from the high chlorophyll concentration in the cells. Chlorophyll is a product of photosynthesis, otherwise known as converting sunlight into energy, and is considered to be like the blood of plants. This green pigment is a fantastic cleansing agent and has countless benefits for our body including cleansing our blood of toxins, keeping our brains sharp and providing great energy and endurance! Spirulina is known to have the highest concentration of any food on the planet! WOW!
This little guy is one of the oldest forms of life on earth! Dating back 3 1/2 billion years is a pretty big accomplishment! In fact, spirulina has been used as a food source for centuries as well! The ancient Aztecs and colonies who lived around Lake Chad in Africa would harvest the algae and dry it into cakes to eat.
The name ‘Spirulina’ is derived from the Latin word for ‘spiral’, as the cells link together to form microscopic spiralling strands.
Although this chlorophyll dense plant grows in the wild, most commercially available spirulina is grown in a controlled environment to ensure that pollutants do not contaminate the product. Countries like America, Mexico, Thailand and Burma (to name a few) have adopted the cultivation of spirulina in their industries.
When spirulina is harvested it is laid to dry before being crushed into flakes or powder. Flakes can be easily added to salads or sauces, while the powder can be mixed with water or in shakes. Alternatively the powder is pressed into tablets or encapsulated for easy consumption!
Start with taking just a half teaspoon a day, it is a great way to see how spirulina benefits you!
Warren is a regular guy with a passion for staying fit and naturally healthy! He discovered how spirulina benefits your life and you can too by following the links below!
