Spirulina: The Complete Plant Based Protein Source | Health Benefits

18 May 2021

Spirulina is one of the oldest life forms on earth known for the longest as an endurance booster.

It is in fact among the most popular health supplements in today’s time considering it is one of the first plant-based foods in the human diet. Surprising right?

But what actually makes this ingredient a star among the ‘complete protein’ plant-based food sources? And does it even stand up to the fame it receives?

Well, here’s our effort to give you evidence around spirulina’s health benefits and the status it holds.

Spirulina: The Nutrient-Dense Food

Spirulina happens to be a superfood high in many nutrients.

Let’s have a look at its origin?

A type of cyanobacteria, originally from the family of single-celled microbes known as the blue-green algae. This is an organism that grows both in fresh and saltwater

What makes it plant-based is its ability to produce energy from sunlight through photosynthesis.

Lesser-Known Fact:

Spirulina gained massive popularity when NASA used it as a dietary supplement for astronauts on space missions. Really cool right?

It has to be its ability to regulate immune functions and its anti-inflammatory properties which take place by the release of histamine by mast cells.

What about the ideal dosage?

One can opt for a standard dose of 1-3g of this green superfood but this can go up to 10g per day. Here’s a look at the nutrient profile of 10g of dried spirulina powder:

Protein: 5.7 g

Vitamin B1 (thiamine): 22% of the RDA

Vitamin B2 (riboflavin): 33% of the RDA

Vitamin B3 (niacin): 9% of the RDA

Copper: 68% of the RDA

Iron: 15-16% of the RDA

Calories: 29

Carbs: 2.0g

Moreover, this superfood actually includes almost some amount of every other nutrient that you need along with an optimal amount of magnesium, potassium, and manganese.

Here’s a suggestion! If you are looking to skip eggs, spirulina could be a great replacement for a comparable amount of protein considering it also has all essential amino acids required by the body.

Spirulina: The Powerful Antioxidant With Anti-Inflammatory Properties

As we mentioned earlier, it is because of the anti-inflammatory properties that even NASA considered it as a superfood for astronauts.

Here’s what you need to know!

Chronic inflammation happens as oxidative damage harms our DNA and cells, resulting in diseases sometimes as lethal as cancer.

The presence of antioxidants in spirulina help protect against this oxidative damage.

Interesting fact:

The antioxidant substance ‘phycocyanin’ happens to be the main component and gives spirulina the unique blue-green color.

Health Impact Of Spirulina:

A lot of people are using this superfood that can improve heart health further reducing risks of heart diseases.

For those of you who aren’t aware of its powerful health benefits, studies on spirulina have shown that it lowers “bad” LDL cholesterol and Triglyceride Levels. It also increases “good” HDL cholesterol impacting heart health in a positive way.

Let us provide scientific evidence to build your trust-

Although most studies have shown favorable results mainly with a dosage of 4.5-8g per day yet,

A study was conducted on 25 people who were suffering from type 2 diabetes. It was later discovered that only 2g of spirulina per day, significantly showed a reduction in the blood sugar levels.

There was another study on people with high cholesterol which determined that 1 g of spirulina per day resulted in lowered triglycerides by 16.3%. Furthermore, there was a reduction in the “bad” LDL by 10.1%.

In addition, research has shown that spirulina may have anti-cancer properties and is especially effective against a type of precancerous lesion of the mouth called OSMF.

Spirulina May Improve Muscle Strength & Endurance:

Often experience muscle fatigue when exercising? The reason is exercise-induced oxidative damage.

People into fitness and athletics consume plant-based foods with antioxidants to minimize this damage.

Few studies emerged showing spirulina as food for significantly reducing the fatigue time and improving muscle strength and endurance.

Can Spirulina Reduce Blood Pressure?

Heart attack, strokes, and chronic kidney disease are some of the serious diseases driven by high blood pressure. An optimal amount of spirulina for e.g. 4.5g-8g per day has shown to reduce blood pressure in individuals with normal levels.

What might be the possible reason behind this reduction in blood pressure?

Spirulina leads to an increase in the production of nitric oxide (that is otherwise massively produced by plant-based sources like beetroot which are rich in nitrates that convert to nitric oxide) leading to a lowered blood pressure.

Nitric oxide is a signaling molecule that aids blood vessels to relax and dilate, positively affecting blood levels.

The Final Verdict:

Spirulina’s title as a superfood that is ‘nutrient-dense stands true along with the crazy health benefits it has to offer.

As mentioned above, spirulina suppresses oxidation while reducing blood pressure and lowering blood sugar. It also improves blood lipids and may have anti-cancer properties.

One can simply consume spirulina in tablets and powder form. There are supplements widely available and used for their amazing health benefits.

If you want the goodness of spirulina along with other green vitamins then you can check out bGreen’s super greens and fruits that help you bridge the daily gap in your nutrition.

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6 Eye Mistakes That Can Make Your Vision Worse

You're staring at a computer screen all day, and you think you're taking good care of your eyes. Your eyes feel fine, after all. And when it comes to proper eye care, you get regular checkups from NewVision Clinics - Eye Specialist in Melbourne and take the right steps to keep your vision in top shape. If you're not careful, however, you could be making a few eye mistakes that might be hurting your vision. How To Identify The Eye Problems? If your eyes are dry and irritated, there's a good chance you're overdoing it with eye drops. That's because many of these drops contain chemicals that get your eyes producing more tears than normal — but only for a short period of time. But once the effect wears off, your body compensates by producing even fewer tears than before. You can become dependent on eyedrops just to see clearly for a few minutes at a time. This is why using artificial tears for more than two or three days in a row is generally not recommended. Instead, use preservative-free eye drops sparingly (usually no more than four times per day). Our eyes are the only pair we've got, and many of us don't take proper care of them. Whether it's sleeping in our makeup or not wearing sunglasses on a sunny day, there are many ways we can hurt our eyes on a daily basis. Here are three eye mistakes that could be making your vision worse — and what to do about them. 6 Common Eye Mistakes Which Makes Your Vision Worse You are making many eye mistakes throughout life, from wrong power eyeglass wearing to applying bad eye drops. But apart from these, many more common mistakes hamper your eye's vision. Here are six mistakes that have an adverse effect on your eyesight. 1. You're Skipping The Sunglasses When you're walking around in bright conditions, like snow or bright sky during the summer, it's important to wear sunglasses. Not only is this a good idea for your general health-protecting your eyes from UV rays — but it can also help keep you from blinking. Going out without proper protective sunglasses is one of the common eye mistakes. But it can happen at any time. So it is better to take the tap and remember to wear sunglasses. Constant squinting can lead to the development of crow's feet, which are fine lines around the eyes that can make you look older than you really are. If that isn't enough reason to wear them, consider this: According to a study published in JAMA Ophthalmology, long-term exposure to UV radiation has been linked with cataracts in middle-aged adults. And if you're worried about how they look on you, check out these five tips to find the perfect pair of sunglasses for your face shape. 2. Not Eating Right A healthy diet is good for your whole body, including your eyes. "There are certain nutrients — carotenoids, vitamins C and E and omega-3 fatty acids — that have beneficial effects on our eyes," Dr. Ritterband says. Improper diet maintenance is solid eye mistakes. You probably do not know the right nutrition, which is keeping your eyes healthy. But the fish and green vegetables have the right vitamin A and D sources, which are eye boosters. 3. Not Wearing Sunglasses Outside It’s easy to think that sunglasses are just another fashion accessory, but they’re really an essential tool for protecting your eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet radiation (UVR). Exposure to UV light can cause cataracts and age-related macular degeneration, two of the leading causes of blindness in older adults. UVR also can damage the skin around the eyes, which can increase your risk of developing basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, two common types of skin cancer. 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Read Also: 3 Top Tips to Keep Your Eyes Healthy How To Care For Your Eye In 5 Medically Proven Ways How To Buy Glasses With Vision Direct Contacts vs Glasses: Which of These Two Eyesight Improving Methods

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With the legalization of recreational marijuana in numerous states nationwide, weed weddings have become increasingly popular in recent years. If you and your partner enjoy imbibing marijuana, you may want to include it in your special day. From cannabis-infused cocktails to a designated smoking area, there are many ways to incorporate weed into a wedding celebration. A marijuana-friendly wedding can be a unique and memorable experience for couples and their guests alike. However, it pays to follow a few tips to help ensure the big day goes smoothly. Investigate State Laws To avoid legal troubles, you must investigate state laws around cannabis so you don’t have a dampener put on your event due to police investigation and fines and charges. Find out if recreational marijuana purchase and use is permitted in your location, and remember that some states have only made medical cannabis legal. You can find helpful information on state government websites or marijuana-specific blogs, and the like that break down details state by state. Ensure you read credible, updated data to protect yourself and your guests. If you learn that you won’t legally be able to have cannabis as part of your wedding day in the area where you live, you may want to have a destination wedding somewhere it’s legal instead. Do your research before paying any non-refundable venue or other deposits to avoid losing money. Ask Venues if They Permit Weed Use Speaking of venues, it’s also vital to check with any place you plan to hire for your nuptials or reception if they allow marijuana on the premises. While it may be legal in the state, this doesn’t mean the wedding venue you pick won’t have a problem with it. As you’ll see from your research, business owners can forbid the possession or usage of cannabis on their premises in many states around the country. The sooner you ask about this topic, the better, so you don’t end up with an issue on the big day or before it. Select Weed Types and How You’ll Present It Another tip is to consider the best type of weed you want to make available at your wedding. As a regular user, you know it comes in numerous forms, such as edibles, like gummies, cookies, brownies, etc., or rolled-up joints, bongs, and so on. Some people just like to serve one particular style, while others opt for numerous options. Presentation is key, too. Think about how you want to show that weed is available and whether you want this to be a big feature. For instance, you could set up a dedicated marijuana bar where attendees can come and choose what they’d like to imbibe, or you could create a chill-out zone designated for consuming cannabis and relaxing. Alternatively, include weed into your party favor bags or even go all out and add it to design elements of your wedding, such as on the invitations, in the event décor, the menu, etc. Ensure that Children and Pets Will Stay Safe This may not be relevant to you, but if you plan on having any children or pets present on your big day, it’s vital to ensure they stay safe and don’t accidentally consume any cannabis and get sick. You’ll need to position cannabis somewhere that pets and children can’t see or grab it and have someone supervising them at all times. They could potentially find some on the floor or on a table that guests absentmindedly leave lying around, but if they’re supervised and, hopefully, kept in a separate area once the weed has been brought out, you can rest easier. Consider Putting Weed on Your Registry List Lastly, if you have a restricted budget and want to utilize weed at your wedding or on your honeymoon but are worried about the cost, why not think outside the box? You could add the purchase of cannabis to your registry list and save yourself some money. People could contribute money towards purchasing it for the event or buy it themselves and bring it along. You could provide guests with a list of places where they can buy it, to help them out with this, such as dispensaries for cannabis concentrates in Phoenix or stores selling marijuana gummies in Los Angeles, etc. Hosting a marijuana-friendly wedding can take a little more planning and thinking, but it can be a fun way to add pizazz to your memorable day and help you make the occasion truly authentic for you and your partner. Consider how much you want cannabis to be a part of your wedding and work back from there as you design the special occasion. Read Also: The Most Popular Cannabis Strains And Where They Came From What Are Tarpenes? How Do They Work? – Cannabis Guide How To Make Your Own Cannabis Topicals?

Spirulina: The Complete Plant Based Protein Source | Health Benefits