LIVE WELLSuper spirulinaWe’ve always been told to get plenty of greens – but we
didn’t think algae would be one of them...
I
f you’re a frequent health store
visitor, you can’t have escaped
the lure of spirulina. This deep
green-blue powdered algae is
quite a striking superfood – and there’s
no disputing its nutritional status. As one
of the oldest life forms on earth, spirulina
consists of single-celled organisms that
produce protein, carbs and vitamins as
algae. This substance makes up one of the
most nutrient-dense foods on the planet,
packed with beta carotene, iron and amino
acids. Plus, spirulina is low in fat and
sodium, and is easy to digest compared
to other single-celled algae. Win-win!
We spoke to leading London nutritionist,
Lily Soutter (lilysoutternutrition.com),
to give us more info on the health beneits
behind this superfood: “Spirulina has been
named ‘the food of the future’ – and for good
reason. It’s extremely nutritionally dense,
and is a good source of protein containing
all essential amino acids, plus B vitamins,
antioxidants and iron. However, it’s also
important to remember that in reality,we’re unlikely to be consuming large
amounts – so a bit of spirulina powder
here and there is likely to only have
a small impact on our daily nutrient
requirements. Away from the western
part of the world, spirulina is being touted
as a possible tool in the ight against food
insecurity and malnutrition, due to its
nutrient-dense nature.”
Aside from its nutritional composition,
spirulina is also being researched for
its efects on cholesterol levels and the
immune system, as Lily explains:
“Whilst there are some positive studies
on spirulina’s cholesterol-lowering
efects, it’s important to note that
higher-quality studies are required before
any deinitive conclusions can be made.
There are also promising studies on
spirulina when it comes to allergic
rhinitis and blood glucose control in
diabetics – but again, there needs to
be larger, better-quality trials to
conirm these beneits.”What’s good for us on the inside often
equates to what is beneicial for our skin;
and spirulina is no exception. Antioxidants
such as vitamin E contained within the
algae help to eliminate free radicals, while
the chlorophyll, which gives spirulina its
beautiful, rich colour has cleansing
properties which can also help your skin to
retain moisture. Beauty products featuring
spirulina have now started popping up:
deputy editor, Sian currently uses a
lightweight serum containing spirulina- so far, it’s hard to tell if it’s having an efect.
Of course, consuming spirulina will
naturally give your skin a boost, owing to
the vitamins and minerals inherent to a
healthy, functioning body. So, if you haven’t
started taking capsules or adding a scoop
of the super stuf to your smoothies; now
is the time!
“Spirulina makes up one of
the most nutrient-dense
foods on the planet, packed
with beta carotene, iron
and amino acids. Plus, it’s
low in fat and sodium”