What are the health benefits of spirulina,and are there different types?!


Question: What are the health benefits of spirulina,and are there different types!?
I heard that spirulina can be grown in the ocean!? And what exactly is it!?Www@Answer-Health@Com


Answers:
Spirulina is believed by anthropologists and biologists to be the oldest living plant on the planet!. This "old faithful" has provided complete nutrition, unmatched in value, for over 3!.5 million years!.
Spirulina is a powerful defense against oxidant stress!. It can cleanse and detox our bodies from causes of stress!. This remarkable food contains one of the most powerful combinations of protective nutrients of any food!. Spirulina is rich in antioxidants, boosts energy and cellular health, more than 60% easy-to-digest all-vegetable protine!.
Rare food source of the essential fatty acid GLA
High in B-12 and easy-to-absorb iron!. that's how powerful spirulina is!.!.!
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Spirulina is the common name for human and animal food supplements produced primarily from two species of cyanobacteria (also known as blue-green algae): Arthrospira platensis, and Arthrospira maxima!. These and other Arthrospira species were once classified in the genus Spirulina!. There is now agreement that they are distinct genera, and that the food species belong to Arthrospira; nonetheless, the older term Spirulina remains the popular name!. Spirulina is cultivated around the world, and is used as a human dietary supplement as well as a whole food and is available in tablet, flake, and powder form!. It is also used as a feed supplement in the aquaculture, aquarium, and poultry industries!.

Protein

Spirulina contains an unusually high amount of protein, between 55% and 77% by dry weight, depending upon the source!. It is a complete protein,[citation needed] containing all essential amino acids, though with reduced amounts of methionine, cysteine, and lysine when compared to the proteins of meat, eggs, and milk!. It is, however, superior to typical plant protein, such as that from legumes!.

Spirulina is rich in gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), and also provides alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), linoleic acid (LA), stearidonic acid (SDA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and arachidonic acid (AA)!.

Vitamins

Spirulina contains vitamin B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (nicotinamide), B6 (pyridoxine), B9 (folic acid), vitamin C, vitamin D, and vitamin E!. The bioavailability of vitamin B12 in Spirulina is in dispute!. Several biological assays have been used to test for the presence of vitamin B12!. The most popular is the US Pharmacopeia method using the Lactobacillus leichmannii assay!. Studies using this method have shown Spirulina to be a minimal source of bioavailable vitamin B12!. However, this assay does not differentiate between true B12 (cobalamin) and similar compounds (corrinoids) that cannot be used in human metabolism!. Cyanotech, a grower of spirulina, claims to have done a more recent assay, which has shown Spirulina to be a significant source of cobalamin!. However the assay is not published for scientific review and so the existence of this assay is in doubt!. The American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada in their position paper on vegetarian diets state that spirulina can not be counted on as a reliable source of active vitamin B12!.

Tests done on Australian grown spirulina by the Australian Government Analytical Laboratory (AGAL) show Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) levels of 659!.1ug / per100g[citation needed]!. A one gram tablet could provide more than three times the recommended daily intake of B12!.

Minerals

Spirulina is a rich source of potassium, and also contains calcium, chromium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, selenium, sodium, and zinc!.

Photosynthetic pigments

Spirulina contains many pigments including chlorophyll-a, xanthophyll, beta-carotene, echinenone, myxoxanthophyll, zeaxanthin, canthaxanthin, diatoxanthin, 3'-hydroxyechinenone, beta-cryptoxanthin, oscillaxanthin, plus the phycobiliproteins c-phycocyanin and allophycocyanin!.



Despite existing research supporting Spirulina's health and healing properties, detractors claim that these are frequently overstated by Spirulina advocates!. Conversely, Spirulina advocates have accused health food detractors of dismissing all such claims without acknowledging this research!. Two online publications exemplify these opposing positions, respectively: Wellness Letter on Blue Green Algae, and Superfoods For Optimum Health: Chlorella and Spirulina!. Many positive claims are based on research done on individual nutrients that Spirulina contains, such as GLA, various antioxidants, etc!., rather than on direct research using Spirulina!. What follows is research on the health and healing effects of Spirulina!. In vitro research (e!.g!., studying cells in a petri dish) may suggest the possibility of similar results in humans but, due to the drastically different conditions of the research, provides only hints at the potential for human effects!. Animal research can also provide evidence of potential human effects!. Human research focuses on actual effects in humans - however, the validity and reliability of the research depends on the design of the study!. The strongest evidence comes from well designed and controlled clinical trials, which are one type of human research study!. Also available on the market is Blue Green Algae (Aphanizomenon Flos-Aquae), or Cyanobacteria, which is usually referred to as the preferred choice when compared with Spirulina due to potential health issues!.Www@Answer-Health@Com





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