The Color of Weight Loss
Blue-green spirulina provides protein and a lot of other nutrients.

By Kelly Maguire

   Nowadays, a lot of folks are eating healthier. As empty processed diets are slowly but surely being restored to more wholesome foods, a more conscious society is emerging. More than ever it is important to understand how natural foods can help us lose weight and create a better life.
   A miniscule spiral-coiled organism, spirulina is one of the oldest living things on earth. This blue-green algae, a nutritional powerhouse, supplies a wealth of far-reaching benefits. It has been nourishing people for centuries, and is an increasingly popular option among dieters and health seekers.

Natural Weight Management
   Thriving in hot climates, spirulina occurs in ponds and lakes, and produces 20 times more protein than soybeans growing on an equal-sized area of land. In fact, at 60% to 70%, it has the richest known protein content. This easy-to-digest vegetable protein allows dieters to meet their needs for this vital nutrient while staving off cravings for meat, along with a lot of unwanted fat and cholesterol. Spirulina’s concentrated protein can encourage natural body weight by eliminating the highs and lows in blood sugar that come with a high-carbohydrate diet. This stabilizing effect on blood sugar also helps people with hypoglycemia.
   Long before the earliest written records, spirulina was used for food by African villagers. The Aztecs are recorded to have consumed spirulina in what is now Mexico over five centuries ago. In India, small amounts of spirulina helped improve general well-being, enabling vegetarian villagers to maintain a healthy weight without eating meat.
   Among severely malnourished children, spirulina was rated a better food than most other protein sources by researchers at Toronto’s McGill University. And if you aren’t consuming the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables, just one spirulina serving gives you ten times more beta carotene than carrots.

Cholesterol Down, Immunity Up
   Spirulina has reduced cholesterol levels. At McGill it was given to 30 men with mild hypertension. Total cholesterol levels dropped significantly; when the spirulina was stopped, levels returned to baseline. This algae contains gamma-linolenic acid (GLA)—the same nutrient found in mother’s milk. Taken in large quantities, GLA has been shown to contribute to the prevention of cardiovascular disease.
   Scientists at the UC Davis School of Medicine found that spirulina increases production of cytokines, the front line of defense against viruses and cancer cells. “Cytokines are good because they stimulate cells that target cells that target certain pathogens,” says Judy Van de Water, an associate professor of rheumatology, allergy and clinical immunology. “The more of these cells you have, the more attack forces you have,” she says. “It’s like building up your army” (Journal of Medicinal Foods Spring 05).
   The chlorophyll in spirulina makes it a natural cleanser, while its high protein content acts as a natural appetite suppressant—also useful for people who are trying to lose weight or who are fasting. And because spirulina is so rich in vitamin B12, iron and magnesium (along with trace minerals), it is a boon for men, women, children and vegetarians, all of whom are prone to deficiencies of these nutrients.
   Today’s spirulina, grown using modern methods, is available in tablets, capsules and powders. Whether you’re trying to manage weight or just boost your health overall, put spirulina to work for you.

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