Spirulina is nurturing, tonifying and useful for overcoming deficiencies. At the same time it offers cleansing action because of its rich chlorophyll content.

Spirulina’s use by those with weakness and poor assimilation is explained by the fact that its nutrients are easy to digest and absorb. For example, much of its protein is in the form of biliprotein, which has been predigested. The protein digestibility of spirulina is rated at 85% in this study (versus about 20% for beef)

PRIMARY MICRO NUTRIENTS	copper, potassium, iron, vitamin B1, B2
SECONDARY MICRO NUTRIENTS	manganese,vitamin B5
NUTRITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS	significant health benefits include detoxing heavy metals, fighting cancer and lowering blood pressure detoxifies the kidneys and liver; builds and enriches the blood; cleanses the arteries enhances intestinal flora, eliminates candida and inhibits the growth of fungi, bacteria, and yeasts is highly nutritive (nourishes the body) and a decent source of protein offers massive amounts of immune-strengthening nutrients  such as beta-carotene, chlorophyll, fatty acid gamma linolenic acid (GLA) and other nutrients
FUNCTIONAL BENEFITS	Neuro-protection for Brain Disorders & Memory Boosting (1: i & ii) Muscle and Endurance Benefits (2: i, ii, iii) high antioxidant content makes it beneficial in reducing exercise induced oxidation which leads to muscle fatigue and inability to gain muscle a good portion of its carbohydrate is also broken down into rhamnose, and a small but important part is glycogen. These supply enduring energy soon after ingestion Helps Remove Heavy Metals (3) Spirulina can bind with heavy metals in the body and help remove them. It is also extremely high in Chlorophyll, which helps remove toxins from the blood and boost the immune system Reduces Cholesterol – (4) Helps Prevent Cancer – (5), (6) Effective antimicrobial agent, particularly for candida (7) cell wall of spirulina is composed entirely of mucopolysaccharides (MPs) that reinforce the tissues of the heart, guards against heart disease and artery deterioration, and protects the vascular system by lowering blood fat  strengthen body tissues, especially the connective tissues, while making them more elastic and resilient are strongly anti­-inflammatory;  contain only completely digestible nutrients that are most important for those who are very active physically and for older people
PHYTONUTRIENTS	spirulina is richly supplied with the blue pigment phycocyanin, a biliprotein which has been shown to inhibit cancer colony formation to increase mental capacity: phycocyanin helps draw together amino acids for neurotransmitter formation
NOTES	most studies have found a beneficial effect when consuming 1–8 grams per day = one tablespoon of spirulina is about 7 grams start with a lower dosage and slowly work your way up to assess your tolerance large amounts of spirulina may result in digestive issues like nausea, diarrhea, bloating and cramps The special form of protein in spirulina benefits those with problems resulting from: excessive animal protein and refined foods (typically those who are overweight, diabetic, hypoglycemic, cancerous, arthritic, or suffering from similar degenerations). These foods do not assimilate well and further burden the body with waste products severe liver damage resulting from malnutrition, alcoholism, or the consumption of nutrient destroying food or drugs taking strong prescription medication by protecting the kidneys against injury By eating only 1-8 grams daily of protein in this form, the body can be treated effectively by this type of nutrition and animal protein is craved less
DANGERS	Spirulina may cause autoimmune reactions in some who are susceptible to autoimmunity not recommended for pregnant women or children be cautious where you purchase spirulina, as it may be contaminated if not bought from a high-quality source, leading to additional spirulina side effects

seaweed, spirulina, dried				1 Tablespoon = 7.0g
Nutrient	RDA	Unit	per 100 g		%RDA per 7g
Water		g	4.68	0.33
Energy		kcal	290	20
Protein		g	57.47	4.02
Total lipid (fat)		g	7.72	0.54
Carbohydrate, by difference		g	23.9	1.67
Fiber, total dietary		g	3.6	0.3
Sugars, total		g	3.1	0.22
Minerals
Calcium, Ca	1000.0	mg	120	8	0.8%
Iron, Fe	8.0	mg	28.5	2	25.0%
Magnesium, Mg	420.0	mg	195	14	3.3%
Phosphorus, P	700.0	mg	118	8	1.1%
Potassium, K	470.0	mg	1363	95	20.2%
Sodium, Na		mg	1048	73
Zinc, Zn	11.0	mg	2	0.14	1.3%
Copper, Cu	0.9	mg	6.1	0.427	47.4%
Manganese, Mn	2.3	mg	1.9	0.133	5.8%
Selenium, Se	55.0	µg	7.2	0.5	0.9%
Vitamins
Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid	90.0	mg	10.1	0.7	0.8%
Thiamin	1.2	mg	2.38	0.167	13.9%
Riboflavin	1.3	mg	3.67	0.257	19.8%
Niacin	16.0	mg	12.82	0.897	5.6%
Pantothenic acid	5.0	mg	3.48	0.244	4.9%
Vitamin B-6	1.7	mg	0.364	0.025	1.5%
Folate, total	400.0	µg	94	7	1.8%
Choline, total		mg	66	4.6
Vitamin B-12	2.4	µg	0	0	0.0%
Vitamin A, RAE		µg	29	2
Carotene, beta		µg	342	24
Vitamin A, IU	5000.0	IU	570	40	0.8%
Vitamin E, total	15.0	mg	5	0.35	2.3%
Vitamin D	600.0	IU	0	0	0.0%
Vitamin K (phylloquinone)	120.0	µg	25.5	1.8	1.5%
Lipids
Fatty acids, total saturated		g	2.65	0.185
Fatty acids, total monounsaturated		g	0.675	0.047
Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated		g	2.08	0.146
Amino Acids
Tryptophan		g	0.929	0.065
Threonine		g	2.97	0.208
Isoleucine		g	3.209	0.225
Leucine		g	4.947	0.346
Lysine		g	3.025	0.212
Methionine		g	1.149	0.08
Cystine		g	0.662	0.046
Phenylalanine		g	2.777	0.194
Tyrosine		g	2.584	0.181
Valine		g	3.512	0.246
Arginine		g	4.147	0.29
Histidine		g	1.085	0.076
Alanine		g	4.515	0.316
Aspartic acid		g	5.793	0.406
Glutamic acid		g	8.386	0.587
Glycine		g	3.099	0.217
Proline		g	2.382	0.167
Serine		g	2.998	0.21

Cautions

People

• with Phenylketonuria should consult with a doctor before taking, as it does contain that amino acid
• taking any type of anti-coagulation medicine should consult with a doctor before beginning (or stopping) taking Spirulina
• who are pregnant or nursing should check with your doctor first: spirulina is often not recommended for pregnant or nursing women.

Some people with autoimmune disease do not do well with this supplement:

• there have been some published case reports of individuals who had autoimmune reactions after using spirulina. There is a theory that this may be caused by the activation of an inflammatory agent, TNF-alpha, which could be more significant in people predisposed to autoimmune disease.
• other lab and research studies suggest that spirulina might suppress this inflammatory protein, so more research needs to be completed to evaluate the potential danger of spirulina for those with autoimmune disorders.
• Bottom line: if you have an autoimmune condition, it’s a good idea to take this supplement under the supervision of your healthcare provider.

Cautions about buying spirulina

• be sure to always purchase from a reputable retailer
• it’s absolutely critical to make sure that the quality and purity of the spirulina that you consume is of the highest standards
• like anything that comes from the sea, be certain to only purchase blue-green algae that is free from contamination
• according to WebMD, contaminated spirulina can cause – Liver damage, Stomach pain, Nausea, Vomiting, Weakness, Thirst, Rapid heartbeat, Shock

References

1. In a 2012 study, a spirulina-enhanced diet given to rats provided neuroprotection in an α-synuclein model of Parkinson’s disease. This did not occur with the control diet. In a 2015 study, the effects of spirulina on memory dysfunction, oxidative stress damage and antioxidant enzyme activity were examined with mice. In another study it was found that Spirulina platensis may “prevent the loss of memory possibly by lessening Aβ protein accumulation, reducing oxidative damage and mainly augmenting the catalase activity.”
2. Spirulina is known to increase fat burning during exercise. Studies found that it also increased endurance and furthermore decreased muscle damage from exercise.
3. one study found that 500 milligrams of spirulina daily combined with zinc supplementation was enough to reduce arsenic toxicity by almost half
4. study published in The Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology shows spirulina is able to help prevent atherosclerosis and lower cholesterol levels
5. Milton S. Hershey Medical Center study suggests that spirulina increases production of antibodies, infection-fighting proteins, and other cells that improve immunity and help ward off infection and chronic illnesses such as cance
6. Czech Republic scientists have recently pointed out that, in addition to its ability to control blood cholesterol levels, “Spirulina is also rich in tetrapyrrolic compounds closely related to bilirubin molecule, a potent antioxidant and anti-proliferative agent.” When tested on human pancreatic cells, these researchers discovered that, “Compared to untreated cells, experimental therapeutics significantly decreased proliferation of human pancreatic cancer cell lines in vitro in a dose-dependent manner.” Essentially, this proves that consuming spirulina appears to be a potential natural cancer treatment. In addition there are 70 peer-reviewed articles have been published in the scientific literature evaluating spirulina’s ability to affect cancer cells
7. Several animal studies show spirulina promotes the growth of healthy bacterial flora in the intestines, which in turn inhibits candida from thriving. Additionally, the immune-strengthening properties of spirulina can help the body eliminate candida cells

Sourced from

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324027.php

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-proven-benefits-of-spirulina#section2

https://draxe.com/spirulina-benefits/

https://wellnessmama.com/4738/spirulina-benefits/

Additional Resources

Study paper on THE NUTRITIONAL ASPECTS OF SPIRULINA by Jacques Falquet