SPIRULINA

She is not visible to the eye. She is immortal. She remembers the beginnings of the ages. In 1974, the UN called her the best food for humanity. We are thankful to her for to the oxygen in the atmosphere. She contains a fantastic amount of proteins and vitamins. She is deservedly the Queen of Superfoods. Shall we get acquainted with her?

Dawn of the planet

Let’s go back 3.6 billion years in time. There are only oceans and land on Earth. But stromatolites have already grown at the bottom of the shallow seas. Bacterial colonies. They convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose. A by-product is the gas that keeps us alive – oxygen. The waters are gradually oxidized. The atmosphere begins to form very slowly. The old-old-spirulina already lives here, a primitive blue-green cyanobacteria that time and conditions have learned the photosynthesis and forms a “bridge” between bacteria and green plants.

As long as I breathe…

As long as I breathe, I hope – Dum spiro spero.

This Latin quote already contains the basis of the word spirulina and signifies the importance of spirulina for humanity. The second remarkable benefit of this multicellular organism is its place in the food chain.

It is said that spirulina was already on the diet of the Aztecs in the 16th century. They obtained it from Lake Texcoco in Mexico and sold it as dessert. At least that’s what the sailors of the Spanish sailor Hernán Cortés described. In the medieval African empire of Kanem, now Chad, spirulina was also known and has retained its importance to this day. It is sold as a pancake there called dihe and the inhabitants get it from small bodies of water around Lake Chad.

Today, spirulina is consumed by millions of people and has been growing in popularity since the 1970s, when it was rediscovered for the world. In addition to nutritional values, its health benefits are recognized and appreciated.

Tiny but powerful

Arthrospira or spirulina belongs to the fibrous cyanobacteria (cyanobacteria) with a left-handed helix. It contains blue to blue-green dye phytocyanin, which gives it a characteristic color. Spirulina lives in colonies in freshwater alkaline lakes and reproduces asexually. Once it grows to a certain length, the fiber splits. Arthrospira platensis inhabits Asia, Africa and South America. Arthrospira maxima can be found mainly in Central America. The tropics and subtropics and a stable temperature between 25 – 40 ° C fit Spirulina. It is unbelievable what a tiny organism has to offer!

Why take spirulina?

Proteins

Spirulina contains 60-70% protein, which is the highest percentage of the available in the world. It is more nutritious than meat, milk, eggs and soy. This quality is appreciated by vegetarians and vegans. In addition, Spirulina is easy to digest because it is not protected by a solid shell. [1] Physically active people or athletes can safely use it as a premium source of protein.

Amino acids

Amino acids are part of proteins. In spirulina we find all eight essential amino acids, which are essential for animal organisms. These are substances that the body does not produce on its own, but must obtain through food. Their supply should be of the best quality and consistently available.

Vitamins

Spirulina contains a vast array of vitamins: B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B 12, E, as well as vitamin D and the little-known vitamin H (biotin), which is called the beauty vitamin. We also find vitamin K in Spirulina, which is suitable for the optimal condition of our bones and whose lack leads to blood clotting disorders.

Carotenoids

The small cyanobacteria offer several types of carotenes, the most interesting of which is probably the precursor to vitamin A beta-carotene. Many people use it in dietary supplements during the summer months because it protects the skin from the sun, but beta-carotene is also a major antioxidant and boosts immunity. Spirulina contains 25% more beta-carotene than carrots.

Chlorophyll

Chlorophyll is nicknamed plant blood. It is a green pigment that uses solar energy to synthesize carbohydrates from carbon dioxide and water. In humans, it contributes to the production of hemoglobin, i.e. red blood cells.

Phytocyanin

The blue-green pigment phytocyanin plays a key role in the conversion of sunlight into energy. It is one of the biliproteins and according to research, it can slow down the growth of tumor cells, reduce the number of toxic substances in the kidneys and strengthen immunity. [2]

Glutathione and superoxide dismutase

In addition, phytocyanin together with glutathione (peptide) and superoxide dismutase (enzyme) neutralize the harmful effects of free radicals and have anti-inflammatory effects. [3] This has manifested itself, for example, in people suffering from allergies to pollen or animal hair, i.e. allergic diseases of the upper respiratory tract. During one study, 127 patients took 2000 mg of spirulina on daily basis and had a significant reduction in allergic rhinitis such as sneezing, nasal congestion and discharge. [4]

Minerals

Last but not least, spirulina is a (great) source of minerals. We find calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, zinc, phosphorus, manganese, selenium and chromium. People often suffer from iron deficiency and supplement it with leafy vegetables or tablets. Spirulina contains 58 times more iron than spinach. [5]

Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA)

GLA belongs to a group of omega-6 unsaturated fatty acids, another essential benefit of spirulina. It acts as an antioxidant and helps regulate the hormonal balance in the body. It can alleviate, for example, premenstrual syndrome in women [6] and effectively fight the metabolic syndrome.

And something more:

Metabolic syndrome (MS)

MS is a collective term for several risk factors that lead to health problems such as: stroke, heart attack, type B diabetes. Disease is often caused by a combination of imbalanced choices that result in an unhealthy lifestyle. The syndrome is treacherous because one might be unaware of the disorder. However, they usually suffer from variants of the following problems: obesity, high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, inflammation, high blood sugar, high cholesterol, insulin resistance. Studies show that the use of spirulina can normalize negative values. [7]

Detox and weight loss

Spirulina contains so many nutrients that their synergies can regulate appetite, and studies also show weight loss when taking spirulina tablets. Its advantages include the ability to bind heavy metals which is suitable for cleansing the body. Studies confirm her positive effect in reducing the toxicity of heavy metals such as cadmium, mercury, arsenic and lead. [8]

Virus protection

There are many bioactive substances in spirulina and this presents an opportunity for virologists’ studies into medicinal cures. Spirulina could prove to be an alternative in the treatment of viral diseases, including coronaviruses. Positive results from more extensive research are anticipated.

Did you know that:

National Institute of Aerospace (NASA) adds spirulina to astronauts’ food?

UNESCO named spirulina the “food of the future”?

Nestlé has replaced synthetic food coloring with spirulina in their blue colored Smarties?

Spirulina of Harmony is Life®

The most important thing for obtaining high-quality spirulina is the environment in which it grows. The Cyanobacteria requires absolutely clean water, warm climate and harvest at the ideal time. Our company has chosen for our product a 100% spirulina from Taiwan, which meets these conditions. After an optimal growth time of 5 weeks, it is harvested and subjected to ultra-fast drying to preserve nutrients.

Harmony is Life® has developed a tableting system that gently compresses the fine powder consistency of spirulina by coating it in layers. The process is 6 times slower than in the production of conventional tablets and takes place at room temperature. And so our tablets retain the maximum wealth that spirulina offers, including more than 67% protein. You can recognize the quality by the characteristic smell after opening the jar.

We recommend taking the tablets 10-15 minutes before meals and drinking with a glass of water. Our package offers a generous number of 300 tablets, which are especially suitable for a spring or autumn 30-day detoxification.