Nutritional and toxicological aspects of spirulina. Spirulina is a highly nutritious natural substance, which has in recent years gained, once again, interest in both developing and developed countries. Due to the high amount of nutritive ingredients spirulina has a long history as dietary supplement. Spirulina is also understood to have an even longer history in chad, as far back as the 9th century kanem empire. Pdf bluegreen algae cyanobacteria are among the most primitive life forms on earth. This explains the very high digestibility of its proteins 8390% in ordinary dried spirulina, as. Spirulina history the history and future of spirulina as. It is commercially produced in large outdoor ponds under controlled conditions. This book covers the most popular of all the algae foods spirulina. Moisture sorption characteristics of microalgae spirulina.
The long story concerning the name spirulina started about years ago, when wittrock and nordstedt 1884 reported the occurrence in. Spirulina has been around for a very long time, just waiting to help us with our. Amongst the first simple life forms on the plant, algae are packed with goodness. Spirulina is also rich in magnesium, potassium, and.
Spirulina has a blend of nutrients that no single plant source can provide. Spirulina are multicellular and filamentous bluegreen microalgae belonging to two separate genera spirulina and arthrospira and consists of about 15 species. Cyanobacteria are very important organisms for the health and growth of many plants. The feasibility of industrial production of spirulina. If natural spirulina is available in your area, fetch a bottle and get going. What are the dangers of spirulina spirulina, a microscopic bluegreen algae that grows in warm water, is a rich source of the bcomplex vitamins thiamin, riboflavin and niacin. Review for application and medicine effects of spirulina, microalgae. The dinosaurs arrived about one hundred ninety million years ago. Spirulina is widely marketed as a superfood and protein source, available commercially in capsules, tablets, and powder, as well as in some foods energy bars and smoothies. This book is full of wonderful information on the amazing results that can. Non toxic doses of spirulina platensis revealed 53. Spirulina has been used as a complementary dietary ingredient of feed for poultry and increasingly as a protein and vitamin supplement to aquafeeds. Spirulina is a microscopic and filamentous cyanobacterium that derives its name from the spiral or helical nature of its filaments.
They are one of very few groups of organisms that can convert inert. Hypolipidemic, antioxidant and antiinflammatory activities. Journal of pharmacy and nutrition sciences, 2011, 111118. It is a type of cyanobacteria, which is a family of singlecelled microbes that are often referred to as bluegreen algae. The mineral makeup of spirulina is attractive as the iron level is 12 times higher than other food. In 1974, the united nations named spirulina one of the best foods for the future. Spirulina supplement health benefits, dosage, side. Xavier niella adepartment of ecology, faculty of sciences.
In vitro antiviral and antimicrobial activities of. Spirulina, chlorella, and dunaliella provide vitamin a journal of pharmacy and nutrition sciences, 2011 vol. The high content of mineral salts and vitamins, moreover, makes spirulina algae a food able to provide the right nutritional intake to pregnant and lactating women. Spirulina is an amazing source of protein approximately 6070% of its dry weight is a highly digestible protein this is also a way to see if the spirulina quality is good if less than 60% of. Spirulina algae arthrospira platensis is a bluegreen microalgae with a spiral shape that grows spontaneously in few areas of the world, such as mexico or africa, where the water of the lakes has a. The first chapter 1 looks at the role of algae in history and the impli cations from its. Spirulina has also had a long history in human nutrition. Moisture sorption characteristics of microalgae spirulina platensis article pdf available in brazilian journal of chemical engineering 261. Spirulina faq information and tips for new spirulina growers. They feature an ideal balance between omega3 and omega6 fatty acids, which promotesgood cardiovascular health. Spirulina is a microscopic and filamentous cyanobacterium that has a long history of use as a safe functional food. This book definitely changed my life for the better.
Spirulina is a biomass of cyanobacteria bluegreen algae that can be consumed by humans and animals. Spirulina is a dietary supplement prepared from the biomass of bluegreen algae which is rich in protein, vitamins and minerals. It is the most nutritious, concentrated whole food known to humankind. Spirulina is one of the singlecelled, bluegreen microalgae family, and grows in fresh water.
Spirulina is a biomass of cyanobacteria bluegreen algae that can be consumed by humans. Protein and amino acids in spirulina platensis powder nutritional value per 100 g. The term spirulina remains in use for historical reasons. You can do your own spirulina cultivation at home indoors or outdoors. Spirulina appears to have considerable potential for development, especially as a smallscale crop for. It is a semitechnical book written in a language that is understandable by laymen. The first thing youll need to get started is a spirulina culture. Nutritional and toxicological aspects of nutr hosp. Spirulina is a superfood high in vitamins and nutrients. Spirulina refers to a large number of photosynthetic eubacterial species belonging to the phylum cyanobacteria arthrospira platensis and maxima. Therma nigritas is considered as an ideal area for the cultivation of spirulina. Spirulina has been consumed as food by man for long time in mexico and central africa and is currently used widely as nutraceutic food supplement, especially in asian. Spirulina is deemed safe for human consumption as evident by its long history of food use and latest scientific findings. This explains the very high digestibility of its proteins 8390% in ordinary dried spirulina, as against 95.
Spirulina is an organism that grows in both fresh and salt water. In contrast to most vegetable matter, spirulina does not have a cell wall made of cellulose, thereby making it easily digestible. The lipids in spirulina represent 24% of its total weight. The spirulinaceae is a family of cyanobacteria, the only family in the order spirulinales. Scenedesmus, spirulina cells do not have cellulose walls, but a relatively fragile envelope of murein 3, 10, 27. Thus spirulina requires no cooking or special treatment to increase the availability of its. In order to grow it, you need a tank, mother culture, culture medium, harvesting. Preliminary evidence suggests spirulina is remarkably potent at protecting the brain and reducing liver fat. Use of spirulina as food dor humans and feeds for domestic animals and fish pdf. Spirulina a blue green alga emerging as a promising therapeutic aquatic microphyte. Otherwise, spirulina culture can easily be posted by mail, so look at our. Today, so many health issues come from a lack of nutrients in our agriculture.
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