What Are the Benefits of Spirulina: A Brief Explanation

What is Spirulina? Arthrospira platensis, or commonly referred to as Spirulina is a one-celled cyanobacterium that contains concentrated levels of amino acids and other vitamins and nutrients. Living in alkaline fresh water bodies, the blue green algae has been found to have existed billions of years ago and is recognized in the scientific community as one of the first species to have existed. Spirulina, because of its helix shaped strand, got its name from the Latin word for little spiral. However, even though physically minuscule, the same cannot be said to the huge amounts of nutrients and vitamins that it can provide for the human body. In fact, today, people are using Spirulina as dietary supplements for their everyday consumption. Currently, because of the abundant health benefits it gives, people are now beginning to fully understand what exactly Spirulina is. But before going to the discussion on these said benefits let us first go through the blue green's historical beginnings.

Earliest records of the use of Spirulina can be traced to the Kanembu people in Chad in Africa. Scientists have discovered that as early as the 6th century, they have been using Spirulina as part of their daily regular diet. They would make hardened sundried cakes made of Spirulina, crumble them into tiny pieces and then mix it with fish, meats and vegetables. They would then either keep it for their household consumption or sell it to the nearby market. The ponds around Lake Chad were found to have been the primary source for their cakes which they call dihé. The idea of what Spirulina is was also similar with the Aztecs and some Mesoamericans. Research also shows that until the 16th century, before the Spanish conquest of these civilizations, the aforementioned societies also made Spirulina a part of their daily nutrition. It was found that similar to the Kanembu people, they also made cakes made out of Spirulina. If one would ask them the question "what is Spirulina?" they would quickly answer, "techuitlatl." This was their local name for the blue green algae. However, due to their conquest as well as the rapid development and urbanization, these cakes were no longer part of their nutritional lifestyle. Still, Lake Texcoco, the lake in which they harvested the Spirulina, remains in existence.

Having known the historical background of Spirulina, let us now discuss the health benefits of Spirulina in order for us to fully answer the main question of this article, which is: " What is Spirulina?" According to scientific studies made, Spirulina, when consumed, serves to boost the human body's immune system, helps prevent cancer, controls blood pressure and reduces cholesterol, among others. It has been also been found to aid in treating arsenic poisoning due to contaminated water. This study was made in Bangladesh where safe drinking water is seen as a luxury. In addition, Spirulina is viewed by scientists as a possible treatment to autoimmune diseases such as, but not limited to AIDS, HIV and Lupus. Even so, to know the most well-known use of Spirulina, several health buffs are now taking Spirulina tablets and capsules as a reliable source of protein since it is composed of 60% protein containing all the essential amino acids. Based on these nutritional attributes, no doubt Spirulina deserves its being called a superfood.

Benefits of Supreme Greens Powder

Supreme Greens powder is a natural way to avoid many diseases. Supreme Greens MSM is recommended by several Naturopaths too.

When it is about finding a healthy solution which can help you avoid a number of diseases, Supreme Greens Powder and Supreme Greens MSM (MethylSulfonylMethane) are very dominant options. These are natural components found in plants, animals and hold many uses.

Naturopaths often use Supreme Greens MSM as a method to treat osteoporosis, arthritis, tendonitis, chronic pain, muscle cramps, stretch marks, wrinkles, oral hygiene issues and a wide range of other ailments. What is significant to be noted about this element is that there are limitless things it can do. When our bodies get lower in the natural blend of MSM, we might end up getting a series of critical problems and illnesses. That is why it is important to add a good supplement to our everyday vitamin routine in order to live happy and long lives.

Ailments Supreme MSM is Helpful In:

We should know how Greens Powder ends up helping our body based on a few common things that you encounter. Remember, while Supreme Greens MSM is a strong element, it does not take away from you requiring to get regular checkups in order to make sure that no surprise ailments enter your life.

Candida:

An area we can look at is that Greens MSM can be a good method for the treatment of the problem referred as Candida. While someone is suffering from Candida, their body gets a boost of fungus in their body. If left untreated, this condition can cause the patient experiencing added health issues. As a good way to help eliminate some of these issues, Supreme Powder can be used to alter the PH level in the body to a level that is not likely for the problem of fungus. Therefore, the affected individual can start regaining their normal health and many of the effects may also begin to dispel over time.

Arthritis:

Another common disease that Greens MSM is taken for is Arthritis. This has been observed that this compound has the capability of reducing or even removing the pain that one is experiencing and in often lead them to a healthier life. This is particularly common when patients also have osteoarthritis, which is an advanced stage of the arthritis.

Benefits of Eating Raw Foods

The benefits of eating raw foods are quite astounding. While I'm the first to admit I'm not a Nutritionist, I feel comfortable sharing my advice and personal experience with clients. Those who are serious raw foods enthusiasts are actually referred to as those who practice Raw Foodism. No, that's not a made up phrase! It refers to the practice of eating unprocessed, uncooked and/or organic foods as a main source of nutrition. For the purposes of this article, I'm going to keep it simple and just help you understand how the benefits of eating raw foods may enhance your overall health and fitness goals.

The Basics.

We have all heard from our Doctors or Personal Trainers that a healthy diet needs to consist of ample portions of fruits and vegetables. "An apple a day keeps the doctor away," so to speak. This also includes fresh nuts and seeds as well. But why is exactly that we are encouraged to eat these fresh foods?

1. We are living organisms and fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds are live foods! When you think about it, a cooked seed won't grow, but a raw seed will. Those raw and living nutrients are what we should strive to fuel our bodies with. Cooking foods reduces much if not all of it's inherent nutritional value.

2. Raw foods have natural enzymes that make it easier for your body to digest or process. They also have a more consistent balance of water, fiber, and nutrients that are easily accessible to your bodies digestive system.

3. There are no preservatives in raw foods. Understand what the word preservatives actually means. It is a chemical alteration that is added to foods to preserve their longevity. These are not nutrients found in nature, and they are ingredients that are foreign to the body.

The Benefits of Eating Raw Foods.

1. Increased energy. This sounds like a pretty bold statement, but it is true. I know personally that when my diet is rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, and nuts I feel better and I have more energy. I'll leave it up to the scientists to debate whether this is because my body is more easily digesting this food, or that the high fibrous content is stabilizing my blood sugar, thus avoiding the peaks and valleys of feeling tired vs feeling alert throughout the day.

2. Vitamins, minerals, and nutrients are readily available to your body. Our caveman ancestors didn't walk into a local vitamin shop to pick up a bottle of vitamins or an energy drink. They didn't have a personal trainer to help keep them active. They ate what they killed! They were hunters and gatherers. They relied on their natural diet to produce these valuable nutrients, and their active lifestyle to keep them fit.

Cheap Healthy Meals: Chick Peas Recipes

In my quest for cheap healthy meals I have developed a couple of chick peas recipes that not only satisfy the budget, but are both tasty and very nutritious. As they are prepared with a homemade chicken broth they provide a whole range of nutrients while being quite inexpensive.

Chickpeas aka garbanzo beans, in and of themselves, are rather bland. When combined with onions, spices and other tasty morsels they can be made into thoroughly savory dishes. The effort to spiff them up is very worthwhile as they are one of the least expensive sources of important nutrients.

Being one of the most nutritious of all the legumes they are high in calcium, potassium, phosphorus and loaded with iron and vitamin C. They contain B complex vitamins as well as being rich in fatty acids.

One cautionary note if you are going to make chickpeas a staple of your diet as they are in the Middle East and Mediterranean countries. Chickpeas are high in omega-6 fatty acids as compared to omega-3. Hence, they should be balanced out with good sources of omega-3 like adding flaxseed to breads and pancakes or taking cod liver oil.

I can purchase 5lbs of organically grown dried chickpeas for $19.10. That is approximately 13 cups of dried beans. After soaking to rehydrate the beans those 13 cups swell up to about 39 cups. There are not many other sources of a cup chock full of nutrients for under 50 cents!

If you plan to incorporate chickpeas into your diet it is important to neutralize the phytic acids they contain, which are anti-nutrients. They can combine with minerals and make them indigestible potentially causing deficiencies.

This does not really pose a problem if you start with organic, dried beans. They should be placed in hot, not quite scalding water and soaked at room temperature for 24 hours to rehydrate anyway. So adding a couple of Tbsp per cup of a source of acidity such as whey, vinegar, lemon juice or kefir is not a problem and will neutralize the phytic acid.

The chickpeas then need to be placed in water salted at a tsp per cup and brought to a boil, skimmed and then simmered for about 6 hours or until soft. This can be reduced to about 20 minutes in a pressure cooker if you use one.

Once I have prepared the basic recipe I generally make either a chickpea soup or a main course with chickpeas and ground beef.

The performers for the cream of chickpea soup follow:

2 Tbs extra virgin olive oil

2 Tbs butter

1 large onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, diced

2 Tbs fresh chopped marjoram

1 tsp cinnamon

1 pinch of cayenne pepper

1 tsp paprika

2 cups of garden fresh tomatoes or can of whole organic tomatoes, chopped

6 cups of basic chickpeas (begin with 2 cups of dried chickpeas)

1 quart chicken broth

Sea salt

Freshly ground black pepper

A bunch of kale, Swiss chard or spinach (whatever I have on hand) torn or cut into small pieces

I start out with a pot large enough for the soup and saute the onions and garlic in the butter and olive oil over low heat for about 15 minutes. I add everything else except the kale or whatever I am using for a vegetable and simmer for about 40 minutes.

If I am adding kale I will give it about 10 minutes, less for chard and even less for spinach. I adjust it so the total time simmering is roughly 50 minutes.

Now is where my stick blender come in handy. I initially bought it to make Castile soap, but it sure is great for creaming soup. You just have to be a little cautious with the scalding hot soup. I just pulse it with short bursts to begin with to get a feel for how it goes.