uranian
30th April 2010, 02:25 PM
Never saw much mention of this on GIM, but it's one of the best superfoods out there:
Protein
Spirulina contains an unusually high amount of protein, between 55% and 77% by dry weight, depending upon the source. It is a complete protein, containing all essential amino acids, though with reduced amounts of methionine, cysteine, and lysine when compared to the proteins of meat, eggs, and milk. It is, however, superior to typical plant protein, such as that from legumes.
Essential fatty acids
Spirulina is rich in gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), and also provides alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), linoleic acid (LA), stearidonic acid (SDA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and arachidonic acid (AA).
Vitamins
Spirulina contains vitamin B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (nicotinamide), B6 (pyridoxine), B9 (folic acid), vitamin C, vitamin D, and vitamin E.
Minerals
Spirulina is a rich source of potassium, and also contains calcium, chromium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, selenium, sodium, and zinc
Photosynthetic pigments
Spirulina contains many pigments including chlorophyll-a, xanthophyll, beta-carotene, echinenone, myxoxanthophyll, zeaxanthin, canthaxanthin, diatoxanthin, 3'-hydroxyechinenone, beta-cryptoxanthin, oscillaxanthin, plus the phycobiliproteins c-phycocyanin and allophycocyanin.
Proposed by NASA and ESA as one of the best foods for long-term space missions. A mass (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirulina_%28dietary_supplement%29#Evidence_of_hea lth_and_healing_effects) of health benefits. there's even evidence (http://algbiotek.com/spirulina-faydalari/PDF%20Dosyalar/spirulina-anti-kanser-abstracts.pdf) that it can repair damaged DNA. an anecdotal story, my partner recently had an antioxidant level test done, and the results shocked the testers, so high were her levels...she's been taking spirulina regularly for years.
it tastes absolutely foul!
http://johnstodderinexile.files.wordpress.com/2006/03/Spirulina.jpg
definitely useful stuff to have as a natural multivitamin and multimineral.
Protein
Spirulina contains an unusually high amount of protein, between 55% and 77% by dry weight, depending upon the source. It is a complete protein, containing all essential amino acids, though with reduced amounts of methionine, cysteine, and lysine when compared to the proteins of meat, eggs, and milk. It is, however, superior to typical plant protein, such as that from legumes.
Essential fatty acids
Spirulina is rich in gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), and also provides alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), linoleic acid (LA), stearidonic acid (SDA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and arachidonic acid (AA).
Vitamins
Spirulina contains vitamin B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (nicotinamide), B6 (pyridoxine), B9 (folic acid), vitamin C, vitamin D, and vitamin E.
Minerals
Spirulina is a rich source of potassium, and also contains calcium, chromium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, selenium, sodium, and zinc
Photosynthetic pigments
Spirulina contains many pigments including chlorophyll-a, xanthophyll, beta-carotene, echinenone, myxoxanthophyll, zeaxanthin, canthaxanthin, diatoxanthin, 3'-hydroxyechinenone, beta-cryptoxanthin, oscillaxanthin, plus the phycobiliproteins c-phycocyanin and allophycocyanin.
Proposed by NASA and ESA as one of the best foods for long-term space missions. A mass (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirulina_%28dietary_supplement%29#Evidence_of_hea lth_and_healing_effects) of health benefits. there's even evidence (http://algbiotek.com/spirulina-faydalari/PDF%20Dosyalar/spirulina-anti-kanser-abstracts.pdf) that it can repair damaged DNA. an anecdotal story, my partner recently had an antioxidant level test done, and the results shocked the testers, so high were her levels...she's been taking spirulina regularly for years.
it tastes absolutely foul!
http://johnstodderinexile.files.wordpress.com/2006/03/Spirulina.jpg
definitely useful stuff to have as a natural multivitamin and multimineral.