Today I’m going to shed light on one of the most powerful superfoods in the world that I never go a day without taking (your pets can benefit from it also): Spirulina, the main ingredient in our adaptogenic blend that we created with @drwillcole called holi(youth).

According to PhD Ralph Moss:

Spirulina is a concentrated food supplement derived from Spirulina platensis, a blue-green algae that grows profusely in water. Spirulina is an incredible dietary source of chlorophyll it is an aquatic plant that does not require thick cell walls containing indigestible cellulose. Its cell walls are made of a muramic polysaccharide that is easier to digest, and its chlorophyll is therefore more readily bioavailable for people than that of nonaquatic plants. One of the active ingredients in spirulina is a biliprotein called C-Phycocyanin (C-PC). It has pharmacological properties. According to some reports, it has a positive impact on allergies, anemia, cholesterol, elevated blood sugar, viral infections, inflammatory conditions, liver damage, immunodeficiency, cardiovascular diseases and cancer.

There are hundreds of PubMed-listed articles on the therapeutic use of Spirulina. It has justly been called “one of the most extensively studied [algae, ed.] from the chemical, pharmacological and toxicological points of view.” It is summarized in the scientific literature as a “water soluble, non-toxic fluorescent protein pigment with potent anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties.” Spirulina is also a COX-2 inhibitor, although apparently without the toxicity of the now-discredited pharmaceutical drug, Vioxx.

It seems to have a very beneficial effect on the immune system. Volunteers were orally given a hot water extract of spirulina. Natural killer cell and gamma interferon production was enhanced after administration of spirulina in more than half the subjects. They responded more forcefully to challenge with a bacteria-like product. Spirulina actsdirectly on certain white blood cells (myeloid lineages) and either directly or indirectly on natural killer cells.

Spirulina is also a good source of protein, vitamins and amino acids. Chinese studies have confirmed that spirulina powder is an exceptionally good source of minerals. It has more potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc than rice or any tested grain. It is especially rich in calcium. It has more minerals than most vegetables as well. Spirulina has also been found to hasten the absorption of selenium and molybdenum. There have also been studies in India showing that Spirulina reduces the amount of tumor in experimental animals with various types of cancer. In mice with chemically induced stomach cancer, for example, this “tumor burden” was reduced to half that of the control animals using high-dose Spirulina treatment. In skin cancer, the tumor burden was reduced to less than one quarter, even with low-dose treatment (250 mg/kg body weight). Spirulina also shows potential for decreasing the adverse effects of both chemotherapy and radiation.

Scientists in China have shown that a Spirulina extract increased the level of white cells in the blood and of nucleated cells and DNA in the bone marrow of mice that had been subjected to chemotherapy and radiation. In dogs, the Spirulina extract additionally increased the level of red blood cells. The authors concluded that Spirulina “has chemo-protective and radio-protective capability, and may be a potential adjunct to cancer therapy.”

Bottom Line: A promising supplement, spirulina is packed with nutrition. There doesn’t seem to be a downside to taking this supplement, either in pill, powder or green drink form. But please be sure of your sources. You can also use holi (youth) as a topical face mask to exfoliate, brighten and help with acne.   Spirulina reduces inflammation, puffiness and redness.

***THESE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR REGULATED BY THE FDA.  WE ARE NOT DOCTORS, THEREFORE ALWAYS CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR FIRST.