30/03/2025
*Health benefits of spirulina*:
Spirulina is a type of algae that grows in fresh or salt water.
It comes as a supplement, in tablet or powder form.
People use it for its health benefits, as it is rich in nutrients and has antioxidant properties.
Spirulina is among the world’s most popular supplements.
It is made from an organism that grows in both fresh and saltwater.
It is a type of cyanobacteria, which is a family of single-celled microbes that are often referred to as blue-green algae.
Just like plants, cyanobacteria can produce energy from sunlight via a process called photosynthesis.
Spirulina was consumed by the ancient Aztecs but became popular again when NASA proposed that it could be grown in space for use by astronauts.
These days, people use spirulina to boost the levels of nutrients and antioxidants in their bodies, and it may help protect against various diseases.
1. Rich in many nutrients:
Spirulina is packed with nutrients.
A single tablespoon (tbsp), or 7 grams (g), of dried spirulina powder, contains:
Protein: 4 g
Thiamin: 14% of the Daily Value (DV)
Riboflavin: 20% of the DV
Niacin: 6% of the DV
Copper: 47% of the DV
Iron: 11% of the DV
It also contains small amounts of magnesium, potassium, and manganese.
In addition, the same amount contains only 20 calories and less than 2 g of carbohydrates.
Spirulina also provides a small amount of fat — around 1 g per tbsp (7 g) — including both omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids in an approximately 1.5 to 1 ratio.
Spirulina is a type of blue-green algae that grows in both salt and fresh water.
It is highly nutritious and a great source of protein, copper, and B vitamins.
Phycocyanin is the main active compound in spirulina.
It has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.