How And When To Take Spirulina To Increase Its Effectiveness

Spirulina is an algae. Today it is consumed as a dietary supplement or superfood to increase our vitamin and mineral intake in a simple and natural way. In this article, you will therefore learn about its incredible properties, as well as how and when to take spirulina to increase its effectiveness.

What is spirulina?

Spirulina is a blue-green algae found in alkaline, warm water with low salinity. The name derives from its unusual spiral structure. However, its scientific name is Arthrospira . It is one of the most complete and nutritious foods, as NASA demonstrated in 1988, by incorporating spirulina into the astronauts’ diet.

The Aztecs also consumed it to increase their strength when they had to deal with important physical tasks. In addition, it is also an excellent dietary supplement for athletes.

Nutritional values

Thanks to the excellent nutritional values, spirulina is a very effective treatment for various types of deficiencies, and is known to improve some disorders.

Let’s take a look at its composition:

• First of all, spirulina is one of the best vegetable protein sources, which has a high biological value and is very digestible. It is about 65 to 70% protein.
• It is rich in chlorophyll, the green pigment that stands out for its great detoxification potential.
• Plus, it is rich in vitamins B, C, D and E.
• Spirulina contains minerals such as potassium, selenium, copper, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus and zinc.

• In addition, it contains digestive enzymes.
• It is packed with antioxidants (thanks to natural pigments): chlorophyll, carotenoids and phycocyanins.
• Finally, 7% of the content consists of essential fatty acids.

Health benefits

Spirulina is incredibly beneficial to your health. It:

• Helps weight loss, therefore it is recommended in a healthy weight loss diet. The reason for this is that spirulina makes us fuller, since it activates our metabolism and thus the burning of fat.
• Creates a healthy bacterial flora and regulates and cleanses the intestines.

• Reduces inflammation.
• Relieves joint pain.
• Prevents osteoporosis.
• Prevents and fights anemia without having to take iron supplements.
• Has great cleansing power by contributing to the natural elimination of toxins that accumulate in the body and cause diseases.
• Improves your energy levels while reducing fatigue and stress.
• Improves concentration and memory.
• Helps digestion.
• Strengthens the immune system and accelerates the recovery process during convalescence.
• Its antioxidant properties can reduce the signs of aging and cell damage caused by free radicals, stress, etc.
• It improves kidney function.

How and when to take spirulina?

How and when to take spirulina depends on what you want to achieve:

• If you want to lose weight : Take spirulina half an hour before each meal with a glass of water. In this way, the algae produce a natural satiating effect that helps you eat less without going hungry.
• If you want to gain weight : Take spirulina right after your meal, along with your dessert.
• As a specific treatment for a disorder : Take spirulina on an empty stomach, half an hour before eating any food.
• As a dietary supplement : Add it to green smoothies made from fruits and green leafy vegetables.

We recommend that you choose high-quality spirulina, ideally organic, to ensure that it does not contain harmful components, since algae have a high absorption capacity.

Recommended dose

You can take spirulina powder mixed with water or food, or in capsules or tablets.

The usual dose at the beginning is 500 mg – or 1 g – 1 to 3 times a day. However, you can increase this dose gradually, but pay attention to how your body responds (it is even better if you have a professional who can guide you). It is important to start with a low dose due to the high diuretic effect of the algae, which can cause some unpleasant side effects ( headaches, intestinal disorders, etc.).

Because of this, we also recommend that you drink plenty of water during treatment, at least 6-8 glasses a day, excluding meals.