Hawaiian spirulina (Spirulina platensis) is a small, single-celled microorganism rich in clorophyll, proteins, vitamins, minerals and essential trace elements. Spirulina is also often called blue-green algae, because of its deep green color.

Spirulina became popular in the 1980s as a diet aid - in fact, its health benefits are far more than that. Spirulina has been suggested to have the following health benefits:

• Rich in antioxidants
  Spirulina is rich in beta carotenes, a natural source of antioxidants. In the normal course of metabolism and energy production, harmful free-radicals are created as by-products by our cells. These free-radicals can cause damage to cells and accumulate in the body, thus contributing to aging.
  
  Beta-carotenes are also converted by the body into the vitamin A that it needs.
  
  
• Rich in B-vitamins
  Spirulina is probably one of the richest natural sources of vitamin B12. It also contains other members of the vitamin B family, including vitamin B1 (thiamine), vitamin B2 (riboflavine), vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), biotin, folic acid (vitamin B9), and niacin.
  
  
• High source of protein
  Spirulina is packed with proteins, yet low on calories. It has 3.9 calories per gram of protein, as compared to beef which has 65 calories per gram of protein. In fact, spirulina is 60% protein, the highest protein content of any food.
  
  Furthermore, spirulina has very little starch and sugar content (and what little it has comes in the form of complex natural plant sugars) and only 7% lipid content mostly in forms of essential fatty acids.
  
  
• Rich in iron
  In fact, a daily dose of spirulina contains more iron than 2 cups of spinach!
  
  
• Rich source of GLA or gamma-linolenic acid
  GLA is an essential fatty acid with a wide range of health benefits, including protecting the eye, preventing osteoporosis, reducing menopausal symptoms and PMS discomforts, lessening joint pains and inflammation, and more.
  
  

• Control bad breath
  The high chlorophyll content in spirulina will help control bad breath (as long as it's not caused by gum or other disease).
  
  
• Boost immunity
  Studies in animal models confirmed that spirulina can greatly improve t-cell and thymus function, and boost the functions of macrophages of the immune system.
  
  
• Reduce allergic reaction
  A russian study showed that spirulina can also help lower the levels of IgE (a marker of high allergy sensitivity) in the blood, which subsequently reduce allergic reactions.
  
  

Select Scientific References

• Khan Z, et al. Nutritional and therapeutic potential of Spirulina. Curr Pharm Biotechnol. 2005; 6(5):373-9.
• Dillon JC, et al. Nutritional value of the alga Spirulina. World Rev Nutr Diet 1995;77:32-46.
• Ciferri O. Spirulina, the edible microorganism. Microbiol Rev. 1983; 47(4):551-78.