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Spirulina: Superfood or Superfluous Dietary Supplement?

The blue-green algae Spirulina is said to have a positive effect on a wide variety of complaints and deficiency symptoms. We get to the bottom of the statements.

What’s the deal with spirulina?

It is said to strengthen the immune system, keep it young, alleviate allergies, help with weight loss, and prevent cardiovascular diseases and even cancer: the alga spirulina is advertised as the ultimate superfood. As is so often the case with health-related promises such as these, skepticism is appropriate. Because they are scientifically proven in very few cases. Although Spirulina, like the freshwater algae Chlorella, which is also available as a dietary supplement, contains the green plant pigment chlorophyll, a lot of protein, B vitamins, and iron, the advertised effects are far from being achieved. On the one hand, the dosage of spirulina would have to be very high for nutrients such as protein to have any effect at all. On the other hand, plant-based vitamin B12 and iron are less digestible by the human body than their counterparts from animal sources.

Pay attention to the absence of harmful substances

The consumer advice center also criticizes the fact that advertising statements such as “Spirulina has antioxidant properties” are simply not legally permissible. The fact that a cream with the algae can delay skin aging is just as little proven as a slimming effect. In addition, powder and tablets can be contaminated with harmful substances because there are no uniform quality standards. If you still want to try spirulina products, you should make sure when you buy them that they have been tested for toxins and heavy metals. The consumer advocates recommend products from closed systems, i.e. production environments in which spirulina does not come into contact with other algae or bacteria.

Tasty alternative: cooking with seaweed

Instead of reaching for spirulina in tablet form, you can also enrich your diet with fresh algae and thus use the nutrients. How about a delicious seaweed salad, the wakame? The sushi, which is popular in this country and can be prepared with seaweed, also comes from Japan. Sheets of nori seaweed are used to roll up rice, fish, and other ingredients. You can also cook delicious soups with seaweed: try the well-known miso soup.

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Written by John Myers

Professional Chef with 25 years of industry experience at the highest levels. Restaurant owner. Beverage Director with experience creating world-class nationally recognized cocktail programs. Food writer with a distinctive Chef-driven voice and point of view.

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