How to take spirulina to lose weight (and other indications)

Spirulina helps you lose weight because it increases satiety due to its high concentration of proteins and nutrients, making the body function better and the person not wanting to eat sweets, for example. Some studies indicate that spirulina can improve fat and glucose metabolism, reducing fat accumulated in the liver and protecting the heart.

Spirulina is a type of algae used as a nutritional supplement due to the fact that it is an excellent source of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, and is currently considered a super food, which provides several health benefits.

This algae is available in powder and capsule form, and can be taken with a little water or mixed into juices or smoothies. Both the powder and the supplement can be purchased in health food stores, pharmacies, online stores and in some supermarkets.

Does Spirulina help you lose weight?

Some studies indicate that spirulina, together with a healthy diet, can promote weight loss, as it can act as an appetite suppressant and control satiety, as it is rich in phenylalanine, an amino acid precursor to the hormone cholecystokinin, which determines the level of stomach satiety.

Additionally, spirulina can apparently have an effect on leptin, a hormone that helps reduce appetite and burn fat. In this way, its purifying action helps to cleanse and detoxify the body, accelerating metabolism.

Other studies suggest that spirulina helps reduce adipose tissue due to its ability to slow down the inflammatory process that occurs in a person with metabolic syndrome and, in addition, it is responsible for inhibiting an enzyme that is responsible for the production of fatty acids in the body. .

How to take spirulina

The recommended amount of spirulina per day is 1 to 8 grams (1000 mg to 8000 mg per day), depending on your goal:

• As a supplement: 1 g per day;
• To lower weight: 2 to 3 g per day;
• To help control cholesterol: 1 to 8 grams per day;
• To improve muscle performance: 2 to 7.5 g per day;
• To help control blood sugar: 2 g per day;
• To help control blood pressure: 3.5 to 4.5 g per day;
• For the treatment of fatty liver: 4.5 g per day.

Spirulina should be taken according to the guidance of a doctor or nutritionist, and can be consumed in a single dose or divided into 2 to 3 doses throughout the day, and its use is recommended at least 20 minutes before the main meals (breakfast). morning, lunch or dinner).

Furthermore, it is recommended that spirulina be consumed for a maximum of 3 months. After this period, you should stop using it for about 1 month, and you can resume consuming it after this time, if recommended.

Possible side effects and contraindications

Consumption of spirulina can cause nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea and, in rare cases, allergic reactions. It is important not to exceed the recommended doses of this supplement to avoid side effects.

Spirulina should be avoided by people with phenylketonuria, as it contains high levels of phenylalanine, or by people who have problems related to this amino acid. Furthermore, it should not be used during pregnancy, breastfeeding or by children, as its effects are not achieved.

Nutritional information

The following table indicates the nutritional value of spirulina per 100 grams, quantities may vary depending on the species and cultivation of the plant:

* It is important to note that pseudovitamin B12 cannot be metabolized in the body, therefore its consumption does not increase vitamin B12 levels in the blood, and it is important that vegans or vegetarians take this into account.

What is Spirulina used for?

Spirulina is used to prevent and treat various diseases, such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, allergic rhinitis, anemia, diabetes and metabolic syndrome, as it is an algae rich in vitamins and minerals, chlorophyll, high-quality proteins, essential fatty acids and antioxidants.

Furthermore, it has compounds that are immunostimulants, such as inulin and phycocyanin, which have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-tumor properties. This alga may also play an important role in the treatment of neurological disorders and arthritis. Check out more benefits of spirulina.

As it is a superfood and brings benefits to the entire body, spirulina can be indicated at different stages of life and in the prevention and treatment of diseases, especially in cases of obesity, localized fat, prevention of aging and muscle recovery for those who practice physical activity. . Discover other superfoods to enrich your diet.