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Spirulina for Maximum Nutrition and Weight Loss

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The Benefits

Spirulina is a single-cell, blue-green algae. It grows in fresh water and is packed with chlorophyll, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, protein and essential fatty acids like gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). Specifically, it contains the vitamins K, E, A (beta-carotene), B1, B2 and B6.

Spirulina also contains about 70 percent protein. It is not an appetite suppressant. However, the high protein content in spirulina may help you eat less if you take it about an hour before meals. Taking spirulina on a daily basis as part of a healthy diet can not only help you lose weight; it can also help restore nutritional balance to your body. Spirulina is also easier for your body to digest and absorb than meat is.

How to Take Spirulina

Look for spirulina in your health food store. It is sold as a powder and as tablets, as well as in certain spirulina energy bars. You can take the tablets before a meal or mix the powder into smoothies, juice and salad dressings. Try adding the powder to soups or even pasta – just add it after the food is cooked, as heat can break down spirulina’s nutrients. If you’re taking tablets, be sure to take them at least an hour before a meal, as they break down slower in your body. You can chew them to speed up the process.

Dosages

Try about six to 10 grams per day, or 11 to 20 grams for a therapeutic dose. Children ages 2 to 9 can safely take three to five grams per day. The calorie count for spirulina is about four calories per gram. If you are prone to kidney stones or gout, be sure not to exceed 50 grams daily. This is because spirulina has a high amount of nucleic acids, which create uric acid when they are metabolized.

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EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

what is the benefits of spirulina if i take it after meal ??

July 17, 2009 - 4:32am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

No one wants to be overweight! The most difficult thing to be able to control to keep your weight in check is mindless grazing. It is not always easy to do, but eat to live don’t live to eat. Some type of daily regimen is needed by everyone; but do not diet, your body needs nourishment. Diets and diet aids do not help anyone! The only way to successfully lose weight and get the body that you deserve is by using the right information. This information is in the book Lose Weight Using Four Easy Steps which can be ordered through the website www.bbotw.com Everyone who has gotten a copy of this book has lost weight and become healthier.

June 10, 2009 - 7:55am
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We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.

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