Pankaj Kumar , Feb. 21, 2011, 1:31am IST Views: 1190

New Delhi, Feb. 21: Spirulina is known as one of nature's most wonderful foods supplements because it performs such a broad band of actions in the body dietetic profile of spirulina shows that it can substitute many more expensive food supplements, and its research reveals that it is excellent source of good health.

Several studies have documented the capability of spirulina to controls the growth of cancer progression, decrease risk of cancer initiation, and improve the immune system of the people.

Spirulina has anti-allergic and anti-viral effects, and it is a natural antihistamine. Recently, spirulina has been found effective at lowering the immune response when it has become overactive, a function that may make it effective alongside autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis.

Spirulina identified date back more than three billion years. Spirulina are microscopic coiled blue-green algae that have been around for the past 3.6 billion years. Spirulina and other blue-green algae were the generators of the oxygen found in the atmosphere that allowed higher life forms to evolve. These algae contain multiple nutrients required by life to evolve into the multiplicity of life seen on earth today.

Acknowledged utilization of spirulina dates back to the Aztecs who consumed it in Mexico over five centuries ago. In the recent past, millions of people across the world have used spirulina as a food supplement to their diets based on recommendations of the United Nations (UN) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Spirulina is a selection of NASA to enrich the diets of astronauts on space missions.

Spirulina is sustainable food, which offers more nutrition per unit than any other food. It is able to provide 20 times more complete protein per unit than soybeans, and 200 times more per unit than animal protein. It holds the eight essential amino acids as well as ten non-essential amino acids, making it an excellent option for anyone not consuming animal protein.

It is rich in enzymes, potassium, chlorophyll, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorous. It is rich in B complex vitamins including B6, biotin, B12, folic acid, inositol, pantothenic acid, riboflavin niacin, and thiamine. It is a good source of essential fatty acids, including linoleic, and arachidonic acid.