7 health benefits of Spirulina and where to buy Spirulina in Singapore
Here’s all you need to know about the superfood of the sea and where to buy in Singapore
Text: Hui Yi Phua
credit: inForm
If you’re a health guru, you’ve probably heard about the hype surrounding this popular supplement. Spirulina is a type of cyanobacteria, microscopic organisms that grow naturally in both freshwater and saltwater environments. The history of this blue-green algae dates back to many centuries ago, where it was first harvested and consumed by the ancient Aztecs. Today, spirulina is usually commercialised in powder and tablet forms as food supplement.
So what makes spirulina popular? Initial studies done on this substance have found that it can potentially bring about a number of health benefits which include:
1. Dense in nutrients
Spirulina is often considered to be one of the most nutrient dense food on the planet. It is a great source of protein, vitamin B1, iron, calcium, and many other nutrients, which is why it is often hailed as a ‘superfood’.
One tablespoon or 7 grams (g) of dried spirulina contains:
20 calories
4.02 g of protein
1.67 g of carbohydrate
0.54 g of fat
8 milligrams (mg) of calcium
2 mg of iron
14 mg of magnesium
8 mg of phosphorous
95 mg of potassium
73 mg of sodium
0.7 mg of vitamin C
It also contains thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate, and vitamins B-6, A, and K.
Therefore, including spirulina into your balanced diet can ensure that you get all the nutrients your body needs. If you’re vegan or vegetarian, spirulina also makes for an excellent dietary supplement due to its high protein and vitamin content.
2. Good source of antioxidants
One of the greater benefits of spirulina is that it’s rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants can help prevent or slow damage to our cells caused by free radicals, which are unstable molecules that our body produces in response to environmental or other pressures, and potentially reduce the chances of heart disease, cancer and other diseases.
Spirulina’s main active component, phycocyanin, gives the food its unique blue-green colour and exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects as well.
3. Manage your cholesterol
Because of the antioxidants present in spirulina, this food helps prevent oxidative damage to fatty compounds like cholesterol. It appears to manage our total cholesterol by lowering the ‘bad’ low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and increasing the ‘good’ high-density lipoprotein (HDL), which can further aid in the prevention of heart disease.
4. Reduce high blood pressure
High blood pressure is the main driver of many serious diseases such as strokes and heart attacks. The consumption of spirulina seems to help our bodies increase the production of nitric oxide, a signaling molecule that helps your blood vessels relax and dilate, which in turn, reduces our systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
5. Cancer protective properties
There is also some evidence that spirulina has anti-cancer properties. In particular, spirulina seems to be able to help protect against oral cancer, according to a small study of tobacco chewers with precancerous oral lesions and studies carried out on animals.
6. Improve muscle strength and endurance
In some studies, spirulina consumption helped athletes enhance their strength and endurance. For example, in a 2021 investigation, it was found that cyclists who ate 6 grams of spirulina three times a week had lower perceived effort during endurance exercises. Another study has also suggested that spirulina increases fat burn during exercise, which could be explained by the reduce in exercise-induced oxidation due to its high antioxidant content.
7. Help with allergies
Lastly, spirulina has been found by several studies to be helpful for those with allergic rhinitis. In one of such studies, 127 people with this allergic condition reduced their symptoms of sneezing, nasal discharge and congestion by consuming 2 grams of spirulina per day.
The above mentioned benefits are what spirulina can potentially bring to our health. Readers should keep in mind that studies on spirulina and its impact on humans are still at a preliminary stage and more research will be needed to further evidence these findings.
Where to buy in Singapore
If you’re keen to include spirulina in your diet, here are a few recommended places in Singapore where you can purchase spirulina products:
Here you can purchase a variety of spirulina products such as their popular Spirulina Frozen Pieces and Spirulina Dry Powder.
iHerb is an online platform for health and wellness products. If you would like to browse different brands that sell spirulina, they have up to 17 brands for you to choose from. They also provide various forms of spirulina, including powder and tablets.
A familiar health food store chain in Singapore, GNC also offers some spirulina products that you can easily purchase at any of their outlets located around Singapore.
You can also get your spirulina supplements at the usual Watsons stores, which are easily located at all local neighbourhoods.
The local supermarkets also offer a wide range of spirulina products. Other than supplements and powder, you can also find other spirulina products such as noodles, biscuits, and even cereal.
