anybody uses it? what form? where do you get it? any feedback?
i came across this study among other ones. as an amateur scientist i like to experiment with nutrition and how it plays out in training and recovery so looking to give it a try…
Anecdote alert: Years ago when my grandmother was going senile, my new-age brother told my mom to give spirulina to my grandmother. My grandmother’s memory almost immediately and dramatically improved, but the only things she remembered were all the horrible events in her life. She started complaining to my mom non-stop. My mom stopped giving it to her and my grandmother went back to being senile.
Spirulina is a big holistic new-agey food. My late wife was really into it. Looked and tasted like isht to me. Just like everything else non-FDA tested it will cure everything including cancer if you listen to them.
anybody uses it? what form? where do you get it? any feedback?
i came across this study among other ones. as an amateur scientist i like to experiment with nutrition and how it plays out in training and recovery so looking to give it a try…
Funny thing, I was going to post one on this same topic. I religiously use it in my recovery drinks which is made up of a half serving of muscle milk, glutamine powder, salt substitute (a very, very, very small amount), and sometimes cinnamon.
It looks and smells disgusting, but surprisingly has little tase and blends well with chocolate flavored shakes. It will turn anything it touches green.
It provide some additional nutritional benefits for people who aren’t good at getting their daily recommended vegetable intake. Beyond that, I would argue it is a good protein source for vegans. But it won’t cure cancer or any other thing. I do believe it has an immunity benefit, but again, I think it a well rounded diet including green veggies has the same effect.
Well I know that Scott Jurek is quite a fan of it. He writes about it in his book and you can find the recipe for one of his green drinks all over the web.
Here’s the Green Smoothie.
Packed with protein (spirulina is a complete protein) and rich in vitamins and minerals, this smoothie is an excellent source of nutrition. For a little extra carbohydrate boost, replace 1 cup water with 1 cup apple or grape juice.
Ingredients:
2 bananas
1 cup frozen or fresh mango or pineapple chunks
4 cups water
2 teaspoons spirulina powder
1 teaspoon miso
Directions:
Place all the ingredients in a blender and blend for 1 to 2 minutes, until the mixture is completely smooth. Drink 20 to 30 ounces (21/2 to 33/4 cups) 15 to 45 minutes before a run.
I’ve had it and it’s not too bad. I didn’t notice any stellar improvement, but then again I didn’t try it long.
I get a big tub of it from NOW foods. It’s lasted me so long I’m starting to give it to friends.
A lil goes a long way nutritionally and taste wise. Very potent stuff. Don’t treat it like regular protein power (i.e. 1/4 cup in post workout smoothies) as it’s been shows to stress out your liver if you use too much. 1-2 tablespoons a day is safe.
I get a big tub of it from NOW foods. It’s lasted me so long I’m starting to give it to friends.
A lil goes a long way nutritionally and taste wise. Very potent stuff. Don’t treat it like regular protein power (i.e. 1/4 cup in post workout smoothies) as it’s been shows to stress out your liver if you use too much. 1-2 tablespoons a day is safe.
This is the only source I buy it from. Genuine Hawaiian grown under strict QC. A lot of the bulk crap you find is Chicom. You mentioned stresses out the liver. Interesting, since that is the first I’ve heard of that, and plan to inquire further. The UN and NASA considered a viable sole source protein. I would assume that would mean more then the 1-2 tablespoons you, I and most probably use.
I’m almost willing to bet tainted sources might add to liver issue risk. Chicom pet food killed animals, remember.
Spirulina is a type of algae. Nothing magical about it, and nothing wrong with it either.
It has a bunch of of phytochemicals, micronutrients, etc. which have health benefits, similar to so many other darkly-pigmented plants.
You’re just as well off eating lots of spinach, kale, berries, etc, or stick with the spirulina.
I use spirulina all the time…
…For my plecostomus catfish.
Spirulina is a type of algae. Nothing magical about it, and nothing wrong with it either.
It has a bunch of of phytochemicals, micronutrients, etc. which have health benefits, similar to so many other darkly-pigmented plants.
You’re just as well off eating lots of spinach, kale, berries, etc, or stick with the spirulina.
+1. My naturopath/nutritionist wife puts a scoop into most smoothies we make and I can’t fault it.
In general, eating plants is a good idea.
I prefer Fecal transplants.
Until the USADA fucks that up too.
Later!
Brian
I use spirulina in my smoothies regularly. I prefer it with dark berries as I find those to hide flavor a bit more. One of my favorites is banana, blue berries, black berries, unsweetened peanut butter, spirulina, and almond milk.
There are a few studies undergoing right now on spirulina’s protective effects against cancer. The mechanism is that NADPH oxidase activates carcinogenesis.
Spirulina contains phycobilin which inhibits NADPH oxidase. It’s part of the whole bunch of work done on cox-2 inhibitors and cancer prevention. It may work against
oral cancer, colorectal cancer, and a few others.
In general it has antioxidative and antiinflammatory properties, that are rather well demonstrated, with large cohorts.
However, a recent study in Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology showed that most of the products sold in stores contained microcystins, and are thus cytotoxic.
So, if it’s clean, it probably is a good product…but you have little quality control in the supplement industry, and you may end up with liver issues…
It certainly helped prevent my late wife’s cancer.
Religiously use it for 5 months instead of any other recovery product. As stated you need to be carefull where you buy it as there’s a lot of junk out there. I get mine from therawfoodworld.com, did a bit of research and quality there is outstanding and the price is right too. I use the tablets and the powder. Depending on my training i take up to 20 tablets/day and 2tsp mixed into a smoothie. Since using it my recovery time went down enormously.
I wish I could tell you it’s that simple…sorry for your loss.
So this supports what I was thinking. I pretty much stopped buying stuff that wasn’t well trusted and tested. Again, there is no gov’t regulations, but I trust the sources and accepting that risk. But it doesn’t appear it is the Spirulina itself, but source contamination or fillers that pose the risk?
That’s correct.
Spirulina is a type of algae. Nothing magical about it, and nothing wrong with it either.
It has a bunch of of phytochemicals, micronutrients, etc. which have health benefits, similar to so many other darkly-pigmented plants.
You’re just as well off eating lots of spinach, kale, berries, etc, or stick with the spirulina.
+1. My naturopath/nutritionist wife puts a scoop into most smoothies we make and I can’t fault it.
In general, eating plants is a good idea.
+1. Too expensive if you buy it in small amounts. Cheap if you buy it in bulk from Now foods. Was considered a “miracle food” in the 70s. A spoonful in your smoothie is great.