Trying To Lose Weight? Take Spirulina For Weight Loss

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Spirulina is a blue-green algae superfood found in freshwater and saltwater bodies worldwide.
Spirulina offers many health benefits because of its rich nutritional profile. Among its many benefits is that it can help with weight loss and achieving a healthy BMI.
Moreover, spirulina can help with reducing the appetite and boosting metabolism.

Can spirulina reduce a person’s weight? This supplement is known to bring a lot of benefits to our body. But is taking spirulina for weight loss worth it?

Spirulina is chock full of nutrients that help different parts and aspects of our bodily function. It can help reduce our risk for many diseases and even help ward off some of them completely. Luckily, many of those nutrients contribute to losing weight and maintaining a healthy BMI. This, in turn, also helps keep our entire body healthy.

Wondering how you can incorporate this healthy food into your weight-loss diet? Read on to discover everything you need to know about spirulina’s role in helping you lose weight.

What Is Spirulina?

Spirulina (Spirulina platensis) is known around the world as a superfood. It’s a type of cyanobacteria that grows naturally in freshwater and saltwater bodies. This type of blue-green algae is also known to be jam-packed with nutrients, so many people have chosen to use it as a nutritional supplement.

Taking spirulina regularly can provide a long list of health benefits — from cardiovascular disease prevention to improved mental health.

The best part? Those benefits aren’t just hearsay, as numerous scientific trials and studies back them.

Spirulina’s Nutritional Profile

It’s easy to say that spirulina is nutritious, but what healthy compounds does it bring? According to the USDA’s profile on spirulina, here are just some of the nutrients this superfood can provide:

Calcium
Copper
Iron
Magnesium
Niacin
Omega-3 and Omega-6 (essential fatty acids)
Phosphorus
Potassium
Protein
Riboflavin
Thiamin

Health Issues You May Face If You’re Overweight

Being overweight or obese can significantly impact an individual’s health, leading to various physical and psychological issues. These health problems can affect various organ systems and overall well-being. Here’s an overview of the health issues associated with being overweight:

Cardiovascular Problems

Hypertension (High Blood Pressure): Excess weight can strain the heart and blood vessels, leading to elevated blood pressure, a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke.
Heart Disease: Obesity increases the risk of coronary artery disease, resulting in heart attacks, angina (chest pain), and heart failure.
Stroke: Being overweight contributes to atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries), increasing the risk of stroke.

Type 2 Diabetes

Obesity is a primary risk factor for type 2 diabetes, a chronic condition characterized by high blood sugar levels. It can lead to complications such as neuropathy, kidney disease, and vision problems.

Respiratory Issues

Sleep Apnea: Excess fat in the neck and throat can obstruct airways during sleep, leading to sleep apnea, a condition associated with interrupted breathing and decreased oxygen intake.
Asthma: Obesity is linked to an increased prevalence of asthma and may worsen its severity.

Musculoskeletal Problems

Osteoarthritis: The extra weight puts stress and pressure on joints, particularly in the knees, hips, and lower back, leading to osteoarthritis and chronic joint pain.
Back Pain: Being overweight can strain the lower back and increase the risk of chronic back pain.

Gastrointestinal Disorders

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): Obesity is a risk factor for GERD, which causes heartburn and may damage the esophagus.
Fatty Liver Disease: Excess fat can accumulate in the liver, leading to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which can progress to more severe liver conditions.

Cancer

Obesity is associated with an increased risk of several types of cancer, including breast, colon, ovarian, and pancreatic cancer.

Psychological Health Issues

Depression and Anxiety: Obesity can have psychological consequences, including depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem.
Eating Disorders: In some cases, individuals may develop unhealthy relationships with food, leading to binge eating disorders or other eating disorders.

Reproductive Health

Infertility: Obesity can affect fertility in both men and women.
Pregnancy Complications: Overweight or obese pregnant women are at higher risk for complications such as gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and cesarean section.

Increased Risk of Infectious Diseases

Obesity may impair the immune system’s function, increasing susceptibility to infections.

Reduced Life Expectancy

Overweight and obesity are associated with a decreased life expectancy due to the increased risk of chronic diseases and related complications.

It’s important to note that health risks are not solely determined by body weight but by other factors such as genetics, overall lifestyle, and body fat distribution. Addressing weight-related health issues often involves a multifaceted approach, including a balanced diet, regular physical activity, and behavioral changes.

Benefits of Spirulina for Weight Loss

Does spirulina help to lose weight? Given its nutritional content, yes, spirulina supplementation is something you can do if you want to reduce your body weight.

But how does this superfood do this? Here are the beneficial effects of spirulina that are connected to reducing weight.

1. Spirulina Helps Maintain Healthy Body Mass Index

Does spirulina help with weight loss?

When managing your weight, spirulina is an excellent supplement to add to your nutritional plan.

A 2020 review of numerous studies regarding spirulina for weight loss outlined its contributions. Based on the review, spirulina greatly helps lower a person’s body mass index or BMI. It also helps maintain it at a healthy level.

But can spirulina reduce belly fat?

According to the same 2020 study review, spirulina also showed promise in reducing belly fat and waist circumference.

2. Spirulina Suppresses Appetite

Can you consume spirulina platensis as an appetite suppressant?

Since it has low calorie, carbohydrate, and fat content, spirulina doesn’t contribute to weight gain but supports weight loss. One of the main ways it helps you reduce body weight is mainly through its protein content.

Protein is a nutrient that helps minimize a person’s hunger pangs and cravings. The fewer cravings you have, the less likely you would want to eat.

3. Spirulina Helps Boost Metabolism

Does spirulina speed up metabolism? Does spirulina burn belly fat?

According to studies, spirulina also has the potential to boost lipid or fat metabolism while keeping fat absorption at a minimum. Spirulina can help burn fat, turning it into lipids that our body’s cells can use for energy.

Other Spirulina Benefits for the Body

Helping you lose weight isn’t the only benefit spirulina supplementation can provide us. Here are some other health-related benefits this superfood can provide:

Anti-inflammatory properties: It helps minimize the body’s inflammatory response, making it effective against conditions like allergic rhinitis.
Anti-microbial: It is known to help fight against harmful microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. In fact, spirulina is a popular supplement that can help clear up candida overgrowth.
May help fight cancer: According to studies, this superfood has anti-cancer properties and antioxidant properties that reduce one’s risk of getting cancer.
May help boost immune function: This cyanobacteria has shown promise in helping increase white blood cell production, which, as a result, also increases the immune system’s response.
Reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases: It lowers cholesterol levels and helps lower blood pressure by reducing arterial stiffness.
Rich in iron: Studies have found that this iron content may help people with iron-deficiency anemia.
Helps regulate blood sugar levels: It helps lower blood glucose concentrations, making it a suitable supplement for diabetic patients and people with insulin resistance.
Get rid of harmful toxins in the body: This superfood is known to bind with harmful chemicals and toxins to get rid of them. It’s also effective in lowering heavy metal toxicity in the body.

How to Take Spirulina for Weight Loss

Wondering how to use spirulina for weight loss? Taking this superfood as a supplement, whether for losing weight or other health benefits, is straightforward. Buying spirulina is easy as you can find them in many health stores and online sellers. They usually come in two forms: spirulina powders and spirulina tablets.

Is There a Specific Spirulina Dosage for Weight Loss?

There’s no set answer to how much spirulina you must take to lose weight. Dosage always depends on the person.

If you want a more targeted nutritional regimen with microalgae spirulina, it’s best to consult with your healthcare provider first.

However, experts generally recommend taking 3 to 3.5 grams of spirulina daily. However, this supplement is proven safe, and people have taken up to 19 grams daily without any adverse effects.

How to Take Spirulina Powder vs. Tablet Form?

If you want to take spirulina powder for weight loss, you simply have to mix the set dose and mix it with your drinks, meals, or baked goods.

Tablets, on the other hand, are even more straightforward. You just need to take the recommended spirulina tablet dosage for weight loss with water.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Best Time to Take Spirulina for Weight Loss?

When should I take spirulina for weight loss? There is no best time to take this supplement. It’s safe and effective no matter what time you take it. You can even consume spirulina with or without eating first.

Why Do Bodybuilders Take Spirulina?

Many bodybuilders benefit a lot from spirulina. Besides the fact that it helps lose weight, spirulina is also packed with protein, which can help build lean muscle mass. On top of this, spirulina also helps with recovery after workouts, thanks to its potent anti-inflammatory properties.

Who Can Take Spirulina for Weight Loss?

Any healthy individual can use spirulina supplements for weight loss. Spirulina is known to have minimal side effects and is generally safe.

The only people who should avoid this supplement are those with underlying health conditions. More specifically, those with autoimmune conditions are advised to avoid consuming spirulina because the supplement boosts immune function. Additionally, those with allergies to spirulina should avoid taking it for weight loss to ward off any unwanted health reactions that may do more harm than good.

Achieving a Healthy Weight With Spirulina

One of the healthiest weight loss supplements that you can get today is spirulina. It doesn’t simply focus on helping you lose weight but helps you maintain a healthy body overall. Spirulina targets many aspects of our health as our entire body can reap its benefits. This makes it a wonderful supplement choice for anyone.

Hopefully, this guide has helped you learn more about the benefits of spirulina for weight loss. Discover why this superfood is well-loved. Add spirulina to your nutrition plan today!