Algae Spirulina

Spirulina is a rich source of nutrients, containing up to 70% protein, B-complex vitamins, phycocyanin, chlorophyll, beta-carotene, vitamin E, and numerous minerals. In fact, spirulina contains more beta-carotene than carrots. As spirulina is one of the most nutritional, natural whole foods available it is being used in third world countries in the fight against malnutrition. Unlike other algae, it is easily digested.  

The use of Spirulina as food source is not a recent trend, as spirulina has been used since ancient times as a source of nutrients and has been said to possess a variety of medical uses, including as an antioxidant, antiviral, antineoplastic, weight loss aid, and lipid-lowering agent.

Spirulina platensis

The high chlorophyll content in Spirulina helps to maintain a healthy stomach and cleanses the bowel, and aids digestive processes.  The high chlorophyll content appears to make it an effective in offsetting body odor. The non-saturated fatty acid is believed to strengthen cell membranes and reduce infection, so the polysaccharides produced by Spirulina are thought to keep the HIV-1 virus from replicating. In a paper published in 2007 it was also shown that Spirulina maxima lowered blood pressure.¹ There is also some evidence that it might be a useful in the fight against cancer. 

Spirulina is the common name for human and animal food supplements produced mainly from two species of cyanobacteria: Arthrospira platensis, and Arthrospira maxima.  So these are also known as Spirulina platensis and are mass cultivated commercially. Both Spirulina spp . and non- Spirulina  spp. fall into the classification of cyanobacteria and include:  Aphanizomenon  spp.,  Microcystis  spp.,  Nostoc  spp., and  Spirulina  spp.

Aphanizomenon flos-aquae

Many commercial products contain Aphanizomenon flos-aquae, Spirulina maxima, and/or Spirulina platensis. Aphanizomenon flos-aquae as a species has both toxic and non-toxic forms and it is safer to avoid growing this species. It is reported that dogs become ill or had fatal reactions after swimming in rivers and lakes containing toxic Aphanizomenon flos-aquae. All these algae are found in the warm, alkaline waters of the world, especially of Mexico and Central Africa. Spirulina  spp .  are most often grown under controlled conditions and are subject to less contamination than the non-spirulina species that are harvested naturally.

Why not grow your own spirulina in a Photobioreactor?

1. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2211748/