Too Much Spirulina?

It is really environmentally friendly. It’s “cleanse,” and it is touted as the “world’s healthiest superfood.” Spirulina presents 60% all-vegetarian protein by pounds, but can you just take also a great deal?

In a phrase, sure!

Folks typically start out taking spirulina in buy to support their overall health. A blue-green algae wealthy in beta carotene, iron, vitamin B-12 and the rare crucial fatty acid, GLA, powdered spirulina is a little bit of an obtained style. Even so, converts often swear by its powers to crystal clear the pores and skin, chill out the thoughts, and supply additional energy. Whether added to smoothies and clean juices or taken in pill form, spirulina initially would seem like a winner.

Anecdotal stories counsel healings from malnutrition, most cancers, zits, allergy symptoms and protein deficiency, to name a handful of. From an environmental standpoint, spirulina delivers techniques to stave off deforestation, since it grows in brackish water on non-fertile land. Some makers and proponents look at spirulina a vital nutritional supplement for ending world hunger! Certainly, this tiny blue-green algae does some very incredible items.

However, very couple resources alert of the risks of ingesting far too substantially spirulina. Although much from a “mainstream difficulty,” overdosing on spirulina is really rather prevalent in wellness nut circles, specially amid the uncooked foodist group, who may use it in salad dressings, smoothies, and refreshing juices–all in the very same day!

Spirulina includes 3900% far more beta carotene than carrots. At to start with, this appears like a advantage: far more is superior, ideal? Nicely, not usually. The overall body can convert beta carotene to vitamin A, and in significant doses, vitamin A becomes toxic to the liver. Superior dosage spirulina buyers typically complain of significant body itching, which seems to appear from beneath the skin. No quantity of oils, lotions or water would seem to alleviate the itch. If you or someone you know has this challenge, it could be a signal of critical liver toxicity. Lots of people working experience reduction in a couple times by stopping spirulina and any other large beta-carotene meals or nutritional supplements like goji berries, beets, carrots, E3Live or Crystal Manna and some sea weeds. When the itching subsides, they can progressively incorporate in decreased doses of beta carotene that contains foodstuff, but they are going to require to use warning for awhile as their liver recovers.

For individuals who started using spirulina for health and fitness, the prospect of liver toxicity poses an ironic result. Spirulina and other superfoods still present powerful added benefits, but we require to bear in mind that “super”foodstuff genuinely CAN present “as well significantly of a very good thing.” Proposed doses variety from 3-5 grams all the way up to 40 grams for every day, which tends to make it difficult to gage an overdose problem. If you expertise uncommon signs and have been using a great deal of highly effective plant foods like spirulina, contemplate backing these superfoods down a bit. When it will come to dietary supplements and/or superfoods, more does not constantly signify superior.