Spirulina improves exercise performance

[Guest guest]

Spirulina significantly aids allergy sufferers and improves exercise

performance

Monday, January 30, 2012 by: Donna Earnest Pravel

http://www.naturalnews.com/034809_spirulina_allergies_exercise_recovery.html#ixz\

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(NaturalNews) Spirulina is a blue-green algae which is commercially produced

and widely marketed as a " superfood " and immune booster. It is also a rich

source of natural, plant-based iron, calcium, vitamin A and vitamin C, and

an excellent source of plant protein, with up to 70% of its dry weight being

protein. The alpha-linolenic acid profile in spirulina is the highest in the

plant kingdom, coming in third overall behind milk and evening primrose oil.

Cytokines and interferons tell the body it may be getting sick

A study published in the Spring 2005 isssue of the Journal of Medicinal Food

indicated that ingested spirulina made a significant improvement in human

patients with nasal allergies, also known as allergic rhinitis. In this

study, researchers measured the amount of cytokines, interferon, and other

immune system signals found in the bloodstream before and after taking

spirulina. Cytokines are immune system molecules which send signals to alert

immune " fighters " to come to the body's aid when a pathogen is encountered.

They act as auto-immune communicators. Cytokines can be either proteins,

glycoproteins, or peptides.

According to the University of South Carolina School of Medicine,

interferons are another type of immune system signal. They work by binding

to receptors located on cell membranes, sending a " red alert " message to the

cells. Cells then respond to this message by triggering 20-30 genes which

then create an anti-viral cellular environment.

Eating spirulina every day significantly improves allergy symtoms

The spirulina study was a typical randomized, double-blind clinical study.

Allergic rhinitis sufferers were given either a placebo or a daily dose of

either 1000 mg or 2000 mg spirulina for twelve weeks. There was no

improvement for the participants taking the placebo. There was also no

notable improvement for participants taking 1000 mg spirulina daily.

However, the allergy sufferers who took 2000 mg spirulina every day saw

significant improvement in their allergy symptoms.

Consumption of spirulina enhances exercise performance

A January 2010 research study published in Medicine and Science in Sports

and Exercise reported that spirulina had a positive impact on exercise

performance. In this study, nine physically fit men took either a placebo or

spirulina for four weeks. The men ran on a treadmill for two hours every

day, running at 70-75% of their VO2 max and 95% of their VO2 max to

exhaustion. Both exercise performance and respiratory function were

measured. Blood samples were drawn at regular intervals during the study.

The results were impressive. The time to fatigue after the two hour run was

significantly longer among the men who took spirulina. The carbohydrate

oxidation rate was decreased by over 10% and the fat burning rate was

increased by almost 11% over the placebo group. The study concluded that

spirulina really does enhance exercise performance.

Sources for this article include:

National Institute of Health.gov. " Effects of a Spirulina-Based Dietary

Supplement on Cytokine Production From Allergic Rhinitis Patients. " TK Mao,

et al. Journal of Medicinal Food, 2005 Spring; 8(1): 27-30.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15857205

Nutrition Data. Self. com. " Self Nutrition Data "

http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2765/2

News-Medical.net. " What Are Cytokines? "

http://www.news-medical.net/health/What-are-Cytokines.aspx

Pathmicro.med.sc.edu. " Interferon "

http://pathmicro.med.sc.edu/mhunt/interferon.htm

National Institute of Health.gov. Orio Ciferri, " Spirulina, the Edible

Microorganism. " Microbiological Reviews, 1983, Vol 47, No. 4, pp. 551-578.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC283708/pdf/microrev00019-0101.pdf

National Institute of Health.gov. " Ergogenic and Antioxidant Effects of

Spirulina Supplementation in Humans. " M. Kalafati, et al. Medicine and

Science

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC283708/pdf/microrev00019-0101.pdfin

Sports and Exercise, Jan 2010, 42(1); 142-51.