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Spirulina mercadona: opinions, price and nutritional information

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Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) is a filamentous cyanobacterium which has been proposed, at present, as an alternative eco friendly for the bioremediation of ecosystems, nitrification and the fixation of carbon dioxide (CO2). Spirulina is an excellent candidate for the elimination of toxic agents in the environment, such as heavy metals and phenols. Beyond its bioremedial properties, as we will see below, it also has multiple benefits in the field of human nutrition.

On the other hand, its biomass production is fast (it grows at a more than adequate rate), it does not require extensive land for its cultivation and, among other things, it does not need so much water and space for each kilogram of organic matter obtained. With the right climate, you get 4 grams per square meter of plot per day, while to generate half a kilo of rice requires 1,700 liters of water and much more time.

For all these reasons and many more, spirulina is considered a superfood for a world in crisis. The concentrate of this microalgae has antioxidant, hypoglycemic and antihypertensive properties. If you want to know all the benefits of Spirulina Mercadona, keep reading.

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  • We recommend you read: "Spirulina: what is it and 10 benefits of this superfood"

What is Mercadona spirulina?

"Spirulina Mercadona" is nothing more than an arbitrary name to designate dry spirulina compounds made available to the public in the form of pills and oral tablets. In this case, we look at the specific product of the Deliplus brand "Fucus and Spirulina", as it is the complement that is marketed in this supermarket. It comes in a container with 60 tablets for the modest price of 4.5 euros. Without a doubt, it is a very cheap food supplement compared to others available on the market.

In any case, the information that we are going to provide you here is applicable to many more products based on the concentrate. of this microalgae, such as Spirulina-supersmart, Spirulina-Dietinatural, Spirulina Bio, Spirulina organic and many others more. Most of these products are a bit more expensive, but they are pure spirulina (without the algae fucus) and come more tablets per bottle, from 200 to 500.

To understand the properties of these oral tablets, we must go to the nutritional composition reported by dry spirulina-based supplements. Here are the most important information you should know:

  • Protein: they represent around 57% of the dry weight of the compound.
  • Carbohydrates: between 8 and 14% of the total, mainly in the form of polysaccharides.
  • Lipids: 6%, although it depends on the culture conditions of the microorganism.

About 100 grams of dried spirulina report 300 kilocalories and are a rich source of essential micronutrients, such as They can be iron, manganese, niacin, vitamins of the B complex and different beneficial compounds for the organism. Its very high protein concentration in relation to its low lipid content makes this an ideal supplement for athletes who are trying to gain muscle weight: To give you an idea, 100 grams of chicken have 27 grams of protein, that is, spirulina contains twice as much.

  • You may be interested in: "Moringa: what is it for and 8 benefits of this plant"
Mercadona spirulina

What does spirulina do?

Reading all these qualities could make us think that spirulina is a miraculous superfood, but it's time to get a little skeptical and go down to Earth again. To affirm the properties of a compound we must turn to science, because as they say, numbers are the only ones that do not lie to us. Therefore, we cite you some studies that explore the properties of spirulina on several fronts.

The investigation Antioxidant, Immunomodulating, and Microbial-Modulating Activities of the Sustainable and Ecofriendly Spirulina, published in the magazine Oxidative medicine and Cellular longevity, is the first that catches our attention. First, Spirulina has been shown in animal models to have a powerful antioxidant effect, that is, it is capable of retarding harmful oxidation in the cellular environment by the metabolic release of free radicals.

The active compound of this microalgae to which such capacity is attributed is pyocyanin, since it seems that it can sequester these free radicals and inhibit the synthesis of molecules pro-inflammatory. In addition, it has been recorded that in its natural environment Spirulina produces selective antibacterial agents, which that could promote a healthy microbiota in the individual who assiduously consumes their concentrates.

On the other hand, the United States National Library of Medicine argues that this compound could be potentially effective in treating high blood pressure (hypertension). One of the peptides it contains (SP6) is considered a vasodilator after investigating it in experimental models, which is why a presumed antihypertensive property is suspected.

Lastly, we must not forget that spirulina has a high protein content and many essential vitamins and minerals, always in the right dose. In any case, it is necessary to put all these concepts in perspective, since no one is going to ingest (nor should they) 100 grams of spirulina a day. Chicken, turkey, vegetables and many other healthy foods can be consumed in large quantities without putting in danger to the digestion of the individual, so despite presenting "less" benefits, they compensate with lower price and more amount.

Spirulina and weight loss

We are entering a conflictive point, as many sources argue that Mercadona Spirulina (and all concentrates based on this microalgae) can promote weight loss in patients who consume. The study Effects of Spirulina supplementation on obesity: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials, puts this idea to the test, as it studies the effect of spirulina in overweight and obese people in multiple previous investigations.

The results of the verified investigations showed that Spirulina users lost considerably more weight than those who did not ingest it, especially if they were obese. It is stipulated that this could be due to certain physiological mechanisms of the algae, such as the following:

  • Studies have shown that when patients ingest spirulina concentrates, they reabsorb less fat in the small intestine and secrete more cholesterol in the stool.
  • It appears that spirulina prevents the accumulation of intrahepatic fat, decreases oxidative stress and increases insulin sensitivity.
  • It could help increase satiety, by giving the patient greater resistance to leptin.

All the studies cited and many more (such as Effects of spirulina on weight loss and blood lipids: a review, from the medical journal Open heart) seem to indicate that spirulina must have some effects that facilitate weight loss in obese patients. These investigations have no monetary interest, as they are in the public domain and are not endorsed by any company that produces the supplements described here. Therefore, we do not arouse mistrust.

Spirulina weight loss

The limitations of spirulina

As you may have observed, up to now we have moved all the time in “you can” and “maybe”, since to affirm a causality between losing weight or lowering blood pressure solely by consuming spirulina is, outright, not the truth. According to the United States National Library of Medicine, the only effect that seems to have been clearly demonstrated is the decrease in hypertensive activity, but everything else remains to be verified.

Therefore, it is considered that there is insufficient evidence to prescribe or use it as an adjunct in the treatment of rhinitis, athletic performance (many research has not found any correlation), insulin resistance, diabetes, high cholesterol levels, obesity, mental alertness and other much more. Many studies show properties on some of these fronts, while others have found no causality at all. Therefore, it is impossible to affirm anything, at least at this point.

Resume

As you may have observed, we are at a scientific impasse, since it is necessary to continue researching the properties of spirulina especially in humans, beyond experimental animal models and sporadic situations. For each investigation that finds a correlation, there is another that is not capable of doing so, so it is clear that every property of this microalgae must be presented with nuances.

Therefore, if you want to lose weight or are concerned about your hypertension, we recommend in all cases that you put yourself in the hands of a medical professional. Some may recommend that you take spirulina as an accessory treatment, but never as a main medication. Putting a disease in the hands of over-the-counter supplements is always a mistake, so keep your critical thinking and don't be dazzled by the publicity that certain sources display.

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