The potent antioxidant properties of spirulina may help prevent certain thyroid gland diseases by protecting the thyroid from the harmful effects of free radicals. Spirulina
Spirulina
Spirulina is a cyanobacterium (blue-green algae) that can be consumed by humans and other animals. There are two species, Arthrospira platensis and Arthrospira maxima. Arthrospira is cultivated worldwide; used as a dietary supplement as well as a whole food; and is also …
Selenium
Selenium is a chemical element with the symbol Se and atomic number 34. It is a nonmetal with properties that are intermediate between the elements above and below in the periodic table, sulfur and tellurium, and also has similarities to arsenic. It rarely occurs in its elemental state or a…
Full Answer
Is spirulina good for thyroid disease?
Spirulina & the Thyroid. According to MedlinePlus, spirulina is marketed as an alternative treatment for cardiovascular, digestive and immune system problems, but none of these claims are supported by scientific evidence. Like other sea vegetables such as seaweed, spirulina has a high concentration of iodine.
Can spirulina cure cancer?
Spirulina alone obviously cannot cure cancer. However, it has proven anti-tumor properties, such as chlorella. Like the latter, spirulina can be used in cancer prevention and in support of anti-cancer treatments such as chemotherapy.
Is spirulina high in iodine?
Although the introduction of iodized salt has reduced the likelihood of having an iodine deficiency, many pregnant women in the United States and people who consciously avoid iodized salt are still low in it. Since your body cannot make iodine, you need to get it from dietary sources, and spirulina is naturally very high in it.
Is spirulina an autoimmune disease?
An autoimmune disease develops when the immune system attacks the healthy tissues in your body, causing organ damage and inflammation. Arthritis, asthma, periodontitis, vitiligo, type 2 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, and pernicious anemia are a few examples of autoimmune diseases. Spirulina is, after all, a foreign body.
How much iodine is in spirulina?
What is spirulina powder?
What happens if you don't have iodine?
Does spirulina have iodine?
Does iodine cause hypothyroidism?
Is spirulina safe for hyperthyroidism?
Is spirulina a regulated drug?
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Is spirulina good for thyroid patients?
Spirulina is rich in minerals including Iodine, Carotenoids, Beta-Carotene and the vital for the well-being of your thyroid Vitamin A. It is also one of the best Green foods for detoxifying the liver.
Is spirulina good for thyroid cancer?
In summary, the combination of spirulina-curcumin-Boswellia is effective in reducing the size of benign thyroid nodules and can be safely administered in the doses used in the presented clinical study.
Who shouldnt take spirulina?
To be safe, people with allergies should avoid this supplement or reach out to a doctor before using it ( 21 ). Spirulina and other algae also contain phenylalanine, a compound that people with phenylketonuria (PKU) — a rare inherited condition — should strictly avoid ( 2 2 ).
What are the dangers of spirulina?
But Spirulina may become contaminated with toxic metals, harmful bacteria and microcystins — toxins produced from some algae —if it is grown in unsafe conditions. Contaminated Spirulina can cause liver damage, nausea, vomiting, thirst, weakness, rapid heartbeat, shock and even death.
What shrinks thyroid nodules?
Radioactive iodine. Taken as a capsule or in liquid form, radioactive iodine is absorbed by your thyroid gland. This causes the nodules to shrink and signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism to subside, usually within two to three months.
Is spirulina high in iodine?
Like other sea vegetables such as seaweed, spirulina has a high concentration of iodine. If you have thyroid problems, talk to your doctor about what effect the iodine from spirulina supplementation may have on you.
Does spirulina increase estrogen?
Spirulina has anti-estrogenic effects because of its high bioavailability of Vitamin E.
What happens when you take spirulina everyday?
For example, it can lower total cholesterol, “bad” LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, while raising “good” HDL cholesterol. In a study in 25 people with type 2 diabetes, 2 grams of spirulina per day significantly improved these markers ( 9 ).
Is spirulina safe for autoimmune diseases?
Spirulina is rich in all amino acids, including phenylalanine. If you have an autoimmune disease, such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, or lupus, you should avoid spirulina. Theoretically, it could stimulate your immune system and make your condition worse.
Is spirulina high in heavy metals?
Many commercially-available brands of spirulina have low levels of heavy metals that do not fall within an unsafe range, according to a study published in the Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences in 2013. However, some brands are found to contain toxic levels of heavy metals such as lead, mercury and arsenic.
Is Chlorella good for thyroid?
Chlorella sorokiniana supplementation prevents the increases in oxidative stress markers and basal oxygen consumption in hyperthyroid rat livers. It also mitigates the thyroid hormone-induced increase in maximal aerobic capacities, the mitochondrial ROS release, and the susceptibility to oxidative stress.
Are there heavy metals in spirulina?
The heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic are mostly found to adulterate in Spirulina products. Each is found as a trace contaminant in certain pesticides and fertilizers, so they are common in agricultural areas (Pande et al., 1981; Kotangale et al., 1984).
Why are spirulina and thyroid associated?
by Kyle. Spirulina and the thyroid are associated together because of one thing, iodine. Iodine plays a crucial rule in the function of the thyroid and the amount of iodine in spirulina can be beneficial.
How much iodine is in Hawaiian spirulina?
Nutrex Hawaiian Spirulina is one of the only brands that makes their spirulina’s iodine content known. According to their website it contains about 15mcg of iodine for every 3 grams of spirulina. So lets say you are taking a tablespoon (7g) of spirulina a day, which is a rather common serving size.
Why is iodine important?
Iodine is NEEDED for your body to produce the thyroid hormone. And these hormones are involved in a number of different activities, ranging from protein synthesis, to enzyme activity, to metabolism. And unfortunately your body cannot make its own iodine, so it is necessary to get iodine through your diet. Iodine deficiency can lead ...
What are the problems with iodine?
Iodine deficiency can lead to a number of problems including, thyroid enlargment, hypothyroidism, and even can lead to mental retardation in newborn babies if the mother is deficient due to the role thyroid hormones play in central nervous system development. Iodized salt was introduced in the United States around the 1920’s ...
Does spirulina have iodine?
Well the iodine content of spirulina varies greatly, and this is the main problem with spirulina supplementation for iodine. May distrubuters don’t make any note of how much iodine their spirulina actually contains, and this can be a big problem. For this reason I only have 1 suggestion.
Is spirulina high in sodium?
On a side note. Its important to mention the sodium content of spirulina, because many people looking for extra iodine are those that stay away from salt. And people stay away from salt due to the sodium content. So just to let you know spirulina is on the higher side of foods with 73mg of sodium for every tablespoon (7g) of spirulina.
Why is my thyroid gland sluggish?
Hypothyroidism, an insufficient production of thyroid hormones, is caused by a variety of factors, among them an iodine deficiency. Consuming a diet that is too low in iodine can cause your thyroid gland to become sluggish.
Is spirulina good for thyroid?
Spirulina is also rich in a range of minerals including selenium, which is well-known for its thyroid-supporting properties. Finally, spirulina is an excellent source of protein and contains a healthy dose of vitamin B-12, which is helpful because many people with hypothyroidism are deficient in B-12.
Can spirulina be contaminated?
Always buy spirulina from a trusted brand because it can be contaminated with toxic substances. Also, depending on the water where it was grown, spirulina may contain high levels of heavy metals. A standard dose of spirulina for supporting health is 500 milligrams per day, but spirulina may interact with certain medications. People with the metabolic condition phenylketonuria should not take spirulina.
Does spirulina help with hypothyroidism?
Since your body cannot make iodine, you need to get it from dietary sources, and spirulina is naturally very high in it. As such, natural health practitioners sometimes recommend spirulina to help treat hypothyroidism; however, this recommendation is based on anecdotal evidence alone.
Is spirulina a supplement?
Spirulina & the Thyroid. Spirulina is a blue-green algae, and although it is a food, it is better known as a dietary supplement. It is commonly touted for all sorts of health-promoting purposes and sold in both powdered and capsule form.
Does iodine make your thyroid less active?
A study published in 2012 in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" found that while iodine usually helps stimulate the thyroid, too much iodine -- more than about 800 micrograms per day -- can actually cause the thyroid to become less active.
Does spirulina cure cancer?
Lie #4 : Spirulina cures cancer. If spirulina cured cancer, it would be wonderful and it would surely have been known for a very long time! Spirulina alone obviously cannot cure cancer. However, it has proven anti-tumor properties, such as chlorella.
Does spirulina contain iodine?
Thyroid and iodine. People with thyroid problems regularly wonder if spirulina contains iodine: this is not the case, spirulina does not contain iodine. Only seaweed contains it, but spirulina is not an algae and is not grown with seawater, except in some rare cultures.
Is spirulina a microalgae?
Spirulina is commonly referred as blue-green algae and is considered a microalgae because it grows in water. In fact, it’s a cyanobacteria! This appellation is obviously of little importance, only its health properties are really important.
Is spirulina good for pregnant women?
Spirulina is an excellent food supplement that pregnant women can consume if the quality of it is impeccable. For all foods that expectant mothers consume on a daily basis, it is important to be even more vigilant about the quality and origin of the products!
Is spirulina a toxins?
Presence of toxins and salmonella in spirulina! Toxins, such as microcystins and salmonella are dangerous to the liver, and have sometimes been found in some spirulina samples from Asia imported into Europe. Be vigilant and favour serious producers and close productions.
Is spirulina a good source of cobalamin?
Even if spirulina is a super food full of valuable nutrients for your health, on average only 20% of the cobalamin contained in spirulina is bio-available. The remaining 80% represents what researchers call “pseudo-vitamin B12”.
Does pseudo vitamin B12 monopolize physiological sites?
This pseudo vitamin will mobilize physiological targets but it will not be “usable” by our body. Moreover, the pseudo vitamin B12 which will monopolize the physiological sites will compete with the real vitamin B12 present, to the detriment of the latter which is essential to us.
Is blue green algae good for cancer?
Spirulina platensis is a blue-green alga used as a dietary supplement because of its hypocholesterolemic properties.
Is spirulina platensis a dietary supplement?
Spirulina platensis is a blue-green alga used as a dietary supplement because of its hypocholesterolemic properties. Among other bioactive substances, it is also rich in tetrapyrrolic compounds closely related to bilirubin molecule, a potent antioxidant and anti-proliferative agent. The aim of our s ….
Is S. platensis anti-proliferative?
The anti-proliferative effects of S. platensis and its tetrapyrrolic components [phycocyanobilin (PCB) and chlorophyllin, a surrogate molecule for chlorophyll A] were tested on several human pancreatic cancer cell lines and xenotransplanted nude mice.
Is chlorella a good supplement?
Zinc—133% RDA. In addition, chlorella contains a good amount of vitamin B1, vitamin B6 and phosphorus. (1) For a cancer patient, since these are foods, not supplements, a person might think that there is no limit to how much you can take. That is not true.
Is chlorella a green algae?
According to Dr. Josh Axe, “ chlorella is a blue-green algae like its cousin spirulina. Studies have theorized that chlorella benefits the entire body by supporting healthy hormonal function, promoting cardiovascular health, helping to negate the effects of chemotherapy and radiation, lowering blood pressure and cholesterol, ...
What is the name of the disorder that causes the patient to not metabolize phenylalanine?
1. Worsens Phenylketonuria. Phenylketonuria is a genetically acquired disorder in which the patient cannot metabolize the amino acid called phenylalanine due to the lack of an enzyme called phenylalanine hydroxylase.
What happens when you have too much iodine in your blood?
The build-up of excessive nutrients, along with iodine, in the blood leads to fluid retention (edema) in your limbs, imbalance in calcium, phosphate, and iodine absorption, and sudden weight gain or loss, lethargy, and cardiovascular diseases. 7. Digestive Discomfort And Nausea. Shutterstock.
Does spirulina cause edema?
Triggers Edema And Body Weight Fluctuation. Spirulina is packed with vitamins, proteins, and minerals. People with compromised renal function would be unable to expel the unnecessary components from their bloodstream. One of the most abundant minerals found in spirulina is iodine.
Does spirulina interfere with immunosuppressants?
Interferes With Drug Action. Spirulina is an irritant to your immune system. It can interfere with drugs, especially immunosuppressants. A person on immunosuppressant medication must not consume spirulina. Else, it will diminish the effect of the medication, resulting in serious complications. 4.
Can you take spirulina powder in a smoothie?
People consume spirulina orally in the form of powder, flakes, or tablets for several health benefits. Spirulina powder and flakes are usually added to fruit juices and smoothies. It can have an adverse impact on your health if you do not take it in controlled doses. Read on to find out how.
Is spirulina a microalgae?
Spirulina is free-floating filamentous microalgae growing in alkaline water bodies. Due to its high nutritional value, spirulina has been consumed as food for centuries in Central Africa. It is now widely used as a nutraceutical food supplement worldwide. People consume spirulina orally in the form of powder, flakes, ...
Does spirulina affect thyroid?
While on the one hand, it is good to take in iodine via spirulina, on the other hand, it could affect your thyroid and parathyroid glands. The effects are more pronounced in people with hyperparathyroidism.
What is chlorella and spirulina?
In the quest for supplements to boost your health, you may encounter chlorella and spirulina, two types of blue-green algae. You may also encounter a number of claims about these supplements' health benefits, from spirulina for heavy metal detox to chlorella for chronic conditions like hypertension. Video of the Day.
Is spirulina regulated by the FDA?
Harvard Health Publishing adds that spirulina, like other dietary supplements, is not regulated by the FDA. Therefore, there's no guarantee that any supplement you buy will be free of contaminants or contain the amount of spirulina indicated on the label. Advertisement.
Is chlorella harmful to skin?
Regardless of whether chlorella or spirulina benefits skin, improves chronic conditions or aids overall health, it's important to understand the possible risks. Certain forms of blue-green algae may be contaminated with microcystins and anatoxins, both highly toxic substances, says Winchester Hospital.
Can spirulina affect blood thinners?
URMC notes that spirulina may impact the effectiveness of blood thinners.
Is chlorella a good supplement?
At best, chlorella and spirulina may offer certain health benefits, though those benefits are generally not scientifically proven, according to Harvard Health Publishing. Advertisement. At worst, there can be adverse results of taking chlorella and spirulina. Side effects may be more pronounced if these supplements are taken in excess, ...
Does spirulina help with hair?
Study participants largely reported that spirulina benefits skin and that chlorella and spirulina intake had improved their hair and skin quality. Although these benefits are not directly evidenced, say the authors, the claim is nonetheless plausible, given the nutritional content of these supplements.
Does spirulina help the immune system?
The same is true of claims that spirulina can boost the immune system and improve kidney and liver function. When taken at the recommended dosage, spirulina side effects are few, says Harvard Health Publishing.
How much iodine is in spirulina?
A typical 3-gram dose of a commercial spirulina supplement supplies 15 micrograms of iodine, or 10 percent of the daily requirement for most men and women.
What is spirulina powder?
Spirulina is a type of blue-green algae available as a dietary supplement in powdered, capsule or tablet form. According to MedlinePlus, spirulina is marketed as an alternative treatment for cardiovascular, digestive and immune system problems, but none of these claims are supported by scientific evidence.
What happens if you don't have iodine?
If your diet lacks iodine, your thyroid gland will not be able to produce adequate triiodothyronine, or T3, and thyroxine, or T4, essential thyroid hormones. Healthy adults need approximately 150 micrograms of iodine each day to prevent the development of goiter, or enlarged thyroid gland, and hypothyroidism.
Does spirulina have iodine?
Like other sea vegetables such as seaweed, spirulina has a high concentration of iodine. If you have thyroid problems, talk to your doctor about what effect the iodine from spirulina supplementation may have on you.
Does iodine cause hypothyroidism?
Effect on Hypothyroidism. Although being deficient in iodine may help cause hypothyroidism, the American Thyroid Association cautions that trying to rectify the disorder by consuming large doses of iodine -- including iodine supplied by sea vegetables like spirulina -- may worsen the symptoms of the condition.
Is spirulina safe for hyperthyroidism?
If your doctor does say spirulina supplementation is a safe option for you, always adhere to her dosage recommendations. Over-the-count er supplements like spirulina aren't regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and may be contaminated by potentially poisonous bacteria and heavy metals. Look for brands that have been tested by an outside agency such as the U.S. Pharmacopeia.
Is spirulina a regulated drug?
Over-the-counter supplements like spirulina aren't regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and may be contaminated by potentially poisonous bacteria and heavy metals. Look for brands that have been tested by an outside agency such as the U.S. Pharmacopeia. av-override. ‒‒:‒‒. /.