Wednesday, June 4, 2008

SPIRULINA:WONDERFULL GREEN HERBS IN THE EARTH

SPIRULINA THE WONDERFULL HERBS IN THE WORLD

Yes spirulina really wonderfull herbs in the world now.In USA,Europian Union,Asia,Africa,Australia thousands Doctors, scientists are regularly discovering the benifits of this wonderfull sea herb.
What Is Spirulina
Spirulina is a blue-green algae. It is a simple, one-celled form of algae that thrives in warm, alkaline fresh-water bodies. The name "spirulina" is derived from the Latin word for "helix" or "spiral"; denoting the physical configuration of the organism when it forms swirling, microscopic strands.
Spirulina is being developed as the "food of the future" because of its amazing ability to synthesize high-quality concentrated food more efficiently than any other algae. Most notably, Spirulina is 65 to 71 percent complete protein, with all essential amino acids in perfect balance. In comparison, beef is only 22 percent protein.
Spirulina has a photosynthetic conversion rate of 8 to 10 percent, compared to only 3 percent in such land-growing plants as soybeans.
In addition, Spirulina is one of the few plant sources of vitamin B12, usually found only in animal tissues. A teaspoon of Spirulina supplies 21/2 times the Recommended Daily Allowance of vitamin B12 and contains over twice the amount of this vitamin found in an equivalent serving of liver.
Spirulina also provides high concentrations of many other nutrients - amino acids, chelated minerals, pigmentations, rhamnose sugars (complex natural plant sugars), trace elements, enzymes - that are in an easily assimilable form.
Even though it is single-celled, Spirulina is relatively large, attaining sizes of 0.5 millimeters in length. This is about 100 times the size of most other algae, which makes some individual Spirulina cells visible to the naked eye. Furthermore, the prolific reproductive capacity of the cells and their proclivity to adhere in colonies makes Spirulina a large and easily gathered plant mass.
The algae are differentiated according to predominating colorations, and are divided into blue-green, green, red and brown. Spirulina is one of the blue-green algae due to the presence of both chlorophyll (green) and phycocyanin (blue) pigments in its cellular structure.
Even though Spirulina is distantly related to the kelp algae, it is not a sea plant. However, the fresh-water ponds and lakes it favors are notably more saline - in the range of 8 to 11 pH than ordinary lakes and cannot sustain any other forms of microorganisms. In addition, Spirulina thrives in very warm waters of 32 to 45 degrees C (approximately 85 to 112 degrees F), and has even survived in temperatures of 60 degrees C (140 degrees F)
Certain desert-adapted species will survive when their pond habitats evaporate in the intense sun, drying to a dormant state on rocks as hot as 70 degrees Centigrade (160 degrees F). In this dormant condition, the naturally blue-green algae turns a frosted white and develops a sweet flavor as its 71 percent protein structure is transformed into polysaccharide sugars by the heat.
Some scientists speculate that the "manna" of the wandering Israelites, which appeared miraculously on rocks following a devastating dry spell and was described as tasting "like wafers made with hone " may have been a form of dried, dormant Spirulina.
This ability of Spirulina to grow in hot and alkaline environments ensures its hygienic status, as no other organisms can survive to pollute the waters in which this algae thrives. Unlike the stereotypical association of microorganisms with "germs" and "scum", Spirulina is in fact one of the cleanest, most naturally sterile foods found in nature.
Its adaptation to heat also assures that Spirulina retains its nutritional value when subject to high temperatures during processing and shelf storage, unlike many plant foods that rapidly deteriorate at high temperatures.
Spirulina is also unusual among algae because it is a "nuclear plant" meaning it is on the developmental cusp between plants and animals. It is considered somewhat above plants because it does not have the hard cellulose membranes characteristic of plant cells, nor does it have a well-defined nucleus. Yet its metabolic system is based on photosynthesis, a process of direct food energy production utilizing sunlight and chlorophyll, which is typical of plant life forms.
In essence, Spirulina straddles that fork in evolutionary development when the plant and animal kingdoms differentiated. Thus it embodies the simplest form of life. In contrast, other algae such as Chlorella have developed the hard indigestible walls characteristic of plants.
Spirulina is about 65% protein by composition. These proteins are complete, in that they contain all essential amino acids, plus some nonessential ones. In that regard, it is similar to animal protein, but does not contain saturated fats, or residues of hormones or antibiotics that are in some meats. Since spirulina is normally taken in small amounts, the quantity of dietary protein supplied for the average reasonably well-nourished person would not be significant. However, it is a good source of trace minerals, some vitamins, bioflavonoids, and other phytochemicals. It also has high digestibility and bioavailability of nutrients.

BENIFIT OF SPIRULINA

Very recently some studies indicate that spirulina may be able to improve immune function, improve liver function, lower serum cholesterol levels, and increase the "good bacteria" in the gastrointestinal tract, if used regularly. It has also been used in the treatment of anemia, diabetes, hypoglycemia, obesity, overeating, and malnourishment.
This has a unique cell wall, it is entirely made up of mucopolysaccharides(or MP). These are complex sugars interlaced with amino acids, simple sugars, and in certain instances, protein. This means the cell wall contains only completely digestible nutrients instead of the indigestible cellulose wall common in other micro-algae or plants.
The scientists seen that MPs are credited with strengthening body tissue, especially the connective tissues, while making them more elastic and resilient. MPs are used to strengthen the tissues of the heart and protect against artery deterioration. MPs protect the cardio-vascular system by lowering blood fats.
Doctors, scientists, and the general public are becoming increasingly concerned about reports of new viruses, drug-resistant bacteria, and ineffective antibiotics. Scientists are discovering the ability of certain foods to strengthen the immune system, fight the problems associated with aging, and offer protection from degenerative disease. Scientific reports from around the world indicate that spirulina may be one of these disease-preventing, anti-aging foods.
Beyond anti-aging benefits, scents are discovering unusual phytonutrients in spirulina. Spirulina contains the blue pigment phycocyanin, a biliprotein which have been shown to inhibit cancer-colony formation. Phycocyanin helps draw together amino acids for neurotransmitter formation, which increases mental capacity.
Spirulina also has the highest level of the protective antioxidant, beta-carotene, which is beneficial for the eyes and vision. Spirulina also contains, gram for gram, more calcium and magnesium than other foods. These are essential nutrients for healthy skin and strong bones.

No comments: