What is spirulina scientific name?
Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) is a filamentous and multicellular blue-green alga capable of reducing inflammation and also manifesting antioxidant effects.
What is the family of spirulina?
Spirulinaceae
Spirulina/Family
Is spirulina a genus?
spirulina, Any cyanobacteria in the genus Spirulina. A traditional food source in parts of Africa and Mexico, spirulina is an exceptionally rich source of vitamins, minerals, and protein, and one of the few nonanimal sources of vitamin B12.
Why is it called spirulina?
The name comes from its interesting spiral-like shape. The scientific name of Spirulina is Arthrospira platensis. It is one of the most complete and nutritious foods available, as NASA demonstrated in 1988 by including spirulina in its astronaut’s diet1.
How is Spirulina made?
Spirulina has always been a special case: Indigenous people harvested algae from flat, sub-tropical to tropical waters with a high salt content. To harvest it, the culture is pumped through a filter or a centrifuge and then dried in the sunlight or with hot air.
Who found Spirulina?
Darwin, who was an algae scientist from Germany, Discovered the spiral-shaped algae presence and designated it Spirulina. Spirulina, a seaweed which is a blue-green algae biomass, belongs to the class of cyanobacteria discovered by non-referenced Mexicans in the 16th century and has been used as a daily food source.
What is spirulina made of?
blue-green algae
Spirulina is a popular supplement and ingredient made from blue-green algae.
What minerals are in spirulina?
The minerals of particular interest in spirulina are iron, calcium, phosphorus and potassium. The very high iron content should be doubly stressed because iron deficiencies (anaemias) are very widespread, particularly in pregnant women and children, and good sources in food are rare.
Is Spirulina found in India?
Moreover, the hot tropical climate in Tamil Nadu, south India, is perfect for spirulina cultivation. So much so that some strains of spirulina can be found naturally growing there. And indeed, spirulina appears to be the ultimate source of nutrition available to mankind today.
Where is spirulina found?
Spirulina is found in soil, marshes, freshwater, brackish water, seawater, and thermal springs. Alkaline, saline water (>30 g/L) with high pH (8.5–11.0) favors good production of Spirulina, especially where there is a high level of solar radiation at altitude in the tropics.
Where does spirulina grow India?
How did Aztecs eat Spirulina?
1. The Food of the Aztecs. Spirulina has been used as a food and nutritional staple for centuries. These cakes were mixed with food and cooked into bread, or simply consumed with water by marathon runners to keep up their strength on long treks.
Is a Spirulina a fruit or vegetable?
It is a complete vegetable protein and is the source of practically all the vitamins, minerals, digestive enzymes, trace elements, cell salts and chlorophyll your body needs for almost perfect nutrition. Essential minerals in spirulina include iron, magnesium, manganese, zinc, potassium and others.
What does the name spirulina mean?
The common name, spirulina, refers to the dried biomass of A. platensis , which belongs to photosynthetic bacteria that cover the groups Cyanobacteria and Prochlorophyta. Scientifically, a distinction exists between spirulina and the genus Arthrospira.
What foods contain spirulina?
Liver.
Is Spirulina a reliable source of protein?
But what makes spirulina a unique and reliable source of protein for vegetarians and vegans is that it is one of the few “complete protein” sources that falls under the plant-based category. As such, spirulina can provide all the essential amino acids needed by the human body, plus plenty of other essential vitamins and minerals.