Spirulina is a Blue-Green algae with many phytonutrients that can positively impact your health.  It is a very high quality protein source, with more protein value than beef, chicken, turkey, eggs, soybeans, rice, tofu, or wheat, and is 5 times more digestible than meat or soy.  It contains 18 amino acids including all 8 of the essential amino acids.  It is the highest whole foods source of vitamin B-12 and has 25 times more beta-carotene than carrots.(1,2)  It contains a rare essential fatty acid that is key to brain health: Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and other than breast milk, is the only whole foods source of this fatty acid.(3)  It has 8 minerals including Calcium, Potassium, Magnesium, and Selenium.  Its deep green color comes from chlorophyll (green), phycocyanin (blue) and carotenoids (orange).(1,2)

Spirulina is best know for its ability to chelate heavy metals.  From aluminum in deodorants to mercury in seafood, and arsenic, cadmium and lead from industrial waste, metal toxicity seems to come at us from every angle theses days.  Yes, we should work to avoid these substances as much as possible, but some exposure is unavoidable at times.  Since even small amounts of heavy metals can cause negative side effects, it is important to cleanse the body of these toxins.  Spirulina works as an effective chelating agent for removing these toxins from the body.(4,5)  A chelating agent is a molecule that binds to a metal creating a soluble compound that can be removed by the kidney.  With the inclusion of Spirulina to Eiro Pur, it allows the kidney to gently remove these heavy metals from the body over time.

References:

1.  Babadzhanov, A.S., et al. “Chemical Composition of Spirulina Platensis Cultivated in Uzbekistan.” Chemistry of Natural Compounds. 40, 3, 2004.

2.  Tokusoglu, O., Unal, M.K. “Biomass Nutrient Profiles of Three Microalgae: Spirulina platensis, Chlorella vulgaris, and Isochrisis galbana.” Journal of Food Science. 68, 4, 2003.

3.  Otles, S., Pire, R., Fatty Acid Composition of Chlorella and Spirulina microalgae species. J OAOC Int. 2001 Nov-Dec;84(6):1708-14.

4.  Jeyaprakash K, Chinnaswarmy P.  Effects of spirulina and Liv-52 on cadmium toxicity in albino rats.  Indian J Exp Biol. 2005 Sept;43(9):773-81.

5.  Ponce-Canchihuaman JC, Perez-Mendez O, et al.  Protective effects of Spirulina maxima on hyperlipidemia and oxidative-stress induced by lead acetate in liver and kidney.  Lipids Health Dis.  2010 Mar 31;9:35.