|
Spirulina What
we need today is a potent therapeutic food, something offering a
rich nutrient profile to deeply nourish our bodies, something
that will help the body deal with and eliminate the unwanted
poisons. Something natural that strengthens the immune system,
supports cardiovascular function and healthy cholesterol,
improves gastrointestinal and digestive health and enhances
natural cleansing and detoxification. We need an agent that
contains a potent concentration of nutrients, amino acids,
vitamins, minerals and trace elements. It has to be very high in
beta carotene and chlorophyll which will help tremendously to
eliminate internal poisons, high in all the B Vitamins
especially B-12, iron and trace minerals and a rare essential
fatty acid like GLA. Our therapeutic food would also have to be
loaded with unique phytonutrients like phycocyanin,
polysaccharides and sulfolipids that enhance the immune system,
possibly reducing risks of infection, cancer and auto immune
disease. We would expect such a food to increase energy and
alertness, while increasing resistance to disease. It would have
to be a food great for people of all ages especially children.
Certainly it would need to be very easy-to-digest. Because
essential minerals may be missing from conventional foods grown
in depleted soils our ideal food would have to provide all the
minerals and trace elements to nourish and power our critical
enzyme systems.
The secret is in getting your
body so chemically
unloaded and nutrient primed, that it heals itself.
Dr. Sherry Rogers We need a food that is not declining in
nutritional value, one so strong that it can reverse (all by
itself) the deficiencies in minerals and vitamins, the
malnutrition that is gaining strength in the general population,
which is amplified as toxicity in the environment increases.[i]
The perfect therapeutic food thus would have to stimulate
important parts of the immune system[ii] - bone marrow stem
cells, macrophages,[iii] [iv] T-cells and natural killer cells,[v]
spleen and thymus glands[vi] - all would have to show enhanced
activity.[vii] Simultaneously this food would have to have the
ability to generate new blood cells. While we are putting up our
wish list for our super food, we might as well include in it a
capacity to lower cholesterol,[viii] reduce serum LDL[ix] (Low
Density Lipoproteins - the bad cholesterol) and raise HDL (High
Density Lipoproteins - the good guys). Meaning our food must be
effective for improving cardiovascular health. It also must
promote digestion and bowel function and suppress bad bacteria
like e-coli and Candida yeast and stimulates beneficial flora
like lactobacillus and bifidobacteria. Healthy flora is the
foundation of good health and it increases absorption of
nutrients from the foods we eat.
Clinical studies have shown
spirulina to be a
genuine and valuable health food for children.[x] Spirulina is
the name of this food and until now has been completely
overlooked in the chelation field but it has not been overlooked
by the European Space Agency that has chosen spirulina as one of
the basic foods to be used on long space flights.[xi] It is
amazing that something as good, pure, potent and natural as
spirulina, which holds nothing short of miraculous healing,
detoxification and chelation potentials, is dismissed so easily
without thought. Even more naturally leaning physicians lean
toward pharmaceutically created vitamins and minerals and
overlook the best that Nature herself has to offer us in our
need. (It is the intention of this essay and the IMVA to address
this error and to bring this and other natural agents to the
forefront of the chelation field.) People have understood the
importance of blue-green algae as a food source for at least
four thousand years; Chinese herbalists have been using it to
treat vitamin deficiency diseases for thousands of years. The
Mayans and Aztecs regularly ate freshly harvested algae. The
Kanembu natives living near Lake Johann in Chad in the deep
African Sahara are still making and eating algae cakes. In the
last 30 years people in the United States have just begun to
explore the use of the blue-green algae as a high nutrient food.
Spirulina brings quick recovery from malnutrition and this is
crucial in chelation of autistic children. For the World Health
Organization (WHO) “spirulina represents an interesting food for
multiple reasons, rich in iron
and protein, among others things, it is able to be administered
to
children without any risk. We at WHO consider it a very suitable
food."[xii] There are many ways that spirulina helps us and
has always been known to facilitate detoxification during
fasting and thus it is also very useful during chelation. One of
its functions, through its high concentration of amino acids and
carotenes, would be to raise glutathione levels thus reducing
kidney and liver toxicity caused by the heavy metals and
pharmaceutical drugs. One of the reasons that spirulina is so
effective in cases of radioactivity is the discovery that it
does in fact increase glutathione (GSH) levels.[xiii] The
influence of spirulina extracts significantly increased GSH
levels compared with untreated cells according to Dr. H. Hana et
al at the National Research Center in Cairo, Egypt. The GSH
level of untreated cells was 6.1µg10G cells while those treated
with S. plantensis and S. maxima increased the GSH level to
70.32µg10G and even higher. In other experiments where rats were
exposed to fluoride spirulina-treated animals showed a smaller
increase in GSSG (reduced glutathione) in comparison with
untreated animals, thereby indicating a protective effect. The
GSH/GSSG ratio in blood was also decreased significantly in
fluoride-exposed animals, but in the spirulina-treated group the
decrease was less in comparison with the control animals.[xiv]
When glutathione is less available, then it is easier for things
to get out of balance and the free radicals can cause more
damage.
One interpretation of this finding is that children with autism
would
be less able to detoxify and eliminate these heavy metals.[xv]
Dr. Jill James Spirulina is ideal for both heavy metal,[xvi]
specifically mercury[xvii] and radioactive poisoning. Spirulina
was tested by the Russians and approved in 1994, (awarded a
Russian Patent) as a medical food to reduce allergic reactions
from radiation sickness.[xviii] Spirulina reduced urine
radioactivity levels by 50% in only 20 days. This result was
achieved after giving 5 grams a day to children at the Institute
of Radiation Medicine in Minsk, Belarus.[xix] Two hundred and
seventy children of Chernobyl were involved in the study and not
only were radionucleides reduced by 50%, but the spirulina also
had the effect of normalizing allergic sensitivities.[xx]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
[i] With this page we bring to you the nutritional and element
breakdown of spirulina, one of the world's most complete foods
and great immune system enhancer.
Spirulina copyright
©2001-2004 Life Research Universal [ii]
Spirulina boosts immunity and clears bacterial infections:
Western Poultry Disease Conference-Scientists announced the
natural food Spirulina dramatically strengthens the immune
system. Immunologist and Professor M.A. Qureshi, Ph.D., released
a study sponsored by Earthrise Company of California. "Immunomodulary
Effects of Spirulina Supplementation in Chickens"
http://www.resorthealth.com/herbs/spirulina.html
[iii] Enhancement of antibody production in mice by dietary
spirulina. by Hayashi, et al. June 1994. Kagawa Nutrition Univ.
Japan. Pub. in Journal of Nutr. Science and Vitaminology. Japan.
Mice fed a spirulina diet showed increased numbers of splenic
antibody- producing cells in the primary immune response to
sheep red blood cells (SRBC). The percentage of phagocytic cells
in peritoneal macrophages from the mice fed spirulina diet, as
well as the proliferatiom of spleen cells, was significantly
increased. Addition of a hot-water extract of spirulina (SHW) to
an in vitro culture of spleen cells markedly increased
proliferation of these cells, whereas culture of thymus cells
was scarcely affected. The spirulina extract also significantly
enhanced interleukin-1 (IL-1) production from peritoneal
macrophages. Addition to the in vitro spleen cell culture of SHW
as well as the supernatant of macrophages stimulated with SHW
resulted in enhancement of antibody production, that is, an
increase of the number of PFC. These results suggest that
spirulina enhances the immune response, particularly the primary
response, by stimulating macrophage functions, phagocytosis, and
IL-1 production.
[iv] Immunostimulating activity of lipopolysaccharides from
blue-green algae. by L. Besednova, et al. 1979. Pub. in Zhurnal
Mikrobiologii, Epidemiologii, Immunobiologii, 56(12) pp 75-79.
Russia. The whole cells of blue-green algae and
lipopolysaccharides (LPS) isolated from these cells were shown
to stimulate the production of macro- and microglobulin
anti-bodies in rabbits. The macro- and microphage indices in
rabbits increased significantly after the injection of LPS
isolated from blue-green algae 24-48 hours before injecting the
animals with a virulent Y. pseudotuberculosis strain. Besides,
the inhibiting action of this strain on the migration of
phagocytes to the site of infection was abolished immediately
after the injection. The use of the indirect hemaglutination
test allowed to provide the absence of close antigenic
interrelations between blue-green algae and the following
organisms: Spirulina platensis, Microcystis aeruginosa,
Phormidium africanum and P. uniccinatum.
[v] Adding spirulina to cultured immune system cells
significantly increases the production of infection fighting
cytokines, say immunologists at UC Davis School of Medicine and
Medical Center. Alternative Health news online:
http://www.altmedicine.com/FrameSet.asp
[vi] Study on effect and mechanism of polysaccharides of
spirulina on body immune function improvement. by G. Baojiang,
et al. April 1994. South China Normal Univ. China. Pub. in Proc.
of Second Asia Pacific Conf. on Algal Biotech. Univ. of Malaysia.
pp 33-38. China.
Polysaccharides of spirulina, at the dosage of 150-300 mg/kg, by
injection or taking orally, can increase the phagocyte
percentage and phagocytic index of abdominal macrophage, the
percentage of T-lymphocyte and haemolysin content in the
peripheral blood of mouse. These results demonstrate
polysaccharides can improve both the nonspecific function of
cellular immunity and the specific humoral immunity. The
mechanism seems related to the fact that polysaccharides can
enhance reproductive ability of marrowcyte, growth of thymus and
spleen, biosynthesis of serum protein, and that polysaccharide
can eliminate the inhibition effect of inhibitive circular
phosphamide on immune system of body.
[vii] Immunomodulary effects of spirulina supplementation in
chickens. by M. Qureshi, et al. May 1995. North Carolina State.
Pub. in Proc. of 44th Western Poultry Disease Conference, pp
117-120. Chicken macrophages exposed to a water-soluble
spirulina extract show enhanced phagocytic activity in vitro
suggesting activation of mononuclear phagocytic system function.
Furthermore, dietary supplementation of Spirulina (1,000 ppm to
10,000 ppm) improved thymic weights, enhanced CBH response,
increased tumor cell killing by NK cells and doubled the
macrophage phagocytic potential over chickens fed a basal diet.
Chicks on 1,000 ppm Spirulina diet cleared significantly more E.
Coli from circulation at 30 and 40 minutes post i.v. inoculation.
Similiar reduction was seen in clearing bacteria from spleen
after 80 minutes post i.v. inoculation of Staph. Aureus in
chicks fed 10,000 ppm over controls. Chicks in groups from 1,000
ppm to 16,000 ppm Spirulina treatments showed enhanced CBH
response. Chicks in 1,000 ppm group exhibited enhanced E. Coli
clearance between 30 to 60 minutes and decreased splenic
bacterial counts at 80 minutes post inoculation. These studies
imply Spirulina enhances several immunological end points in
chickens both during in vitro and in in vivo exposures.
http://www.spirulina.com/SPLAbstracts2.html#Poly%20body%20immune
[viii] Cholesterol lowering effect of spirulina. N. Nayaka, et
al. 1988. Tokai Univ. Pub. in Nutrition Reports Int'l, Vol. 37,
No. 6, 1329-1337. Japan. Thirty healthy men with high
cholesterol, mild hypertension and hyperlipidemia showed lower
serum cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL (undesirable fat) levels
after eating spirulina for eight weeks. These men did not change
their diet, except adding spirulina. No adverse effects were
noted. Group A consumed 4.2 grams daily for eight weeks. Total
serum cholesterol dropped a significant 4.5% within 4 weeks from
244 to 233.
[ix] Spirulina's fat content is only 5%, far lower than almost
all other protein sources. Ten grams has only 36 calories and
virtually no cholesterol. This means spirulina is a low-fat,
low-calorie, cholesterol-free source of protein, and is not
loaded with the fat, grease, calories and cholesterol of meat
and dairy protein. "One tablespoon (10 grams) of spirulina
contains only 1.3 mg of cholesterol and 36 calories. In contrast,
a large egg yields about 300 mg of cholesterol and 80 calories,
while providing only the same amount of protein as the
tablespoon of spirulina."
[x] Spirulina in Jiangxi China. by Miao Jian Ren. 1987. Academy
of Agricultural Science. Presented at Soc. Appl. Algology, Lille
France Sep. 1987. China. In Nanjing Childrens Hospital, 27
children, 2-6 years old, recovered in a short period from bad
appetite, night sweats, diarrhea and constipation from a baby
nourishing formula containing 1.5g spirulina, 12g baked barley
sprout, Vitaimn B1 and Zinc.
[xi]
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMQTE1DU8E_index_0.html
[xii]
http://www.spirulina.com/SPLNews94.html#India
[xiii] Spirulina Species as a Source of Carotenoids and "-Tocopherol
and its Anticarcinoma Factors. Hanaa H. Abd El-Baky, Farouk K.
El Baz and Gamal S. El-Baroty National Research Center, Dokki,
Cairo, Egypt Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Agriculture,
Cairo University, Egypt. Biotechnology, Volume 2 Number 3:
222-240, 2003 ISSN 1682-2978
http://www.ansinet.org/fulltext/biotech/biotech23222-240.pdf
[xiv] Kaushik, Toshi et al. Glutathione Metabolism in Rats
Exposed to High Floride Water and Effect of Spirulina Treatment.
Delhi India. Fluoride Vol. 34 No. 2 132-138 2001 Research Report.
http://www.fluoride-journal.com/01-34-2/342-132.pdf
[xv] Los Angeles Times. April 3, 2005
http://www.latimes.com/services/site/premium/access-registered.intercept
[xvi] The effect of spirulina on nephrotoxicity in rats.. Yamane,
et al. 1988. Chiba Univ. Presented at Annual Symposium of the
Pharmaceutical Society of Japan, April 15, 1988. Japan. Heavy
metals and pharmaceutical drugs are toxic to the kidney. The
effects of spirulina on acute nephritis caused by inorganic
mercury and pharmaceutical drugs were examined in rats. High
mercury dosage caused nephrotoxcity in laboratory rats, measured
by rising blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine, urinary
enzymes alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and glutamic oxaloacetic
transaminase (GOT). When rats were fed a diet of 30% spirulina,
these factors significantly decreased, showing kidney
detoxification. Three groups of rats were given pharmaceutical
drugs used by humans: para-Aminophenol (anodyne/pain reliever),
Gentamicin (anti-biotic) and Cisplatin (anti-cancer). Once again
rats improved. The study suggests spirulina may have a
beneficial effect for humans suffering from heavy metal
poisoning and that kidney side effects may decrease when
spirulina is taken with the administration of drugs. Side
effects limit the dosage of drugs and slow down recovery, so
shorter recovery times may be possible.
[xvii] H. Fukino, et al. Effect of spirulina on the renal
toxicity induced by inorganic mercury and cisplatin. 1990. Pub.
in Eisei Kagaku, 36:5, 1990. Japan. Kidney toxicity caused by
mercury was suppressed by feeding spirulina to rats. A water
soluble extract of Spirulina, containing phycocyanin, the
natural blue pigment, was examined. Renal (kidney) toxicity in
rats caused by para-Aminophenol (pain reliever) and Cisplatin (anti-cancer)
was significantly reduced by the phycocyanin extract of
spirulina. Researchers concluded that phycocyanin plays a major
role in the protective effect of spirulina against renal failure
caused by mercury and pharmaceutical drugs, and that spirulina
might be applicable to the reduction of general renal
disfunction.
[xviii] Radioprotective effect of extract from spirulina in
mouse bone marrow cells studied by using the micronucleus test.
by P. Qishen, Kolman et al. 1989. In Toxicology Letters 48:
165-169. China. The radioprotective effect of an extract of
spirulina was studied using the micronucleus test in
polychromatic erthrocytes of bone marrow in mice. The extract
caused a significant reduction of the micronucleus frequencies
induced by gamma radiation.
[xix] Spirulina- natural sorbent of radionucleides. by L.P.
Loseva and I.V. Dardynskaya. Sep 1993. Research Institute of
Radiation Medicine, Minsk, Belarus. 6th Int'l Congress of
Applied Algology, Czech Republic. Belarus.
[xx] Mikhail Tank mikhail@mikhailtank.com Spirulina's effect to
enhance cell nucleus enzyme activity and repair bruised DNA is
remarkable. In the former USSR, Spirulina has been called "medicine
food" for those directly affected by the Chernobyl incident. On
April 25th and 26th, 1986 the World's most horrific nuclear
power accident (to date) occurred at Chernobyl in the former
USSR (now Ukraine). The Chernobyl nuclear power plant, which was
positioned 80 miles north of Kiev, had 4 reactors. When testing
occurred on reactor # 4, safety procedures where not followed
properly. At approximately 1 a.m., a chain reaction explosion
occurred, creating a tremendous biohazards fireball that blew
right trough the reactor's heavy steel lid. Thirty workers died
instantly and millions of people, plants, animals and regions
were affected by the incident. Plants, animals and humans began
to grow extra limbs and other abnormalities occurred due to the
nuclear biohazard. I recall visiting that area some time after
the incident and saw how horrific and dramatic the change was
firsthand. Cows' milk was polluted, vegetables and fruits were
not edible, people died quickly and were born with frightening
abnormalities. Children of Chernobyl suffered radiation
poisoning from eating food grown on radioactive soil. Their bone
marrow was damaged, thus their bodies could not produce normal
white and red blood cells. These children became anemic and
easily suffered from life threatening allergic reactions. Upon
being given just five grams of Spirulina in tablet form per day,
the results turned dramatically positive with recoveries
occurring in just a month and a half. More on this subject is available in the book
Transdermal Magnesium Therapy.
Read More... |
