Nutritional Properties Of Spirulina
This primitive microalgae is a food with higher concentrations of nutrients that exist in the plant world, has a greenish blue rich content of chlorophyll.
Spirulina stands as a natural source of beta carotene, being perhaps the richest food in the vitamin, contains 10 times more than the carrot.
Its composition has a high percentage of protein (65 to 70%), all nine essential amino acids and nonessential minerals like potassium, calcium, zinc, magnesium, manganese, selenium, iron and phosphorus, all B vitamins, vitamin E, etc..
It also contains natural complex sugars, carotenoids, enzymes, and only 7% fat in the form of essential fatty acids.
One of the advantages of spirulina is that, by its high level of chlorophyll and fiber, lowers cholesterol and provides much more protein than soy, egg or many of the most popular meat and fish.
It is also much more digestible than other forms of protein and only need about 36 grams to obtain all essential amino acids needed in a day.
Nor should we forget their enormous potential to treat obesity or overweight, as it is a seaweed rich in mucilage, very satisfying effect, laxative and antioxidant.
We must also highlight its beneficial effect on our defenses, thanks in part to their lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, which regenerate the intestinal flora and improve many digestive problems.
We will discuss their properties:
* Spirulina is seen as a suitable dietary supplement for the skin and strengthen nails due to its richness in B vitamins and certain minerals (iron, magnesium and zinc).
* For its concentrated nutrients can be a significant help to the body against physical exertion and in deficiency states when unbalanced diets.
* This algae can be interesting as an adjunct to diet properly planned in case of anemia, because it facilitates the production of red blood cells, with its rich in chlorophyll, folic acid and iron, all nutrients with anti-anemic character.
* Provides essential fatty acids, which are absent in meat, eggs and dairy.
* I should add that nutrition experts say that spirulina is ideal fasting programs or elimination of toxins because it allows fast while the body receives the energy and essential nutrients.
* Regenerates the intestinal flora.
* We also recommend the use of spirulina in stunted growth, exam preparation, memory impairment, physical and intellectual exhaustion, convalescence, stress, as a food supplement in pregnant women or people who are as poor diets and regenerating skin .
* However, in addition to their virtues and properties as a healthy food is also beneficial in the world of natural beauty as:
* Help the rejuvenation of mature skin
* Strengthens hair, nails and skin.
* Removes accumulated toxins and cellulite
Supplements: Calcium and Vitamin D, a Cocktail Of Melanoma
Taking supplements of calcium and vitamin D can reduce by 57% the risk of melanoma, the only skin cancer can metastasize.
According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, this effect occurs in women with a history of nonmelanoma skin cancer.
Indeed, having this type of tumor, such as basal cell carcinoma and squamous, increases the chance of developing melanoma later that, although less frequent in the population, cause 75% of deaths from skin cancer. As explained by experts of the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (AEDV), “a melanoma of more than four millimeters in diameter kills 50% of patients within five years.”
Although the main route of prevention is not too exposed to UV radiation, now researchers at the Faculty of Medicine, Stanford University (California, USA) proposed a complementary measure: daily doses of 1,000 milligrams of calcium and 400 IU ( International Units) of vitamin D.
The dermatologist and lead author of this work, Jean Tang and colleagues were based on U.S. data analysis on the health of women. Of the 36,000 participants (aged 50 to 79 years), half taking calcium and vitamin D in the doses described above and the rest ingested pills placebo effect.
The truth is that “we note that cacio intake and vitamin D reduced the incidence of skin cancer in women from 50, but síaminoró the incidence of melanoma in those with a history of basal cell carcinoma or squamous, suggesting a possible role in reducing the disease in this risk group, “concludes Jean Tang.
The interest in studying the benefits these supplements is not new. Previous research has linked vitamin D with reduced risk of other cancers, including colon, prostate and breast. And as for calcium, several observational studies relate it less likely to develop colon polyps. However, say the authors of this study, “no evidence deensayos randomized clinical associate vitamin D with risk of skin cancer.”
According to another author says, “this is the first time positively associated with the combination of calcium and vitamin D with reduced melanoma,” but to establish supplements as a preventive measure even “more research is needed.”
Throughout the article, experts also point to a tendency to reduce the risk of melanoma in women with a BMI over 25, with a vitamin D intake below 400 IU and areas with less sun exposure, “Although there was no statistical significant” stress.
Calcium supplements
Calcium supplements have been considered a safe supplement or addition of mineral in the diet, but recently a report said people who take calcium supplements have an increased risk of a heart attack.
The results of this particular study are not conclusive and therefore not sufficient to make a change in the recommendations for calcium supplements for healthy people.
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Vitamins and Minerals
Vitamins are substances that the body needs to live, the only vitamin synthesized by the body is vitamin D, except for this, the body needs an external power supply to get the rest of vitamins, because he can not produce by itself, or does it in insufficient quantities.
Without vitamins, the majority of chemical operations, which are produced in the body, could not perform, they are also essential for maintaining cell structure, good state of tissues, and a positive mental attitude. Tri-fold divided into: fat-soluble vitamins and water soluble vitamins.
Fat-soluble vitamins
Fat-soluble vitamins are soluble in fatty substances, not easily altered and the body can store. Highlights of vitamin A, D, E and K
Recommended Supplements for Certain Groups of People
Do you think taking vitamins or mineral supplements? Do you think you need? Or that “do not harm” and therefore are best taken not take them? Here are some questions to ask before you decide to take them.
1. Do I really need?
First and foremost, nutritional needs must be met by eating a variety of food as it says in the Executive Summary of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
In some cases, vitamin / mineral supplements or fortified foods may be useful because they provide nutrients that would otherwise be eaten in smaller quantities than recommended.
If you ingest quantities of food that are recommended supplements may not give you more benefits. In some cases, supplements and fortified foods may cause beyond healthy levels of nutrients.
(Note: fortified foods are those which are added one or more essential nutrients to increase the nutritional value.)
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, these recommendations have been established for certain groups of people:
* Persons over 50 years of age should consume vitamin B12 in its crystalline form, such as from fortified foods (such as fortified breakfast cereals) or take it as a supplement.
Nutritional Supplements Part. II
Lubrication
Like any engine, our body needs not only an excellent fuel (good food), but also very good oils (called “unsaturated”).
Setting aside the outset of trans fatty acids, (which form toxic isomeric polyunsaturated fatty acids), the most harmful to health: what are the margarines based oils extracted hot and refined and all products labeled “partially hydrogenated oil”: the industrial pastries, snacks, crackers, chips, fried foods.
The important point is that there are two main types of fats composed of various fatty acids on the one hand, saturated fatty acids (no double bond), and secondly, the unsaturated fatty acids which divide themselves into fatty acids monounsaturated (one double bond) fatty acids and polyunsaturated (many double bonds). The presence of double bonds and their numbers which give the unsaturated fatty acids, their fluidity, while saturated fats are more solid at ordinary temperatures.
Saturated fatty acids are predominant in animal fats and action mainly energy. The surpluses are stored in the body, with a consequent overload disorders such as obesity, diabetes, fat, cardiovascular disease, etc..
The polyunsaturated fatty acids are “essential” to be provided by the diet, and, unlike saturated fats, they do not accumulate in the body for storage.
Acids include monounsaturated fats, the most widely used is oleic acid, the main component of olive oil and fat duck and goose.
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Nutritional Supplements
Why nutritional supplements?
In this period of Lent when some practice some dietary restrictions and are, hence, more attention to what they eat, we had the idea to ask the doctor Patrick Theillier why he favored in the life of every day, use of dietary supplements. Of course it does not blame anyone for it consumes not, nor seek to persuade any strength, simply the opportunity to address a practice that spreads for obvious reasons.
There is much talk today of dietary supplements without knowing what to think. How to recover from the spate of advertising information displayed on food packaging? Whom to trust? Must be treated by dietary supplements, what is now called micro-nutrition or nutritherapy? If everyone was healthy, this would not even bother to ask questions. This is unfortunately not the case. Continue reading