Spirulina is an edible type of algae that grows in salty, alkaline waters, usually in subtropical and tropical regions. Spirulina is referred to as blue-green algae because of its colorful pigments and is widely recognized as a "super-food" due to its high nutrient content. Spirulina is an excellent source of chlorophyll, which has the ability to bind to heavy metals, such as mercury, and remove them from your body. However, due to water contamination in some harvesting areas, spirulina may actually contain trace amounts of mercury and be dangerous in large amounts, especially if you are pregnant.
Spirulina
Spirulina belongs to the Oscillatoriaceae family of algae, which contains about 35 species. Spirulina appear blue-green because of the phycocyanin and chlorophyll pigments within its cells. According to "Nutritional Sciences," spirulina is an excellent source of chlorophyll, all 22 amino acids, essential fatty acids, carbohydrates, vitamins A, B complex and E, as well as other minerals and trace elements. Due mainly to its high chlorophyll content, spirulina is considered a chelating agent for heavy metals.
Chelating Agents
Chelating agents are water-soluble substances that have an affinity for and bind to heavy metals in your body and flush them out via your liver and kidneys. Heavy metals are all toxic to your tissues, especially nerves, and include arsenic, cadmium, lead, iron, plutonium, uranium and mercury. According to "The New Healing Herbs," spirulina has been proved to be an effective chelating agent for arsenic poisoning and toxins derived from chemotherapy, but human research on its ability to remove mercury is lacking, and evidence is largely anecdotal. Other chelating agents that are used to get mercury out of your body include EDTA, a calcium-based product, and the herb cilantro.
Other Benefits of Spirulina
In addition to purportedly being able to remove mercury and other heavy metals from your body, spirulina is an excellent source of nutrition, and it purifies the liver, stimulates the production of red blood cells, helps to combat viral infections, enhances immunity, boosts metabolism and may contribute to lowering blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels, as cited in "Biochemical, Physiological and Molecular Aspects of Human Nutrition."
Mercury Poisoning
Food contamination due to inappropriate disposal of industrial waste is a primary cause of mercury poisoning, especially in long-lived and scavenging fish. According to "Nutrition and Public Health," mercury contamination is also a problem in animal products, cereal, grains and even many soy-based products. Even more controversial, some health activists claim that mercury-amalgam dental fillings and vaccines preserved with thimerosol, a mercury-based preservative, may be a source of mercury poisoning, although there is no peer-reviewed evidence to support these claims.
Cautions with Spirulina
Despite its reputation of removing heavy metals from your body, some spirulina may be harvested from areas where the water is contaminated with mercury. Unfortunately, it is impossible for consumers to find out prior to purchasing. As such, high level of spirulina consumption is often contraindicated for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. According to "Medical Nutrition and Disease," daily consumption of 20 g of spirulina can produce a mercury concentration that is above the 180 mcg safety limit.
References
- "Nutritional Sciences"; Michelle McGuire; 2007
- "The New Healing Herbs"; Michael Castleman; 2010
- "Biochemical, Physiological and Molecular Aspects of Human Nutrition"; Martha Stipanuk; 2006
- "Nutrition and Public Health"; Sari Edelstein; 2006
- "Medical Nutrition and Disease: A Case-based Approach"; Lisa Hark; 2008
