Spirulina Weight Loss Benefits - Can it Help You Lose Weight?

Are there any spirulina weight loss effects or benefits?

The spirulina supplement has been used for a long time as a way to help improve people's overall health and to encourage proper nutrition. NASA uses it in the food they give to their astronauts and athletes use it for the added bursts of energy they often need; now, people are using spirulina for weight loss, too.

It seems that taking spirulina can help suppress the appetite, while the added vitamin-derived energy it provides helps people to have the boost they need to get that extra workout in. Does this mean that you should consider using spirulina for weight loss? Perhaps.

One thing for people to consider when cutting back on food is that often, by cutting out additional protein and essential fatty acids from their diet, the appearance of the skin and hair can suffer. This can make people look washed out and their hair can look dry and brittle. The same thing can happen inside the body when all proper nutrients aren't being received.

This can cause things like muscle tone to diminish and, over time, problems like lack of bone density can arise. At the very least, taking a spirulina supplement when dieting can help to keep you looking great and feeling strong, even when you're reducing things like your protein intake; this is thanks to spirulina's extensive nutritive properties.

How about direct spirulina weight loss effects?

So now, perhaps you're wondering if it really does help you to lose weight, too, and if there are actually direct spirulina weight loss benefits.

The idea is that when busy people eat most of the time, it's "convenience" food which is high in carbohydrates and sugar. These can give your body a temporary boost while your body is digesting the food, but causes you to have an energy "crash" in a couple of hours when the food is no longer in the stomach. Carbohydrates and sugars are quickly broken down and don't offer long lasting energy. This can leave you feeling tired and hungry all over again, and quite soon, too.

When the body is digesting proteins, however, the energy boost is long lasting, because protein breaks down more slowly. By adding spirulina, it is thought that the high protein content can help to ease mid afternoon hunger pangs because the body is still working to use the protein it's received in the supplement; this could be one way to explain the spirulina weight loss link.

Is there research to suggest the direct existence of spirulina weight loss benefits? Although many people who take spirulina supplements report that they have lost weight while using them, there is actually little or no scientific evidence to back these claims up.

Really, if you are choosing to take spirulina supplements, it is recommended that you take it because of the many health benefits that it offers, instead of simply using it exclusively for any spirulina weight loss effects there might be.

The good news is that this supplement isn't overly costly, which should help to add to its attractiveness to new users. It's also been shown that while its side effects may include itchy skin, muscle pain, headaches and difficulty concentrating in doses of one gram daily, for most people who take less than this amount, no side effects are usually experienced.

Having said that, there are plenty of people who take much more than that amount, so you will have to find out what works best for your own body. A good idea would be to start at a low dose, and slowly work your way up, taking note of your body's reaction to the supplement.

In trying to harness possible spirulina weight loss effects, it is recommended that you keep in mind that herbs and supplements are generally not heavily regulated, so you will need to do what you can to find a quality product. If, however, you are interested in strengthening your immune system, avoiding malnutrition and just getting yourself stronger while having more energy with the possible added benefit of losing weight naturally, then you may want to seriously consider taking spirulina supplements.

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