Spirulina contains high levels of gamma linolenic acid, which promotes calcium absorption, enhances immunity, prevents metabolic disorders, and prevents aging. Gamma linolenic acid is a precursor of prostaglandins, which becomes a prostaglandin under the action of oxygenase. Prostaglandins have effects on reproduction, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive and nervous systems.


Morphological characteristics and propagation methods of spirulina


Spirulina is a class of lower organisms and is a class of prokaryotes. They are filaments composed of single cells or multiple cells, having a body length of 200-500 μm and a width of 5-10 μm. They are cylindrical and have a loose or tight regular spiral shape, which is shaped like a clockwork, hence the name. Spirulina is also a kind of light-energy autotrophic organism. Its algae cells contain photosynthetic layer tablets (cysticoids), vitamins, crude protein, crude fat, carbohydrates, carotene and the like.


  Morphological characteristics


Spirulina has no colloidal sheath on the surface, is not easily attached by microorganisms, has bubbles in the cells, and has good floating. The top of the cell or algae filament is often not sharp, the transverse wall is often not obvious, the top cell is round, and the outer wall is not thickened. No heterosexual cells and thick-walled cells can multiply to form blooms.


The cyanobacterial cells are achromatic, and the pigment is distributed in the pigmented area outside the protoplast, blue-green. There is a colorless central region inside the protoplast, similar to the nucleus of other algae, but no nucleoli and nuclear membrane, so Spirulina belongs to prokaryotic plants. Spirulina platensis is a filamentous body, the spiral of algae is spiral, without transverse wall, blue-green; the algae is 4 to 5 microns wide and 400 to 600 microns long; the apical cells of the algae are obtuse and have no abnormal cells.


History


It is believed that the earliest use of spirulina as food was in the Aztecs of Mexico in the sixteenth century, according to the description of the soldiers of Hernan Cortis, when they picked spirulina from Lake Descoco and The pizza is sold. The Aztecs call it "specially crispy," meaning the excrement of stone. Spirulina was discovered by French scientists in the 1960s but has not been shown to be used as food. The first large-scale production of spirulina was built there in the 1970s.


Spirulina has a long history in Chad, dating back to the 9th century Karnem-Bornu Empire. They will still be eaten today and dried into a pancake called "Dihé" for broth and will be sold at the market. Spirulina is collected from Lake Chad.


Discovery history


In the early 1960s, when the French explorer Dr. Kliment explored Africa, he discovered that the Jianim people at the lakeside of Chad were still strong, energetic, healthy and long-lived under conditions of lack of animal protein and even insufficient food and vegetables. . After the investigation, they found that they often used spirulina floating on Lake Chad to dry and eat and treat diseases.




Morphological characteristics and propagation methods of spirulina


Breeding method


There are two types of spirulina breeding:


For vegetative reproduction, including direct cell division (ie, fission), population rupture, and filamentous production of algal colonies.


For some spirulina, endospores or ectoparasites can be produced for asexual reproduction and spores without flagella. Spirulina has not been found to be sexually reproducing.


Ecological condition


Salinity: Spirulina platensis is grown in alkaline water and can be domesticated and cultured in normal seawater.


Temperature: The optimum range is between 30 and 37 °C.


Illumination: The optimum light intensity is between 30,000 and 35,000 lux.


pH: The optimum range is between pH 8.6 and 9.5.




Morphological characteristics and propagation methods of spirulina


Health effect


  reduce cholesterol


The reduction of cholesterol can effectively prevent the onset of heart disease and stroke diseases. Y-linolenic acid in spirulina can lower the body's cholesterol, which can effectively reduce high blood pressure and prevent heart disease and reduce cholesterol.


Regulate blood sugar


Spirulina is rich in nutrients and is an alkaline food. It can supplement the body's nutrition and change the acidic body and regulate metabolic activities. With the consumption of Qiongzhen Ganoderma lucidum, it can regulate blood sugar and has a significant effect on the stability of diabetes.


Enhance the immune system


The natural phycocyanin contained in spirulina can enhance the immune function of human cells, thereby improving our body's immunity and disease resistance.


Protect the stomach


Most patients with stomach diseases are suffering from hyperacidity, which leads to diseases such as gastritis and gastric ulcer. Spirulina is an alkaline food. Spirulina contains high plant protein and abundant chlorophyll and β-carotene. These nutrients It is extremely effective for gastric acid neutralization and gastrointestinal mucosal repair, regeneration and normal secretion function, and is especially suitable for patients with gastrointestinal diseases.


Treatment of anemia


Iron deficiency anemia is a very common phenomenon, and spirulina is extremely rich in iron and chlorophyll, which can effectively improve the condition of anemia in humans.




Morphological characteristics and propagation methods of spirulina


Nutrition introduction


Nutritional value


Spirulina is rich in protein, up to 55-75%, three times that of beef, six times that of eggs, and ten times that of rice.


Spirulina is rich in beta carotene, 15 times more than carrots and 40-60 times more as spinach.


Spirulina is rich in vitamins B1, B2, B5, B6, B11, B12, C, E. B vitamins are various in variety and have special physiological functions. The lack of any of them may cause diseases.


Spirulina contains a variety of essential trace elements, such as calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, phosphorus, iodine, selenium, iron, copper, zinc, etc. Iron deficiency can lead to anemia, zinc deficiency can lead to dysplasia; selenium can activate DNA repair Enzymes, stimulate the production of immunoglobulins and antibodies, capture free radicals, reduce or resist the toxicity of certain metals in the body, and inhibit the carcinogenic effects of some carcinogens. Selenium also prevents mountain sickness.


Chlorophyll A contained in spirulina has its unique hematopoietic function.


The nutritional content of 1 gram of spirulina is equivalent to the total nutrient content of 1000 grams of various vegetarian dishes, and it is the most nutritious nutrient.


The cell wall of Spirulina is very thin, only 40-60 nm thick, and is composed of peptidoglycan, which is easily degraded and absorbed.


Spirulina contains high levels of gamma linolenic acid, which promotes calcium absorption, enhances immunity, prevents metabolic disorders, and prevents aging. Gamma linolenic acid is a precursor of prostaglandins, which becomes a prostaglandin under the action of oxygenase. Prostaglandins have effects on reproduction, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive and nervous systems.


Polysaccharides in spirulina have anti-radiation properties and enhance immunity. In addition, spirulina polysaccharide can increase the activity of SOD in plasma, reduce the formation of lipid peroxide, and have anti-aging effect.


Efficacy


1. Stimulate the rapid growth of the body: Spirulina is rich in essential amino acids such as lysine and threonine, which are extremely important for infants and young children, especially those who lack breastfeeding. Rich minerals and trace elements can effectively prevent nutritional anemia, and it is also a good source of nutritional supplement for children with partial eclipse, which can gradually correct the bad habits of partial eclipse.


2. Balanced nutrition for adolescents to develop into a long-term: Adolescents are in puberty, and the nutrients they need are much larger than adults. In addition to heavy learning, sports physical energy consumption is very high, and it is easy to cause hidden nutritional dystrophies, dysplasia, memory loss, Vision loss, etc. Spirulina provides a well-balanced variety of nutrients that are well absorbed.


3, to maintain the vigorous energy of adults: modern people's life rhythm is obviously accelerated, the diet tends to be simple and convenient, often eat too much delicious food, so that fat accumulation in the body, blood is acidic, plus social entertainment, work stress, Disorders, innocent exercise, excessive alcohol and tobacco, etc., can lead to metabolic disorders in the body, often lack of energy, fatigue, sleepiness, and decreased resistance. Spirulina can regulate the pH of the human body. Its chlorophyll can purify the blood, remove toxins from the body and clean the rectum. The various amino acids, vitamins, minerals and trace elements can enhance the function of internal organs.


4, delay the aging of the elderly: the main reason for human aging is the production of a large number of oxygen free radicals in the metabolism, which strongly destroys the structure of life molecules in the human body, leading to cell function decline, accelerate human aging. There are many anti-aging substances in spirulina. Such as β-carotene, vitamin E, γ-linolenic acid and superoxide dismutase, these substances scavenge free radicals through antioxidant action, effectively delaying cell senescence, while spirulina is rich in iron and calcium, and is easily absorbed. It has a good auxiliary prevention and treatment effect on the common anemia, osteoporosis, hypertension, arteriosclerosis and waist and leg pain.


5, weight loss, skin care, beauty: Spirulina is rich in nutrients, taking spirulina 1 hour before meals, phenylalanine in spirulina can also suppress appetite, eliminating the hunger and malnutrition caused by dieting To enable people to maintain their vitality while losing weight. The fundamental factor in maintaining the softness and luster of the skin on the outside is balanced nutrition. --carotene, superoxide dismutase and γ-linolenic acid are effective for maintaining skin physiological elasticity, eliminating pigmentation and improving skin inflammation.