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7/30/2012

Spirulina Lemonade

Spirulina Lemonade
INGREDIENTS
  • 30 oz distilled water or alkaline water or spring water
  • 1 large lemon (peel removed)
  • 1 tbsp spirulina powder
  • 2 tbsp raw organic honey (or raw blue agave)
Makes 30 ozs

Blend all the ingredients in your Vitamix.  This is a great refreshing lemonade, that is full of vitamins and minerals...and loaded with your complex b vitamins. Usually spirulina is a bit "fishy" tasting to me...but this is a great way to mix it up and not even taste its there...you see its there, but you don't taste it! What an awesome dinner I just had! I hope you enjoy this drink too. I'll be making this often.

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Some Health Benefits 
 
Spirulina: Spirulina is the common name given to a family of blue-green algae produced by a class of cyano-bacteria called “Arthospira”. It is abundant in both fresh and sea water. Spirulina benefits come mostly nowadays as a type of dietary supplement that comes from a type of microscopic alga, which is shaped like a spiral coil. Spirulina is cultivated from all around the world and is used as a dietary supplement as well as a whole food available in tablet, flake and powder form. One of the most important of all spirulina benefits is that it has an unusually high amount of protein, which is an almost complete protein that contains 18 of the 22 amino acids the body needs. It is of a superior quality when compared to plant protein. It is also rich with several different types of essential fatty acid, and contains Vitamin B1, B2, B3, B6, B9, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin A and Vitamin E. It is also a source of such minerals as potassium, calcium, chromium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, selenium (selenium benefits), sodium, and zinc. The most important and popular spirulina health benefit that comes with regular supplementation is undoubtedly weight loss. Spirulina weight loss has become quite a popular diet food; it is natural, it has all the major vitamins, amino acids and nutrients required by the human body and it has a very high protein content (60-70% of its body weight is pure protein). It is also free of carbohydrates and sugar. As a result, it acts as a potent appetite suppressant reducing body weight over time. Of course, if you are using spirulina weight loss as a magic pill remedy it will not work by itself but it should help you in diminishing your hunger while eating a completely natural food. It has also been shown to help correct anemia for undernourished children, it also be effective against melanosis and keratosis caused by chronic arsenic poisoning. Spirulina is also found to protect against hay fever, reduce inflammation caused by arthritis. Also, another one of the spirulina benefits is that it is a rare source of gamma-linoleic acid (GLA) which is otherwise only present in mother’s milk. This particular amino acid helps reduce bad cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood. It also improves cardiovascular health in general. Spirulina is known to help contain the effects of type 2 diabetes. Regular Spirulina supplementation is known to lower blood sugar levels. It also improves the antioxidant potential in people, which decreases muscle breakdown and exhaustion after exercising and improves overall health. However despite all these benefits their are a few (mostly minor) spirulina side effects you might want to learn more about in my other post. However, the only real side effect you probably have to worry about is that spirulina also contains an amino acid called, phenylalanine, which should be avoided by people with phenylketonuria, a metabolic disorder, which prevents the body from metabolizing this particular amino acid, making it to build up in the brain causing damage. And although very rare it may sometimes contain a type of toxin called microcystins, which can cause liver diseases, including cancer. Unfortunately, as of yet no standard exists to regulate its safety, however as mentioned it is an extremely rare toxin, so as long as properly tested there is no need for an alarm. As you can see theirs definitely a lot of benefits linked to spirulina so it might be a supplement you want to add to your diet when looking for the best multivitamin that can compliment your eating habits!
 
LEMON: The lemon is one powerful little fruit! Aside from the fact that its a great tool for fat burning and weight loss, It contains no saturated fats or cholesterol, but is rich in dietary fiber (7.36% of RDA). Its acidic taste is due to citric acid. Citric acid is present in up to 8% of its juice. Citric acid is a natural preservative, aids digestion. Studies found that citric acid help dissolve kidney stones. Lemons, like other citrus fruits, are excellent source of ascorbic acid (provides about 88% of DRI). Ascorbic acid or vitamin-C is a powerful water soluble natural anti-oxidant. This vitamin is helpful in preventing scurvy. Besides, consumption of foods rich in vitamin-C helps body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful, pro-inflammatory free radicals from the blood. Lemons like oranges contain a variety of phytochemicals. Hesperetin and naringenin are flavonoid glycosides commonly found in citrus fruits. Naringenin is found to have a bio-active effect on human health as antioxidant, free radical scavenger, anti-inflammatory, and immune system modulator. This substance has also been shown to reduce oxidant injury to DNA in the cells in-vitro studies. They also contain small level of vitamin A, and other flavonoid anti-oxidants such as α and B-carotenes, beta-cryptoxanthin, zea-xanthin and lutein. These compounds are known to have antioxidant properties. Vitamin A also required for maintaining healthy mucus membranes and skin and is also essential for vision. Consumption of natural fruits rich in flavonoids helps body to protect from lung and oral cavity cancers. They also a good source of B-complex vitamins such as pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, and folates. These vitamins are essential in the sense that body requires them from external sources to replenish. They contain healthy amount of minerals like iron, copper, potassium, and calcium. Potassium in an important component of cell and body fluids helps control heart rate and blood pressure. 
 
RAW ORGANIC HONEY: While honey is sweet, the vitamins present in honey are B6, thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid and certain amino acids. The minerals found in honey include calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and zinc. On top of all of this “raw organic” honey is an alkaline-forming food, this type of honey contains ingredients similar to those found in fruits, which become alkaline in the digestive system.  Because it contains antioxidants, enzymes and amino acids, it doesn't ferment in the stomach and it can be used to counteract acid indigestion. Raw honey is also anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal. Last but not least, it contains a mineral called selenium, which is necessary for the proper support of immune system health.  It is a vital mineral antioxidant found in the tissues of your body and assists in supporting an optimal balance of cardio-protective benefits as well. 
 
RAW BLUE AGAVE: According to Dr Ray Sahelian, bestselling author of, Mind Boosters and The Stevia Cookbook, there are several hundred species of the agave plant. Agave has been cultivated for centuries, first by the Native American population and then in Europe, when agave plants were brought back by the Spaniards and Portugese in the 17th century. Agave contains saponins and fructans. According to Dr. Sahelian, saponins, which are found on quinoa and many plant roots, including ginseng, have anti-inflammatory and immune system-boosting properties, including antimicrobial capability. In fact, the Aztecs used agave syrup to treat wounds because of its antibacterial properties. Inulin is a type of fructan or fiber that has many health benefits. Studies suggest that inulin can be effective in weight loss because of its low impact on blood sugar (that's right! this is a great sugar substitute for those with diabetes) and its ability to increase satiety and decrease appetite. Inulin is also associated with lowering cholesterol, reducing the risk of certain cancers, and increasing the absorption of nutrients, such as isoflavones, calcium and magnesium. In addition, Dr Sahelian says fructans are not destroyed in the stomach and may be a delivery system for drugs to treat colon diseases such as ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn's disease.  
 
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