The rise of new variants of COVID 19 despite the presence of vaccines comes with the emergence of several studies and clinical trials in finding solutions to lessen the spread of COVID 19. Recently, Israeli and Icelandic scientists published in the Medical Biotechnology study on how “enhanced Spirulina reduces by 70% the release of an immune-system protein that causes dangerous cytokine storm in the lungs.” which may definitely prevent and help early stages of COVID 19. Spirulina’s C-phycocyanin (C-PC), a blue pigment-binding protein enhances antioxidation, anti-inflammation, and anti-tumor activities. Phycocyanin is also used as supplemental treatment for cancer patients. Read more about Phycocyanin…
Spirulina is not your ordinary food supplement because it is internationally recognized and accredited by the United Nations (UN) as a complete source of vitamins and nutrients as stated in the 1974 World Health Organization Conference (WHO). With recent findings about spirulina, its popularity has resulted in the proliferation of fake or low quality Spirulina this time of pandemic.
Similar to what happened in the 1970’s there was a rise in popularity of spirulina because of its efficacy. Due to this, mass production took place which resulted with adulteration and poor regulation. This flooded the market with spirulina that failed to meet its standard. This brought the industry of spirulina down. This is why we should avoid making the same mistakes.
After conducting online product research and comparative analysis on different Spirulina in the market, it is certain that there have been many misrepresentations of Spirulina in terms of what it is, where it comes from, how it is grown, what it looks like, how it should taste, and more. In this article, you will be able to detect the difference between fake and real Spirulina.
How to Spot Genuine from Fake Spirulina
Spirulina is not a plant grown on soil. Spirulina was once classified as a plant because of “its richness” in plant pigments as well as its ability to photosynthesize. But Spirulina belong to the group of microorganisms called cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae. Wherein, it grows in shallow saline water with pH level of 9-11.
Spirulina is not seaweed as misrepresented in the picture, because it is microscopic, and impossible to hold unless dewatered and pressed to form a cake.
Spirulina is not an ordinary algae seen growing in rocks or seabeds. Based from Algaebase.org there are 30,000 to 1 million species of algae. Spirulina is a naturally occurring blue-green algae that is commercially grown in a controlled environment. Which goes to the next point.
Spirulina is not grown in uncontrolled water environments such as lakes, sea, open ponds, rivers. Historically, Spirulina was originally rediscovered and grown in Lake Chad in central Africa. But with global warming, and rise of polluted water systems, growing safe and pure spirulina is impossible. It should be grown in specialized facilities (enclosed ponds, with proper ventilation, lighting and agitation). May it be open or closed raceway ponds, it is important to know how your spirulina is being grown. Check out Aztec Spirulina specialized facilities.
Some poor quality Spirulina are packed and mislabeled without FDA approval. To eliminate doubt, we highly recommend that you buy from local GROWERS with FDA APPROVED LTO (License To Operate) and necessary FDA – CPR (Certificate of Product Registration) to market.
Stop Proliferation of Fake Spirulina
These are some of the observations we, as a local spirulina producer, collected overtime. By exposing these misrepresentations, spirulina users are now able to detect fake from real spirulina in the market. We are calling for the involvement of all academe, sellers and authorized governing bodies to improve the system and controls for spirulina by indicating what defines pure and quality spirulina, we can raise quality control and the bar of excellence in the process.
Read more…
What is Genuine spirulina?
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