Ignored Since the 1950s - Is Spirulina Now a 'Miracle' High-Protein Super Food?

Imagine a plant that can nourish your body by providing most of the protein you need to live, help prevent the annoying sniffling and sneezing of allergies, reinforce your immune system, help you control high blood pressure and cholesterol, and help protect you from cancer. Does such a "super food" exist?

Yes. It's called spirulina.

Unlike plants you may grow in your garden, this "miracle" plant is a form of blue-green algae that springs from warm, fresh water bodies.

Spirulina vs. Chlorella -- Similarities and Differences

Chlorella is another form of algae that is sometimes confused with spirulina. The fundamental difference between spirulina and chlorella is that spirulina is many thousands of years older and does not possess the hard cell wall that makes chlorella closer to being a plant than algae.

Chlorella is an excellent way to detoxify your body from mercury, which most of you are contaminated with if you've ever had dental fillings, received a vaccine, used certain types of cookware or eaten fish. Spirulina simply is unable to remove heavy metals like chlorella does, as it lacks a cell membrane.

Chlorella has also been proven to be of benefit to those who suffer from degenerative disease. This report, however, will focus on the specific benefits that can be attributed to spirulina in particular.

Spirulina History -- Could This Super Food Help End World Hunger?

Spirulina is a simple, one-celled organism that got its name from the Latin word for 'helix' or 'spiral' because of its spring-like physical characteristic. Its scientific name is Arthrospira platensis, and it belongs to the cyanobacteria family.
The use of spirulina as a food source dates all the way back to 9th century Chad and it is believed spirulina was used by the Aztecs in 16th century Mexico.1

Historical records report the harvesting and selling of cakes made from spirulina harvested from Lake Texcoco. It was rediscovered in the 1950's in the same place where it has said to have its origins2 by a European scientific mission. The spirulina was being harvested and sold in dried flat cakes called "dihé" at the local markets, where natives would use it as a staple for many of their meals.

Spirulina didn't come into commercial production until the 1970s when a French company began the first large-scale spirulina production plant. Within a few years, America and Japan began producing their own spirulina.

Today, these nutrient-rich algae are being used around the world to help treat illness and are being seriously discussed as a sustainable source of food with the potential to end world hunger.3 Unlike most plants, which need to be cultivated and nurtured, spirulina is a survivor, able to withstand extreme temperature variations and neglect and still thrive. According to studies, spirulina is being successfully used to treat a wide variety of ailments, including those who've been poisoned by arsenic-contaminated water.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/07/01/spirulina-the-amazing-super-food-youve-never-heard-of.aspx