Spirulina for Malnutrition

In today’s world of scientific progress and advanced technology, where there seems to be an abundance of cheap foods that are full of fat and sugar, it’s easy to forget that there are still less fortunate parts of the world that have not enjoyed the same benefits and prosperity that many have come to take for granted. For millions of people in the developing world, every day is a struggle for survival, living in constant uncertainty of where the next morsel of food will come from. The result is millions of malnourished people, many of them children. International relief efforts from the UN’s World Food Program and other similar organizations often fall short, in part defeated by the massive logistical requirements of providing so many different food items required to provide people with balanced and nutritious meals. Part of the solution to treating the malnourished people of the world would be to provide them with a single food that would be easy to cultivate and can be grown almost anywhere while providing all of the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients required to foster proper growth and development. Such a food has already been found, and has been labeled as the “best food for the future” by the United Nations since 1974: It is called Spirulina.

Spirulina is a blue green algae that grows naturally in lakes and other bodies of fresh water. These algae have been cultivated as a major foodstuff for hundreds of years, mainly in Central America. Spirulina is one of the most nutrient rich foods known to man. It is a complete source of protein, containing every essential amino acid that our body uses to build healthy muscle and tissue. Spirulina is also rich in essential fatty acids, the substances which protect and promote cardiovascular and brain functions. It is loaded with vitamins A, C, & D, which are essential in developing good eyesight, a resilient immune system, and strong bones, respectively. Spirulina is also a good source of the B vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, B9, and B12, which help boost the body’s functions and prevent diseases. It also contains significant amounts of the minerals iron, calcium, selenium, zinc, phosphorous, and magnesium. The sheer density of nutrition found in spirulina can be summed up by saying that 1 kg of spirulina powder contains the same amount of essential nutrients found in up to 100 kg of vegetables. Scientific studies have proven that a diet of spirulina helps reverse the damage wrought by malnutrition on the body. It also seems to be very effective in inhibiting the spread of the HIV virus within an infected person’s immune system. These facts alone would be enough to make it the leading choice as a food for malnourished people, and would be particularly useful in Africa, where both AIDS and famine have been rampantly spreading in recent years. However, spirulina has one more important property that sets it far above the other candidates.

Spirulina is very easy to grow. It requires no specialized storage or equipment, and is lightweight and very compact. This means that relief organizations can forgo the high costs of shipping in tons of food to start food distribution efforts. Instead, they can focus their efforts on educating the people on using spirulina as a sustainable food source. The United Nations has established the International Institution for the Use of Micro-Algae Spirulina Against Malnutrition (IIMSAM) for just this purpose. Colonies of spirulina can be started simply by obtaining some spirulina stock (water where spirulina already thrives) and maintain the environmental conditions under which it can flourish. This means keeping the water’s pH levels between 8.0 and 11.0 while maintaining a temperature of around 35 to 37 degrees centigrade. Spirulina can be grown in raceway ponds, which are shallow artificial water ponds specifically made to grow algae. It can also be grown in earthen jars or similar containers. A family of 3 people can grow enough spirulina in a container with a volume of 35 liters to meet their daily nutritional needs.

Another advantage of Spirulina is the ease and flexibility with which it can be consumed. Spirulina can be eaten fresh out of the water, or allowed to dry into a powder. This powder can be eaten on its own or used as an additional ingredient in soups and broths, or as a thickening agent for sauce. Spirulina is also easy to store. Dried spirulina is still good for consumption for up to a year without the help of any modern preservation techniques or refrigeration. When spirulina is sealed in vacuum dried airtight containers, its shelf life can be as long as 5 years.

Spirulina is just one of the many previously rediscovered functional foods that have the potential to change the way we eat. Superfoods like spirulina once helped form the foundations of many great ancient empires. As scientists and researchers unlock more of their secrets every day, Hidalgo Foods will be there to provide, educate, and inform the people of these amazing breakthroughs. Our company’s mission is to promote these all natural lifestyle options that will help people everywhere lead lives that are healthier, happier, and more fulfilled.