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AuthorTopic: Is Spirulina okay?
SK2RF2CE
08-07-2002
12:07 PM		......I dont like the eggs either, they give me stomach pains thats why i plan to eat only one omega egg a day. Hey Wai if u read this can u tell me if spirulina is okay? Cuz the reason u tell us to eat raw fish and egg is cuz of B12 right? Well spirulina has loads of b12. and it has chloryphyll, vitamin A, other B vitamins, calcium, GLA. I use to take it a while back and it did clear me up somewhat until i ran out. Well jus wanted to know if i can use this to replace the raw eggs and fish. aiite thanks

quote:
Wai wrote:
This post and the following 8 responses from JustMarvin and me were copied from another thread, because this issue deserves a thread of its own
Wai
08-07-2002
12:12 PM		SK2RF2CE,

quote:
I dont like the eggs either, they give me stomach pains
When that happens, the egg is not fresh enough. Please read these guidelines to be able to check freshness of eggs.

quote:
Hey Wai if u read this can u tell me if spirulina is okay? Cuz the reason u tell us to eat raw fish and egg is cuz of B12 right? Well spirulina has loads of b12. and it has chloryphyll, vitamin A, other B vitamins, calcium, GLA.
Spirulina contains B12 from algae, right?
This B12 seems to be non-bioavailable for humans, which means that you cannot utilize it as vitamin B12.
The nutrient contents of egg yolks are higher than that of any other food in the world. Check out the nutrient contents of egg yolk and the comparison of egg yolk contents with that of other high-nutrient foods.
justmarvin
08-07-2002
12:15 PM
quote:
Spirulina contains B12 from algae, right?
This B12 seems to be non-bioavailable for humans, which means that you cannot utilize it as vitamin B12.
I'm sorry Wai, but that statement is contrary to every material i have read about spirulina. Sea vegetation has been used as a source of food for a long long time!

P.S.
I'm glad your board is back up!

Take care,
Marvin
justmarvin
08-07-2002
12:16 PM		What i meant to say was please support that statement, Wai, As I am interested.

Take care,
Marvin
Wai
08-07-2002
12:17 PM
quote:
Marvin wrote:
I'm sorry Wai, but that statement is contrary to every material i have read about spirulina. Sea vegetation has been used as a source of food for a long long time!
I did not say that you cannot eat sea vegatation, I was talking about the bioavailability of B12 from algae.
I wrote 'seems' because I'm not sure about this. I think I read it somewhere, but have not been able to find the info yet. (which shouldn't be that difficult BTW)
Wai
08-07-2002
12:17 PM		Ah, I very quickly found out that the issue was about dried algae versus non-dried algae:

quote:
from abstract:
"it has been reported that the Cbl nutritional status of vegetarian children deteriorated as estimated by the hematological index, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), after they had dried nori as a source of Cbl (vit. B12)......Our present data demonstrated that Cbl in raw nori can be changed into harmful Cbl analogues by the drying process"
Dried nori appears to be perfect for rats though.
Wai
08-07-2002
12:18 PM		Couldn't find anything yet about the bio-availability of B12 in Spirulina though.
Maybe you have some time to do a quick search Marvin?
justmarvin
08-07-2002
12:19 PM		I just did a quick search at google and from one source, it appears that you are right about the bioavailability of vitamin B12 in spirulina.

quote:
from abstract
The use of dulse, chlorella, nori, blue-green algae, spirulina, and fermented soy products has been promoted for their plant-based vitamin B12 content. However, when some of these products were analyzed for true cobalamin activity, they were shown to contain almost all analogues of vitamin B12 which are not active in the human body. In fact, some of these analogues interfere with normal cobalamin metabolism by competitive binding, resulting in poorer vitamin B12 status. Serum vitamin B12 levels may improve, while metabolic indicators deteriorate. Nori and spirulina have both been shown to be ineffective at improving vitamin B12 status of children. It is not safe to rely on marine plant life or soy products for vitamin B12.
Though, I found one algae product that touts it's "bioavailable" B12:

quote:
The abstract
"Vitamin B12: Scientific studies (Lancet, Jan. 30, 1988; JAMA, Dec. 17, 1982) using different brands of spirulina demonstrated that nearly 80% of spirulina’s vitamin B12 content is not bio-available, meaning that your body is unable to utilize it. The conclusion of these reports was a warning against over-consumption of spirulina because it induced pernicious anemia in a number of people. However, an unpublished preliminary study conducted at the University of Connecticut confirmed the bio-availability of the vitamin B12 found in SBGA. The Super Blue Green Algae strain, Aphanizomenon flos-aquae, has also been tested by Lancaster Labs for B12 analog levels using microbiological testing methods that are comparable to methods of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists. Vitamin B12, which is in the corrinoid family, contains four main analogs (cyanocobalamin, hydroxycobalamin, aquacobalamin and methylcobalamin) that show significant bioactivity. The testing results on SBGA, while not discerning exactly which corrinoids are present, indicate significant B12 activity. Therefore, unlike other plant foods such as spirulina that contain corrinoids with virtually no vitamin B12 activity, SBGA is shown to be a reliable source for vegetarians seeking to supplement their diets with a bioactive form of this important nutrient.
Aside from the point addressed about Vitamin B12 in spirulina, although I would have to do more research to be sure, I would think that algae such as spirulina and chlorella would be beneficial when added to one's diet. What are your thoughts on that, Wai?

Cheers!
Marvin

"Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with loving- kindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's." King David - Psalms 103:1-5.
Wai
08-07-2002
12:19 PM
quote:
Marvin:
I would think that algae such as spirulina and chlorella would be beneficial when added to one's diet. What are your thoughts on that, Wai?
What, in your opinion, would specifically be the beneficial effect?
This in particular worries me a bit:
quote:
from abstract:
"Our present data demonstrated that Cbl in raw nori can be changed into harmful Cbl analogues by the drying process"
karen
08-07-2002
06:44 PM		Dear Marvin and Wai,
I was just browsing through the new bulletin board, and came across the Spirulina thread.
Although I cannot contribute with any usefull info.(since I am by no means an expert), I must say that for me, as a new member,
it sometimes feels a little confusing to read wheather this or that specific item is good for you or not. (regarding b12 contained in spirulina for example).
Does one or does one not need supplements?
I´ve been avoiding any extra intake of these, since I seem to have read this in the first literature I ever saw on the old board.
Mind you, I have been on the diet faithfully for a few months now,I wouldn´t want to lack any important noutrients.Otherwise I would or course start on some multivitamin.
sincerely
Karen
Wai
08-08-2002
05:47 AM
quote:
Karen wrote
it sometimes feels a little confusing to read wheather this or that specific item is good for you or not. (regarding b12 contained in spirulina for example).
Does one or does one not need supplements?
Spirulina is discussed here because SK2RF2CE wrote:
quote:
can u tell me if spirulina is okay? Cuz the reason u tell us to eat raw fish and egg is cuz of B12 right? Well spirulina has loads of b12. and it has chloryphyll, vitamin A, other B vitamins, calcium, GLA.
So, SK2RF2CE was wondering whether Spirulina was good enough to replace the fish / egg yolks.
The answer is no, because:
1. The bioavailability of B12 from Spirulina is poor.
2. We need the fresh raw animal food for more than B12 alone. Especially good cholesterol, to diminish your cravings for 'bad food', but also many other nutrients (incl. vitamin D); the animal food nutrient contents are perfectly complementary to that of fruits.

quote:
I have been on the diet faithfully for a few months now,I wouldn´t want to lack any important noutrients. Otherwise I would or course start on some multivitamin.
Oh, no, this diet abundantly supplies you with all required nutrients, and you CERTAINLY don't need any supplements.
You can easily check for yourself whether your version of the diet supplies you with all required nutrients, by submitting your version of the diet to this nutrient calculator.
bk
08-08-2002
08:42 PM
quote:
Otherwise I would or course start on some multivitamin.
Just for extra clarification, Wai has written about this:
Harmful Vitamin Supplements
justmarvin
08-09-2002
07:34 AM		Although I have not personally taken spirulina as of yet, I am a believer of whole food supplements.

quote:
Wai said:
What, in your opinion, would specifically be the beneficial effect? This in particular worries me a bit:
Spirulina is touted as being a rich source of protein (one of the best), vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids (including GLA), and chlorophyll.

Just because spirulina might be lacking in the vitamin b-12 department, don't "throw out the baby with the bath water!"
Wai
08-09-2002
08:02 AM
quote:
Spirulina is touted as being a rich source of protein (one of the best)
The quality of protein is determined by the amino acid composition of that protein.
So, WHAT is the amino acid composition of protein in spirulina?
And how much protein does spirulina contain?

quote:
...vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids (including GLA), and chlorophyll.
To be able to judge its nutritional value, we need to know its contents.
what are they exactly?

quote:
Just because spirulina might be lacking in the vitamin b-12 department, don't "throw out the baby with the bath water!"
Not "just because..."
Sprulina is not fresh raw seaweed, right?
Why do you keep on ignoring this quote? :
quote:
from abstract:
"Our present data demonstrated that Cbl in raw nori can be changed into harmful Cbl analogues by the drying process"
engesongwok
04-08-2003
11:34 PM		No, spirulina in most cases is dried. I have a jar that I bought before learning of wai's suggestions. Its cold processed using carbon dioxide. So, its not fresh...but its still supposed to be raw. I suppose it might be looked upon as you might other dried goods, processed in the same way...except I haven't heard of anything processed in exactly the same manner.