Spirulina, a blue-green alga, is considered a superfood owing to its scientific genus exhibiting two different species of algae, where only one is cultivated extensively for various commercial applications. Spirulina is popularly known for its high protein levels & being a prominent source of vitamins A, B12, K, & iron. With these attractive qualities, spirulina is utilized widely across industries like food & beverage, cosmetic & personal care, etc.
It is also used as a dietary supplement in the form of powder, tablets, or liquids. Besides, the growing awareness about its benefits like high nutritional value and being plant-based is also contributing to its escalating demand worldwide, especially among vegans & vegetarians, as their diets lack the richness of iron.
Moreover, with the increasing use of colors in almost all food & beverages, the demand for natural & organic food dyes is escalating rapidly. As a result, people are extensively using spirulina, owing to its intense blue-green color. Hence, all these aspects indicate that the Global Spirulina Market is expected to register around 9.5% CAGR during 2022-27. Now that we have talked about several applications & benefits of spirulina, it's time we dive deeper into these aspects and learn more. Have a look
Key Applications of Spirulina
Across the food & beverages industry, the demand for spirulina is majorly to offer an extensive range of dietary supplements to the people. Spirulina is extensively gaining popularity among the vegetarian & vegans to meet their nutritional requirements. Besides, the demand for spirulina is growing swiftly by the food manufacturers to use in smoothies, juices, shakes, candies, and other supplementary & confectionery products,
While Spirulina is rapidly gaining traction across the food & beverages industry, its demand is nowhere behind across the cosmetic & personal care sector. Across the world, the cosmetic industry is expanding rapidly and promoting the demand for Spirulina in various topical skin-care formulations like moisturizers, antiwrinkle creams & products, antiaging & antiacne agents, among others. In fact, spirulina is also used by cosmetic formulators to offer healthy sunscreen protection, treat skin pigmentation issues, and heal wounds.
Spirulina & Its Health Claims
While there are some really cool effects of spirulina on health, there are some areas that still need more research & study to confirm its effectiveness on health. Many people encourage the utilization of Spirulina for the treatment of different metabolism & heart issues, like weight loss, diabetes, & high cholesterol. In fact, people are also recommending Spirulina as the solution for various mental & emotional disorders like anxiety, depression, stress, & Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
While Spirulina is anticipated to treat several health problems like premenstrual symptoms & amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, its demand is, surely, escalating swiftly and gaining popularity among people across different corners of the world.
Talking about the health claims of Spirulina, let us take a deeper look into its effects in the treatment of widespread disease Malnutrition and learn more.
Since Spirulina has a rich nutritional profile, many researchers & scientists who are rigorously examining malnutrition are demonstrating deep interest in Spirulina & its impact on health. Numerous studies are looking into the effects of its supplementation on malnourished populations and seeking greater effectiveness to curb the disorder.
Some Possible Risks Associated with the Use of Spirulina
While there is an end number of benefits that might be procured from the appropriate use of spirulina, there are also the possibilities of side effects and risks that might occur in some people. Therefore, to avoid such potential health risks, it is crucial to learn more about its side effects & risks that it might pose.
Since there is not enough research was done that suggests whether Spirulina is safe for pregnant or breastfeeding women, it is suggested not to ingest spirulina in such conditions, as it contains toxins.
Since Spirulina is algae and might be harvested in the wild, there are high chances of its contamination with heavy metals & bacteria. Therefore, consuming high amounts of Spirulina might cause stress or damage to the liver.
As Spirulina helps in reducing blood clotting in the body, it also escalated the risks of bruises & bleeding in people, especially those who might have bleeding conditions.
Conclusion
Understanding all the facts cited above, you can now make an informed decision about how & when to use spirulina to attain its maximum perks & avoid risks at all times. The mounting demand for spirulina worldwide across different industries for numerous applications is generating growth opportunities for its producers to increase their harvesting capacities and meet the rising consumer requirements. Hence, in the coming years, the Global Spirulina Market is likely to expand considerably over the coming
