What is Spirulina

L'ALGA SPIRULINA

What is spirulina algae L'alga Spirulina is a microalgae, scientifically known as Arthrospira platensis; today it is classified more precisely among cyanobacteria (like other blue-green algae) and lives spontaneously in lakes, especially salty with alkaline and warm waters, of sub-tropical areas.

It is characterized by the typical spiral shape (visible under the microscope), for which it got this name. This microalgae grows and multiplies spontaneously in the lakes of central and eastern Africa, and in South America, thanks to the climate perfectly suited to its needs.

Spirulina was already used as a food in ancient times. The Aztecs made extensive use of it, since they already knew its properties and ate it accompanying it with tortillas or mixing it in bread dough. It was defined "Food of the Gods". In Africa, near Lake Chad, local populations still collect the Spirulina microalgae for food use.

The large carpets of Spirulina floating on the surface of the lake are collected and dried in the sun and cut into square cakes. Since the 1960s, NASA astronauts have successfully used Spirulina as a food supplement during long-duration space missions.

This sparked a general interest in Spirulina research and in 1970 the intergovernmental institution for theuse of Spirulina against malnutrition (IIMSAM) with the goal of taking Spirulina to fight hunger around the world. Today, by reproducing the right environmental conditions, Spirulina Algae can be grown in tanks. 

 

SUPER FOOD RICH IN NUTRIENTS