Many people today try the road of supplements, especially of natural origin, to lose weight. We have seen in previous Dcomedieta articles how many of these supplements are practically useless for weight loss.

Today we see the case of the spirulina algae. Does spirulina make you lose weight?

DOES SPIRULINA MAKE YOU LOSE?

Unlike other natural substances, whose human studies are scarce, we have more than one study on spirulina algae conducted on people who had to lose weight.
Which is objectively a point in his favor.

In fact, spirulina has been studied on men since the end of the 1980s.

A 2020 meta-analysis , which includes all studies on spirulina in overweight subjects, allows us to better understand whether or not it works for weight loss.

SPIRULINA: SLIMMING PROPERTIES AND MORE

The benefits of spirulina are numerous.
This blue-green alga contains an important substance, phycocyanobilin. which essentially has a strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant action. Especially it has it on fatty acids, preventing oxidation.

The result is that spirulina supplementation lowers LDL or bad cholesterol and lowers triglycerides and has an indirect effect on insulin sensitivity, hence the risk of high blood sugar. It also has a notable hypotensive effect, therefore it is indicated in those suffering from hypertension.
Logically it should be taken in place of drugs for hypertension, otherwise it could dangerously amplify the effect.

Finally, in one study it was found that spirulina supplementation reduced the feeling of hunger.
In many of these studies, those taking spirulina had greater reduction in weight and abdominal visceral fat than those on a calorie restricted diet alone.

What does this mean?
That spirulina should always be associated with a low-calorie diet.

By itself, therefore, it can improve our cholesterol levels or reduce pressure, but it does not make us lose weight per se.
It must be said that it reduces the markers of inflammation, promotes the elimination of bile and cholesterol through the feces, improves the intestinal flora, reduces the fat around the liver.
The doses used in research are at least 2 grams of spirulina per day, almost always for a period of 2-3 months.
On page two we see the side effects and recommended products.