Why Athletes Love Spirulina
If you’re an athlete, it’s likely that your everyday diet and nutrition are very important to you. What we eat helps to fuel our workouts and performance, and is vital for helping our muscles build and repair. A good balance of vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates, antioxidants, and nutrients is what helps us perform to the best of our abilities. Spirulina is full of so many awesome benefits that have become an athlete's go-to.
But what is Spirulina? In this article, we cover what it is, all of its awesome benefits, and how an Aila pre-workout drink incorporates this powerhouse ingredient.
What is Spirulina?
Spirulina is one of the world’s most popular supplements due to all of its natural benefits. Spirulina is an organism that grows in both fresh and saltwater. It is a type of cyanobacteria, single-celled microbes that are also referred to as blue-green algae. Cyanobacteria can produce energy from sunlight through photosynthesis, so is a natural energy booster.
Spirulina is packed with nutrients and contains the following:
- Protein
- Vitamin B1
- Vitamin B2
- Vitamin B3
- Copper
- Iron
- Magnesium
- Potassium
- Manganese
- And more!
What are Spirulina’s Benefits?
Spirulina may be the single most nutritious food on the planet with a wide variety of benefits that make it the perfect ingredient for a pre-workout supplement. Some of the benefits include:
High in Protein
Spirulina is high in protein and is directly comparable to eggs. The algae’s high-protein content is a great source of lean and long-lasting energy. Just one tablespoon of spirulina powder has about 4g of protein as well as an abundance of iron, calcium, and potassium. Spirulina is also super high in antioxidants along with riboflavin, thiamin, copper, niacin, zinc, and vitamins A, C, E, and B as well. Spirulina is one of the few plant-based ingredients that have this amount of protein, making it the perfect superfood supplement for vegans and vegetarians to consume in a pre-workout drink.
Promotes Cell Respiration
There is research that shows that spirulina can help repair muscle damage after workouts as well as increase muscle strength. Our body’s cells need more oxygen and the removal of carbon dioxide out of them. This is particularly important for athletes and cell repair after a workout. Hemoglobin protein in the blood is one of the main components involved in this process, and iron is a key component in hemoglobin. Unfortunately, a lot of athletes, particularly female athletes, are iron deficient. This is why spirulina is such a great ingredient in superfood powders and pre-workout supplement because it is full of iron. It is said to contain three times the amount of iron than what’s in spinach.
High in Antioxidants
Antioxidants help to reduce inflammation, so it’s important for athletes to get as many antioxidants into their diet as possible. Spirulina is full of a pigment called phycocyanin which is stuffed full of antioxidants. These antioxidants help to shield cells from damage which is extremely important for athletes as they are constantly putting their bodies under plenty of physical stress.
If you’re looking for supplements to boost the immune system then try Aila’s Energy + Focus superfood supplement. It contains spirulina along with organic coffee, matcha and bee pollen, making it packed full of antioxidants.
Natural Energy & Endurance
Many athletes are looking for supplements that combat fatigue and increase endurance while participating in activities that are more extensive in time such as cycling, running, or hiking that you will need a really good supplement to support you through to the end of your workout. A natural boost of energy such as our Energy + Focus product is the perfect pre-workout drink for athletes who need something to keep them energized and promote muscle recovery after your workout.
A study showed how spirulina enhanced an athlete’s endurance, significantly increasing the time it took for people to become fatigued. It is also great to be used for blood redox status, which is the balance between oxidants and antioxidants, both at rest and after exercise.
Aila powder blends are the perfect supplements to boost the immune system and give you that natural energy boost throughout the day, before or during your workout of choice. Aila offers one of the best green superfood supplement blends on the market, and you can get them delivered straight to your door so you can start enjoying the many benefits of superfood supplements today.