![]() ![]() It has pseudovitamin B12, which has not been shown to be effective in humans ( 6). Note that it is often claimed that spirulina contains vitamin B12, but this is false. Plus, the quality of the protein in spirulina is considered excellent and provides all of the essential amino acids that your body needs ( 1). (7 g) - including both omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids in an approximately 1.5–1.0 ratio. Spirulina also provides a small amount of fat - around 1 g per tbsp. In addition, the same amount contains only 20 calories and less than 2 g of carbohydrates. ![]() It also contains decent amounts of magnesium, potassium, and manganese. A single tablespoon (tbsp.), or 7 g, of dried spirulina powder contains ( 5): Spirulina was consumed by the ancient Aztecs but became popular again when NASA proposed that it could be grown in space for use by astronauts ( 3, 4).Ī standard daily dose of spirulina is 1–3 grams (g), but doses of up to 10 g per day have been used effectively ( 1). Just like plants, cyanobacteria can produce energy from sunlight via a process called photosynthesis. It is a type of cyanobacteria, which is a family of single-celled microbes that are often referred to as blue-green algae ( 2). "These people who are living the longest of anybody on Earth are enjoying a little bit of their favorite beverage alcoholic beverage every day," he says.Spirulina is an organism that grows in both fresh and salt water ( 1). So, the wine argument remains extremely nuanced and up for debate however Buettner maintains that the Blue Zones offer a compelling argument for imbibing in moderation. Moderation is key-we should drink no more than one drink per day-and some studies have shown there is no safe level of alcohol consumption. Still, this comes with a lot of caveats, as Buettner notes. Since strong social ties are one of the cornerstones of longevity, it makes sense than anything that enables them may help people live longer. As a recent deep-dive in The Atlanticpointed out, alcohol's ability to enable community may well be one of the reasons the human species hasn't evolved away from it despite some of its detrimental effects, like the hangover and long-term health issues associated with it. This is likely due to the high antioxidant content of wine, which has been shown to be protective against cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and even some forms of cancer.Īnd Buettner notes that you can't underestimate the bonding effects of moderate alcohol consumption. "People who drink a little bit, up to two drinks a day, actually have a lower chance of dying than people who don't drink at all," says Buettner. He further notes that there are actually studies linking it to a lower risk of mortality. " If you drink a little bit of red wine with a plant-based meal, it will about quadruple the flavonoid or antioxidant absorption and lower cortisol levels at the end of the day." "But I can tell you that in all five Blue Zones, they drink a little bit every day and it adds to their quality of life," he says. "I'm well aware of the recent studies around alcohol showing that it increases the chance of breast cancer in women, or that it can cause falls, car crashes, and other fatal events," he says. You might be surprised to find this one on the list, and Buettner readily admits that there's controversy around positioning alcohol as beneficial to health in any way. So that may contribute some small part to longevity in Nicoya." This theory makes sense if you consider the proven health benefits of drinking bottled mineral water. "And magnesium is good for heart function. "When you have high levels of calcium and sunshine, those two conspire to make your bones stronger so people have fewer fractures and fewer fatal falls," he explains. In the Nicoya Peninsula or Costa Rica, Buettner explains that the water that bubbles out of the Earth is also very high in calcium and magnesium. "And it may indeed be that the water in the Blue Zones is cleaner." (Having access to clean water is, of course, a serious wellness issue in many parts of the world.) "If you ask a centenarian what explains the longevity of the area, they'll say good food, clean air, and fresh water," he says. Buettner theorizes that the water in Blue Zones may be more healthful than the water in other places, too. "It's not a big gallon of milk like we used to have when we were kids or some power drink or kombucha or any of these concoctions that are relentlessly marketed," he says. In all Blue Zones, says Buettner, people drink water with their meals. But it's also incredibly healthful when compared to most beverages found on store shelves these days in that it doesn't contain sugar, chemicals, or additives. Obviously, the body requires it and can only survive without it for about three days. It should go without saying that water is good for you.
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