Is It Safe To Eat Spirulina During Pregnancy?

Key points

• There aren’t a lot of studies on spirulina’s benefits and risks for pregnant women, but the available evidence is promising. For people who are not pregnant, spirulina is one of the most recommended dietary supplements due to its rich nutrient content. Many specialists support the idea of women eating spirulina during pregnancy as well.
• Pregnant women may benefit from spirulina’s high antioxidant content that prevents free radical damage and alleviates its effects. Plus, essential fatty acids found in spirulina may promote healthy brain development. Spirulina also improves heart health by regulating blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
• Consuming spirulina during pregnancy may help to prevent gestational diabetes - a common condition in pregnant women. Nutrients contained in spirulina help keep blood sugar levels at a healthy level, minimising the risk of diabetes.
• Spirulina supplements are generally considered to be safe. However, there are some potential risks you should be aware of. For instance, spirulina is not recommended for pregnant women with autoimmune diseases, clotting disorders, or phenylketonuria.
• Make sure to buy certified spirulina from a reliable brand. Uncertified spirulina may be contaminated with heavy metals and harmful bacteria. Consult a specialist regarding drug interactions if you take prescribed medications.

Pregnancy is a very sensitive period when women need to look out for themselves and care about their health more than ever before. Following a healthy diet is one of the most critical parts of a healthy pregnancy, and future mothers often want to double-check whether the food they are eating is safe to consume when they’re carrying a child.

Spirulina is one of the most popular superfoods recommended for pregnant women due to its impressive nutrient profile. This blue-green algae has been used for its medicinal purposes for centuries, offering a wide array of benefits for our general health. In this article, we’ll take a look at spirulina’s health benefits for pregnant women and discuss the side effects of this supplement.

 

What Is Spirulina?

Spirulina is a cyanobacterium or blue-green algae harvested in water ecosystems such as ponds and lakes or grown in bioreactors. It is one of the most popular superfoods with an outstanding nutritional profile. Spirulina is also a good source of plant-based protein. Plus, this algae is loaded with essential nutrients our bodies need to function properly and stay healthy.

Consuming Spirulina During Pregnancy

A lot of health and nutrition professionals recommend that pregnant women include spirulina in their diets. This algae is not only very nutritious, but it may also support a healthy pregnancy and lactation. 

However, you should keep in mind that there are not enough studies to confirm that spirulina is safe to consume during pregnancy, which is why some experts may disagree with each other. The issue with spirulina is that it hasn’t been confirmed to be harmful during pregnancy. However, there’s still not enough evidence to conclusively prove that it’s safe despite numerous successful animal studies. Thus, if you’re worried about using this supplement during pregnancy, it’s always a good idea to consult your doctor.

 

 

Potential Spirulina Benefits For Pregnant Women

Spirulina is widely revered as a superfood with numerous health benefits. Here are some of the most common heath benefits of spirulina supplements for pregnant women, according to gynaecology and nutrition experts:

It’s An Excellent Antioxidant 

Spirulina is packed with potent antioxidants which protect the body and fight inflammation and damage caused by free radicals. Phycocyanin, an antioxidant found in spirulina, slows down cell degeneration and tissue ageing, usually caused by free radicals. Spirulina also contains chlorophyll, a molecule responsible for photosynthesis in plants. In humans, this natural phytochemical helps to prevent toxin accumulation in the body.

Spirulina Promotes Brain Development

Spirulina contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which are essential for healthy brain development. This algae is especially widely used for its gamma-linolenic acid content, which promotes brain and skeletal health and improves reproductive health and metabolism.

Overall, spirulina is a very nutritious superfood that contains B-group vitamins, iron, and folic acid - all of the components that help promote a baby’s brain development.

This Algae Improves Heart Health

Spirulina contributes to the production of haemoglobin and red cells in the body, which is helpful for those dealing with anaemia and fatigue. This superfood also helps maintain healthy blood pressure by increasing the production of nitric oxide, which facilitates blood vessel relaxation, keeping the vessels dilated. This may significantly lower the risk of cardiovascular disease in pregnant women and the general population.

Spirulina also supports healthy cholesterol levels by increasing “good” cholesterol and decreasing “bad” cholesterol in the body. This may prevent issues like atherosclerosis, also known as artery hardening.

Spirulina Regulates Blood Sugar Levels

Spirulina is effective for maintaining healthy blood sugar levels, which may be beneficial for pregnant women. Gestational diabetes is a relatively common pregnancy complication that spirulina can successfully help alleviate.

This Supplement Has Anti-Inflammatory Properties

Spirulina is known to help get rid of unpleasant allergic rhinitis symptoms, including inflammation and swelling in the sinuses and nasal cavities. 

Spirulina also lowers the risk of yeast infections in the oral cavity and reproductive system.

 

It Can Increase Energy Levels

Studies suggest that spirulina can increase energy levels due to its high protein content. 

There’s evidence that spirulina promotes healthy gut bacteria - lactobacillus, which helps produce vitamin B6 - an essential vitamin for energy.

The protein in spirulina can also serve as an additional nourishment source for the fetus and promote its growth while helping keep the mother healthy and strong. 

 

 

Possible Risks and Side Effects of Consuming Spirulina During Pregnancy

Spirulina is considered to be safe, but because of the lack of studies to confirm this conclusively, the risks of eating spirulina during pregnancy are not fully known. While the supplement usually doesn’t cause any issues for pregnant women, here are some things you should be aware of:

• The biggest concern for pregnant women is consuming spirulina harvested in a wild environment. If purchased from non-certified brands, spirulina can be contaminated with heavy metals such as mercury or harmful bacteria. This could be dangerous both to your and your baby’s health. Luckily, you can avoid this risk by buying spirulina from reliable brands. If you want to include this algae in your diet, make sure to buy a certified product cultivated in safe conditions. 
• Spirulina is not recommended for people with autoimmune diseases such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis because it can aggravate the symptoms. 
• People suffering from blood clotting disorders or phenylketonuria should consult with a doctor first before starting to consume spirulina.
• If you take any prescription medications, consult a specialist before starting to consume spirulina because this alga might interact with other drugs.

 

How To Consume Spirulina When Pregnant?

Spirulina is a popular over-the-counter dietary supplement available in pharmacies, grocery stores, and online shops. It comes in different forms, including powder, capsules, and tablets. Using spirulina in powder form is the most common way to consume this supplement. However, a lot of people find spirulina’s natural taste very off-putting. Some people even give up on trying to incorporate this supplement into their diet because it makes them nauseous, while others try to tolerate it or incorporate this supplement in different recipes to hide the taste. However, pregnant women are notoriously sensitive to odours and flavours. So are there any alternative options to get all the benefits of spirulina?

Yes! Our brand offers a healthy and delicious spirulina alternative for all people, including pregnant women. Sparkling spirulina drinks by FUL® are an excellent natural alternative to spirulina powder and tablets. So you can reap all the benefits of spirulina without having to figure out how to hide its taste and smell. 

FUL® spirulina beverages are delicious sugar-free fizzy drinks that satisfy soda cravings while giving you an enormous nutrient boost. They are an excellent addition to your diet that is quick and easy to drink on the go. FUL® sparkling spirulina drinks are 100% natural vegan products made with clean certified spirulina extract. They are available in a variety of flavours, so order your starter pack now to figure out which one you like the most.

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