Definitely Buying This Again
I began a weight loss program in January - nothing radical - just gave up sodas, sugar and fried foods, exercise and dropped my calorie intake to 1,200-1,500 a day. I'm losing 1-3 pounds a week and have lost about 20 pounds since January 2011. I still have about 110 pounds to go though. My energy levels were erratic - high one day, gone the next as my body got used to the change in calories, caffeine and sugar. My mind was alternately foggy and cloudy or clear -related to my fibromyalgia and the adjustment to my new eating habits. Then Spirulina popped up in a Dr. Mercola newsletter I think - and so I tried it. I've tried several supplements people suggested but this one SEEMS to help most with regulating my digestion and my energy. It's not like taking a prescription drug and you won't experience "an immediate spike in energy," or even be able to tell definitively that it's the spirulina!! but I've been keeping a detailed food journal and looking back I can see that the days I feel better, sleep better and have a little more energy or a better day are the days when I take this consistently throughout the day. Maybe it works, maybe it's a placebo effect, but I'm happy with it. The capsules are easy to swallow, no taste. I've had no problem with them taking them with or without food - other than my bowel movements may sometimes have a greenish tint to them!! The recommended dose is two capsules three to four times daily, preferably with food. My first bottle lasted not quite two weeks. I've been taking it a month. Spirulina's claim to fame seems to be in its protein, but each serving is less than 1 gram of protein. You do however get 760 mg of Spirulina - of which there is no USDA established value. According to various sites on the web spirulina is an "almost complete protein that contains 18 of the 22 amino acids the body needs. It's not supposed to replace or rival meat protein, but when compared to plant protein it's impressive. It is also rich with several different types of essential fatty acid, and contains Vitamin B1, B2, B3, B6, B9, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin A and Vitamin E. It is also a source of such minerals as potassium, calcium, chromium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, selenium (selenium benefits), sodium, and zinc." The big reason most people take Spirulina is for the weight loss benefits. It's a pretty popular diet food because it's all natural, has all the major vitamins, amino acids and nutrients and has a very high protein content (60-70% of its body weight is pure protein). It's also carbohydrate and sugar-free. As a result, it acts as a potent appetite suppressant reducing body weight over time. You can't just take this and expect to lose weight, but if you're doing other stuff right, it's supposed to help. We'll see! I can't say it suppresses my appetite, but the NOW Foods Green Tea Extract, 250 Capsules / 400mg sure does
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