Children and spirulina: can they consume it?

Hello everyone! Here I am back with a new article about children! By going on some forums, I could see that many parents are wondering if their children (most of them young) can consume spirulina. It is normal to ask yourself this question. Is it good for my child? Will he like it? How to integrate spirulina into your diet? I will try to answer your questions as best as possible in this article.

 

Benefits of spirulina for children

As you all know, spirulina is a superfood with multiple nutrients that are good for our body. It contains practically all the nutrients necessary to strengthen our metabolism (proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, vitamins and minerals). Each one has its role to play. The proteins, present in our little blue algae, contain the eight famous essential amino acids: those that the body cannot produce and which must be supplied by the diet. Spirulina also contains vitamins such as B vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B8, B9), vitamin D, vitamin E and vitamin K and has two exceptional contents:

• in beta-carotene (or vitamin A)
• in vitamin B12

Minerals and trace elements are also essential elements for the body: iron, magnesium, calcium, manganese, potassium, phosphorus, zinc and selenium. But it is above all its exceptional richness in iron that must be highlighted. And this iron is also very bio-available!

Our micro-algae does not contain iodine and its sodium content is reduced thanks to its cultivation in freshwater ponds (being cultivated in alkaline lakes).

Spirulina has a very high content of gamma-linolenic acid (fatty acid precursor of mediators involved in anti-inflammatory and immune processes), which makes it the second source of this nutrient after breast milk. It is free of saturated fats and cholesterol. For diabetic children, its carbohydrate content is very low and very low in simple carbohydrates, which makes it a good food for them.

An example that shows the benefits of spirulina for children: the children of the Kanembou tribes! The micro-algae, naturally cultivated in the lake Chad, next to which they have lived for hundreds of years, is part of their daily diet. And these children are healthy. They do not suffer from malnutrition, like many children in Africa.

Spirulina is therefore very suitable for children.

 

Dosage of spirulina for children

Spirulina provides the elements that children need to grow up well. It also helps young people to have energy, to be more concentrated (spirulina also acts on the memory) and to manage their stress in front of homework, exams, etc.. It is at this time that the child no longer needs breast milk and filling this gap with spirulina at the end of breastfeeding is beneficial because it is an important source of essential fatty acids, including gamma-linolenic acids (mentioned earlier), and essential amino acids essential to the growth of the infant.

The dosage of spirulina to be respected for children is 1 to 2 g per day, contrary to the children of the Kanembou tribe who take it in large doses (10 to 12 g per day). It is more advisable to take spirulina in powder form, which is more practical to integrate into the diet of a baby or a child who cannot swallow.

Spirulina is therefore suitable for a healthy child, to whom we just want to give a complete food supplement in vitamins, minerals and proteins. Vitamin C, not being present in spirulina, can be provided with fresh orange juice, or goji berry juice, or kiwi fruit for example. Mix them with spirulina to obtain the desired results.

 

So you understand that spirulina is your children’s ally because it contains important and necessary elements for their growth. Tell us about your experiences with our dear Caroline and your children!