As science is progressing the diseases are equally expanding with fast pace with the increasing cases of dreadful diseases like cancer. Cancer has become the most dreadful disease of todays world with one or the other cases heard gradually.
The cure for these kind of dreadful diseases lies in the superfoods that we can consume nowadays. There are varieties of superfoods that we can consume to increase our overall fitness. One of the superfood available in market today is ‘Spirulina’ which is actually a form of cyanobacteria(blue-green alagae) that can be consumed by humans and other animals. The two species of spirulina available are Arthrospira platensis and A. maxima. It is the Arthrospora species which is cultivated worldwide and used as dietary supplement or whole food. It is also used as feed supplement in the aquaculture, aquarium and poultry industries.
One gram of spirulina is said to be as nutritious as 100 gm of carrot or spinach and is cheaper. It has extremely high protein content with 60-70% of its biomass containing protein. . Further it is very rich in beta carotene (to produce vitamin A), iron, vitamin B12, ganna-linolenic acid and other micronutrients. It has no cell wall and is therefore very easy to digest.
Origin:
The dried form of A.Platensis is the most common and used as dried powder. They belong to the group of photosynthetic bacteria Cynobacteria and Prochlorophyta. The edible form of spirulina, A.platensis is basically found in Africa, but also in Asia and south America.
It has been consumed in Mexico by Chad peoples as a traditional food to the locals called dihe community.There inspite of poverty they did not suffered from any kind of malnutrition.It got popular through the scientific mission in Chad when it was distributed among all.
Characteristics:
They are generally free floating ,filamentous, cyanobacteria which occur naturally in tropical and subtropical lakes with high Ph and high concentration of carbonate and bicarbonates.
It has various medical benefits as its consumption can provide relief from various ailments and disorders like HIV,AIDS,Aneamia and Cancer. Studies show that it can also combat arsenic poisoning which is the hard to overcome. It is easily available in market in the form of pills and powders It can also be grown by your own and can be consumed as paste in various food items like cakes, vegetables, smoothies and drinks etc. thereby enhancing overall health conditions.It can also be distributed in rural masses for the eradication of malnutrition.
Production:
Most cultivated spirulina are grown in cultivated ponds with a[paddles and wheels attached in pond to circulate the water with spirulina culture inorder to circulate and give mass producton. They are generally produced in raceway ponds.
Spirulina can survive at a Ph 8.5 and above which will get more alkaline and temperature around 30 dgree celsius(86 F). They are autotrophic organisms which can produce their own food and do not need a living energy or organic carbon source. The requirements for for its cultivation or minerals on which it grows are generally dissolved in the water pond.
How to grow Spirulina:
1. Get a tank. 1 tank of 18m2 produces approximately 150g of Spirulina per day. To grow it at home one just need an aquarium or similar sized tank which should be clean enough to grow inorder to avoid any kind of contamination being a consumable product.
2. Fill this tank with filtered water through a pH meter and pipe attached to fill the tank. The pH of the water should be 9-11,which is the most appropriate for the spirulina to grow.
3. Now is the time to provide nutrition to the water on which the spirulina grows and acquires from the water. These minerals provide spirulina the source of nutrition for its optimal growth.
Minerals required for its growth.
1. Baking soda- 16 g/l (61 g/US gal)
2. Potassium nitrate 2g/l (7.6 g/US gal)
3. Sea salt- 1g/l (3.8 g/US gal)
4. Potassium phosphate- 0.1g/l (0.38 g/US gal)
5. Iron sulphate- 0.0378g/l (0.143 g/US gal)
4. Packet of these nutrient s is available in the market which can be added to the tank and mixed well according to the instructions and right dosage mention on the label.
5. Positioning of tank is the most important step while growing spirulina and proper temperature and light are the most important reasons for its growth.
6. Pace the tank at the south corner of your house to provide it with the optimum light and temperature.
7. Now check the temperature of the water in the tank with the help of termometre available with the aquarium tank.The temperature should not exceed above 30-40 degree celsius which may provide favourable environment for the growth .
8. The most important ingredient is the spirulina culture which needs to be added in the tank now. It can be purchased from market which is easily available at reasonable cost.
9. The exact amount can be added as 1/ 4 bottles depending upon the concentration of the culture. Read the label and concentration before adding.
10. Mix it well. The water of the tank turns into light green colour. Leave the tak for 15 days and tiny green particles will start appearing which are actually spirulina plants growing and days passby the water will become more dense with the spirulina concentration which can be separated with the help of muslin cloth or sieves for separation available in the market. A thick dark green paste is separated which can be dried to make powder or the paste can be consumed directly in food items.
