Spirulina, the liver's ally for spring cleaning
In spring, renewal is felt everywhere in nature, the light returns, and yet one can feel tired, sluggish, have difficulty sleeping, and even feel irritable... This is normal! Ayurveda teaches us that impurities accumulated during winter are brought back into circulation and need to be eliminated. The liver, a major filter of our body, is at the forefront of spring cleaning our internal environment and allows us to welcome this renewal. How can our diet support this elimination process, and in particular, how can spirulina, an ally of the liver, help with spring cleaning?
The liver is the most important glandular organ in terms of weight and size in the human body. It performs over 500 functions, which make it vital for human beings. The most important are the’Analysis and synthesis of food, nutrient storage which are not used immediately and’blood purification. The liver is a filter that retains toxic substances before sending purified blood into the body.
In Ayurveda, the liver is considered to be the origin of digestive fire in a broad sense. Indeed, located to the right of the stomach, it is part of the digestive system. It's no wonder it suffers from our dietary excesses: fatty and sugary foods or excessive alcohol consumption. It is also sensitive to all pollutants present in our environment. We will explore how spirulina is a liver ally for spring cleansing. During this season, its role is all the more important as the elimination functions, dormant during winter, reawaken to expel all accumulated toxins.
Spring, the season of elimination in Ayurveda
«Spring is a time when Kapha dosha (the elements of earth and water) is worsening in our body. After being frozen by the winter cold (...), the sun's strength liquefies Kapha that has accumulated in the body, explains Luc Maudonnet, an Ayurvedic practitioner. He continues: All toxins, emotions, and beliefs crystallised until then are put back into circulation. When excess Kapha melts, it liquefies in the stomach and the body cannot eliminate it through the lower channels. Ayurveda teaches us that heat is eliminated downwards and cold is eliminated upwards.
Depending on the degree of worsening, the body may be forced to create inflammation to expel this excess cold mass: these are the famous spring rhinitis and allergies. In spring, just as the sap in the trees takes an upward movement, our prana, the energy of life, adopts an upward dynamic (...) which allows for the spontaneous evacuation of this excess cold mass.»
In spring, just as the sap in trees takes an upward course, our prana, the life energy, adopts an upward dynamic.
Luc Maudonnet, Ayurvedic practitioner
Antioxidant spirulina promotes liver cleansing
To support elimination and benefit from the uplifting energy of early spring, let's try’to lighten the work of our digestive system and therefore our liver too… Eating light, especially avoiding fat and sugar, drinking little alcohol, and getting enough rest can be a foundation. Spirulina can also aid the work of detoxification body. Spirulina is an ally of the liver in spring cleaning. «The Chlorophyll present in spirulina helps to purify and cleanse the intestines, confides Caroline Marie, naturopath. She oxygenates the blood and stimulates the removal of waste from the body. And with its draining effect, This allows the transit to be rebalanced if consumed correctly. Spirulina also contains many Antioxidants : beta-carotene, vitamin E, phycocyanin and selenium. This is the action of these components on the free radicals present in the toxins that slows cellular aging and helps us stay younger for longer!
Spirulina protects the liver
Dr Jean-Louis Vidalo in his work Spirulina, the blue algae for health and prevention relates the clinical studies conducted in Japan that have demonstrated the The preventative and curative role of spirulina in «fatty livers», hepato-cirrhosis and fibrosis. Professor Ijima observed that subjects who took 4-5 spirulina tablets before drinking alcohol did not suffer from the undesirable side effects usually caused by heavy drinking. These discoveries have been confirmed by studies on rats. Spirulina also limits liver damage caused by drug abuse and exposure to heavy metals. He adds: The hepato-protective properties of spirulina can be attributed to his Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and immuno-corrective effects.
Spirulina and green diet
A less rich diet can be accompanied by Green diet. Carried out over a duration of your choice, it helps to reconstruct the entire digestive system by only consuming green foods. Green foods, such as spirulina, are renowned for their ability to Alkalise This reduces the acidity in our body, which is the main source of inflammation. The benefits of this diet are numerous, the main ones being:
- clear the skin
- lose weight
- Cleanse the liver
- improve digestion
- relieve ENT disorders
- To clear the mind and lighten the load
The principle of the green diet is therefore very simple and will be composed of all available seasonal green vegetables (salads, cabbages, fennel, artichokes, leeks...) as well as legumes (green lentils, split peas, mung beans) and green fruits (apples, kiwis, pears...). For English speakers, here is a site which allows you to list numerous recipes and suggestions for starters/main courses/desserts.
Spirulina will be a prime ally in your favoured spring cleaning diet. Sprinkled over your salads or hot dishes, it will bring its crunchy texture and slightly salty flavour, as well as proteins and nutrients to deeply nourish the body, facilitate the cleansing process and support your faith in the process!
A beautiful spring clean for a renewal that brings light and energy, and may the liver be with you 😉
