Is Spirulina kelp?

We encounter many plants in our lives, such as spirulina, and what we often see should be some plant-like substances. Kelp is also common in our lives, and we may often confuse it with some plants. Because some plants seem to be difficult to distinguish from each other in appearance, they are easy to confuse. But there should be some differences. So is spirulina kelp?

Is Spirulina Kelp?

Spirulina is a type of lower plant belonging to the Cyanobacteria, Oscillatoriaceae. Like bacteria, they do not have a true nucleus in their cells, so they are also called cyanobacteria. The cell structure of cyanobacteria is primitive and very simple. It is the earliest photosynthetic organism to appear on Earth and has survived on this planet for 3.5 billion years. It grows in water and its shape can be seen as spiral filaments under a microscope, hence the name. Kelp, scientific name Laminaria japonica Aresch. Also known as kelp and Jiangbaicai. A type of brown algae that grows on rocks on the seabed. It is shaped like a ribbon and contains a large amount of iodine, which can be used to extract iodine, potassium, etc. When used as a Chinese medicine, it is called kelp, and is known as the "crown of all."

Kelp and spirulina are two different organisms, but both belong to the seaweed family. Seaweed refers to the entire algae that grows in the ocean. It has a wide range and can be divided into macroalgae and microalgae.

1. Kelp is a giant algae, and spirulina is a micro algae. There is an essential difference between the two. Spirulina is an unbranched filament composed of multiple cells, which is coiled in a spiral shape like a spring. Kelp leaves are ribbon-shaped, unbranched, brown and shiny, with a "mid-band" formed in the middle of the leaves.

2. The nutritional value of kelp is very high. It is rich in protein, fat, carbohydrates, dietary fiber, calcium, phosphorus, iron, carotene, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, niacin, iodine and other trace elements.

3. The nutritional value of kelp is far inferior to that of spirulina, whether in terms of nutritional amount, proportion, or ease of absorption.

Is Spirulina the same as Wakame?

No, kelp has health benefits. The alginate and fucoxanthin contained in the mucus of kelp can lower blood cholesterol, help the body excrete excess sodium ions, prevent cerebral thrombosis, improve and strengthen blood vessels, prevent arteriosclerosis and lower high blood pressure. Spirulina reduces the toxic and side effects of cancer radiotherapy and chemotherapy; improves immune function; and lowers blood lipids. It is used as an auxiliary treatment for cancer; hyperlipidemia; iron deficiency anemia; diabetes; malnutrition; physical weakness after illness; and as a health food.

Differences between Wakame and Spirulina

Kelp belongs to the phylum Phaeophyceae, class Phaeophyceales, order Laminariaceae, family Pterygium, genus Undaria, a eukaryotic organism, and a large algae. It looks somewhat like kelp, but its leaves are thinner than kelp, green in color, and have pinnate lobes. It looks like a large broken sunflower fan and also like a skirt, hence the name.

It can be made into dried or salted wakame like kelp. Spirulina belongs to the phylum Cyanobacteria, class Cyanobacteria, family Oscillatoria, and genus Spirulina. It is a type of lower prokaryotic organism, a filamentous body composed of single cells or multiple cells, 200-500μm long, 5-10μm wide, cylindrical, with loose or tight regular spiral curves, shaped like a clock spring, hence the name.

Because Spirulina is so tiny, it is difficult to see it with the naked eye, and you can only see a pool of green water. It can be collected by filtering and made into spirulina powder, which is a blue-green powder. The nutritional value and health benefits of the two algae are said to be similar.

Biochemical characteristics of Spirulina

1 gram of spirulina is equivalent to the total nutrition of 1 kilogram of various vegetables. Its nutritional content has set many world records, making it a veritable nutrition champion. There are 9 grounds as follows:

1. The protein content of Spirulina is generally 55-73%, which is composed of 18 kinds of amino acids. It has the highest protein content of all foods on the earth and is three times that of beef and fish. The balance of amino acids fully meets the ideal protein standard determined by the Protein Advisory Group of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The crude protein extracted from spirulina is rich in lysine, threonine and sulfur-containing amino acids, which are lacking in grain protein.

2. Spirulina has the highest absorbable iron content of all foods, which is 20 times that of ordinary iron-rich foods. Since iron deficiency anemia is prevalent in the world, spirulina will take advantage of its rich iron content.

3. Spirulina contains many vitamins, among which B12 content is relatively high, 3.5 times higher than that of animal liver. However, it is now known that one of the organisms with the highest content of vitamin B12 is β-carrot, which has the effect of preventing cancer, enhancing the body's immune function and delaying aging.

4. Spirulina is the food that contains the most β-carotene, which is 10-15 times the content of carrots. It can also be converted into vitamin A in the body. The medical community has considered it to be a food that has significant effects in protecting normal cells and preventing cancer.

5. Spirulina contains the most r-linolenic acid among all foods. It is an extremely important substance for regulating multiple functions of the human body. In nature, the only r-linolenic acid that can be directly used as food is breast milk and spirulina.

6. Spirulina contains many trace elements and minerals needed by the human body, such as iron, zinc, calcium, copper, selenium, etc. These trace elements and minerals are combined with organic matter, easily absorbed and utilized by the human body, and can effectively regulate the body's balance and enzyme activity.

7. The chlorophyll contained in spirulina is 10 times that of ordinary vegetables. It can remove impurities from the body and increase resistance. It also contains factors that promote the growth of beneficial intestinal microorganisms such as lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria.

8. Spirulina is easily absorbed by the human body. Its protein digestibility reaches 75.5%, biological value is 68.0%, and net utilization rate reaches 52.7%, which is unmatched by other foods.

9. Spirulina grows in a highly alkaline environment where no bacteria can survive, and is recognized as a truly pollution-free natural food.