When Cortez invaded Mexico in the early sixteenth century, he found the Aztec people had been growing a nutritious, powerful antioxidant in high altitude lakes for unknown centuries. They were harvesting blue-green algae from Lake Texcoco to strengthen and increase their men’s health. . Today we call it ‘spirulina.’

Blue-green algae is one of the simplest, most primitive life forms on planet Earth. Many biologists think it was the first form of cellular life to develop. By producing chlorophyll, it learned to harness sunlight for energy.

Spirulina, for all its simplicity, has been rediscovered as a ‘superfood.’ It contains up to seventy-five percent protein by weight, in a complete form that’s superior to standard plant proteins. It’s also rich in the anti-inflammatory gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and the valuable omega-3 fatty acids ALA and EPA, as well as brain-enhancing DHA. Spirulina even contains abundant levels of beta-carotene, vitamin E, vitamin C and B vitamins.

This ancient superfood has twelve times more usable protein than an equivalent amount of beef. It has more calcium than milk. It helps regulate blood sugar and remove toxic heavy metals from the body while it rebuilds neural tissues in your brain, enhancing your mental capacity. What drug or single nutrient can make such extraordinary claims?

A clinical trial in 2007 revealed that taking four and a half grams of spirulina a day significantly improved men’s health by lowering cholesterol, elevating HDL and bringing down blood pressure. Another group of cancer patients getting radiation and chemotherapy quadrupled their survival rate by consuming blue-green algae.

The brain cell damage that occurs following a stroke is due to nerve cell hypoxia (oxygen deprivation). A study took four groups of rats and fed them diets supplemented with either: blueberries, spinach, spirulina or standard rat food alone. After four weeks scientists induced ischemic strokes via blood clots in each rat. Those who had eaten antioxidant-rich blueberries or spinach had one half the brain damage as the control group. Rats taking spirulina had much less nerve cell death brain lesions were seventy-five percent smaller than those of the control group.

In Russia, spirulina is recognized as a ‘medical food’ and is used to treat radiation poisoning. Thousands of children in Chernobyl suffered radiation sickness until they were given spirulina daily for six weeks. Those children dramatically recovered while those untreated remained ill and did not thrive until given spirulina.

After isolating the cyanovirin-N protein in spirulina, a National Cancer Institute study reported that even small quantities of spirulina extract was found to greatly reduce the ability of the HIV-1 (AIDS) virus to replicate. Spirulina has shown promise by inactivating the human immunodeficiency virus in vitro (in the lab).

Few other nutrients can make the claims of spirulina and truly deserve to be called a ‘superfood.’ Nearly every aspect of men’s health can benefit from this tiniest and simplest of organisms. Isn’t it time you included this little blue-green marvel in your diet?