One 10p food could help lower cholesterol and reduce risk of heart disease

Spirulina, an algae believed to be one of the oldest life forms on earth, is brimming with a number of health benefits linked to lowering cholesterol
One food item, brimming with protein, has been associated with lowering cholesterol and reducing the risk of heart disease. Spirulina, an algae believed to be one of the oldest life forms on earth, is thought to have been used by the Aztecs as a stamina enhancer.
Usually consumed as a powder mixed into water or in tablet form, it's a comprehensive source of nutrients - offering protein levels similar to eggs. Supplements can be purchased for just 10p per tablet at Holland and Barrett, or in powder form from retailers such as Grape Tree.
‌
Spirulina is so packed with nutrients that NASA is exploring its use as sustenance for extended space missions. Easy to incorporate into your diet, spirulina is gaining popularity as a supplement due to its alleged health benefits.
‌
Spirulina health benefits
Spirulina is incredibly nutritious, packed with high levels of protein, vitamins B1, B2, B3, copper and iron. It also provides generous amounts of magnesium, potassium, manganese and small quantities of almost every other nutrient needed by the body, reports Surrey Live.
The key benefits of incorporating spirulina include:
Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties: Spirulina, a type of algae, is packed with antioxidants that can protect against oxidative damage. Its active component, phycocyanin, battles free radicals and inhibits the production of inflammatory signalling molecules, offering impressive antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
This could help lower your risk of chronic conditions like heart disease and certain cancers.
Lower bad cholesterol and triglyceride levels: Research suggests spirulina can lower triglycerides and bad cholesterol, while simultaneously boosting good cholesterol, potentially reducing the risk of heart disease.
‌
Reduce blood pressure: High doses of spirulina may reduce blood pressure, a major risk factor for many diseases, including heart attacks, strokes, and chronic kidney disease.
May have anti-cancer properties: Limited animal trials suggest spirulina might have anti-cancer properties, helping to reduce cancer occurrence and tumour size in various cancers. However, before adding spirulina to your diet, it's important to consult a health professional.
The algae can interact with some medications, so do your research. Always chat to your doctor first before making any significant lifestyle or diet changes.
May alleviate hay fever: As summer approaches, many people suffer from hay fever. According to health experts at Good Food, spirulina may help ease the inflammation that comes with allergic rhinitis.
One study has shown a significant improvement in symptoms like sneezing, nasal congestion and itching.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Daily Mirror

20 hours ago

• Daily Mirror

One 10p food could help lower cholesterol and reduce risk of heart disease

Spirulina, an algae believed to be one of the oldest life forms on earth, is brimming with a number of health benefits linked to lowering cholesterol One food item, brimming with protein, has been associated with lowering cholesterol and reducing the risk of heart disease. Spirulina, an algae believed to be one of the oldest life forms on earth, is thought to have been used by the Aztecs as a stamina enhancer. Usually consumed as a powder mixed into water or in tablet form, it's a comprehensive source of nutrients - offering protein levels similar to eggs. Supplements can be purchased for just 10p per tablet at Holland and Barrett, or in powder form from retailers such as Grape Tree. ‌ Spirulina is so packed with nutrients that NASA is exploring its use as sustenance for extended space missions. Easy to incorporate into your diet, spirulina is gaining popularity as a supplement due to its alleged health benefits. ‌ Spirulina health benefits Spirulina is incredibly nutritious, packed with high levels of protein, vitamins B1, B2, B3, copper and iron. It also provides generous amounts of magnesium, potassium, manganese and small quantities of almost every other nutrient needed by the body, reports Surrey Live. The key benefits of incorporating spirulina include: Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties: Spirulina, a type of algae, is packed with antioxidants that can protect against oxidative damage. Its active component, phycocyanin, battles free radicals and inhibits the production of inflammatory signalling molecules, offering impressive antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. This could help lower your risk of chronic conditions like heart disease and certain cancers. Lower bad cholesterol and triglyceride levels: Research suggests spirulina can lower triglycerides and bad cholesterol, while simultaneously boosting good cholesterol, potentially reducing the risk of heart disease. ‌ Reduce blood pressure: High doses of spirulina may reduce blood pressure, a major risk factor for many diseases, including heart attacks, strokes, and chronic kidney disease. May have anti-cancer properties: Limited animal trials suggest spirulina might have anti-cancer properties, helping to reduce cancer occurrence and tumour size in various cancers. However, before adding spirulina to your diet, it's important to consult a health professional. The algae can interact with some medications, so do your research. Always chat to your doctor first before making any significant lifestyle or diet changes. May alleviate hay fever: As summer approaches, many people suffer from hay fever. According to health experts at Good Food, spirulina may help ease the inflammation that comes with allergic rhinitis. One study has shown a significant improvement in symptoms like sneezing, nasal congestion and itching.

The Guardian

6 days ago

• The Guardian

Electrolyte sachets are everywhere – but will they cure a festival hangover?

The tickets are bought, the line-ups have been announced and it's nearly time to drag last year's tent out of the cupboard for a wipedown – and to evict a few dead earwigs. And this summer, there's one more festival accessory that partygoers won't be travelling without: electrolyte tablets. Touted as a faster route to rehydration than water, and a way to replace vital salts lost during heavy drinking and partying, the focus on festivals is the latest twist in a global boom for electrolytes, as everyone from triathletes to YouTubers sings the praises of these super-hydrating mineral supplements. Happy Tuesdays is selling 'all-night electrolytes' for party people; Holy Hydration says its hydration powders are perfect for athletes and party people, replacing electrolytes and minerals lost from sweating; while ORS Hydration claims its tablets can help people to prevent or recover from hangovers. The UK health food chain Holland & Barrett is promoting electrolyte sachets and magnesium water as 'festival essentials'. But can they really take the edge off a hangover, or soften the infamous 'Tuesday blues' that follow a weekend flirtation with substances of a less legal kind? Electrolytes are minerals that are vital for basic bodily functions, such as regulating fluid levels, transmitting nerve impulses and ensuring the blood doesn't become too acidic. The main electrolytes are sodium, potassium, chloride, magnesium, calcium, phosphate and bicarbonates. 'They are carefully regulated within specific ranges in the body. This is because levels outside the normal ranges – either too high or too low – can lead to life-threatening complications,' said Dr Sammie Gill, a specialist gastroenterology dietitian and spokesperson for the British Dietetic Association. Fortunately, our bodies do an excellent job of maintaining the correct balance of these chemicals, with the kidneys playing a key role – so for healthy people, day to day, taking electrolyte supplements is unnecessary, Gill said. 'There are so many foods that are rich in electrolytes, including plant-based foods and dairy. It's not something people should be concerned about.' One scenario where a healthy person might need electrolytes is after a bout of vomiting or diarrhoea. This can cause significant fluid loss and upset the body's balance of essential minerals like sodium and potassium, In severe cases, rehydrating with a properly balanced solution – such as oral rehydration salts – can be life-saving. Electrolytes may be useful in other situations – 'for example, during periods of intense or prolonged exercise over an hour in duration, and especially in hot climates, or if the individual is a particular heavy sweater', said Gill. And while partying in a sun-baked field isn't quite the same as running a marathon, it could, in theory lead to dehydration – meaning electrolytes may be useful here as well. That said, Gill said if you truly need electrolyte support, it's easy enough to make your own. 'Simply mix 200ml of water, 300ml of fruit juice and a pinch of salt,' she said. 'Cow's milk is also a naturally a rich source of electrolytes, including sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium. You're also getting additional nutrients, such as protein, that electrolyte supplements do not deliver.' Whether electrolyte sachets can ease hangovers or soften the crash after taking recreational drugs is another matter. A recent review of UK hangover products available on Amazon found that most contain modest amounts of potassium, sodium and vitamin C. But although dehydration is often blamed for the misery that follows a night of drinking, the science tells a more nuanced story. When researchers led by Joris Verster at Utrecht University reviewed the evidence last year, they found that although alcohol does cause some fluid loss, dehydration and hangovers appear to be parallel outcomes of drinking, rather than one causing the other. In other words, although people often feel thirsty the morning after drinking, and may also feel terrible, thirst doesn't reliably predict the intensity of a hangover – and drinking water during or after alcohol consumption has only a modest effect on symptoms. 'Yes, thirst and dry mouth are common the next morning, and an electrolyte sachet might help with those symptoms, but it won't touch the main symptoms like headache, nausea, fatigue, or hangxiety,' said Dr Blair Aitken at Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, who investigates the impact of recreational drugs on cognition. 'Current research points to inflammation, oxidative stress, and acetaldehyde buildup as the key drivers of hangovers, not fluid or electrolyte loss.' Nor are they a cure for post-MDMA or ecstasy comedowns, Aitken said. These are thought to be driven by a temporary dip in serotonin, poor sleep, dehydration, and general physical and mental exhaustion. 'You can't simply restore a complex neurochemical system with a supplement and expect to feel normal again,' he said. Interestingly, a small 2022 study from Imperial College London found no mood decline following MDMA-assisted therapy in clinical settings. 'The authors suggested that the typical comedown might be more about context and expectation than the drug itself,' said Aitken. Some ingredients in rave recovery packs, may offer a small lift – hydration, sugar, perhaps some caffeine or other energy boosters, but they are not cures. 'The best you can do to support recovery would be sleep, hydration, food and time,' said Aitken. That said, using electrolyte tablets after a night of dancing, sweating and consuming drugs or alcohol, is unlikely to be harmful, he added. 'If people want to use them for a bit of post-party support, that's fine – just don't expect a miracle fix.'

The Sun

6 days ago

• The Sun

My hair's thin & short but a £12 buy helped it grow so full & thick – I can't believe the difference & it smells amazing

HAIR loss is a result of many factors; menopause, diet changes, list goes on. And it can really affect a person when they see clumps of hair falling out, or excess shedding. Whilst the hair goes through a natural cycle, with it being normal to lose between 50 and 100 hairs a day, any more and it starts to become a concern. Several shoppers who have experienced hair loss for a variety of reasons are claiming to have found a product that is brilliant at stimulating new hair growth. The Weleda Rosemary Revitalising Hair Tonic is usually £13.95 but is currently on offer for £10 at Boots. Holland & Barrett also sell it for £15.95. It's a "natural treatment against hair and scalp problems, hair loss, thinning or brittle hair, dandruff and dryness". The product description reads: "Used for centuries to stimulate the circulation, rosemary helps restore the health of the scalp, while stonecrop and horseradish extracts work together to discourage microbial development and reduce inflammation." The benefits are said to be: But what do customers think? Giving if five stars, Lesley Anne said: "I've been using this product day and night for nearly three months and I can't get over the difference in my hair. I have typically thin, short hair but I recently noticed more thinning than usual so I gave this a go! 'I'm in shock at how well this has worked in a month' shoppers praise budget Amazon buy for curing their hair loss & it's currently on sale "I wish you could post pictures here because the difference is honestly unbelievable. I'm not concerned about tying up my hair anymore, no it looks full and thick. Not surprised Weleda are still selling this product, it is absolute gold!" Daria shared her experience using the product: "Very good for hair growth, using for the second time and love it." Yasemin's review read: "It definitely stimulated new hair growth around my temples which is where I apply the tonic. pleasant smell and not too runny/oily once applied. Recommend." Veronika also had great things to say about the tonic: "The product is perfect, it actually helps to grow a new hairs and keep the hair healthy." Hair re-growth FAQs Anabel Kingsley, Consultant Trichologist and Brand President at Philip Kingsley spoke exclusively to Fabulous. How long does it take for hair to grow back? Hair grows, on average, half an inch a month. You cannot speed this up. Do rosemary oil and scalp massages work? Oils do not promote hair growth. In terms of rosemary oil, the current trend stems from one small study carried out on 50 men in 2015. No women were involved, and the study compared the effects of 2 per cent minoxidil to Rosemary oil. 2 per cent minoxidil doesn't do much for male pattern hair loss anyway, so the results were not very impressive. Oils do serve a purpose in conditioning hair treatments though. They help add shine and smooth the hair cuticle to lock-in moisture and improve combability. Scalp massages alone won't cure hair loss, but it can help relax you, aid in lymphatic drainage, exfoliate and help topicals penetrate. Are there any products or foods/vitamins you recommend someone using or eating to help with hair regrowth? To support healthy hair regrowth, if you are experiencing hair thinning we'd recommend our Density Preserving Scalp Drops clinically proven to help slow hair loss with continued daily use within three months. Telogen effluvium (hair shedding) due to nutritional deficiencies can often be simply treated with changes to your diet, and nutritional supplements such as our specially formulated Density Healthy Hair Complex and Density Amino Acid Booster. Iron and Ferritin (stored iron) in red meat, dried apricots and dark, leafy greens. Vitamin B12 in animal products and fortified plant-based foods. Protein from oily fish, lean meat, cottage cheese, tofu, nuts, chickpeas, and beans. However, there may be an underlying cause for their hair loss and rather than this being masked by using an off-the-shelf product, they should be encouraged to seek the advice of a specialist such as a Trichologist. However, not everyone who has used it raves about it. Karen explained: "Only half way through first bottle and am squinting my head brain eyes trying to see a difference and nothing!" Another also failed to see new hair growth: "Being a huge fan of Weleda products, I was so excited to try this, but sadly I didn't notice any difference. I used it every morning and night for around 4/5 months (I purchased two bottles)." What's the evidence behind rosemary oil for hair growth? Rosemary oil is believed to stimulate hair follicles and improve scalp circulation, potentially leading to hair growth. It's often used as a natural alternative to minoxidil, a medication used for the treatment of high blood pressure and pattern hair loss, with some studies suggesting it may be equally effective. While more research is needed to fully understand its benefits, many individuals report positive results from using rosemary based products for hair growth.