Achieving Healthy Weight Loss with Algae

July 01 2024, by Catharine Arnston, 17 min reading time

Chlorella and spirulina might be the missing link in your weight loss plan!

From trendy juice cleanses to weight loss pills, the media often highlights strict diets and other fads claiming to offer the ultimate solution for shedding pounds. With nearly 70% of Americans grappling with overweight and obesity, the quick fixes are tempting [1]. Only 1 in 5 dieters succeed and keep it off past a year [2]. Most dieters are completely unaware that dieting is much more damaging to your physical and mental health than never dieting to begin with [3].

Recently, medications like Ozempic and Wegovy have exploded in popularity with celebrity endorsements. Some people on these medications are dropping pounds like never before.

However, less frequently talked about are these drugs’ side effects and whether the results last. Like any other diets, if nutritional needs and other root causes are not addressed, weight regain is bound to happen after stopping the medication [4].

Regardless of whether you are taking weight loss medication or not, it’s crucial to approach weight loss with health and long-term success in mind. Algae tablets can support you on your weight loss journey as a low-calorie high-nutrient food. Below, we dive into how, and why you might want to consider including ENERGYbits® a part of your weight management routine.

How Spirulina and chlorella support sustainable weight loss, with or without Ozempic

Let’s first learn how these blockbuster medications work. Ozempic and Wegovy both have an active ingredient called semaglutide. Semaglutide does two main things:
1. It makes you feel less hungry

It slows down how quickly your stomach empties, so you feel full for longer [5].

These effects help people eat less and lose weight faster. However, the downside includes [5]:

Slow gut movement, which can lead to digestive issues
Malnutrition and nutrient deficiencies risk from lower gut function
Dehydration or electrolyte imbalances

Like any diet pills, at least 2 out of 3 people regain their weight once they stop these medications [4]. This is also the same common shortfall with most other diet pills and weight loss programs that don’t teach long-term habit changes. To maintain long-term results, it’s crucial to ensure your body gets all the micronutrients it needs, along with establishing healthy diet and exercise habits.

With plenty of micronutrients, proteins, and metabolic support components, ENERGYbits® can be part of the plans to help you get there – supporting sustainable weight loss, no matter what intervention you choose.

Here are why algae tablets are so powerful as a highly nutritious weight loss support food, in addition to caloric deficit and exercise.

Promotes a lean gut flora and digestive regularity

Your gut bacteria affects all aspects of health, including your metabolism. Microbiome researchers tend to see changes in the gut in those who struggle with their weight [6].:

Less diversity in gut flora
Imbalances in specific bacteria strains
Lower short-chain fatty acid production
Suboptimal gut barrier function

These changes can even impact hormone and immune regulation, including those involved in appetite control [7]. This might impact how hungry you are and when you feel full, and thus your overall energy balance.

Spirulina and chlorella are a prebiotic that specifically cultivates metabolism-friendly gut bacteria [8]. These prebiotics also support digestive regularity.

And, as we learned above, they are chock-full of nutrients. Many of these molecules act as cofactors for digestion, meaning that they can enhance absorption and metabolism [9]. This can help you take up more important substances that can promote overall health.

Curbs appetite and cravings

Not only are algae tablets rich in protein (which helps you feel fuller for longer), but studies also find that they can help reduce appetite.

One study examined 52 obese and overweight people on a calorie-restricted diet for 12 weeks. They found that the spirulina group (2 grams/day) experienced less hunger than the placebo group [10]. An animal study shed some light on how it might do this, by increasing the levels of leptin [11]. Leptin is the hormone that signals fullness, so having more in circulation might curb appetite.

Maintain muscles

One of the most common side effects of weight loss, especially with medications, is losing muscle along with fat. This is not ideal, because it can come along with losses of strength and metabolic rate. Muscles burn more calories than fat tissues, so losing muscles increases the risk of weight regain.

Algae tablets provide complete proteins, meaning they contain all of the essential amino acids that your body needs to support muscle synthesis [12]. In fact, spirulina contains about 60-70% protein by weight and chlorella contains around 50-60% protein [12]. Combined with regular exercise along with an overall high-protein diet, this can help prevent muscle breakdown.

Some studies also show that algae can improve exercise performance and recovery [13].

Helps balance blood sugar

Suboptimal blood sugar control can increase hunger and cravings for high-sugar foods, making it hard to lose weight. One particular compound, C-phycocyanin, which is a pigment found in this algae might help with keeping blood sugar stable [14]. Some studies find that it might work by enhancing insulin secretion from your pancreas. Insulin is a molecule that helps control blood sugar by helping it get taken up into cells. And, another study found that consuming phycocyanin daily helped regulate levels of glucose receptors, which can balance blood sugar [15].

Chlorophyll, the green pigment found in both chlorella and spirulina might also help support healthy insulin response [16].

Algae supports healthy metabolism

Algae tablets are rich in antioxidants, which can help reduce oxidative stress [17]. This can have positive impacts on mitochondrial health because it is particularly susceptible to oxidative damage. When you have too many reactive oxygen species, it can harm mitochondria and cause cellular damage over time. Spirulina is helpful for neutralizing these reactive oxygen species and reducing the risk for any of this to occur [17].

Some studies also find that algae compounds like phycocyanin (found in spirulina) may help promote mitochondrial biogenesis [18]. This is the process your body uses to make new mitochondria in cells. More mitochondria can help increase energy production and support metabolism.

Finally, some research finds that algae consumption can improve oxygen utilization – a process essential for mitochondria to function [13]. By helping get oxygen to cells (and therefore to mitochondria), algae tablets can help support efficient energy production and metabolism.

Algae provides key whole-food nutrients and complete proteins

Because of appetite suppression and consequently, reduced food intake, weight loss medications can increase the risk of nutrient deficiencies and malnutrition. Many people with extra weight may also have suboptimal levels of some vitamins and minerals, which may affect metabolism or appetite.

While a multivitamin can be useful to help address some of these issues, algae tablets are superior across multiple domains. Let’s compare:

Nutrient	Standard Multivitamin per serving	VITALITYbits® per serving
Vitamin A	900 mcg RAE	2083 mcg
Vitamin B1	2.25 mg	50 mcg
Vitamin B2	3.2 mg	41 mcg
Vitamin B3	16 mg	1 mg
Vitamin B5	10 mg	30 mcg
Vitamin B6	3 mg	6.3 mcg
Vitamin B12	24 mcg	15 mcg
Biotin	45 mcg	2400 mcg
Vitamin C	90 mg	2 mg
Vitamin E	15 mg AT/22.4 IU	90 mcg
Vitamin K	120 mcg	102.4 mcg
Calcium	175 mg	13 mg
Copper	1000 mcg	7.5 mcg
Iron	10 mg	4 mg
Magnesium	50 mg	29 mg
Phosphorus	125 mg	78 mg
Zinc	3 mg	123 mcg
Boron	None	75 mcg
Manganese	None	186 mcg
Molybdenum	None	7.5 mcg
Potassium	None	102 mg
Sodium	None	35.9 mg
Amino acids	None	18, making it a complete protein (5g total protein)
Glutathione	None	1,890 mg
Chlorophyll	None	68.6 mg
Phycocyanin	None	1425 mg
Superoxide Dismutase	None	25,386 units
Total carotenoids	None	35 mg
Zeaxanthin	None	3,870 mcg
Essential fatty acids	None	86.2 mg (including DGLA, GLA, ALA, DHA)

When you get these nutrients from food like algae tablets, the nutrients are in a natural balance, making it easier for your body to recognize and use.

Conclusion

When thinking about sustainable weight loss – losing it and keeping it off long term – recognize that it needs to come with long-term practical changes, including diet, mindset, and exercise. No matter what your goal, including whole food nutrients daily, is crucial. This not only sets you up for success on the scale but health long term.

Here at ENERGYbits®, we want to help you reach your goals. That is why we have sourced the best and cleanest algae, and packaged them into convenient bits that can provide nutritional insurance and metabolic support.