Algae as New Superfood? Indian Scientists Working on Model to Use Spirulina to Fight Malnutrition

Can a type of blue-green algae help fight malnutrition? While growing this, we are working on a model where we can bring in the benefits of the algae to fight malnutrition among children and lactating mothers. Apart from these food products, the Centre will also sell spirulina vaseline as the algae is said to fight skin aging. According to a paper titled ‘Spirulina in combating Protein Energy Malnutrition and Protein Energy Wasting’ published in The Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism, botanist Jean Leonard, during his Belgian Trans-Saharan Expedition, confirmed that dihé is made up of spirulina. Health benefits Sujatha Stephen RD, chief nutritionist at Yashoda Hospitals in Hyderabad, says 1 gram of dried spirulina powder has 4 gram of protein and other nutrients such as riboflavin, niacin, iron, magnesium and potassium.