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Potential Spirulina Side Effects, Adverse Reactions And Contraindications

Spirulina is a blue-green algae that is increasingly being used to help boost the immune system and even help prevent cancer and allergies. Its great health benefits come from the rich amounts of proteins, vitamins and minerals it contains. It also has a lot of antioxidants that are useful for preventing cell damage.

Although this superfood has a lot of great nutritional value and proven health benefits, there are some potential spirulina side effects, adverse reactions and contraindications that you should be aware of.

Fever

A 2011 article by Dr Mercola warns that consumption of spirulina can cause you to experience a slight fever. This is because of the high amounts of proteins in spirulina that can increase body temperature because of the boost to metabolism.

Digestive problems

The Mister Ginseng website in 2012 reported that consuming spirulina may cause indigestion and slight constipation. It is also possible that one may experience some moderate gas right after you have taken the supplement.

A 2010 Livestrong article said that these gastrointestinal-related spirulina side effects may arise if you don’t take enough fluids when you consume spirulina. Because spirulina is so effective in drawing toxins in the body to itself, adequate fluid intake is required to flush all of these out of the body.

Edema or swelling of body tissue

The Livestrong article warns that one spirulina side effect could be swelling of body tissues, also known as edema. This is because spirulina has high amounts of minerals and vitamins, and people with kidney function problems may have problems in effectively filtering them. This will often result in swelling in the body, especially in the extremities. This may also increase strain on your heart if you leave edema untreated.

If you notice any swelling, stop using the spirulina and also contact your healthcare provider to make sure you don’t have a kidney condition. If you already know you have problems with kidney function, it is advisable that you discuss spirulina consumption with your healthcare provider.

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