One of the top benefits food companies claim is that their product will keep you fuller for longer. We say that for Superlina —because it does! Let’s break that down…

Spirulina is mostly protein. The plant-based kind!

In the most basic sense, the majority of Spirulina is protein—between 55-70%, to be exact. And not just general protein (not that “general protein” is a scientific category…), but complete protein, meaning it has all the amino acids to balance the proteins that our bodies don’t produce. Not only that but Spirulina protein is easily absorbed by the body and has a high bioavailability.

Why is this significant? Because protein is a key nutrient in keeping us full.

What protein has to do with satiety.

You might be thinking, Don’t all nutrients help keep us full? Yes, you’re right, they do. All nutrients play a role in satiety but protein tends to keep us fuller—or satiated—for longer than other nutrients such as fats and carbohydrates. Protein increases levels of peptide YY, the hormone that makes us feel full, and reduces levels of ghrelin, the hormone that makes us feel hungry.

Protein also has been found to increase the rate of thermogenesis in the body. Thermogenesis is the fancy word for producing heat, which happens in our fat and muscle tissues. When thermogenesis increases, satiety also increases, as does our body’s ability to use and expend energy efficiently.

Satiety and energy expenditure levels affect metabolism, too, which is why high-protein diets are often said to help promote weight loss and metabolic balance overall. Taking it one step further, for some people, elevated protein intake helps stimulate muscle protein anabolism. In other words: the merging and synthesis of simple protein molecules in muscles to create more complex molecules. This results in leaner muscle mass and improved enhanced metabolic rates—both of which have a beneficial effect on our body’s energy consumption, output, and satiety.

Fuller for longer?

So, how do we know the satiety from protein lasts longer? Several studies have produced findings to this effect, but one in 2014 that compared the effects of eating breakfast with normal protein levels versus a breakfast with high protein levels determined that eating the high-protein breakfast reduced post-meal cravings, postponed hunger for lunch, and increased the body’s dopamine index (tying together the fact that when we feel good, we crave less). To drive home the point, an earlier study from 2005 found that when the study participants, all of whom were women, increased protein from 15% of their daily caloric intake to 30%, the total calories they consumed in a day fell by 441 without eliminating foods by design.

Don’t forget the fiber.

While all this about protein in Spirulina is great, let’s not forget that there’s another nutrient present in Spirulina that also plays a role in keeping us full. A little thing called, fiber. Spirulina is typically comprised of 5-12% of dietary fiber, coming predominantly from pectin and cellulose. In comparison to other highly fibrous foods, such as lentils, fruits, and oats, Spirulina doesn’t ring high on any charts. However, combining the fiber content with the protein percentage gives Spirulina’s already powerful impact on satiety an extra boost.

Staying fuller for longer is good for us and introducing Superlina into your diet is a great way to do this!
After all, if it’s GREEN, it’s GOOD.