[jimkri]

A supplement that I take and comment about frequently is (Spirulina & Chorella), this is a study that shows the level of choline in Spirulina. Improving my diet and using a supplement like algae has had the most impact on my anxiety levels and focus.

Mindfulness meditation also helps with consistent action to understand where my mind and body are at each day.

Research - Functional properties of bioactive compounds from Spirulina spp.: Current status and future trends (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9513730/)

[freedomben]

Would you mind sharing the brand, and how much of it you take?

[jimkri]

Yeah for sure, this is what I buy on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FAB10ZI) and the dosage depends on what you are experiencing. I was doubling my dosage, but have lowered it back to the recommended dosage on the package (10 pills, they are tiny). I have also taken the powered version but the umami taste is really strong, so I went back to the pill version.

I like to take it with Psyllium Husk Fiber / Metamucil to help increase the fiber in my diet since the higher dosage is like eating a lot of kale at one time, it can move through you super quickly.

Here are some studies that I commented before that I have read that has helped with learning more about the supplements and the dosages depending on what you are experiencing:

- High-dose supplementation of Chlorella and Spirulina increases beneficial gut Bacteria in healthy ICR mice: A 90-day feeding study (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2025.106796)

- Spirulina in Clinical Practice: Evidence-Based Human Applications (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3136577/)

- Effect of spirulina and chlorella alone and combined on the healing process of diabetic wounds: an experimental model of diabetic rats (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8212205/)

- Beneficial Effects of Spirulina Consumption on Brain Health ( https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14030676) This is a new study that I found, that I'm going to read, but it shows the impact on neuroinflammation, and from experience the supplement has helped me with inflammation, and why I think it has helped with my ADHD/Anxiety.

[freedomben]

Amazingly helpful, thank you so much!

On a meta note, I have a deep love and appreciation for people like yourself who share this kind of info. It's been quite helpful for me on my own health journey.

[jimkri]

No problem! Thanks! It's something I have been researching for a while, and has really benefited me. It's different for everyone, but has had a impact on me, and then leads to other dietary changes that can lead to more change.

[codr7]

I need pretty massive doses of algae, handfulls of pressed tablets per day, to see a difference. I'd recommend ramping that up gradually though.

[markoman]

Thanks for commenting on this supplement. What reactions or symptoms should we look for in order to suggest that we're ramping up too quickly on it? Are we talking gastrointestinal effects or something else?

[codr7]

I don't know, just a good idea in general. I've been pretty careless with ramping up dosage myself without any issues.

[xutopia]

People have to stop trying to depend on supplements for what a diet should provide.

Neither spirulina nor chlorella are good sources of choline. For example if you had to take spirulina you'd need about 6 cups per day to reach RDI. Way to risk getting elevated uric acid, vitamin A overload or a slew of other intestinal issues.

Compare with 3-4 eggs... or 90g of beef liver I know what I would take.

[jimkri]

I stated the supplement has choline and has helped with my anxiety. I never stated it was a main source of choline.

[soganess]

3 or 4 eggs a day? 90g beef liver? Sign me up for those pills, Bill.

Like 120 eggs a month, 1400 eggs a years. That is what you envision as the healthier alternative?

[wpm]

Ahhh the old "eggs are bad for you" meme. Eggs are demonstrably healthy. Just don't fry them in a gallon of butter and you'll be fine.

[Sparkle-san]

As Lenny once said on the Simpsons: "While it has been established that eggs contain cholesterol, it has not yet been proven conclusively that they actually raise the level of serum cholesterol in the human bloodstream."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHAFMFFQlkI

[jules-jules]

So, one of those Egg Council creeps got to you too?

[estimator7292]

It's not that eggs are bad.

It's more that that's a shit ton of eggs. Money aside, this just contributes even more to the incredibly polluting factory farm industry.

A suppliment synthesized in a lab has far less ecological impact. Also it's far cheaper.

[wpm]

It's 400 calories worth of eggs, a very modest meal that would get you to just 1200 calories a day. That is not a shit ton of eggs.

Back when I was in college I would eat 6 eggs plus some fruit for breakfast because I was flat broke and they kept me full all day.

[HK-NC]

4 eggs a day isnt a shit ton of eggs by any means.

[soganess]

Then demonstrate?

In 2015, the U.S. Dietary Guidelines shifted from implying that one egg a day is “probably a bit much” to saying “one egg a day is fine if you don’t fry it.” This coincided with the removal of the quantitative cap of 300 mg/day on dietary cholesterol (a single egg basically maxes that out).

EDIT: The calorie count used to compute the portion of the comment below were incorrect. I'm leaving it unchanged for posterity, but want to clarify that an egg has about 80 cals.

Four eggs a day is almost 1,000 calories of egg, roughly half of many people’s total daily calorie intake.

[DANmode]

Fat and cholesterol don’t hurt you, or make you fat.

Sitting on ass does.

If you are looking to the landing page of any of those major bodies to figure out how to fuel your body, good luck.

[soganess]

I'm sorry, but this just sounds like the "Forbidden Knowledge" Trick (think of it as a cousin to Galileo's Gambit)

(1) In your most authoritative tone, state something as fact without citation.

(2) Say major testing-based orgs are never going to give you the real truth.

We have a system for knowledge. I think it is an absurd mess, but I trust it way more than anything presented in the format you’ve just used.

Maybe this is just a formatting issue and you have credible information to back your claim, but as it is currently presented it does not pass the sniff test.

So, as politely as possible, pass.

[samsolomon]

What? A jumbo egg is like 70-100 calories.

Like most things I’m sure you can overdo it. But if you’re choosing between cereal and a bagel or a couple of eggs, I think most would be better off with the eggs.

[soganess]

You're 100% right. In the back of my head I had egg at 200+ calories

[rkomorn]

Maybe they're eating goose eggs.

[jamal-kumar]

Liver can be pretty good if you spice it up Jamaican style. I regularly make this for people who tell me they don't like liver and they just love it. Pretty easy - Fresh and whole tumeric, ginger, garlic, onions, thyme, oregano, and as much scotch bonnet as you can handle. Soak the liver in brined water or milk for a few hrs and it will draw out a lot of the strong taste as well (French technique). Stew in some water after sautéing the onions to your liking. Same recipe works for stewing heart meat if that's something more to your liking, and it also contains a lot of the same nutrients that a lot of people are lacking in modern westernized diets. Consider what other predators do when they get to their prey: They go straight for the liver and heart.

However if you don't like the idea of trying new things, and just want something in pill form, honestly lecithin or even better citicoline is the way to go in my opinion

[kstrauser]

I think I could eat just about anything if it were doctored up that way. First, seriously, that sounds delicious! Second, I doubt even the terrible (to me) tast of liver could make it through that wall of flavor.

[PenguinCoder]

Chicken liver has more iron and selenium in it per Oz than beef liver. Easier to eat a ton and not as harsh tasting. Make some dirty rice or just liver stew!

[jamal-kumar]

I prefer to turn that into patê personally. Always the goal is getting people to actually eat the stuff

[DANmode]

I can eat a hard boiled egg on the way to the bathroom.

What’s up with you?

[skeezyjefferson]

> Way to risk getting elevated uric acid, vitamin A overload or a slew of other intestinal issues.

I thought vegatables = good? You can never eat too many greens I think youll find is the prevailing wisdom

[swiftcoder]

Spirulina is not really what is mean by a "green" in that context. You probably can't physically ingest enough spinach/kale/etc to do yourself any harm. Powdered algae is not necessarily such a sure thing

[craftkiller]

Eggs are gross and I'd need a much better reason than "someone said it was better than supplements" to take a life.

[estimator7292]

The eggs you buy in the store are not fertilized. They are not, never were, and never can be alive.

This is like fifth grade biology.

[sizzle]

Thoughts on Alpha-GPC or Citicoline supplements for choline?

[ac29]

I've tried both and strongly prefer citicholine (specifically cognizin, though non brand name is probably fine).

[sizzle]

I read it increased stroke rate?

[kmos]

I think I can't take Spirulina due to Hashimoto.

[xutopia]

Spirulina is not a good source of choline. You'd need about 6 cups of it per day to get it. I think the person commenting is just interested in spirulina itself and is misguided about its benefits.

The studies listed as part of this thread show people taking 3-4 grams per day for 8 weeks... that's less than 1% of choline RDI. Not very relevant to our conversation.

[jimkri]

Spirulina is a source of choline, I never stated it was a main source. I fully understand the benefits of the supplement, and have read many studies on it.

[jimkri]

I agree, from what I have found in studies for anyone that have autoimmune diseases or are on heavy medications, it can make them worse. Thats been the main area that have been the negative impact of the supplement.

It's something that should be watched as you take it and/or discussed with a doctor if you are dealing with other health conditions.

[sharts]

How long did it take to begin noticing?