There are a lot of plant-based toxic compounds that seem to be “favorable” for weight loss and one of them is the very toxic spirulina. However, as usual, the dimwits looking into these toxic substances do not understand basic biochemistry and physiology, as in what is actually happening in the body after consuming such a toxic compound.
Let’s see what Examine.com has to say about a recent study on spirulina and weight loss.
Quick Summary
In this 8-week randomized controlled trial in 41 men and women with overweight and high blood pressure, one group consumed 2 grams of spirulina disguised in a salad dressing to evaluate effects on anthropometrics or body composition parameters.
Key study details
“The participants (80% of whom had overweight or obesity) ate a salad dressing containing 2 grams of spirulina or a placebo salad dressing daily. The researchers gave all of the participants individualized diets designed to maintain their weight and advised the participants to maintain their usual physical activity.”
Should that not read “The participants (80% of whom were overweight or obese…)?”
Anyway, mixing spirulina in a salad dressing is very different to taking it as a tablet/capsule or a powder with some liquid either before, with, or between meals.
“Although waist circumference decreased (improved) in the spirulina group only and fat-free mass decreased (worsened) in the placebo group only, the researchers observed no differences between the groups in these outcomes or in BMI, body fat, or weight.”
If we look at the actual results reported by the study, the spirulina group had a waist circumference change during 8 weeks of -2.86±4.02 cm. In other words, only a few lost a bit of waist circumference, and only about 2 to 3 cm, while others gained as much as 4 cm to their waist. And now, if we look at the control group, their waist circumference change during 8 weeks was an alarming 0.38±9.47 cm. In other words, everyone in the control group added to their waist circumference, and a few as much as 9.47 cm (3.73 inches) in only 8 weeks! That means that the diet the research team administered was extremely bad and had them gain weight!
However, this also means that the group poisoned by 2 grams of spirulina daily did not gain as much around the waist, still there were no differences in BMI, weight or body fat between the groups, telling us that they all gained body fat, only that it was distributed differently between the groups.
First of all, anything from the plant kingdom is toxic to humans as we are obligate hyper carnivores and we lack the enzymes and digestive ability to neutralize defense chemicals, antinutrients, heavy metals, and other thousands of toxic compounds found in plants. Actually, even herbivores that supposedly live mostly on plants, although they eat animals given the chance, can’t eat all kinds of plants or even some plants in excessive amounts or they will die. They have to seek out specific plants and consume them in moderation to avoid toxic accumulation, damage and death. All this is basic biology and biochemistry. Unfortunately, it’s not studied or understood by most people, especially not those indoctrinated in the pseudo-science of nutrition and modern medicine. As for spirulina, it contains a lot of the very toxic defense chemicals known as phenolic compounds.
So, what happens when you consume poisonous compounds such as spirulina? Well, your body responds with a fight-or-flight stress response where detoxification takes a presence over other bodily functions to minimize the damage. However, it is a bit more complicated than that, as most people consume carbohydrates with their meal, which is unnatural for humans and the most potent toxin of all, as carbohydrates elevates blood glucose over normal safe levels as maintained by gluconeogenesis — and blood glucose must return to normal levels before your body does anything else, as in detoxing other poisons and toxins you might have consumed with that meal.
So, taking spirulina or any other plant-based concentrated compound with a meal, especially if it’s blended into the meal as a salad dressing, will slow down absorption all while the body is also struggling with managing blood glucose (if you had carbohydrates.)
Thus, the toxic effect of the spirulina in this case, as part of a meal, will not spike and cause any significant acute stress-response, instead it will cause a more lingering low-level stress response as it will take a long time for the body to clear out the toxins and return to homeostasis. This means a somewhat elevated metabolism for many hours due to the delayed and prolonged detoxification process. Also, as the phenolic compounds can interfere with digestion, they might even absorb less nutrients and energy. So, in theory, toxins such as spirulina could help with fat loss or mitigate weight gain, but in a very unhealthy way as it is a very potent poison.
Now, as most people already consume a lot of toxins with their food, if it’s plant-based and/or processed, they already have these metabolic stress triggers. So, adding spirulina will only increase the toxic load and the burden for the body. While this might at first show some results aligned with an increase in stress, such as increased metabolism and detoxification, over time the opposite will happen. It’s important to understand that while stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol can influence metabolism and appetite, deliberately exposing oneself to toxins is harmful and not a viable or safe method for weight management. The body’s natural response to stress is designed for short-term survival, not long-term metabolic enhancement; prolonged activation of this system damages blood vessels, increases blood pressure, and contributes to a range of chronic health problems, including cardiovascular disease and mental health disorders.
Examine.com’s take
“On its own, this small trial provides little evidence that spirulina improves body composition. However, a 2025 meta-analysis found that spirulina may have very slight benefits, particularly in people with obesity. The effects may have been too meager for this trial to detect, the dosage may have been too low, and the duration may have been too short.”
Again, anything poisonous or toxic will have an effect on weight management as it activates the fight-or-flight stress response and might interfere with digestion and nutrient absorption. In the short term, adrenaline prepares the body for immediate action by increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and blood glucose levels through the breakdown of glycogen and fat. This increases energy demand and utilization, making you expend more energy which can be beneficial for fat loss (hence the popularity of caffeine, ephedrine, clenbuterol, etcetera, which also increases the release of fatty acids from fat tissue.)
This surge in energy from a stress response is accompanied by a suppression of appetite, often due to the release of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH,) which can lead to reduced food intake and potentially weight loss during acute stress. This state is characterized by enhanced glucose availability for the brain and muscles, achieved through processes like gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis, which are facilitated by cortisol.
However, the long-term or chronic activation of this stress response, particularly through sustained high levels of cortisol, fundamentally shifts the body’s metabolic state and promotes weight gain, especially in the form of visceral fat. Cortisol increases appetite and cravings for high-calorie, palatable foods, which can lead to overeating and the storage of excess energy as fat.
So, while toxins such as spirulina, especially if taken in a concentrated form as a tablet/capsule or powder with liquid, which will cause a much more noticeable stress-response might aid a little bit with weight loss, it’s a very damaging, dangerous, and unhealthy approach and should not be recommended by anyone. That would be criminal.
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