WHAT IS DIHEY?

 

Dihey is the name given to spirulina by the native inhabitants of the Lake Chad Basin in Central Africa. Dihey was consumed as food by the inhabitants of Lake Chad for centuries for it nutritional and health benefits.

Dihey spirulina is a type of blue-green algae that is rich in protein, vitamins, minerals, carotenoids, and antioxidants that can help protect cells from damage. It contains nutrients, including B complex vitamins, beta-carotene, vitamin E, manganese, zinc, copper, iron, selenium, and gamma linolenic acid (an essential fatty acid).

Spirulina, when harvested at sea can be contaminated with toxic substances called microcystins. It can also absorb heavy metals. For these reasons, it is important to buy natural spirulina from natural fresh water sources. Dihey is the safest natural, organic and sustainable spirulina on the market.


THE ENVIRONMENT WHERE DIHEY GROWS

Dihey grows in the very peculiar and unique environment of the water pools that form to the northeast of Lake Chad. These are characterized by the following conditions.

  • An aquatic environment with a basic pH of 9.5–10.5. (Water with a low pH (< 6.5) could be acidic, soft, and corrosive and could leach metal ions such as iron, manganese, copper, lead, and zinc)
  • Saline or brackish water, particularly rich in sodium bicarbonate (10–20 g per liter).
  • A daytime temperature of 35–37°C and a night-time temperature of 15–20°C.
  • Abundant sunshine.

It is an ecological niche where hardly any other living organism can survive. The development of dihey in the Bol area excludes the proliferation of other organisms for the following reasons.

  • By feeding on carbonates and bicarbonates, dihey increases water alkalinity from pH 9 up to pH 12.5.
  • The deep blue filaments form a shield against sunlight, thereby inhibiting the proliferation of algae such as Chlorella.
  • Dihey may possibly discharge defense molecules that are very active against a whole range of bacteria. (Dihey is traditionally used to treat gangrenous wounds.

Dihey contains:

Dihey Nutritional Table

Dihey is very high in protein, very low in calories and cholesterol, and high in enzymes, minerals (iron, calcium, sodium and magnesium), and phenolic acids, which have antioxidant properties

The benefits of Spirulina as a low-calorie, high-protein, mineral and vitamin food supplement are now well established and recognized worldwide. Studies have shown that spirulina can lower cholesterol levels, stimulate the immune system and be effective in the treatment of obesity, heart disease, premenstrual stress, arthritis, anemia and osteoporosis. Spirulina is also a rich source of beta-carotene, a natural antioxidant, which the body converts to vitamin A and which plays a protective role in the human organism. Recent studies have concluded that a diet rich in vitamin A and provitamin A can lower the risk of cancer. Beta-carotene is considered a more effective antioxidant than synthetic trans beta-carotene. Positive results have also been seen in performance and stamina levels when Spirulina is taken as a sports supplement; the blue-green alga has a high level of biotin, which is an inhibitor of lactic acid in muscles.