Here’s Why We’re In A Spin About Spirulina
It’s said that gram for gram, Spirulina is the most nutrient-dense food in the world. But what is this mysterious dense green powder, and what are you supposed to do with it? Let’s have a look at the facts….
Spirulina is a blue-green algae which floats on lakes in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. It can be found in Africa, Asia and the Americas, and thrives in water with a high (alkaline) pH, deriving its energy from sunlight through the process of photosynthesis. We’re not sure who first had the idea to scoop this stuff up from the surface of a lake and consume it, but we’re glad they did! Spirulina is now classed as a superfood, and millions of people now use it to top up their levels of many fantastically beneficial nutrients needed by the human body to keep our biological processes running at their peak.
The Aztecs latched on to the huge health benefits of Spirulina many hundreds of years ago, and the United Nations declared in 1974 it was “possibly the best food for the future”. It’s currently undergoing a huge resurgence as a dietary supplement, as more and more people hear about this magical substance and try it out for themselves. So here’s what you can expect if you give Spirulina a try….
Spirulina is roughly 60% protein, and seven or eight tablespoons will give us our entire recommended daily intake of protein for one day. Not only that – the type of protein found in Spirulina is highly usable by our bodies, and contains all the essential amino acids we need, including Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids. This makes it great for everyone, but especially good for pregnant women, and brilliant for athletes or anyone wanting to take their body’s immune system to the max!
Stunningly good at fighting inflammation and oxidisation
Oxidative stress occurs when there’s an imbalance affecting our body’s ability to detoxify our cells from the harmful effect of ‘free radicals’, unstable atoms that damage our cells and lead to ageing and disease. An analysis of controlled clinical trials published in April 2021 found that administration of spirulina supplements resulted in a significant reduction of markers of oxidative stress in the body, thereby reducing inflammation and the risk of disease.
Low in calories, but high in essential iron
At only 20 calories per tablespoon, you can use Spirulina almost to your heart’s content without having to worry about your waistline. And with a fantastic iron content of 28.5mg per 100g, nine tablespoons of it will give you your entire recommended daily iron intake. Iron is essential for hundreds of our body’s processes, including temperature regulation, keeping the immune system healthy, and working with the blood cells to ensure oxygen is carried efficiently to all parts of the body.
A massive abundance of vitamins, minerals and other goodies
Spirulina contains Vitamins A, C, D, E and K, and is also a superb source of a range of essential B-vitamins, including B1 (thiamin), B2 (riboflavin) and B3 (niacin). There’s a really fantastic amount of beneficial minerals too: as well as iron, it also contains an impressive amount of magnesium (great for our muscles and nerves, and important for good sleep), calcium (for healthy teeth and bones), potassium (good for blood pressure and heart health) and copper (brilliant in conjuction with iron for maintaining healthy blood vessels). Spirulina also contains beta-carotene, which is excellent for our vision, and chlorophyll, which stimulates our immune system.
Excellent for all kinds of chronic conditions
This research paper from 2004 found that Spirulina supplementation caused a significant improvement to various damaging conditions brought about by type 2 diabetes, while this study from 2016 suggested Spirulina may be extremely potent for preventing hyperglycemia, oxidative stress and liver damage in diabetic patients. This review of medical literature from the same year concluded that taking Spirulina has a stunning effect on reducing ‘bad’ cholesterol levels. Spirulina’s main active ingredient is the pigment protein Phycocyanin, which has knockout antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and is especially good for protecting our nerves, which means it’s excellent for patients with peripheral neuropathy.
It's the number one ingredient to take your smoothies to the next level
Ideally, we should get all the nutrition we need by eating a tasty, nutritious diet of whole foods – but the pace of modern life is fast, and with the pressures of work and family, we don’t always have the time to prepare balanced meals – so chugging a smoothie full of knockout nutrition can be a shortcut to optimum nutrition.
Smoothies are a first class delivery system for wonderful nutrition – why not try this fantastic Greensleevs Smoothie? It combines our amazing organic Spirulina with the caramelly sweetness of low-GI Coconut Sugar, the lovely, refreshing flavour of Coconut Water and some heart-healthy, brain-boosting fats and minerals from the Whole Organic Sesame Seeds.
Or you could give this wonderful Matcha Green Tea Smoothie a go – it’s sweetened with Manuka honey and is made wonderfully creamy with lovely Organic Cashew Nuts.
Our Sussex Wholefoods Spirulina is organic and vertified by the Soil Association, the UK’s leading organic certification body. It’s tested for heavy metals and all sorts of other nasties to ensure we’re offering the purest and most nutritious product possible. Many other options are available too, including some Hawaiian-grown Spirulina and even tablets made from 100% pure, compressed Spirulina, for those who don’t like the taste but still want to harness the huge health benefits. Come and browse our range here!