Spirulina

Certified: Gluten-Free

Spirulina is a vivid blue-green algae that commonly grows in freshwater lakes and ponds. It's considered a complete protein, containing an ideal balance of all 9 essential amino acids. And its protein is more digestible than other rich protein sources such as red meat and even soy.

Spirulina's whopping protein content isn't the only asset that gives it its superfood status—it's naturally loaded with vitamins A through E, iron, potassium, calcium, and antioxidants. All it takes is one to two teaspoons per day, mixed into virtually any food or liquid, to add a major boost of protein, vitamins and minerals to your everyday diet.

Our spirulina is grown in open-channel, shallow, man-made raceway ponds. Paddle wheels move the water to accelerate growth while growers continually add clean, fresh water and nutrients to the ponds to keep the spirulina thriving. When ready, the spirulina is harvested with filters, washed in fresh water, and then dried by spray drying machines. Our spirulina is non-irradiated and non-GMO (Genetically Modified Organism).

To enjoy this superfood, mix 1 teaspoon of the powder in liquids, smoothies, salad dressings, guacamole, or sprinkle it in food. It'll blend right in with the smoky taste of seaweed and give your meal superpowers!

Our Registered Dietitian's Top Pick

Our Registered Dietitian and Health Nut likes to add spirulina to guacamole to boost protein content of the heart-healthy dip. Spirulina is about 55-77% protein by weight compared with 27% of meat and 34% of soy. This means that one ounce boasts 16 grams of protein.

Benefits You Can Feel

1. Because its cell walls have no cellulose, spirulina's protein is 85%-95% digestible. This percentage is higher than that of any other common plant!

2. Spirulina has an Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) of over 24,000, which is four times the ORAC score of blueberries! The ORAC score measures the antioxidant concentration in foods.

3. Spirulina also contains a wide range of minerals, ranging from calcium to potassium to zinc.

4. Spirulina has 26 times the calcium of milk, which makes it a more potent alternative to common calcium sources such as dairy and cheeses.

5. Spirulina may lower cholesterol and blood pressure. Its anti-inflammatory properties stem from the presence of gamma linolenic acid.

What Experts Say

SHAPE Magazine:"A daily 4,500mg dose of this blue-green algae can help relax artery walls and normalize blood pressure. It may also help your liver balance your blood fat levels-decreasing your LDL cholesterol by 10% and raising HDL cholesterol by 15 percent."

Dr. Oz from the Dr. Oz Show:"For a metabolism-boosting snack, blast off with spirulina. Made from dehydrated blue-green algae, spirulina is a miracle from the sea for your metabolism. It's packed with protein and all the essential amino acids your body needs to keep your metabolism charged up by fueling your cells."

Spirulina Through the Ages

Named the "Best Food for the Future" at the 1974 United Nations World Food Conference, spirulina soon caught on as a possible solution to severe malnutrition in third-world nations. The Intergovernmental Institution for the use of Micro-algae Spirulina Against Malnutrition (IIMSAM) was later founded to promote spirulina benefits such its ability to provide the malnourished with nutrients, its low amount of side effects and eco-friendly cultivation practices.

A true future food, it may even soon be cultivated in zero gravity by NASA and the European Space Agency. In fact, NASA includes spirulina in its astronauts' diet and plans to grow the algae on its space station.

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