Spirulina is a cyanobacteria, more commonly called a blue-green algae. It grows naturally in alkaline waters, and is increasingly farmed around the world due to its many benefits.
It is considered the most nutrient dense food on earth and is absolutely packed with nutrients. It holds the record for the highest protein, beta carotene, and iron content per weight. Other nutrients it contains in significant amounts include calcium, niacin, potassium, magnesium, and B vitamins.
People seem to be fascinated in particular with its amazingly high protein content, which ranges anywhere from 55 – 70% of its dry weight! Its protein is also “complete” with all 8 essential amino acids, making it an excellent source, especially for vegans who find it more difficult to obtain good proteins.
Spirulina’s incredible nutrient profile makes it very beneficial for many health reasons.
It is proven effective for…
You can find more information about any of these benefits by clicking on the images above.
And the list goes on from here. Spirulina truly is an amazing food that is finally starting to become more widely recognized for its value. With this widespread recognition there comes heavy marketing. There are tons of spirulina products out there but I would suggest that you don’t just go out there and buy any product you find, and there are reasons for this.
Where To Buy Spirulina
Spirulina is one food that you have to be particularly careful about when buying. It is known to vary a great deal in its nutrient profile. This has to do with the quality of the environment in which it is grown in, such as the nutrients in the waters, the amount of sunlight, etc. The way it is harvested and dried also has a huge impact on its nutrients. Cheap and easy techniques for drying are a big cause of nutrient destruction.
Besides its nutrients, spirulina has the ability to absorb toxins from its environment. This is due to the biology of the spirulina cells, having a soft cell wall. Its ability to absorb toxins is great if you are using spirulina to detox your body, but can be very harmful if its grown in a polluted/ toxic environment.
For both of these reasons it is very important to buy spirulina from a quality source. There are foods that you can settle for the cheapest brands, but spirulina is not one of them.
I have reviewed top quality products that I recommend for anyone who is looking to buy spirulina. All of the products I recommend come from quality sources in which there are many quality assurance regulations in place, they are grown in a nutrient rich environment, and they are not ridiculously priced.