Supercharge Your Health with Spirulina: Unleashing the Power of Nature's Green Superfood!

written by: Hannah Thyne

The foods we eat have a huge impact on our health and well-being.  We fuel our bodies with nutritious foods and it rewards us with greater health and longevity.  Small changes we make to our diets can make a huge impact on our health.  One small addition we can make is incorporating spirulina into the foods we eat and drink.

And now for a little science.  Spirulina is a cyanobacteria.  Cyanobacteria is a family of single cells microbes that grow in fresh and salt water.  They are one of the oldest lifeforms on the planet.  Spirulina  contains a powerful antioxidant called phycocyanin.  Antioxidants like phycocyanin helps our bodies to fight free radical damage.  Free radicals are unstable molecules that increase the risk of cancer and other diseases.  These free radicals cause damage to healthy cells causing inflammation.

Spirulina is brimming with health promoting properties.  Heart disease is the worlds number one cause of death.  Spirulina supports heart health by lowering bad cholesterol (LDL) and triglycerides while increasing good cholesterol (HDL).  It may also lower blood pressure as well.  High blood pressure is a factor in many chronic health conditions.  Studies have shown that spirulina also supports healthy blood sugar levels.

The nutritional benefits of spirulina are numerous.  Spirulina is one of the few plants considered a complete protein, meaning it contains all the essential amino acids that our bodies can not make on their own.  One tablespoon of spirulina contains four grams of protein. It has omega-3 and omega-6.  

Spirulina contains many vitamins and mineral that help to keep our bodies functioning at its best…
thiamine: strengthens the immune system and the bodies ability to manage stress
riboflavin: lowers oxidative stress and inflammation of nerves
niacin: helps us turn food into energy. 

The minerals spirulina boast are copper, iron, manganese and potassium.  These minerals provide our bodies the ability to make red blood cells, provide oxygen to muscles, and form connective tissues and blood clotting factors.

An easy way to bring spirulina into your diet is adding it to your juices and smoothies.  Here is a super simple easy and super delicious smoothie recipe:                     

1 frozen banana

1/2 cup frozen blueberries

1/2 cup fresh spinach

1 1/2 cups milk of your choice

2 teaspoons spirulina

1 tablespoon hemp seeds (for protein)

Blend all ingredients till smooth and enjoy!