Spirulina: The Healthiest Food In The World (and Outerspace)

In the constant quest to be as healthy as possible, you may have already stumbled across spirulina - possibly the easiest way to eat some of the recommended 4 to 9 servings of daily vegetables and protect yourself from the stress, pollutants, toxins and chemicals of the modern world.

Image: @klitajmestra

Spirulina is one of the oldest life forms on Earth, a dark green aquatic plant (an algae, like seaweed) and a nutritious dietary supplement. It grows in water that has a high pH and once it's been harvested, you can buy spirulina in tablet, flake, powder and liquid forms. It's made up of unicellular organisms that use light, water and minerals to produce protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and other vital nutrients. What results is an excellent source of all eight essential amino acids as well as ten of the twelve nonessential amino acids, beta carotene, minerals such as iron, and gamma-linoleic acid amongst others.

It might be new to you but spirulina is an ancient superfood. It was an essential food source for the Aztecs of 16th century Mexico and the people of the Kanem Empire ate it over a thousand years ago in ancient Chad. And while spirulina is one of the world's oldest foods, it is now leading the future of innovative nutrition: NASA plans to make spirulina one of the first plants cultivated in space.

10 Health Benefits of Spirulina

1. Gram for gram, it may be the the single most nutritious food on the planet!
   A single tablespoon (7 grams) of dried spirulina powder contains:
   -11% of the RDA of Vitamin B1
   -15% of the RDA of Vitamin B2
   -4% of the RDA of Vitamin B3
   -21% of the RDA of copper
   -11% of the RDA of iron
   It also contains a good amount of magnesium, potassium and manganese, and small amounts of almost every other nutrient that we need.
2. It does all of the above in just 20 calories and 1.7g of carbohydrates.
3. It manages cholesterol levels.
4. It is anti-inflammatory and useful to those with arthritis.
5. It's incredibly high in protein - 60% -70% of its dry weight in fact.
6. It protects against anemia which good news for anyone following a vegetarian diet.
7. Studies show that it helps to maintain a healthy blood sugar balance.
8. Spirulina can bind with heavy metals in the body and help remove them.
9. It eliminates candida (yeast infection).
10. It increases the rate of fat burning during exercise.
    

    Image: @teeyoungone

How To Eat It

Commercially available spirulina tends to come in two forms: powder and tablet. You can stir a small spoonful of the powder into a glass of water or juice and drink it straight but it's easier to add a small amount to your morning smoothie (or smoothie bowl). Be warned: just a small amount of spirulina will change its color into a deep, almost black, green hue. And if you really can't stomach the taste of it, a daily tablet will provide you with all the health benefits of spirulina.