What is the Best Way to Eat Spirulina?

Your home's grass may be green, but what about your freezer? Spirulina will surely make it greener! This algae won the title of super-food for many reasons. It contains plenty of nutrients, has a delicate flavor, can be added to countless recipes, and is safe to consume for kids and pregnant women. You might also call it super-alga.  So here are some tips to maximize your enjoyment of its flavor and benefits.

It's not cool to heat your spirulina!

Spirulina is warmly recommended by dietitians and ordinary consumers alike, keeping it at the top of the list of recommended superfoods. But while it is a hot item, keep your spirulina cool (pun intended) and don’t heat it or add it to hot dishes. If you want to make the most of its nutritional value, we recommend adding it to cold dishes such as green shakes, healthy bowls, sandwiches, and such.          

Make sure to consume it moderately. 

It is widely believed that healthy foods can be eaten without limits. However, many super-healthy foods must be consumed only in a recommended amount daily (in fact, excessive water intake must be avoided). It must be made clear that even spirulina, which is categorized as food, must be consumed in moderate daily amounts (our recommendation: up to 100 grams, that is, 5 dishes of 20 grams per dish).

Eat your spirulina shortly after you take it out of the freezer

if you never bought it before, Spirulina is sold frozen and can be stored under the recommended conditions for up to 18 months. Unlike other foods, it cannot be consumed after it is defrosted. To maintain its nutritional value, we recommend eating it as soon as possible after removing it from the freezer as part of freezer-to-plate recipes. 

Spirulina cannot serve as a spice

Despite its green color, spirulina cannot spice food, since its flavor is delicate and subtle. Since its flavor isn't dominant, it can be "concealed" in favorite dishes for kids (who are known to be less thrilled about trying new foods). For example, you can add spirulina to a pesto or green tahini pasta sauce. 

FAQ

What is Spirulina?

It is a group of or spiral-shaped unicellular blue algae, native to mineral-rich tropical water bodies. Its medical benefits have been known as early as the      

What are its health benefits?

• It is rich in nutrients, such as proteins, vitamins (B12), minerals (Iron and calcium), and beta-carotene.
• It is rich in phycocyanin and other antioxidants, which help fight cancer, cardiovascular, respiratory, generative, and many other diseases.
• It enhances the immune system.
• It helps lower blood-pressure and blood cholesterol. 
• It increases the amount of energy and stamina. 
• It helps weight loss by enhancing the sensation of fullness and acceleration of metabolism.
• It slows aging, improves skin, hair, and nail appearance, and helps fight acne.       

What are the side effects of spirulina consumption?

Usually, spirulina consumption has no side effects, however, the following effects may occur for several days.     

• A soft stool for several days, in inexperienced consumers.
• Slight body temperature rise, due to metabolism acceleration.
• change in the frequency and color of stool, due to the clearing off of toxins;
• If you have diabetes, liver issues, edema or similar conditions, or on medications, consult tour doctor before consuming spirulina.

Who can benefit from eating Spirulina? 

• Vegans

This alga is rich in proteins and contains all vital amino acids, all B vitamins (including B12), as well as A, E, C, D, and K, and minerals such as iron, calcium, magnesium, zinc, and potassium, as well as vital fatty acids such as Omega-3 and GLA many antioxidants.

• Athletes

The highly available vitamins, minerals, and enzymes enhance performance, and help fast recovery and muscle-building, while antioxidants help prevent inflammation and stimulate tissue fusion and recovery. A 4-week experiment found out that runners who consumed 6g of spirulina daily, increased their fat-burning rate and their concentration of the natural antioxidant GSH. 

• Pregnant women

Being rich in nutrients, Spirulina helps normal fetus development. Its rich GLA, Omega-3, and folic acid concentration contributes to normal fetal nervous system development. Its antioxidants protect the fetus from toxins in food and the environment.  The available full protein, calcium, vitamins, and minerals help maintain a normal pregnancy for the mother and fetus. 

• People with cardiovascular disease:

Since spirulina contains high concentrations of Omega 3 and GLA and is cholesterol-free, its consumption helps keep your blood healthy. Its phycocyanin and beta-carotene help protect tissues from oxidation damage and the buildup of unsaturated fatty acids by free radicals.  Spirulina consumption helps lower BLOOD cholesterol and LDL and raises Blood HDL levels. 

• People with thyroid problems 

Spirulina is good for thyroid dysfunction symptoms due to tyrosine deficiency and contains considerable amounts of tyrosine amino acid. Since it is not grown in iodine-containing seawater,  spirulina cannot impair thyroid function in patients.    

• Diabetics

Being rich in nutrients, spirulina can help diabetics keep their diet balanced, this reducing the symptoms.  Even a daily consumption of 2 grams can have these effects.