Although recent interest makes it seem trendy, spirulina is actually a superfood that has been used for thousands of years due to its amazing nutrient profile. Rich in plant based protein, antioxidants, calcium, magnesium, potassium and more – spirulina makes an excellent addition to your daily diet! Given its newfound popularity, you may have tried spirulina previously, but we doubt it’s been raw, live spirulina cultivated in Calgary, AB without the use of pesticides or herbicides!
It’s important to keep in mind that there is a big difference between the powered and fresh versions. In terms of nutrient density, smell and taste and bioavailabilty – fresh spirulina comes out on top again and again!
Nutrient Profile
Did you know that spirulina is the only source of phycocyanin found in nature? This compound is what gives spirulina its potent anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. Phycocyanin is important because it supports the health of our skin, fights chronic inflammation, and inhibits harmful bacteria from growing in the body. However, phycocyanin is delicate and when fresh sprirulina goes through processing to create powder, it becomes almost completely nonexistent!
Smell + Taste
If you’ve used dried spirulina before you know what we’re talking about when we say it isn’t exactly… tasty. Dried spirulina has a very distinctive (and mostly unpleasant) taste and smells even worse. Why does it matter? Well, how easy is it going to be to actually include in your diet when you can’t stand the taste! That’s where fresh spirulina comes in – almost completely odourless and tasteless you’ll be able to include it in your diet in a wide variety of ways. We love adding it to yogurt, salad dressings, pesto, smoothies, raw energy balls and even just plain water. Because of this, you’ll have a much easier time including it in your diet and will be able to reap all of the amazing benefits of this powerful superfood.
Bioavailability
Speaking of benefits, more important than what we eat is what our body does with the food we consume. Unfortunately, although powdered spirulina contains a number of important nutrients, the amount of benefit you receive from it is dependent on whether or not your body is able to absorb those nutrients in the first place. On the other hand, our live spirulina is 100% bioavailable (which describes how easily your body can absorb the nutrients you consume). The process of drying spirulina also removes essential enzymes required for us to break down and utilize all of the nutrients that spirulina contains – making it much more effective and efficient to consume in fresh form.
We could talk about the benefits of fresh spirulina all day! But don’t just read what we have to say – give it a try yourself!
Questions? Leave them in the comments below - we love hearing from you!
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