What is Spirulina?
Spirulina is a superfood, algae with health benefits that have been known to mankind for hundreds of years. It grows, however, in different ways from other foods we are familiar with today.
Producing Spirulina is not difficult to learn, and once you do, it is easy. The experience of growing your own health food is satisfying, and you know exactly what enters your body as it grew in your house and with your help. The Spirulina algae live in both salt and fresh water.
Spirulina is one of the oldest plants on earth. Under a microscope, the shape of the blue-green algae is like a spiral, and thus its name.
Spirulina under microscope
Spirulina grows in many parts of the world. It has been found on the surface of Mexico's Lake Texaco and Lake Chad in Africa. Until the sixteenth century, the Aztecs continued to eat Spirulina; whereas the natives of Chad have cultivated the algae to this day. Once Spirulina was discovered in the West, people slowly began to commercialize its production.
In 1974, the United Nations announced that Spirulina is the ideal food for mankind and an efficient way to help the starvation in Africa. Probably the most nutritious food available, it contains great amounts of protein, vitamins and macro and microelements. As Spirulina is extremely rich in nutritional value, the recommended daily amount is a teaspoon of fresh spirulina.
Growing Spirulina is simple and enjoyable; for more information, see our DIY Spirulina kits.
Spirulina contains:
Vitamins- A, C, E, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B8, B9
Minerals- Calcium, Iron, magnesium, zinc, potassium, and other easily absorbed minerals.
Protein - 3 times more than beef
Iron - 50 times more the spinach
Calcium - 10 times more than whole milk
Beta Carotene - 25 times more than raw carrots
How to eat Spirulina?
It is recommended to eat a teaspoon of fresh Spirulina a day. Because different people have different needs, you can also take more, but, for the majority of people, this is enough.
You can eat Spirulina in a variety of ways: smoothies, salads, or spreads, or as an addition to cold drinks. You can find recipes with Spirulina on our website. Do not heat or cook the Spirulina, or it will lose some of its nutritious value. It is best eaten shortly after removing from water (up to half an hour). You can store it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours or freeze it for several months.
Gets started
For Further Reading
Why grow your own Spirulina super food?
All About Spirulina Growing Basics
Spirulina Growing: Agitation and Water
3 reasons to grow your own Spirulina superfood at home
Welcome to the world of Spirulina
Great Spirulina Recipes | Grow Spirulina
Food of the Future: This is why you should grow Spirulina
How to Grow Spirulina at Home in 4 Steps
