Spirulina is the cousin of Chlorella and it is a blue green algae that is PACKED with nutrition.
Loaded with Micronutrients
Spirulina is a complete protein, the dried powder being 60% protein, with over 90% assimilation by the human body, far more than most foods. It features all of the essential amino acids, plus 9 more of the non-essential ones.
- Essential Fatty Acids including Omega 3 and Omega 6
- Antioxidants from various phytonutrients and Superoxide Dismutase
- Glyconutrients
- GLA, a special fat known for its anti-inflammatory effects
- Glycogen, the only vegetarian source of this energy
- Rhamnose, a rare, biologically active carbohydrate which delivers nutrients to the cells and across the blood brain barrier*
- RNA and DNA
- Chlorophyll
The following values are per 100g of dried spirulina. The percentages are based on the RDI.
- Vitamin A equiv. (4%) 29 μg
- Beta-carotene (3%) 342 μg
- Thiamine (B1) (207%) 2.38 mg
- Riboflavin (B2) (306%) 3.67 mg
- Niacin (B3) (85%) 12.82 mg
- Pantothenic acid (B5) (70%) 3.48 mg
- Vitamin B6 (28%) 0.364 mg
- Folate (B9) (24%) 94 μg
- Vitamin B12 (0%) 0 μg
- Choline (13%) 66 mg
- Vitamin C (12%) 10.1 mg
- Vitamin D (0%) 0 IU
- Vitamin E (33%) 5 mg
- Vitamin K (24%) 25.5 μg
- Calcium (12%) 120 mg
- Iron (219%) 28.5 mg
- Magnesium (55%) 195 mg
- Manganese (90%) 1.9 mg
- Phosphorus (17%) 118 mg
- Potassium (29%) 1363 mg
- Sodium (70%) 1048 mg
- Zinc (21%) 2mg
Great for Cholesterol
A meta analysis looked at multiple studies with spirulina showing how it can normalize cholesterol numbers.[5] This includes
- Reducing Total Cholesterol
- Reducing LDL
- Reducing Triglycerides
- Elevating HDL
I alternate the days that I take these so that I get all the nutrition that the both provide equally. They are essentially my multi-vitamins. Between the two of them your chlorophyll intake will be increased and your stores of bio-available vitamins, minerals and phyto-chemicals will be topped off.
Aside from these two power houses, the other supplement I take on a daily basis is Vitamin D.