Organic Spirulina Powder & Tablets - what can they do for me?

Spirulina is crammed full of goodness and is one of the most nutrient-dense foods you'll find anywhere on the planet. Gram for gram, it is likely to be one of the best superfoods available. There is no shortage of health benefits of spirulina which can be taken either in powder form or in tablets if you’re not overly keen on the taste. Unlike other terrestrial plants, spirulina has no hard cellulose cell wall so it is easily digested in the body. It has an incredibly high protein content (around 65%), and contains all 9 of the essential amino acids that the human body cannot produce so must acquire through diet.

What is Spirulina?

Spirulina is a microscopic multi-cellular cyanobacterium, which is found naturally in lakes and rivers across Africa, Asia and South America. It is a very simple and ancient life form, having first evolved around 3.6 billion years ago! So it’s probably fair to so that Spirulina has a good amount of experience in the superfood game. Spirulina produces its own energy from sunlight through photosynthesis using the blue pigment phycocyanin and it is therefore sometimes referred to as ‘blue green algae’.

Our spirulina is grown on a peninsula in the South China Sea. The location is ideal for spirulina cultivation as it offers consistently warm temperatures and long hours of sunshine. The area is surrounded by pristine natural forests and is completely isolated from urban areas and sources of agricultural pollution. Our spirulina is routinely tested for the presence of contaminants to ensure that the finished product you receive is always completely pure and organic.

What can spirulina do for me?

How Can I Take Spirulina?

Like other superfood green powders, spirulina can be taken in a variety of ways. Organic spirulina powder can be mixed in a smoothie with other organic greens such as kale, spinach, cucumber and lime to make a refreshing juice drink (if you like the taste!). For some people, the knowledge that they are drinking something really good is enough to fit it into their daily routine; for others, the taste can be quite unusual and difficult to stomach. If this is the case, taking spirulina tablets as opposed to powder may be a better option. Just because the spirulina is taken in tablet form, it does not mean that it is not equally as beneficial to your health. Both the powder and tablets are 100% organic and the compressing process is always done without the use of chemicals. Spirulina powder can also be taken on its own, mixed into a glass with water or sprinkled over salads and soups to add a powerful dose of protein, vitamins and minerals to your daily diet.

Health Benefits of Organic Spirulina Powder and Organic Spirulina Tablets

In addition to being packed full of amino acids, spirulina has many other health benefits. It is high in protein, chlorophyll, calcium, magnesium and iron and a is great source of B-Vitamins including vitamin B12.

Protein - contributes to the growth and maintenance of muscle mass.

Iron - an important component of haemoglobin, the substance in red blood cells which carries oxygen throughout your body. Also helps reduce feelings of fatigue.

Chlorophyll - is a super food which is packed with a range of powerful nutrients and aids with wound healing, hormonal balance, deodorising and detoxification of the body and promotes digestive health.

Vitamin B12 - boosts energy, maintains proper function of critical bodily processes and helps to keep nerves and red blood cells healthy.

Calcium - helps build and maintain strong and healthy bones.

Magnesium - regulates blood sugar levels, maintains normal muscle and nerve function and promotes normal blood pressure.

Spirulina is also said to help lower blood pressure, reduce cholesterol and boost energy!

Spirulina Vs. Chlorella - What is the Difference?

Spirulina and chlorella are both unicellular freshwater algae and offer a wide range of health benefits when added to your diet. So, what are the differences?

Difference between spirulina and chlorella

Nutrition

Both spirulina and chlorella are super foods and exceptionally potent superfoods at that. We know that they are both powerhouses in the vitamin and nutrient department. The taste similar, they look similar but, really, what is the difference between the two?

The honest answer as far as nutrition goes is not really too much as they share a lot of similar properties. However, these properties are not identical so we’ll outline some of the differences:

Spirulina contains more essential amino acids
Spirulina contains more protein
Spirulina is a better source of GLA (gamma-linoleic acid), a ‘good’ fat that is essential for healthy brain and heart function
Chlorella contains more vitamin B12
Chlorella contains more iron than spirulina
Chlorella is a green algae, which means that it has considerably more chlorophyll than spirulina - great if you want a detox!

As you can see, the benefits for each superfood are significant and it is for this reason that people often take them together. Tablets are a great way to supplement both, alternating the intake of tablets throughout the day, i.e. 1-2 spirulina tablets in the morning, 1-2 chlorella tablets mid-morning, 1-2 spirulina tablets in the afternoon and 1-2 chlorella tablets in the evening.

Digestion and Preparation

Spirulina and chlorella differ in the way they are broken down by the body. Our milling process produces the broken cell wall variant of chlorella, which makes the nutrients found inside the chlorella cell more accessible for digestion while locking in all of the nutritional benefits. This process is slightly more laborious than that of spirulina which is one of the reasons why chlorella is slightly more expensive. That being said, we think it’s well worth it for the fantastic benefits that chlorella provides.

Appearance

Spirulina and chlorella are similar in the fact that they are both types of micro-algae. However, spirulina is a spiral-shaped, multi-celled plant and has no true nucleus. Conversely, chlorella is a spherical-shaped single-celled micro-organism with a nucleus. Although chlorella algae can grow faster than spirulina, spirulina algae is much bigger and can sometimes be up to 100-times the size of chlorella.

Furthermore, while spirulina is a blue-green form of algae, chlorella is solid green.

How They’re Grown

Another way in which these super foods are different is due to the conditions in which they are grown. Spirulina is best cultivated in low-alkaline water and requires long hours of sunshine.

Chlorella prefers to grow best in fresh water conditions and grows much faster than spirulina.

Where Can I Buy Spirulina Online?

Organic Spirulina Powder and Organic Spirulina Tablets are available to buy from our superfood store. You can also buy these and other health food powders from our UK Amazon storefront. Just enter 'TheHealthyTree Company' into the Amazon search bar.