Spirulina is a superfood with numerous health benefits. This vibrant green powder packs a ton of vitamins and nutrients. As a result, it can help with inflammation and even give you energy. But when you first see it, it can be a little off-putting. However, when properly prepared, spirulina can be a healthy additive to many foods. Using this superfood in a spirulina smoothie is a great way to introduce it to your diet. Surprisingly, the taste can even help balance the flavor of other ingredients.
What Are the Top Spirulina Powder Benefits You Should Know?
So, what is spirulina good for? Overall, spirulina smoothies that use organic spirulina powder have been hailed as being beneficial to health. This fact has become more well-known over the past few years but, in reality, it is not something new. In fact, spirulina has been used as a health supplement as far back as the ancient Aztec Empire.
Today, more and more research has shown a number of spirulina powder benefits. Spirulina smoothies, in particular, are an excellent source of many essential nutrients. With this in mind, one of the most common spirulina powder benefits is increased energy. Spirulina promotes healthy gut cultures, which leads to a more efficient production of vitamin B6, a vital vitamin that gives us energy boosts.[1]
Another key benefit of spirulina is for the treatment of allergies. The mighty organic spirulina powder has been shown to increase antihistamine production. As a result, it helps alleviate allergy symptoms such as runny nose, itchy eyes, and sore throat.[2]
Possibly the most profound benefit of spirulina powder is that of cancer prevention. Spirulina has been shown to have a mechanism that has potential tumor destruction properties.[3] However, this is difficult to pinpoint through traditional studies. Therefore, further studies are ongoing to work out the functionality of this mechanism.[4]
This is only a short list of some of the common benefits of spirulina. More benefits have been proven, and more will certainly be discovered as time goes on.
Tips for Making Spirulina Smoothie Recipes
Now that you know about spirulina powder benefits, you’re ready to get started with a wonderful recipe. The trouble is, there are hundreds of online recipes to choose from and plenty of complex recipes that take time. Honestly, some of them are even a little hard to take down the hatch.
It is important to note that spirulina smoothies have a pretty simple makeup. Because of that, there are a few things to keep in mind. First of all, spirulina is a very concentrated powder. As a result, it only takes a little bit to get the full effects. Also, it is important to make sure that you get high-quality organic spirulina powder to get the full benefits. Here are some tips to get you started on making spirulina recipes:
- Mix it. On its own, the taste is unpleasant to some people (it tastes like seaweed/algae). To remedy this, spirulina can be added to smoothies or desserts for a more palatable taste.
- Use only high-quality spirulina. Buying organic spirulina powder ensures that you won’t be introducing unwanted chemicals into your body. As spirulina is known to absorb toxins from its environment, you have to ensure you get yours from a clean and certified source. Be cautious of spirulina grown in natural lakes, or in China or Japan.
- Use the powder in moderation. Spirulina is a strong, concentrated powder. Depending on the ailment you are using the powder for, you should stay between 1-10 grams daily. If you weigh more than 200 pounds, you can take up to 10 grams daily.
- Avoid cooking with spirulina. Do not heat spirulina. This will help to protect any heat-sensitive nutrients. Instead, add the powder to soups and sauces at the end of cooking.
Below are four of our favorite spirulina recipes that will make it easy to get this superfood into your regular diet.
Two-Step Spirulina Smoothie Bowl
Prep Time: 5 minutes | Cook Time: 5 minutes | Serves: 1
Equipment: Blender | Calories per serving: 476
Ingredients
- 1 large banana
- 1 cup almond milk
- 2 Tbsp almond butter
- 2 tsp spirulina powder
- 1 tsp agave syrup
Directions
- Blend all the ingredients except the spirulina in a blender.
- Once the smoothie is at your preferred thickness, add the spirulina and mix with a spoon.
- Pour into a bowl and enjoy your spirulina smoothie bowl!
It’s that simple! You can adjust the recipe by substituting another type of non-dairy milk, a different nut butter, or a different sweetener. Another great variation is including chia seeds for an added crunch.
3 Other Spirulina Recipes You Need to Try
Spirulina smoothies are just one easy and delicious way to take in this superfood. Here are 3 more ideas to get this superfood into your diet.
Spirulina Lemonade
Lemonade is good any time of the year, so don’t save this spirulina recipe for a hot day. It’s also super low in calories, so go ahead and make it a double!
Prep Time: 5 minutes | Cook Time: 5 minutes | Serves: 1
Equipment: Blender (optional) | Calories per serving: 45
Ingredients
- 500 ml sparkling water
- 1 fresh lemon
- 1 tsp agave syrup
- 2 tsp spirulina
Directions
- Simply mix all the above ingredients to make a refreshing and healthy drink.
Spirulina Popsicles
Maybe you aren’t into sweet drinks, but what about an icy dessert? If a spirulina smoothie isn’t your thing, try this cold treat.
Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 12 hours (overnight) | Serves: 6
Equipment: Blender/food processor, ice molds | Calories per serving: 54
Ingredients
- 1 can coconut milk
- 1/4 cup agave syrup
- 2 vanilla beans, scraped
- 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp spirulina
Directions
- First, blend the coconut milk, agave syrup, vanilla beans, vanilla extract, and spirulina on high until creamy.
- Next, pour the mixture into popsicle molds and allow to freeze overnight, or until solid.
- Remove and serve! For an additional treat, melt 2 dark chocolate bars and drizzle over frozen popsicles. Allow to harden before serving.
Spirulina Cheesecake
If you aren’t a fan of the other spirulina recipes, how about a delectable spirulina cheesecake?
Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 1-2 hours (inactive) | Serves: 8
Equipment: Food processor | Calories per serving: 136
For the crust:
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw walnuts
- 6 organic pitted Medjool dates
- 2 Tbsp coconut flakes
- 1 Tbsp coconut oil
- 1/8 tsp Himalayan pink salt
Directions
- First, add all the elements for the crust to a food processor and process until it becomes a tacky, crumbly texture.
- Then, move the mixture to a 6-inch cheesecake pan and press firmly in the bottom of the pan. Set aside.
For the filling:
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw cashews
- 1/4 cup agave syrup
- 6 Tbsp coconut oil
- 1 tsp spirulina
- 1 pinch Himalayan pink salt
Directions
- First, add all the ingredients for the filling and blend on high speed until it is creamy and smooth.
- Pour the filling into the cheesecake pan on top of the crust and gently tap it on the counter so it settles evenly, removing any bubbles.
- Put the cheesecake in the freezer for 1-2 hours, or until it firms up.
- Then, remove it from the freezer and let it sit on the counter for about 5-10 minutes to soften slightly.
- Finally, cut and serve, or store it in the refrigerator or freezer until ready to serve. It will become soft and lose its shape if left out at room temperature.[5]
Conclusion
These spirulina recipes should give you the perfect reason to try out this healthy powder. Follow the directions or get creative and make up your own recipe. Either way, you’ll be happy you’ve added this healthy green superfood.
References
- [1] https://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/foods/show?n1=%7BQv%3D1%7D&fg=&fgcd=&man=&lfacet=&count=&max=25&sort=c&qlookup=&offset=0&format=Full&new=&rptfrm=nl&ndbno=11667&nutrient1=510&nutrient2=&nutrient3=&subset=0&totCount=4975&measureby=g
- [2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3136577/
- [3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5355664/
- [4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3136577/
- [5] https://thehealthyfamilyandhome.com/raw-vegan-no-bake-spirulina-cheesecake-with-spiral-spring-spirulina-maxima
