What is Spirulina Algae?

Spirulina is a blue-green algae which is microscopic in size and being a single cell organism it turns sunlight into life giving energy.

It is thought to have been on this planet for over 3.6 billion years so therefore Spirulina contains billions of years of evolutionary wisdom in its DNA and is a direct result of earth’s first photosynthetic life forms.

Spirulina is a blue-green color when examined under a microscope and has a spiral shaped appearance of long thin threads.

Algae Spirulina Microscopic

Spirulina is a very adaptable plant that can grow in a wide variety of environments like fresh water, tropical springs, saltwater and saltpans.

It is full of nutrients and very easily digested in the stomach and intestines making it a great food choice.

Commercially, Spirulina is normally sourced as a powder, tablets or capsulated inside capsules. It is also added to foods and health tonics and drinks and even beauty products.

There are many forms of nutritionally valuable algae but in the last 50 years Spirulina has been singled out for its nutritional properties and is at the top of the list.

Long before it became a favourite of the Western world and health stores, Spirulina was consumed regularly by North Africans and Mexicans many centuries ago. Now people from around the globe consider Spirulina to be a powerful food with outstanding potential as a whole food source, medicine or even a biochemical resource.

A huge amount of research and resources have been concentrated on the cultivation and harvesting of this superfood which is affectionately referred to as ‘the green’. This increased focus especially in the Organic field has led to some excellent results in producing Spirulina of the highest quality in not only nutritional value but in its clean pure green appearance.

The cultivation of Spirulina has also brought grown interest in aquatic farms because Spirulina is extremely adaptable to many wether conditions, often thriving in extreme conditions where most plants could not. With its rich nutritional value and ability to grow in adverse environments, Spirulina has a huge potential to be a food source that could help feed and nourish the worlds population given half a chance.

As a plant, Spirulina is incredibly rich containing a wonderful balance of nutrients that make it virtually a ‘whole food’ capable of sustaining life without the need for other foods if need be.

Spirulina contains vitamins, many minerals, essential amino acids, proteins, carbohydrates and enzymes.

Spirulina contains at least 60% vegetable protein, which is pre-digested by the algae, making it a highly digestible source of protein which is very balanced across the amino chart unlike a lot of other vegetable proteins available. It is higher in protein than any other natural occurring food.

Its outstanding nutritional profile also contains the essential fatty acids, GLA fatty acid, lipids, the nucleic acids (RNA and DNA), vitamin C, vitamin E, B complex vitamins and phytochemicals such as chlorophyll (blood purifier), carotenoids and phycocyanin (a blue pigment) which is a protein that has been known to inhibit cancer.

How is it grown?

Spirulina thrives in natural alkaline lakes. Spirulina farming is part of the new era of ecological agriculture. The key component in the production of Spirulina is sunlight and attention is given to measurement of temperature and oxygen levels.

Because pesticides and herbicides would kill many microscopic life forms in a pond, algae scientists have learned how to balance pond ecology without the use of these harmful substances.

This form of aquaculture represents one of the solutions needed to produce food while restoring