Spirulina 101

Are you wondering how all your favorite wellness bloggers make their chia puddings, smoothie bowls, and lattes that beautiful blue color?

It’s spirulina!

This popular blue-green superfood has been dubbed one of the most nutrient-dense supplements on the market due to its health benefits. More recently, it’s taken the wellness world by storm – and for good reason!

Spirulina is a highly nutritious microalgae that contains plant-based protein, beta-carotene, iron, and many other essential vitamins and nutrients.

It has been shown to help a variety of health issues, such as high cholesterol, allergies, and diabetes. This superfood has been around for centuries, even as far back as the Aztecs, but spirulina became a hot topic more recently and now can be found in just about every juice and smoothie shop out there.

This powerhouse supplement is typically sold as a pill or powder and can be added to almost anything – in small doses, that is. The taste can be overpowering if you’re new to spirulina, so it’s best to try it in small amounts. Then you can gradually incorporate more into your diet as you get used to the taste. Many people choose to add spirulina to their smoothies and healthy homemade desserts and snacks for an extra boost of nutrition. Check out the recipe for Waffle Ice-Cream Sandwiches on our IIN Recipe Blog that adds spirulina to ice cream to give it a beautiful blue color!

And here’s a great smoothie recipe from Integrative Nutrition Health Coach Laurie Lloyd to get started on including spirulina regularly!

INGREDIENTS

• 1.5 cups liquid, divided (your choice of filtered water, coconut water, or unsweetened almond milk)
• 1 frozen banana
• 1 cup frozen berries
• 1/2 cucumber, peeled
• 1 cup frozen riced cauliflower
• 2 large handfuls baby spinach
• 2 tsp spirulina powder
• 1/2 pitted date
• 2 scoops collagen powder

 INSTRUCTIONS

1. Add one cup of liquid to a blender with all other ingredients.
2. Blend on high until smooth, adding additional liquid as needed.

 Have you tried spirulina before? If so, share your favorite way to use it!

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