briar_witch ([info]briar_witch) wrote in [info]naturalliving,
2007-10-13 20:51:00

Spirulina

I checked the memories, and saw one entry on spirulina, but it didn't actually answer my question(s). If I overlooked an entry, please feel free to point me at it. :)

I keep seeing references to spirulina being good for you. I'm trying to eat more healthy, and would like to add some spirulina to my diet. So I'm curious about the best way to take it. I know it's sold as supplement pills, but is it also sold in bulk? If so, which is more effective, the bulk/whole food version, or the pill version?

Finally, what has been your experience with spirulina? Is it really as effective as it's said to be? It sounds like quite the superfood, and like I said, I keep seeing it mentioned, both in books and online. I have googled it, but I'm really curious about what the experience has been of those you who have tried it.

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  • 11 comments

[info]lazywriterbum

October 14 2007, 02:25:59 UTC 4 years ago

here it's available in pills or powder. as much as i want to use the powder, it's incredibly unpleasant. it needs to be mixed with liquid, and to take the full daily dose in one hit it's so brightly green and vile-tasting that it seems to stick to your teeth. the taste induces my gag reflex pretty strongly, unless i mix it so weakly and have five or six glasses... and that's just a LOT OF MIXING. it doesn't play well with other flavours--it always dominates them so you feel like you're eating a mouthful of icky powder.

the pills are very good though. :)

[info]briar_witch

October 14 2007, 02:47:17 UTC 4 years ago

Good to know, thanks!

[info]morgan303

October 14 2007, 10:05:16 UTC 4 years ago

I'll second this. I can't cope with the powder, it's awful - and I actually *like* other green foods like Barleygrass and Wheatgrass, so it's not just that I'm picky. Spirulina really does taste vile.
But the pill version is ace. And a great way for vegos or people who ant t ocut their meat intake, to get protein.

[info]vigilant20

October 14 2007, 11:36:35 UTC 4 years ago

None of the brands I've seen show nutrition information for the pill supplement except a single line saying spirulina. My online research doesn't find anything either, except vague references to protein and trace minerals it supplies, but no specifics or description of WHICH minerals. I'm pretty confused about it. The best I can determine is that there isn't enough to matter:

http://www.answers.com/topic/spirulina?cat=health
Since spirulina is normally taken in small amounts, the quantity of dietary protein supplied for the average reasonably well-nourished person would not be significant.

[info]briar_witch

October 14 2007, 17:22:05 UTC 4 years ago

Interesting. Thank you for the link.

[info]briar_witch

October 14 2007, 17:22:57 UTC 4 years ago

So maybe I'll try the pill version, since general concensus (so far) seems to be that the powder tastes terrible.

[info]littlejam

October 14 2007, 19:33:57 UTC 4 years ago

Apparently spirulina has a high amount of iron in it, and it isn't healthy to have a lot of iron in your system. I bought some spirulina pills but after doing more research, I feel like they are really unnecessary and I don't take them. I would much rather eat some leafy greens or nori wraps or something.

[info]briar_witch

October 14 2007, 20:36:24 UTC 4 years ago

Actually the large amount of iron may be good for someone who is suffering from anemia, and a poor diet. I know my system is still suffering from having had an unhealthy diet for a long time, plus I've been rather fatigued, so the extra iron may be a good thing for me.

Thank you for the heads up though! It's certainly something to keep in mind!

Hmm, leafy greens...yum.

[info]brillianthilite

October 15 2007, 10:13:19 UTC 4 years ago

A friend sent me real raw spirulina ... it tasted good, but I didn't notice any superfood effects.

Nor do I feel any super effects when I eat products that contain spirulna (Odwalla drinks, raw green bars, etc.)

Honestly, the only product I ever noticed a super effect from was raw GT's kombucha drink.

Guess it all depends what your aims/goals are in health ... for me, maybe the spirulina didn't work because I already subscribe to a very healthy lifestyle, so it's like what was it going to do that wasn't being done before ...

[info]amyakieran

October 16 2007, 04:00:57 UTC 4 years ago

best way. EVER to eat spirulina powder: added to yogurt + honey. MMMM!!!

i've found that it does in fact increase my energy. who knows why, though... as i probably have a lot of deficiencies... so most likely it gave me what i needed.

[info]brightrosefox

October 16 2007, 15:41:57 UTC 4 years ago

http://www.iherb.com/productdetails.aspx?c=1&pid=1374&utm_source=gb&utm_medium=pf
These are the tablets I take. I take six at once, in the afternoon (thankfully I found a 500 tablet count bottle because it will last me over two months!). Seems like a lot, but once you get the hang of swallowing two or three tablets at a time, it's great. And it really works -- I have fibromyalgia, and my energy goes through the roof once the tablets are digested.
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