Spirulina Smoothie Recipes for Better Health

Ready to learn about why you should be adding spirulina to your smoothies ?

In this guide, I cover everything you need to know about the benefits of spirulina, what to look for when choosing a good spirulina powder, and how to use it in smoothies.

At the end, I give 4 delicious smoothie recipes to get you started !

Health Benefits of Spirulina

When people talk about spirulina, they often refer to it as superfood. What is so great about it and how can it improve your health ?

Spirulina’s origins can be traced back to the Aztecs and Mesoamericans who used it as a food source until the 16th century. Today, it is grown all over the world, from Mexico to Africa and Hawaii.

It is actually a type of biomass of cyanobacteria that is consumed by both animals and humans. The two main species are Arthrospira platensis and Arthrospira maxima which are used as a dietary supplement and even whole food.

It Reduces Inflammation and Serves as a Powerful Antioxidant

Diseases such as cancer are connected to oxidative damages in our bodies. In order to reduce the risk of getting them, our bodies need a significant number of antioxidants. This is where spirulina comes to play.

Its main component is phycocyanin which has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of phycocyanin were first reported in the late 1990’s [80, 81] and later confirmed by multiple studies thereafter [20, 82–92].

The University of Maryland Medical Center published a study which showed that spirulina increased the body’s production of antibodies and infection-fighting proteins. This is in addition to cells that strengthen the immune system, and therefore help to prevent infections and chronic diseases.

Lowers Cholesterol and Triglyceride Levels

Unfortunately, we are witnessing the increase in number of people who suffer from heart disease. High cholesterol levels is one major precondition to developing heart problems.

The good news is that spirulina can help with that as well. It can lower total cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides while raising the level of good cholesterol (HDL).

Not only this, but spirulina actually reduces LDL from becoming oxidized. As we could see in the previous part, oxidative damage can lead to multiple serious conditions, which is why spirulina is even more beneficial.

Improves Symptoms of Allergic Rhinitis

If you are suffering from different allergies, you know how difficult it can be to go outside during the spring or summer. Your sinuses hurt, you can’t stop sneezing, your eyes are watery; it can be quite frustrating.

Once more, spirulina has shown very good results in medical research. A statistically significant percentage of patients who were treated with it demonstrated reduced itching, nasal discharge as well as overall nasal inflammation.

How to Use Spirulina in Smoothies

Spirulina is available in the form of pills, flakes or powder. The powder is the easiest to use since you can mix it with different ingredients to create a healthy smoothie.

Since spirulina is algae, it is hard to mix with dairy-based smoothies. On the other hand, it will go perfectly with fruit-based and juice-based smoothies.

Each ¼ cup serving has 81 calories. Around 80 percent of these calories actually come from 16 grams of protein, which are essential for disease prevention.

Additionally, you will increase your carbohydrate intake by 7 grams. When it comes to fats, you shouldn’t be too concerned since each serving of spirulina contains approximately 2.2 grams of it.

What to Look for When You Buy Spirulina

Here are a few tips or factors you should consider when buying spirulina powder.

• Tested for Purity: Make sure that the product you are buying is tested for purity, preferably by an independent third party.
• Trustworthy brand: There are multiple brands of spirulina products. Take a look at the reviews to be sure that the brand you have in mind is safe and reliable.
• No filler: If you want to mix spirulina powder with other ingredients, you want it to be free of any unnecessary additives.

Spirulina is rather safe to use, so even if you take higher amounts of it, there shouldn’t be any big side effects.

However, the recommended dosage is 2000-3000mg per day. This can be divided into multiple portions of throughout the day.

Spirulina Smoothie Recipes

Spirulina has a very strong taste. The best solution is to mix it with other ingredients and create a smoothie. Here are a few ideas for them.

Happiness Boost Smoothie

Yes, this is exactly what it says. The addition of chocolate and sweet berries will make you happy and excited. This can be very beneficial for those who need a boost during the day.

• 1 cup mixed leafy greens
• ¼ avocado
• 1 banana
• ½ cup raspberries
• 1 tablespoon cacao
• 1 teaspoon spirulina
• 1½ cups coconut water

Morning Star Spirulina Smoothie

This smoothie is very rich in magnesium that improves the body’s response to stress. Also, if you have issues with sleep, this smoothie can bring relief.

• 2 cups spinach
• 1 carrot
• 1 orange
• 1 banana
• 1 tablespoon pumpkin seeds
• 1 tablespoon spirulina
• 1½ cups water

Stress Buster Smoothie

If you are stressed all the time, this smoothie will help you relax and be more productive. It is rich in magnesium that reduces stress and anxiety.

• 1 cup swiss chard
• 1 kiwi, peeled
• ½ apple, cored
• ½ lemon
• 10 almonds
• 1 tablespoon hemp seeds
• 1 teaspoon spirulina
• 1½ cups water

Fatigue Fighting Spirulina

For those who are struggling with fatigue, this will be a big help. Additionally, ingredients in this smoothie help support sleep quality.

• 2 cups Swiss chard
• 1 banana
• ¼ cup almonds
• 1 tablespoon spirulina
• 1 teaspoon maca
• 1½ cups water

Conclusion

Spirulina is a very powerful source of minerals and vitamins that can help reduce a number of health conditions. It is well worth trying, especially if you have weak immune system, and is one of our favorite superfoods to use in smoothies.

Happy blending !