What Is Spirulina? What Are The Benefits And How Can You Use It As A Family?

Spirulina is a food that not many people are familiar with; it's known to be a super-food ingredient, the most nutrient-dense food on earth for adults and children! 😱

So, it's definitely worth knowing about if you want to start implementing some healthiness into your everyday. Today's blog is exactly that, your basic guide into what spirulina is, how it can benefit you and your little one, along with how you use it.

Where does spirulina come from?

First and foremost, let's find out the origin of this blueish-green looking super-food! Spirulina comes from a water-based environment such as lakes, oceans, ponds and pretty much anything that is fresh and saltwater based but mostly from warm alkaline environments of subtropical climates. In short, it's a type of algae that is loaded with proteins! It might sound a bit 🤭 but think of it like seaweed, spirulina is entirely safe and has its own rules and regulations to follow. This savoury sulphur tasting ingredient is farmed by manufacturers in cultivated contained pools so that it's safe, hygienic and grown at a high standard.

Why is it good for us?

Spirulina is jam-packed with vitamins including A, C, E and B, which also stands for copper, iron, magnesium, potassium, amino acids, and antioxidants like beta-carotene. It's an ideal rich source of plant-based protein, which helps prevent inflammation increase the body's natural production of melatonin, an important hormone that helps you sleep. Studies also suggest that spirulina can lower 'bad' cholesterol while increasing traces of 'good' cholesterol amongst many other benefits of spirulina.

How do we eat it?

The list is endless; there are so many ways to consume spirulina, whether you want it in the morning, afternoon or nighttime. There's always a way to incorporate it into your daily routine. You can find spirulina in the form of tablets, capsules and powders from most health food stores across the U.K., including some local high street brands. It's become an increasingly popular ingredient in healthy snacks. So much so that we at Mamamade have added it to our Raspberry & Coconut Porridge for babies and toddlers!

Ways to add spirulina into your family's diet:

• You can stir a small spoonful of spirulina powder into your daily juice, a glass of water, a protein shake and even a spirulina smoothie.

P.S. Spirulina is pigmented and most likely will turn your drink into a bluish-green colour. You might want to keep a glass of plain water to hand to swirl away pigment from the corners of your teeth.

• Add it to your choice of foods, including cereals, porridge, yoghurts.

• You could even add a small amount of spirulina to your dinner whilst it's at the cooking stage.

If you don't want to add spirulina to any of your meals yourself, you can easily find some healthy foods that come with added spirulina - breakfast bars, drinks, meals, snacks and some dessert options too.

Is spirulina safe for babies? This is a valid question, especially when you consider giving your baby a type of supplement. Our Raspberry & Coconut Porridge was created with the help and guidance of a nutritionist so that we could confidently provide your baby with the best! However, if you're looking to give your baby an additional method of spirulina, we would suggest that you consult a health care professional to establish a good intake routine that is best suited for your child's age, weight and high.

I hope this blog has been helpful, I surely know a little more about spirulina now! If you’ve got any spirulina-related questions, recommendations or general info be sure to comment them down below. and if you want to continue reading more, you may also like some of our other blogs “What Is Kohlrabi?, “How To Introduce New Foods To Your Baby” and “How To Look After Your Baby’s Immune Function”.