Saucy HEALTHY Review: The Magic of Spirulina

Spirulina. Spi-ru-lin-a. Spy-roo-lean-a. Fun to say, even more fun to look at, and crazy shit right here. Spirulina is pretty amazing. No, really, it is. People absolutely rave, obsess, and absolutely ADORE this superfood. Why? Because it's INSANELY good for you. Apparently, it is THE most nutrient-dense food ever. Ever! So, what exactly is the deal here?

Spirulina is actually a blue-green algae that comes from freshwater ponds and what not. It is, like I said, extremely nutrient dense. It's packed with the omega fatty acids 3,6, & 9. It is really high in chlorophyll, which helps boost the immune system and detoxify the body. It has tons of vitamins and minerals, is really high in protein, iron, etc., etc. So, to me it's, like, magical food, really. I guess the term "superfood" really does fit here.

Here's a nifty little chart that lists the mineral value in spirulina: 

And, here's a little chart that lists the vitamin content. Because I care, people.. 

That's, like, a lot of stuff, right? I'm especially digging the vitamin K and iron, just because those are either kinda difficult for me to get into my diet. Plus, my iron tends to run a tad low, so boom. Done. 

I'm feeling very chart-y tonight, guys. I found this other awesome chart on Funky Fresh Foods. If you didn't think the vitamin and mineral content was enough, getta load of this bad boy: 

Spirulina is pretty much taking the nutrient cake here, with chlorophyll close behind. However, look at the "phytonutrients" section. Looks pretty empty, doesn't Except for the amazing spirulina, which has every singly phytonutrient listed. Hell yeah, spirulina! 

I have to be honest, though. I had heard of spirulina prior to actually ever trying it. I had heard that, though it was healthy, it tasted absolutely fricking terrible. Like, really, really awful. This made me nervous. So, I did some googling. Bad idea. I read articles where people wrote things like "Spirulina's taste is like death warmed over." and this poor girl even reached out for advice because it tasted so damn awful. 

Okay, so I was scared. Really scared. I was absolutely convinced that I was going to have to go through the messy job of packaging up my spirulina powder into tiny capsules and take them as an oral supplement instead. Which is super tedious, btw. 

I hate to say it, but I sort-of dreaded the day that I received my Sari Foods organic spirulina powder, because I knew I needed to actually taste what these people describe as "dirty pond water." 

I was NOT about to even try to mix a spoonful of this stuff with plain water, so I made it as a smoothie. There's this great smoothie recipe webpage that lists a bunch of different smoothie recipes and, lucky for me, they had a number of different spirulina smoothie recipes. 

I decided to make the spirulina banan-er smoothie, mostly because I had all of the ingredients. So, 1 banana, 1 teaspoon of raw honey, cinnamon, almond milk, vanilla kefir, and one heaping teaspoon of spirulina later, I have this crazzzyyyyy deep green smoothie. Like, bright green! I had no idea that little bit of spirulina would create something so... foresty!?!?! Here's a snapshot, I was really proud of my work here: 

Okay, may  have added a photo filter for aesthetic reasons, but with no filter, it seriouslyyyy is the greenest of greens!

 

After making my work of art, it was time for the real test.. after all, I couldn't leave this potentially awful tasting drink for my boyfriend, could I (it was really tempting). 

So I tried it. I tasted it. I loved it! I'm SERIOUS, guys. Apparently, the secret with spirulina is putting it in something like a smoothie, where other flavors will take over the flavor. Honestly, this didn't taste like a dirty pond at all!

I've had the smoothie a few times now and I'm always careful to add enough of the other ingredients so I don't taste the spirulina- like, at all. And I really do feel super healthy afterwards, but it could easily be a psychological thing, since I know I just consumed enough nutrients to blow Popeye to the other side of the room. "Screw you and your canned spinach, Popeye," I scream as I slam my empty, bright green smoothie glass onto the kitchen counter.

You can get your organic, clean pond spirulina (because, apparently, you can buy spirulina that comes from shady brands and, apparently, they really can have metals and toxins from legit dirty pond water in them, how gross is that!?!? STICK TO THE CLEAN STUFF, YOU GUYS).. what was I saying? Oh yeah. You can get your Sari Foods Organic Spirulina powder for $25.95 here, on good ol amazon.