Spirulina- For the whole family, including baby!

My husband and I have both been taking spirulina as part of our supplement regime for as long as I can remember. I took it throughout my pregnancy, continue to take it throughout breastfeeding, and as soon as my baby started solids around one years old, I incorporated spirulina into her routine as well. Did you know just one serving of spirulina is equivalent to eating 3 to 4 pounds of vegetables?! With its unique vitamin, mineral, fatty acid, & phyto-nutrient antioxidants, I knew that this was a quick and easy way to give her the vital nutrients needed. Spirulina is very easy to incorporate into smoothies, baked goods, and even main entrees and it is a great way to sneak in a powerful superfood for picky eaters!

Some quick facts:

Mighty Protein Source: Spirulina packs more digestible protein per ounce than both meat and soy, since it is over 50% protein by weight. This complete protein provides all 9 essential amino acids, aka the building blocks of protein, your body needs on a daily basis.

Easy-to-Digest: Spirulina is 85-95% digestible. Its cell walls contain no cellulose, so spirulina is easier to digest than other common plants. This unique attribute improves the bioavailability of nutrients in spirulina, and in turn, maximizes health benefits.

Antioxidant Treasures: With four times the antioxidant concentration of blueberries, spirulina has a surefire plan of attack against tissue-damaging free radicals associated with health problems. It contains significant levels or lutein and zezanthan and is a natural food source of beta-carotene, which converts to vitamin A in the body. This can help promote healthy skin and eyes.

Essential Fatty Acids: Spirulina provides a wide range of essential omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Most notably, it’s a rare food source of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). This hard-to-find essential fatty acid is recognized for its anti-inflammatory effects and may reduce symptoms associated with arthritis and allergies.

Detoxifying Agent: Cleanse your body with the detox power of spirulina. Toxins accumulate in our bodies from the byproducts of our environment and the foods we eat. Since spirulina contains a rich source of chlorophyll, it can help rid the body of heavy metals and toxins.

Energizing Iron: Fight fatigue with spirulina! A one ounce serving provides over 40 percent of the daily recommended value for iron. This mineral ensures that oxygen-rich red blood cells are transported throughout the body. Iron-filled foods like spirulina help the body maintain healthy red blood cells.

All-Around Nutrition: The healthy goodness doesn’t stop there! Spirulina also boasts vitamins A through E and other minerals like calcium and potassium. It is an abundant source of B-complex vitamins, which support many of the body’s metabolic processes. Spirulina is truly a health seeker’s dream come true. It’s important to know the source of your spirulina and to be sure the company and manufacturer take all of the proper precautions to not degrade the vital nutrients and health promoting vitamins and minerals throughout the production and packaging process. The brand I use and trust is Nutrex. Nutrex is considered to be pioneers in the field of spirulina and have high quality standards with its harvesting and production. They offer spirulina in a tablet or powder form. They are both economically priced and are well worth the cost for the life changing nutrition that they provide.