good morning, friends!
i’m taking this monday by storm – it’s only 8:15 and i’ve already checked several things off of my to-do list for the day!
today i wanted to talk about one of my newest co-op finds that i’ve really been loving…spirulina!
spirulina is a form of algae that is available as a supplement. you can get it in powder form or in a tablet pill. i found a container of powder spirulina in the bulk section of the co-op the last time i was there, so i filled up a little bag of it and have been adding it to my green smoothies for the past week!
spirulina is a complete protein because it contains all essential amino acids. it is also a source of zinc, copper, iron, selenium, beta-carotene, vitamin e, and some b vitamins. it is believed that spirulina can boost immune function, protect against allergic reactions, and have antiviral properties, although these claims haven’t been verified by research.
although it hasn’t been shown to be unsafe, because there hasn’t been much peer-reviewed research on spirulina, it’s not recommended for consumption by children. also, remember that it is important to talk to a doctor or nutritionist before beginning any supplementation.
i use spirulina because i appreciate the extra boost of nutrients it adds to my smoothies.
plus, it makes them so green!
this smoothie included:
- a banana (frozen ahead of time into chunks)
- a big handful of spinach (~1.5 cups)
- 1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
- ~1 tbsp spirulina
- ~1 tbsp chia seeds
i’ve been drinking these for breakfast every couple days & am loving the variety they add to my breakfasts.
*i found most of my information on spirulina here.
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i’m working from home today so i’m excited to get a ton accomplished! i’ve got a mile-long list to tackle, but i’m feeling momentum from starting my day off on such a productive note, so i’m going to keep riding that feeling.
have a great monday!
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have you tried spirulina before?
what is your favorite thing to add to smoothies?
i don’t like adding ice to my smoothies (i think it’s because my magic bullet isn’t very good at pulverizing it, so i get ice chunks whenever i use it), so i always add some kind of frozen fruit. i like freezing bananas anytime i have some left from the previous week on grocery shopping day. that way i just grab a couple pieces from the freezer and there is no need for ice!
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{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
Have you noticed and difference in the way you feel since you’ve been using spirulina? I’m curious about it, but haven’t tried it yet.
Must-haves in my smoothies are ice and spinach… beyond that, they sky is the limit. i typically try to have something creamy in it (like banana, avocado, or sweet potato), but adding guar gum helps make it more shake-like too.
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table recently posted…Sprouting Chickpeas + High on Raw
honestly, i’ve been making several changes to my diet lately AND started consistently training for a race (so actually being consistent in my workouts). i’ve felt amazing recently though – i think all of these things are contributing to that!
did you use ice in your smoothies before you got your vita-mix? what blender did you have that blended the ice well?
I did – I had a Magic bullet too. It would blend ice decently, but there were always 1-2 chunks I had to pick out.
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table recently posted…Sprouting Chickpeas + High on Raw
gotcha. i guess i’m just too lazy to pick out the ice pieces. plus i drink my smoothies with a straw and i HATE when a large chunk clogs it.
I’ve never tried spirulina before but it sounds very interseting. I love how vibrant green that smoothie is! I like adding just about any fruit to smoothies, but I also like having veggies sneak in there for added nutrients. I had a smoothie last week at a vegetarian restaurant in town (will be featured in my weekly WIAW post!) and it had all kinds of veggies in it, but all I could taste was apple!
Aparna B. @ Not A Leaf recently posted…Healthy Italian
i ALWAYS have a banana in my smoothies, and i like throwing spinach in there too! it’s nice to get a good serving of fruits & veggies in each smoothie.
Can you taste the spiraling in there at all?
Katie @ Katie Without Restrictions recently posted…Come To The Well
Whoops, I guess my computer autocorrected
Katie @ Katie Without Restrictions recently posted…Come To The Well
haha, darn autocorrect!
nope, i can’t taste the spirulina in the smoothie at all! the other flavors definitely hide it.
Thanks for posting this sweetpea! I have been so interested in spirulina, but have never tried it!
I posted about a green smoothie today too
HEHE! How cool is that
too funny that we both posted our green smoothies on the same day! i really like spirulina. i think i’m going to get more and add it to my smoothies more regularly!
Hope you had a good 1st. day at Boot Camp, I sure did, love your blog!
Dena @ 40 Fit in the Mitt recently posted…Boot Camp Recovery Smoothie
thanks, dena! i did have a great first day & first week! so excited for week 2!