It is regarded as one of the most nutrient-rich foods available to us and has been consumed for centuries by cultures around the world because of its incredible health properties. Oprah Winfrey, Kate Middleton and Gwyneth Paltrow are all regular consumers and advocates of this green booster. Its nutritional breakdown has given the ‘Superfood' a lot of press recently, so what's all the hype about?
Aaaaannd, why did we put this weird blue-green algae into Bondi Coffee?
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Firstly, we usually consume spirulina in either powder form or in a supplement such as a tablet or capsule. It's full of vitamin A, B, C and E and is rich in the minerals zinc, selenium, magnesium and calcium.
In fact, it's a better source of protein than most vegetables. It's made up of 60% protein and contains essential fatty acid, Gamma Linolenic acid.
Did we also mention it can reduce muscle damage during strength training? Not bad for a little green powder, hey?
So, what does the research say?
An interesting study in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise (2010), investigates the benefits Spirulina has on training. The study looks at nine men who engaged in running over the course of a month. The runners who took spirulina before their run found their performance improved compared to those who took a placebo or no supplement at all.
The study's researchers say the trial is too small to draw comprehensive conclusions about spirulina's affect on fatigue in exercise, however this research is still extremely promising in its findings.
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The National Institute of Health claim there isn't sufficient scientific evidence to show that spirulina is an effective treatment for health conditions. But it is extremely rich in nutrients, proteins and essential fatty acids which many of us don't get enough of in our diets anyway.
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And a 2008 study in Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism set out to prove its effect at lowering lipids in the body.
It references 78 people aged between 60-87. Participants either consumed eight grams of spirulina a day or were given a placebo each day for four months. Findings showed that cholesterol was significantly reduced in those who took the spirulina supplement.
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THE BONDI COFFEE
BREAKDOWN
After months of trial and testing our blend, we found spirulina to be a substance that blends well, can help lower cholesterol levels, and is linked to boosting immunity.
Whilst this supplement may not be able to cure anything, it's nutritional breakdown (which is high in vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids) is ideal for those looking to gain an extra edge in improving their overall health.
