A Healthy Superfood: The Best Spirulina Powders

Spirulina Powder Buyer's Guide

While we think our list of the very best spirulina powders on the market is comprehensive, you may still want to know more about this glorious (yet foul-tasting) powder. This is the best way to decide for yourself which product is right for you.

We have taken the time to run through the main benefits of introducing spirulina powder into your diet, as well as some things you may want to consider before making a purchase.

What are the benefits of spirulina powder?

There are many benefits that come with using spirulina in your everyday meal plan. We have included some of these below.

It’s a great source of protein

Most of the consumers who use spirulina powder on a regular basis do so because it is a complete source of vegan protein. In fact, this algae can contain up to 70% protein, which is much more than other protein-rich sources like cooked meats. When you consider that beef only contains 40.6%, you’ll wonder why you hadn’t heard about spirulina sooner.

It’s great at protecting you from cancer

A good rule of thumb: if a whole food is very vibrant in color, it usually does a good job at preventing cancer.

Spirulina is a very powerful natural tool for fighting against “the Big C”. This food contains Phycocyanin (the protein which gives spirulina its distinct blue hue) which is known to prevent the formation of cancer colonies. If cancer runs in your family, you may want to consider spirulina powder as a natural preventative measure.

It is a perfect way to reduce cholesterol

If you didn’t already know, spirulina has many properties which help lower your cholesterol and reduce blood pressure in a natural, healthy way. A lot of prescription medication for these ailments comes with some nasty side effects.

Why waste your time with tablets when 1g of spirulina a day reduces cholesterol by over 10%?

It gives you a lot of energy

Spirulina is full of iron and antioxidants, both of which provide a great boost in energy. If you want to get the most benefit, take your spirulina in the morning or early afternoon, and the boost in energy levels will carry you through the day.

Things to consider before buying spirulina powder

As aforementioned, it is a good idea to keep a few things in mind when deciding which spirulina powder you are going to buy.

Is spirulina powder organic?

If you follow a vegan diet, you probably already look out for whether a product is organic. By only purchasing organic spirulina powder, you are making sure you only consume the best nutrients for your body. Organic spirulina will be free from pesticides and other nasty chemicals.

Spirulina grows in the water, so you’ll want to ensure its original habitat was not polluted by toxins and heavy metals as they will have seeped into the supplement itself.

Where does the spirulina powder come from?

Before making your decision, it is a good idea to check where the spirulina powder is sourced. For example, you should avoid buying spirulina powders that come from China and Japan. This is due to the fact Chinese supplements are not subject to Western regulation processes. As such, many Chinese supplements contain dangerously high levels of arsenic and mercury.

If you still want to go for a spirulina powder from China, try and find out it has been tested for heavy metals. If not, it may be worth seeking an alternative or paying extra for an organic brand.

It is better to be safe than sorry in this case.

Japanese spirulina is in danger of being contaminated by the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Any spirulina grown in the area should be tested for high levels of radiation. If your spirulina powder is from Japan, check to see if these tests have been performed and passed.

Despite what comic books would have you believe, consuming radiation will not turn you into a superhero!

Spirulina powder price range

The price of spirulina powder only varies slightly from product to product. Typically, most popular brands will cost somewhere between $15-$30. This will get you a substantial quantity which should last at least a month, depending on how strict you are with your portion sizes.

How we choose our spirulina powder

Before any spirulina powder makes it onto our recommendations list, it has to meet certain criteria. We take into consideration things like whether it is organic, the country in which it was produced, the overall taste, value for money, and plenty of other factors. We would never recommend a spirulina powder we do not use ourselves.

We also consult numerous customer reviews to ensure we have picked the most popular products at the time of writing.

Spirulina Powder FAQ

Q: What does spirulina powder taste like?

A: It is difficult to describe the taste of spirulina. Some say it tastes like the sea. It definitely doesn’t taste particularly pleasant, but you’re not consuming spirulina for flavor.

Spirulina goes well with fruit and vegetable smoothies - the strong flavors of those other ingredients will help disguise the spirulina to some degree.

Q: How do I take spirulina powder?

A: There are numerous ways to get spirulina into your diet. The most popular way is by mixing it in with smoothies. Another way is to seek out spirulina pills, although they don’t give you quite as many nutrients as the raw form.

If you’re feeling brave you can mix powdered spirulina with water and knock it back like a shot of tequila. Just remember to have something better-tasting to follow!