The newest superhero in town….. Spirulina
A Glorious green or just green gunk?
It’s hard enough keeping your diet in tip top condition on a day to day basis and with statements about what’s healthy and what’s not reaching you from every angle, knowing the difference between all these new strange green foods can be a challenge (wheatgrass, chlorophyll, spirulina, seaweed… you get the point).
Food fads definitely come and go, but this one particular super food has stood the test of time and is popping up pretty much everywhere and perhaps your friends have been gossiping about it on a Friday night whilst topping up your glass of …. water …. obviously!
Enter spirulina into any search engine and you will be sure to be occupied for a good day or so, reading page upon page of data, and exploring store upon store selling the best your money can buy, that is going to make you look just like Kim Kardashian or I don’t know take your pick…. Ryan Gosling?
If you’re completely baffled by the superfood market then you’ve come to the right article at the right time.
Spirulina
Although the name might sound like a magical potion straight out of the world Harry Potter, it is in fact a microalgae, found to grow in streams or freshwater systems. It is sold in green powder form or as a tablet and can be brought on a variety of websites, or in most health food shops.
Its traditional name is Arterospira, and has an enormous amount of natural nutrients that form powerhouse chemicals in our bodies, causing great health effects.
Now let’s get on to the good stuff, what can spirulina really do for us in terms of our overall health? Well firstly it is a great boost for the immune system, which protects us from getting all those horrible colds and cough as well as the deadly “man flu”. In the immune system there are many cells that work on destroying all the bad stuff that comes into our body (called natural killer cells), spirulina increases the activity of these cells meaning they can destroy all of the illness-causing bad stuff more efficiently. Spirulina also increases other cells (B and T cells) mobility so they can reach all potential sites in the body the bad stuff wishes to invade.
With the concerns about the ever rising level of obesity in the UK, wouldn’t it be nice to put something into your body that slowly digests and looks carefully after all that pizza and dough balls you’ve been eating at Pizza Express? Well this green goddess does just that, it has a regulatory role with them well known carbohydrates (bread, pasta, fruits) and with fats, something scientists call “regulating the role of metabolism”.
I’m sure we are all ultra-marathon runners and yoga fanatics who love to sweat everyday…. Did I hear a hell yeah? Even if we aren’t and just participate in a small yet beneficial amount of exercise every day that’s what matters and spirulina can still positively affect you in the same way that it will to Usain Bolt. Studies have highlighted that when given to runners over a four week trial their exercise performance increased, as well as their ability to use fat for fuel when running (fat oxidation) which can be extremely useful when all carbohydrates have run out and can attribute to a lean body mass.
In the body we also have this great little thing called GSH, made up of three building blocks called amino acids, this is basically the mother of all antioxidants and luckily enough we produce it in our very own bodies, gosh we’re clever. When we do any form of exercise this increases naturally and can reduce toxins, fight any free- radicals (cancer linked molecules), I could literally write a biography on this mother. Yet when runners where supplemented with spirulina, their GSH levels where considerably higher than those who didn’t receive any spirulina. So not only does spirulina have its own power but it also gives other chemicals in our body even more power to carry out their tasks day to day.
Like all things, spirulina may sound too good to be true but there is one negative to this green little monster, its taste. Usually it is brought in a powder form that you can mix with water, this is hardcore though. I would recommend gradually weaning yourself onto it, as the first taste may be slightly overwhelming. Try mixing it into smoothies, or mixing with a natural juice, or if your king of the jaegerbombs/pints/Sambuca, whatever your choice of sin, then simple add with water and just pretend it’s a shot, simple.
Of all the products currently being purported as a “superfood” this is one that has been scientifically researched. It’s important to always take caution when buying a new miracle agent as there are many false claims with usually little true scientific evidence.
Although it packs a mighty punch, give it a shot and see if you feel notice the overwhelming benefits of this glorious superhero that is spirulina.
Here’s a favourite recipe of mine (credits to my personal chef, Mum Mills) for you newbie spirulina lovers to try out before you go heaping teaspoons into water and glugging down like there’s no tomorrow. Remember slow and steady always wins the race!
Spirulina Energy Balls
200g medjool dates, 175g cashew nuts, 4 tablespoons raw cacao, 1 tablespoon maca powder, 1 tablespoon chia seeds, 1 teaspoon of spirulina powder, 1 tsp wheatgrass powder, 2 tablespoons coconut oil (melted to a liquid, but do not heat - microwave is the easiest way, watching and stopping and stirring every few seconds), ¼ teaspoon of stevia powder, 1 teaspoon of cacoa nibs, 1 tablespoon of milled flaxseed. ( 1 tablespoon of desiccated coconut – optional)
In a grinder or food processor, finely process or grind the cashew nuts. Remove these from food processor and set to one side.
Remove the center stone in the dates and then add these to the processor and, again, process.
When these are processed, add the remaining ingredients into the food processor, including the processed cashew nuts, and process to combine all ingredients.
Using your hands take a portion of the mixture and roll into walnut sized balls, placing each ball on a baking tray or sheet. When you have used all the mixture and the balls are complete you can roll each ball into a little desiccated coconut to lightly coat and replace on the baking tray or sheet. The tray or trays then need to go into the freezer for approximately 10-15 minutes to firm up.
Remove balls from freezer and store in an air-tight container in the fridge. The balls will last for up to three weeks (if you can resist them that long) and you can also double the recipe. Enjoy!
