Spirulina Smoothie: A healthy superfood recipe
Rumor is that the obsession with the acai berry is fading out and the new superfood spirulina is taking over. Is the world finally catching on?
I love acai berries in smoothies and bowls, but spirulina was something I kept hearing about in my late teenage years. My mom and her friends used to take one spirulina tablet a day. It was a secret health and beauty ingredient that they swear by till this day.
But how to use spirulina and why is it defined as a superfood?
Spirulina is a type of blue-green algae or single cell organism that has been used as a dietary supplement for years in Africa, Mexico, and some Asian regions.
It grows in salt and freshwater lakes and is rich in protein, vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants. Studies suggest that it can increase the number of antibodies, boost the immune system, and may even have some anti-cancer properties.
It’s a great dietary supplement and a delicious ingredient to add to almost any drink.
How to drink Spirulina Powder?
You can mix spirulina with water and drink it first thing in the morning. However, this is not the tastiest of options. I prefer mixing the spirulina powder into a pot of hot water with one slice of lemon and honey to taste, creating a great matcha style morning tea.
There are many other ways to incorporate spirulina into your morning routine and many good spirulina drink recipes. You can add spirulina in your favorite green juice, or try this somoothie, which is our go-to spirulina morning drink during the summer.
Spirulina Smoothie Recipe
There are several ingredients that you can use when preparing a smoothie with spirulina. Some spirulina shake recipes use greener ingredients like kale and cucumber while others prefer to focus on a fruitier taste using pineapples and oranges. We like to use a mix of both!
Our trick is to make it not too fruity or too green. This recipe is packed with antioxidants and superfoods! We prepare it with whole organic fruits and vegetables but as always you can add or switch ingredients and make it your own!
In just a few steps and with simple ingredients, we can easily prepare a delicious and super healthy spirulina smoothie.
Spirulina Smoothie Ingredients
2 tablespoons of spirulina powder: Of course, our main and superfood ingredient for this plant based protein recipe is the spirulina powder. We typically use this brand, but there are lots of options out there!
Green color Spirulina can taste salty and very ocean-like, similar to seaweed, not that I ever tasted seaweed before. Blue spirulina powder has definitely a milder taste and flavor-wise it mixes very well in smoothies.
Note: With the rising popularity of spirulina, make sure that when using any and all (blue or green) spirulina related products you do your research and always choose those that are certified by entities like ConsumerLab, or NSF International. Since spirulina is a relatively new supplement, you have to be careful that it is pure and without potentially dangerous additives.
1 cup Coconut Milk: When making your own homemade spirulina smoothie, you’ll definitely need milk. My dad drinks his with nonfat milk but my mom and I love coconut milk, so that’s always a staple in our smoothie. You can use any kind of milk: almond milk, soy, cashew… Some other dairy-free substitutes include coconut water and orange juice. Experiment with them all and see how the smoothie changes!
1 cup Banana: Next you’ll need a cup of cold, not frozen, bananas. Frozen fruit can potentially lose some of its nutritional properties, so we always encourage you to use the fresh version for any recipe. Unless, of course, we are using blueberries!
½ cup Mango: Mangoes are my favorite fruit, and such a great addition to this recipe. We recommend using organic red (Keitt) mangoes, sourced from Mexico or Peru, as not all mangos taste the same. Pay attention to the season as well: mangos are best between May and September! Alternatively, you can also use frozen mangos.
1 cup Blueberries: For some reason I can’t personally drink any smoothies with fresh blueberries. The skin tends to separate while blending and I never manage to make them incorporate smoothly into the mix. That’s why I always use frozen blueberries, but if you don't mind having some skin pieces in the mix or you can successfully blend until smooth, try a cup of fresh blueberries instead of the frozen ones!
½ cup Baby Spinach: half a cup of fresh spinach will add some great color and nutrients to your smoothie! When blended together with all of the other ingredients, you won’t even know it’s in there!
Instructions:
Add all the smoothie ingredients in your blender and proceed to blend. A higher speed more powerful blender will help you create a smooth and creamy consistency. We use this one for our smoothies.
For colder or thinner smoothies, you can add a few cubes or ice or more coconut milk (our recommendation). Place the smoothie in the freezer for 5-10 minutes to chill before serving.
Optionally, you can add some extra toppings to your smoothie or turn it into a spirulina bowl! We love to add some shredded coconut, chia seeds, honey, and cacao nibs.
Spirulina Health Benefits
Spirulina is a rich source of protein and contains many nutrients and minerals such as vitamins (A, E, and K), amino acids and beta-carotene.
People swear by spirulina's range of health benefits, and many claim that it protects against allergic reactions as well as helps fight and prevent sickness like colds and flu. Some studies have shown that spirulina might have some effects on reducing certain oral precancerous lesions, while others suggest that spirulina could help protect against liver failure and liver damage.
Other health benefits might include reducing the risk of cataracts and high blood pressure.
Spirulina is also commonly used by astronauts due to its amazing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Yet it's worth noting that trained health professionals and doctors state that more research is being conducted in order to clearly understand what are the specific benefits of Spirulina.
If you enjoyed this recipe, we’ll be sharing more green smoothies and spirulina recipes very soon! Sign up to our list of families and friends to stay in the loop.
Don’t forget to pin this recipe so you have it saved on your Pinterest favorite food board!
If you have any questions about this spirulina smoothie recipe or the use of spirulina in other recipes, please let us know in the comments.
Bon Appetit!
Besitos from the kitchen,
Laura
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