How to Eat Spirulina

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Please talk to your doctor before you eat spirulina, especially if you have a medical condition or take prescription medications.

Spirulina is a blueish-green algae that's full of almost all the nutrients that a body needs, such as protein, minerals, antioxidants, vitamins and essential fatty acids. As a dietary supplement, you can find spirulina in tablet, powder or flake form.

How to Use Spirulina

Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of spirulina in the following to boost its nutritional value:

• Salad dressings
• Sauces, like spaghetti sauce
• Pesto
• Yogurt
• Smoothies
• Homemade ice cream
• Juices
• Batter, such as pancake or cake batter
• Guacamole
• Salsa

From what I've read, there is no right or wrong way to eat spirulina. The NYU Langone Medical Center states that doses generally range between 1 to 8.4 grams per day.

While the natural medical community boasts that spirulina can help with various ailments, the Langone Medical center states that evidence that supports such claims is still "preliminary."

Spirulina Precautions

Spirulina is not appropriate for everyone. WebMD states that spirulina may not be appropriate for:

• Those with autoimmune diseases
• Individuals with phenylketonuria
• Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding
• Infants and children
• Individuals taking immuno-suppressant medications
• Those on a neutropenic diet

Spirulina Powder

One of the simplest ways to eat spirulina is in powder form, like the USDA-certified organic spirulina powder by the Sari Foods Company. According to the company, it harvests its spirulina from lakes in rural Mongolia.

When I first opened the bag of spirulina, the smell immediately hit me. It reminded me of those fried shrimp chips that you buy at Asian supermarkets. My husband said that it smells like a lake full of algae and plant life.

When you put a bit of the spirulina in a glass of water, the water gets a wonderful dark turquoise hue. The taste is much like lake water...without the boat motor oil or duck poo. The taste isn't noticeable when you mix the algae with other foods and flavors.

It's always a good idea to get your nutrients from food whenever possible. When you purchase spirulina, make sure that it doesn't contain toxins or contaminants. Sari Foods states that its spirulina comes from soda lakes that's free of pollution. They also state that they regularly test the product for heavy metals, pesticides, mold, yeast, E. coli,k and other contaminants.

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