Makes 1 smoothie. Per serving: 300 calories, 40 g protein
- 1⁄2 cup milk of choice (I use unsweetened vanilla soy or almond usually)
- 2 teaspoons spirulina powder (you could also use a “greens powder” if you have one of those already instead here such as Thorne Daily Greens or Athletic Greens
- 1 scoop whey protein- unflavored or vanilla (I use Ascent vanilla bean whey- WELLBYGABRIELLE10 at checkout to save)
- 1/2 frozen banana
- 1 cup frozen mango OR orange OR peach
- Combine in a blender; blend until smooth.
Spirulina is a microalga that has a blue-green color and it is believed to be used by the Aztecs as a way to treat different diseases. That is why it is so popular here in Oaxaca Mexico and what got me on this spirulina kick!
It is a type of cyanobacteria that grows in both freshwater and saltwater. It became most popular when NASA discovered that it could be grown in space.
7 grams of dried spirulina powder contains 4 grams of protein, which makes it a great source of protein for vegan diets. It also contains high amounts of B vitamins and minerals such as iron and copper.
One of the main reasons why spirulina is so popular is because it contains antioxidants. Antioxidants fight against free radicals and oxidative stress. One of the main components of spirulina phycocyanin which is response for its blue-green color.
It’s also an antioxidant that fights inflammation and prevents the development of heart disease. The anti-inflammatory effects may have a beneficial effect on reducing allergies.
It’s a complete source of protein, meaning it has all 9 essential amino acids. Wheat and legumes are only partial protein sources as they only contain 4-5 of the essential amino acids. So you’d have to eat a ton more wheat and legumes to even come close to getting the same amount of protein from spirulina.
It also has the highest protein bioavailability compared to all other vegan options.
So spirulina has almost as high bioavailability as pure whey protei
