Organic Spirulina Powder

Organic Spirulina Powder is dried, finely milled Arthrospira platensis — the blue-green cyanobacterium usually just called spirulina. It comes in a 100 g pack as a loose powder, not capsules, so you can measure your own amount and stir it into drinks and food.
Spirulina is one of the most protein-dense whole foods there is, and it needs no preparation: a teaspoon blended into a smoothie is all it takes.

What Spirulina Contains

Spirulina is a cyanobacterium rather than a true alga, and it is genuinely nutrient-dense. By dry weight it is roughly 60–70% protein, containing all the essential amino acids, along with iron, magnesium, potassium, several B vitamins (B1, B2, B3), beta-carotene and the blue pigment-protein phycocyanin that gives it its colour.
In practice the amounts eaten are small — a few grams a day — so spirulina adds to a balanced diet rather than replacing any part of it. Three grams provides roughly 2 g of protein, for example: useful, but not a meal.
Phycocyanin is the compound most of the laboratory research on spirulina has focused on, mainly for its antioxidant activity. Human studies on spirulina exist but are mostly small and short, so we describe it as a nutritious food rather than a remedy for anything.

Spirulina Is Not a Source of Vitamin B12

One widely repeated claim needs correcting, because it matters for anyone relying on it. Spirulina is not a usable source of vitamin B12. The B12 it contains is mainly pseudovitamin B12 — an analogue that is not active in humans and may compete with true B12 for absorption. Vegans and vegetarians should take a genuine B12 supplement and should not count spirulina towards that requirement.

How to Use Spirulina Powder

Start with ½ teaspoon (about 1.5 g) a day and build up over one or two weeks to 1–3 g (about ½–1 teaspoon) a day.
Spirulina has a strong marine, faintly pond-like flavour that is easier to mask than to enjoy. It works best in strongly flavoured drinks: banana or mango smoothies, citrus or apple juice, or a green juice with ginger. It can also be stirred into yoghurt, hummus, salad dressings or energy balls.
Use cold or room-temperature food and drinks. Heat breaks down phycocyanin and some B vitamins, so add it after cooking rather than during. Spirulina also stains worktops, cloths and plastic containers blue-green, so rinse utensils promptly.
At 2 g a day, a 100 g pack lasts about seven weeks.

Storage

Keep the pack tightly sealed in a cool, dry, dark place, or decant it into an airtight, opaque container. Spirulina powder absorbs moisture from the air, and light breaks down phycocyanin — visible as the colour dulling from vivid blue-green towards olive. A fridge is a good place for it after opening.
Stored properly, it keeps for up to two years unopened; once opened, use it within 12 months for the best colour and flavour. Clumping, dampness or a sour smell mean moisture has got in — throw it away rather than trying to dry it out.

Sourcing and Testing

Source quality matters more with spirulina than with most foods. Cyanobacteria grown in open or contaminated water can pick up heavy metals and microcystins — liver toxins produced by other blue-green algae that can grow alongside spirulina. Our spirulina is organically grown in controlled cultivation, and every batch is tested for heavy metals, microcystins and microbial safety before sale.

Safety and Contraindications

Do not use spirulina if you have phenylketonuria (PKU), as it contains phenylalanine. People with autoimmune conditions, or who take immunosuppressant medication, should speak with their doctor first. Caution also applies if you take anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
Spirulina is relatively high in nucleic acids, so people with gout or high uric acid should keep to moderate amounts. Do not use it if pregnant or breastfeeding without medical advice. Mild digestive upset is the most common side effect when starting; a lower amount usually resolves it.
This product is a food supplement, not a medicine, and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this powder or capsules? Powder. Each pack contains 100 g of loose spirulina powder for mixing into drinks and food.

How much spirulina powder should I take daily? Start with about 1.5 g (½ teaspoon) and build up to 1–3 g a day over a week or two.

Does spirulina provide vitamin B12? No. Most of its B12 is an inactive analogue, so take a genuine B12 supplement if you need one.

What does it taste like? Strong and marine, a little like seaweed. Fruit smoothies and citrus juice hide it best.

Is spirulina safe to take every day? For most healthy adults, yes, at the amounts above and from a tested source. Check with your doctor first if you have PKU, an autoimmune condition, gout, or take blood thinners or immunosuppressants.

How long does a 100 g pack last? About seven weeks at 2 g a day, or a little over a month at 3 g a day.

Explore related products: sea moss, Tremella mushroom, Ashwagandha capsules.