INCREDIBLY NUTRIENT-DENSE

REQUIRES LITTLE RESOURCES TO GROW & YIELDS MORE NUTRITION PER ACRE THAN ANY OTHER FOOD

WORLD RENOWNED QUALITY

TRY OUR SMARTERGREENS FOR A HEALTHY DOSE OF CALIFORNIA SPIRULINA

Spirulina is a spiral-shaped fresh-water blue-green microalgae that derives its energy from the sun and packs an incredible amount of complete protein, micronutrients and antioxidants. 

Consumed by humans for thousands of years, spirulina is now cultivated as a sustainable superfood. Though its increasing popularity is a more recent phenomenon, spirulina’s documented consumption dates back to the Aztecs living in Tenochtitlan, modern day Mexico City, where it was collected from the lakes and dried into cakes. It was also historically consumed around Lake Chad in Africa.

With it’s incredible level of nutrient density and ability to fight climate change, spirulina presents immense potential for the future of nutrition. NASA has even used it as a dietary supplement for astronauts in space!

So, what exactly makes spirulina so attractive as a sustainable superfood? 

INCREDIBLY NUTRIENT-DENSE

Spirulina is a complete source of protein, containing all 9 essential amino acids, and has a protein content of 70 percent—approximately 3x more protein than beef, chicken, pork and fish. The protein found in spirulina is also highly bioavailable, meaning it can be effectively absorbed by the body. 

Spirulina also contains key vitamins and minerals, including 10x more iron than beef, 15x more vitamin A (beta-carotene) than carrots, zinc, iodine, calcium, magnesium and B vitamins. It also contains phycocyanin, a powerful antioxidant and significant source of gut-healthy prebiotic polysaccharides, which helps to fight free radicals in the body.

REQUIRES LITTLE RESOURCES TO GROW & YIELDS MORE NUTRITION PER ACRE THAN ANY OTHER FOOD

Spirulina has been recognized as a sustainable superfood as far back as 1974, when the United Nations named it as one of the best foods for the future. 

What makes this algae so sustainable is that it requires very little resources to grow, yet it yields more nutrition per acre than any other food. As a reference, spirulina requires less than 500 L of water per kg, while it takes 4,300 L of water to produce 1 kg of rice and 15,400 per kg of beef. Compared to soy, spirulina uses a third of the amount of water and 20x less land, and is 3x more energy-efficient. Spirulina also has an insatiable appetite for CO2, sequestering it from the atmosphere in the form of phenomenal nutrition. 

WORLD RENOWNED QUALITY

Landish’s spirulina is the cleanest in the world and is sourced from an aquafarm located in the Sonoran Desert of California. No irradiation, chemicals, herbicides or pesticides are used in farming or processing, which are subject to California’s world renowned, extremely strict health and environmental standards.

WHY LANDISH CALIFORNIA SPIRULINA IS SUPERIOR TO ORGANIC

Although Landish spirulina isn’t organic, it is of the highest possible quality, while being cleaner and safer than spirulina labelled as “organic”. Up until 2005, the spirulina that we source was categorized as USDA Organic and is still organic in all regards (e.g. free of pesticides and herbicides and Non-GMO Project Verified) except one: its use of a mined, water-soluble form of natural nitrogen, a key nutrient for plants and microalgae.

In 2005, the USDA removed nitrogen fertilizers (used in virtually all conventional farming) from its list of organic-approved fertilizers in order to protect waterways from nitrogen runoff, which can cause excess algae growth, disrupting ecosystems. The USDA brought in a new standard, allowing the use of organic matter like compost, manures, cover crops, fish meal, feather meal, blood meal, bone meal, etc. as sources of nitrogen in organic farming.

Our spirulina-growing partner made the highly informed decision not to switch to the new organic sources of nitrogen fertilizer for three key reasons:

1. The significant potential for very high bacterial levels and heavy metals in spirulina under the new standard, which would compromise product safety.
2. The company’s use of pond liners and closed loop water systems in their microalgae farming which had already eliminated any risk of nitrogen runoff (unlike in conventional crop farming).
3. The continued ability to claim that this spirulina is animal material-free (unlike spirulina produced under the new standard).

Spirulina labelled as “USDA Organic” is produced in China and India. This is not a problem in and of itself, but in the case of spirulina, as you can see, California-grown is the best.

TRY OUR SMARTERGREENS FOR A HEALTHY DOSE OF CALIFORNIA SPIRULINA

Made from aquatic plants like spirulina and water lentil, and organic and upcycled leafy greens and grasses, ourSmarterGreens Juice Mix provides a convenient source of antioxidants such as carotenoids, polyphenols, and chlorophyll—not to mention micronutrients and fibre. Getting your supergreens has never been easier (or more environmentally friendly)! P.S. We’re not big fans of high-intensity sweeteners like stevia, so we didn’t include any.