Optimum Best-By Date: You should use Raw Living Spirulina within seven days of receiving it for optimum nutrient potency.
Use-By Date: The product should ideally be consumed 14 days after receipt. While still safe, the nutrient potency and cellular integrity may diminish beyond this period.
Safe Consumption Period: USDA/FDA Kappa Labs states that Raw Living Spirulina can be consumed for up to 61 days when stored in the refrigerator. However, it is not recommended to wait this long as the cellular structure begins to break down before then.
Freezing Recommendation: To preserve its nutritional value, if the spirulina is not consumed within 14 days, it is advisable to freeze it immediately upon receiving it.
Shelf-Life Explanation: The term “shelf life” often implies a product’s longevity on store shelves; however, for living foods like Spirulina, it refers more accurately to “shelf death.” Unlike processed foods that are essentially inert upon arrival (e.g., cereals with a microbiological count of 0-6), living foods have higher counts due to active enzymes and life force activity.
Microbiological Count: Fresh Spirulina has an initial microbiological aerobic plate count of 3000.
Effect of Fresh Raw Living Spirulina on COVID-19: A Significant Health Benefit
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on global health, with millions of cases and deaths recorded worldwide. As researchers continue to explore various treatments and supplements to combat the virus, a recent study has highlighted the potential benefits of fresh Raw Living Spirulina in improving outcomes for hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
Introduction to Spirulina
Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) is a cyanobacterium known for its rich nutritional profile and bioactive compounds. It has been recognized for its anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antioxidant properties. Given these attributes, researchers have investigated its potential role in enhancing the immune response and aiding recovery in COVID-19 patients.
Study Design
A randomized controlled trial was conducted involving 189 hospitalized adults with COVID-19. The participants were randomly assigned to two groups: an experimental group that received 15.2 grams of Spirulina supplement daily along with standard treatment and a control group that received only the standard treatment. The study spanned six days, during which immune mediators were monitored on days 1, 3, 5, and 7.
Primary and Secondary Outcomes
The primary outcome measured was mortality or hospital discharge within seven days. The secondary outcome considered overall discharge or mortality rates.
Results
The results of the study were promising:
- Mortality Rates: Within seven days, there were no deaths in the Spirulina group compared to 15 deaths (15.3%) in the control group.
- Discharge Rates: A significantly higher number of patients in the Spirulina group (97.7%) were discharged from non-intensive care units (non-ICU) within seven days compared to the control group (39.1%). This comparison’s hazard ratio (HR) was 6.52 with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 3.50 to 12.17.
- Overall Mortality: The overall mortality rate was higher in the control group (8.7% non-ICU, 28.8% ICU) compared to the Spirulina group (non-ICU HR, 0.13; 95% CI, 0.02 to 0.97; ICU HR, 0.16; 95% CI, 0.05 to 0.48).
- Immune Mediators: In non-ICU patients who received Spirulina, levels of IL-6, TNF-α, IL-10, and IP-10 significantly reduced as intervention time increased. In ICU patients receiving Spirulina, levels of MIP-1α and IL-6 decreased significantly, while IFN-γ levels were significantly higher in both ICU and non-ICU subgroups over time.
- Safety: No side effects related to Spirulina supplementation were observed during the trial.
Conclusion
The study concluded that high-dose Spirulina supplements combined with standard COVID-19 treatment could significantly improve recovery rates and reduce mortality among hospitalized COVID-19 patients without any adverse effects.
This research underscores the potential of fresh Raw Living Spirulina as an adjunct therapy for COVID-19 due to its immunomodulatory effects and safety profile.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38655258/
Yes, you can get fresh Spirulina. Fresh Spirulina is available from several sources that specialize in cultivating and delivering this nutrient-dense superfood in its most potent form.
Raw Living Spirulina is the highest-quality Fresh Spirulina available in the USA. It is harvested and shipped directly to your door within hours of harvesting. You can order at www.rawlivingspirulina.com. This company has perfected the systems for growing Spirulina in the USA, ensuring it is fresh, pure, and alive. Their product is 100% raw and unprocessed, making it one of the most potent forms of Spirulina.
Nutritional Benefits
Fresh Spirulina is extraordinarily nutrient-dense with highly bioavailable nutrients that your body can absorb efficiently. It contains a high percentage of complete protein—about twice the density of beef or fish—and a rich array of antioxidants like phycocyanin and allophycocyanin. Additionally, it provides essential fatty acids such as omega-3, omega-6, and Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA), which support various aspects of health, including cholesterol levels, skin vibrancy, hormonal stability, and heart health.
Historical Significance
Humans have consumed Spirulina for thousands of years as a staple food source due to its dense nutritional profile. Indigenous people around saline lakes in Mexico and Africa have historically relied on it as a primary protein source.
In summary, fresh Spirulina can be obtained from specialized farms like Raw Living Spirulina that focus on delivering this superfood in its freshest form directly to consumers.
Nutrient Integrity and Bioavailability
Fresh Spirulina maintains the integrity of its nutrient-dense properties, ensuring that you get the highest quality, potent, and bioavailable algae. This is because fresh spirulina is entirely unprocessed. The process involves using filtered water and controlled growing conditions to ensure the highest quality possible. After filtering the algae from the water, it is gently pressed to reduce the water content, resulting in a refrigerated or frozen soft paste. This minimal processing helps preserve its rich nutritional profile, including essential amino acids, vitamins, minerals, polysaccharides, and antioxidants.
In contrast, spirulina powder and pills are highly processed with additives or glue, limiting the nutritional benefits. Spray drying dehydrates the product and turns spirulina into a dry powder. This high-temperature process can degrade some of the sensitive nutrients found in spirulina. Additionally, many powdered products contain harmful additives to prevent clumping or use some form of glue if pressed into pills. These additives can dilute the potency of spirulina and may affect overall nutrient content.
Nutrient Absorption
One significant advantage of fresh spirulina over powder is its superior bioavailability. Since fresh spirulina is unprocessed, its nutrients are more readily available for absorption by the body. In contrast, when consuming spirulina in capsule form, the capsules must dissolve in the stomach before nutrient absorption begins. This additional step can slow down nutrient availability and impact how much of those nutrients your body can use.
Versatility and Consumption
Fresh spirulina also offers versatility in terms of consumption. It can be conveniently pre-portioned into cubes for smoothies or water bottles, making it easy to incorporate into various recipes without significantly altering their taste. On the other hand, while spirulina powder also provides flexibility—allowing you to mix it into smoothies and shakes or sprinkle it on salads—the processing compromises most of its nutritional benefits.
Cost Effectiveness
While fresh spirulina tends to be more expensive due to its careful cultivation and minimal processing methods, it offers a higher return on investment regarding nutrient density and health benefits. Spirulina powder might be more budget-friendly per serving; however, considering potential nutrient degradation during processing and adding fillers or binders in capsules or powders could make fresh spirulina a more cost-effective choice regarding the nutritional value received.
Conclusion
In summary, Fresh Spirulina maintains the integrity of its nutrient-dense properties, ensuring that you get the highest quality, potency, and bioavailability. Spirulina powder and pills are highly processed with additives or glue, limiting the nutritional benefits. Fresh Spirulina is completely unprocessed, making it a superior choice for those seeking maximum health benefits from this superfood.
When you start taking fresh spirulina, several beneficial changes can occur in your body due to its rich nutrient profile and bioactive compounds. Here is a detailed look at the potential effects:
Nutrient Boost
Fresh Spirulina is packed with essential nutrients, including omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, in an approximately 1.5 to 1 ratio. This makes spirulina an excellent source of high-quality protein and essential micronutrients.
Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Effects
The main active compound in fresh spirulina is phycocyanin, which gives it its unique blue-green color. Phycocyanin has powerful antioxidant properties that help fight oxidative stress by neutralizing free radicals. This can reduce inflammation, potentially lowering the risk of chronic diseases like cancer.
Heart Health
Spirulina has been shown to have several benefits for heart health:
- Cholesterol Reduction: The protein in fresh spirulina can reduce your body’s absorption of cholesterol, thereby lowering cholesterol levels.
- Triglyceride Levels: Phycocyanin reduces triglyceride levels and fats in the blood, contributing to arteries’ hardening.
- Nitric Oxide Production: Spirulina also increases nitric oxide production in the body, which helps blood vessels relax. Studies show that this can reduce blood pressure, lowering your risk of heart disease.
Allergy Relief
The anti-inflammatory effect of fresh spirulina’s antioxidants may help alleviate symptoms associated with allergies caused by pollen, animal hair, and dust. For instance:
- Congestion
- Sneezing
- Itching
These symptoms can be mitigated due to the reduction in inflammatory responses triggered by allergens.
Immune System Support
Fresh Spirulina contains various vitamins and minerals that support immune function, including iron and copper, which are crucial for maintaining healthy immune responses.
Potential Anti-Cancer Properties
Some studies suggest that fresh spirulina may have anti-cancer properties due to its ability to block tumor growth and kill cancer cells through its immune-enhancing proteins, such as phycocyanin.
Exercise Performance
Fresh Spirulina may also benefit athletes or those engaging in regular physical activity by reducing exercise-induced oxidative damage and enhancing endurance and muscle strength.
Due to its nutrient density and bioactive compounds, incorporating fresh spirulina into your diet can provide a comprehensive range of health benefits.
Understanding B12 in Algae, Especially Spirulina: Predominantly a Pseudovitamin Analogue
Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient that plays a crucial role in the formation of red blood cells, neurological function, and DNA synthesis. While many people turn to plant-based sources for their nutritional needs, it is essential to understand that not all sources of B12 are created equal. One such source that has garnered attention is algae, particularly Spirulina. However, the form of B12 found in Spirulina is predominantly a pseudovitamin analogue, which has significant implications for its efficacy as a dietary supplement.
The Nature of Pseudovitamin B12 in Spirulina
Spirulina is a type of cyanobacteria often referred to as blue-green algae. It has been consumed by humans for centuries and is known for its high protein content and various bioactive compounds. However, when it comes to vitamin B12, the story is more complex. Spirulina contains both true vitamin B12 (cobalamin) and pseudovitamin B12 (7-adenyl cyanocobamide). The latter is not readily usable by humans and has a binding affinity to intrinsic factors of about one-third that of true vitamin B12.
Impact on Human Health
The presence of pseudovitamin B12 in Spirulina can have significant consequences for those relying on it as their primary source of this essential nutrient. Pseudovitamin B12 can bind to the same receptors as true vitamin B12 but does not provide the same physiological benefits. This can lead to a functional deficiency even if total B12 levels appear adequate.
Timothy White’s 30-Day Fasting Experiment
To illustrate the impact of relying solely on Spirulina for vitamin B12 intake, we can refer to an experiment by the CEO, Timothy White from Raw Living Spirulina. White undertook—a regimen of this 30-day fasting, consuming one pound of fresh Spirulina daily without additional supplementation. Blood tests were conducted before and after fasting to measure his B12 levels.
- Day 1: B-12 level was 516 pg/mL
- Day 30: B-12 level dropped to 433 pg/mL
This significant decrease in blood B12 concentration highlights the inadequacy of Spirulina as a sole source of vitamin B12. Despite consuming large quantities of Spirulina daily, White’s blood tests showed a marked reduction in his B12 levels over just one month.
Scientific Evidence from NIH Studies
Research from authoritative sources like the National Institutes of Health (NIH) supports these findings. Studies indicate that while some algae contain forms of vitamin B12, these are often pseudovitamin analogues that do not contribute effectively to human nutrition. The NIH emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between true cobalamin and their analogs when considering dietary sources of vitamin B12.
Conclusion
In summary, while Spirulina offers numerous health benefits due to its high protein content and bioactive compounds like C-Phycocyanin, it should not be relied upon as a primary source of vitamin B12. The presence of pseudovitamin analogues means that even large quantities may not meet your nutritional needs for this essential nutrient. For those following plant-based diets or looking for alternative sources of vitamin B12, it is crucial to seek out fortified foods or supplements containing true cobalamin.
Spirulina is a blue-green algae rich in nutrients, including proteins, vitamins, and minerals. Due to its numerous health benefits, it is widely used in dietary supplements. However, because most commercial Spirulina is grown in China, sterilization is essential in the production process for import into the United States and Europe.
Spirulina powders are produced by spray-drying the fresh paste in the treatment temperature range of 95-170 ℃ and then sterilized by microwave (da Silva et al., 2019).
Mechanism of Microwave Sterilization
The sterilization process involves two primary effects: thermal and non-thermal.
- Thermal Effect: When microwaves are applied to spirulina powder, they cause water molecules within the powder to oscillate rapidly. This rapid movement generates heat through friction, which raises the temperature of the spirulina from the inside out. The generated heat coagulates bacterial proteins, leading to their death.
- Non-Thermal Effect: In addition to heating, microwaves create an electric field that can alter bacterial cells’ membrane potential and structure. This disruption causes mutations in bacterial proteins, rendering them non-viable and leading to cell death.
Spirulina Powder Microwave Sterilization
Microwave irradiation, commonly used in S. platensis powder, still faces the problem of irregular heating of the load in the microwave (Bharti et al., 2022). Studies have revealed that Phycocyanin is susceptible to heat and begins to degrade when the temperature reaches 50 ℃ (Pez Jaeschke et al., 2021). The phycocyanin (valuable phytonutrient) degradation rate accelerates as the temperature rises above this point. This is mainly attributed to the denaturation of the Phycocyanin protein structure, leading to alterations in the chromophore stability and a color shift.
Standard Sterilization Methods for Powdered Spirulina
There are several methods commonly used for sterilizing spirulina powder:
- Ethylene Oxide (ETO) Sterilization involves using ethylene oxide gas to sterilize products. It is effective but has significant drawbacks, such as being toxic, flammable, and potentially altering the product’s chemical composition.
- Gamma Ray Sterilization: This method uses gamma radiation to kill bacteria and other pathogens. While effective, there are concerns about whether it might change the product’s chemical composition.
- Alcohol Steam Sterilization: This method uses high-temperature alcohol vapor to sterilize products. However, the penetrability of alcohol vapor can limit its effectiveness.
- Standard Temperature Ethanol Sterilization: This involves soaking the product in ethanol at room temperature for extended periods (over 10 hours), which can be inefficient and time-consuming.
To avoid all this destruction to your superfood, fresh Raw Living Spirulina avoids all this as it’s grown here in the USA and shipped fresh directly to your door the same day as harvest, so sterilization is unnecessary.
Some supplemental B-12 could be absorbed during this time; however, blood tests show a significant decrease in B12 in all our tests during fasting.
Raw Living Spirulina is a complete whole super concentrated living food. For general long-term maintenance of micronutrients, 1-1.5 ounces per day (1 full-rounded tablespoon) is sufficient for most people on a plant-based lifestyle. However, for maximum short-term benefits, such as heavy detox, internal cleansing, and intracellular rejuvenation — upwards of 1 pound (1 jar) per day for 3-7 days of fasting can dramatically improve the entire body’s health.
There are a few variables one needs to look at.
First, the jar must be consumed fresh within 12 days of receiving it. It is safe after that; however, this is the approximate time the living cells stay whole and alive. If you want to keep it longer, freeze it in single-serving ice cube tray portions.
If one is on a 100% plant-based lifestyle and has no health challenges, 1.3 ounces daily first thing in the morning is enough to maintain sufficient micronutrient levels without supplementation.
For those consuming animal products, 2-3 ounces per day would be necessary to maintain the same rations of micronutrients depending on age and overall health and wellness of the individual. There are a lot of factors to consider.
Short-term fasting is also a robust protocol to please and detox the digestive system.
3 – 7 days at 3/4 t0 one jar per day and water.
Dr. Vickers’s protocol is 4 ounces of RLS per day combined with the entire Gerson treatment plan for those at the Gerson cancer clinic.
During our Foundation of Life Retreats, guests are provided 1/2 pound (8 ounces) daily with eight fresh juices, aloe, coconut water, and living probiotics — to which we see dramatic results.
Based on our 7+ years of scientific data with Raw Living Spirulina, 50+ combined years of study in holistic nutritional health as Hippocrates Health Educators (Naturopathic doctors), working with thousands of people, examining hundreds of blood tests, both intracellular and CBC, before and after lifestyle changes including Raw Living Spirulina, thousands of hours listening to our customers, helping them through some of their most challenging times, and most of all our extreme journey deep in this lifestyle, our most confident and educated answer is this:
First Note: Raw Living Spirulina is not a “supplement.” It is a super-concentrated whole-living food that can replace all supplementation needs.
1. Healthy individuals on a 100% Whole Plant lifestyle with one ounce of Raw Living Spirulina every am, with adequate unblocked sunshine, a home organic garden, and no exposure to Chlorine, should not need to take any supplements.
2. For those above that may not have a home organic garden or receive enough sunshine, we recommend for most, that they take Vitamin B-12 3-4X per week of Methylcobalamin and Vitamin D. (We recommend Premier Research Labs for both)
3. For those below the above reference, we recommend that before randomly consuming any supplement, a Comprehensive Micronutrient Intracellular Blood Test (Spectracell Labs) should be completed to determine if one has any nutritional deficiencies. This test should be done after at least two months with no supplements for optimum results.
Once it is determined a true nutrient deficiency exists, it is recommended that one consume raw plant foods that contain these nutrients. After four months, we recommend having a follow-up test done. If the results still show the same low nutrient levels, and those foods were consumed, then whole food supplements can be an excellent temporary bridge option while evaluating the root cause.
Supplements should always be “whole food,” not synthetic. Unfortunately, approximately 95-97% of all supplements today are artificial. Synthetic nutrients are produced artificially in industrial processes and are commonly made from chemical ingredients such as coal tar and turpentine. Synthetic nutrients do not include “whole food supplements,” made from concentrated, dehydrated whole foods.
If your supplement is synthetic, you can check the label. Whole food supplement sources are labeled as made from 100% plants and do not include the word natural. They will also cost much more than the synthetic versions.
Supplements that list nutrients individually, such as vitamin C use chemical names like ascorbic acid and are most undoubtedly synthetic. Ascorbic acid is not Vitamin C. For example, scurvy disease is caused by a deficiency of Vitamin C. Taking even high amounts of ascorbic acid does not cure it; however, consuming an orange, lemon, or lime does.
Research consistently shows that synthetic nutrients are no replacement for a healthy plant lifestyle. Every moment 24/7/365, our 100 trillion cells require fresh raw materials to rebuild new cells, repair tissues and restore used energy. These nutrients are in high demand and must contain living enzymes for complete cellular function. Unfortunately, pills, powders, and potions do not have living enzymes, so our bodies must steal from other sources to use them. This process in itself is depleting.
Meanwhile, nutrients must be recognized and adequately absorbed into the bloodstream to have any effect internally. Consuming unrecognizable stuff does not trick your body into using something fake. Getting our nutrients from whole plant foods is always the best option.
However, taking a whole food supplement can be beneficial if you genuinely lack a specific nutrient, and you know for sure via intracellular blood tests.
Supplements should be considered “as additions to not in place of” and used only as a last resort.
Raw Living Spirulina is the optimal bridge for nutrient deficiencies in today’s food.
The best way to mix Raw Living Spirulina into a liquid with even consistency is by using a metal whisk. Do not blend the fresh Spirulina, as this will cause significant damage to the living cells and oxidize the fragile nutrients.
The best one we found is from William Sonoma.
Fresh Spirulina contains many Photosynthetic phytonutrient color pigments, including chlorophyll a, xanthophyll, beta-carotene, echinenone, myxo xanthophyll, zeaxanthin, canthaxanthin, diatoxanthin, 3-hydroxyechinenone, beta-cryptoxanthin, oscillaxanthin, plus the phycobiliproteins c-phycocyanin and allophycocyanin.
Spirulina’s primary photosynthetic pigment is phycocyanin, which is blue. Spirulina also contains chlorophyll and carotenoids. Some, including Raw Living Spirulina, have the pigment phycoerythrin, expressing visibly red or pink colors.
Phycoerythrin (PE) is a red protein-pigment complex from the light-harvesting phycobiliprotein family, present in red algae[1] and cryptophytes,[2] accessory to the primary chlorophyll pigments responsible for photosynthesis.
What if you vacuum seal the fresh juice in a mason jar (using the food saver jar sealer) – then keep it refrigerated/cold at 32 or fewer degrees – how long could the raw live spirulina last?
I am a Gerson patient trying to figure out the routine for each day
What I’m considering is making three green juices each morning to be consumed at 10a, 2 pm, and 7 pm
As the study showed a 50% loss of nutrients in green juices 30 minutes after juicing sitting in a jar at room temp.
Raw Living Spirulina is alive. Approximately 35 Billion tiny bioactive cells of Spirulina are inside the jar.
We are health educators and nutrition experts with over 25 years of individual experience and knowledge, following protocols that prevent malnutrition from leading to disease.
As this is not medical advice, we believe that cancer is the resulting cause of unnatural lifestyles of human behavior, creating a weak immune system.
So, given that, correcting these causes while cleaning the body is the fastest way to strengthen the immune system.
We live and teach the Hippocrates lifestyle and Gerson protocol for preventing disease and maintaining vitality.
In today’s toxic world, we need both, not just one or the other.
Raw Living Spirulina is a potent food as a 2-stage protocol, (1. cleansing & detoxifying) and (2. providing the micronutrients) required to support the immune system that defends ourselves from disease; it is also as important to follow a healthy lifestyle. Below are the top 6 things I can recommend to give the body the best chance. 1: Eliminate all animal products, including dairy (no cheese, milk, or eggs) 2. Eliminate all processed foods 3. Eliminate all added salt, oil (except flax), and sugar. 4: Eliminate all synthetic supplements. (take high-quality natural supplements only when determined by Spectra-cell blood test of deficiencies not affected by whole food) 5. Consume high amounts of organic plants in the form of fresh raw juice. (slow masticating juicer) 6. Daily cleansing via coffee enemas, one after every 3rd juice (min 2 per day)
Consuming: 3 options. We recommend using the fresh Raw Living Spirulina. Mix 1 ounce (1 tablespoon) of RLS into 8 ounces of fresh juice or water immediately using a whisk.
1. Complete fast (min 3 days) to ….. (3 days to empty the digestive system, burn off carbohydrates as a primary fuel source).
3-7 days to cleanse and rebuild intracellular fluids.
Qty: 3/4 to 1.5 pounds per day (1 jar = 1 pound) during the fast, plus pure Springwater or distilled water in the glass.
2. Daily with juicing after fast: 4 ounces per day as daily protocol (per Dr. Vickers of Gerson cancer clinic)
3. When healthy: 1 ounce per day for maintenance
Spirulina To Be An Effective Immunomodulator
The blue-green algae Spirulina commonly referred to as a superfood due to its high concentration of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and proteins is an effective Immunomodulator (an agent that can dramatically affect the behavior of our immune cells.)
This blue-green alga is a freshwater plant that is now one of the most researched and most talked superfoods in history.
So, let’s take a closer look at Raw Living Spirulina, why exactly you may want to consider adding it to your routine and how can it impact your immune system?
Spirulina Superfood
Spirulina has incredible nutritional value as it has been described as the most nutrient-dense food on earth meaning that it’s packed with vital nutrients, many not found in our everyday common foods. Beyond its impressive vitamin, mineral, and antioxidant content, Spirulina is a complete protein meaning it has all the essential amino acids our body needs to rebuild new cells and repair damaged ones.
Spirulina is specifically a great source of vitamin B1 which we need for energy and brain health and digesting fats and proteins.
It’s also a phenomenal source of absorbable and digestive friendly iron (non-heme) and has about 25 times more calcium than milk.
Spirulina gets its green color from chlorophyll which is the key chemical for plants to make energy from sunlight. Chlorophyll boosts red blood cells, fights cancer, and helps slow down the signs of aging. Chlorophyll is a great source of vitamin A, C, E, and K as well as minerals like potassium, magnesium and fatty acids like GLA, difficult to find in food sources. GLA is a powerful anti-inflammatory and along with the omega-3 fatty acids in Spirulina, can lower cholesterol, blood pressure, and the risk of stroke.
Spirulina isn’t just some ancient remedy from a thousand-year-old book. It has got modern science behind it. To date, there are over 2000 peer-reviewed scientific articles evaluating its health benefits. One of the top reasons to consume Spirulina is that it is known as an immune booster due to its high content of chlorophyll.
Immune System
The immune system is our friend. It protects our body from infection. Give it your full support and, as with any friend, there will be perks.
The immune system is an interactive network of organs, cells, and proteins that protect the body from viruses and bacteria or any foreign substances. The main tasks of the body’s immune system are:
- To neutralize and remove pathogens like bacteria, viruses, parasites or fungi that enter the body,
- To recognize and neutralize harmful substances from the environment, and
- To fight against disease-causing changes in the body, such as cancer cells.
Without an immune system, we would have no way to fight harmful invaders that enter our bodies from the outside or harmful changes that occur inside our bodies.
The immune system can be activated by a lot of different things that the body doesn’t recognize as its own. These are called antigens. Examples of antigens include the proteins on the surfaces of bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses. When these antigens attach to special receptors on the immune cells (immune system cells), a whole series of processes are triggered in the body. Once the body has come into contact with a disease-causing germ for the first time, it usually stores information about the germ and how to fight it. Then, if it comes into contact with the germ again, it recognizes the germ straight away and can start fighting it faster.
In other words, having a strong immune system will help your body heal fast and will also protect and prevent your body from getting ill.
Spirulina as Immunomodulator
Many preclinical and clinical studies suggest that Raw Living Spirulina (and its major active compound phycocyanin) has immunomodulatory activities. We know that phycocyanin and β-carotene are important active ingredients in Raw Living Spirulina and that they contribute to their immunomodulatory properties.
Dysfunctional immunity causes many diseases in humans, including atherosclerosis, cardiac hypertrophy, heart failure, and hypertension. Thus, the immunomodulatory activities of Raw Living Spirulina may play an important role in human health.
According to Qureshi and Ali 1996; Mao et al. 2000; Gad et al. 2011; Khan et al. 2005, studies were done on animals show that Spirulina is a powerful stimulator of the immune system.
In another study done on humans by Mao et al. (2000), Spirulina has marked immunomodulatory effects. They showed that there was a significant increase in IL-1β, IL-4, and interferon (IFN)-γ production by PBMCs by almost 2.0, 3.3, and 13.6 times basal levels. Together, increases in these cytokines suggest that Spirulina is a strong proponent for protecting against intracellular pathogens and parasites and can potentially increase the expression of agents that stimulate inflammation, which also helps to protect the body against infectious and potentially harmful micro-organisms.
An in vivo study showed that when mice suffering from systemic candidiasis and breast cancer were treated with Spirulina for 3 days, the expression of genes encoding IL-4 and IL-10 was significantly reduced, whereas that of genes encoding IL-17, TNF-α, and IFN-γ was markedly increased (Shokri et al. 2014).
In another study, Chen et al. (2014) purified phycocyanin from Spirulina using power plant flue gas. The immunomodulatory activity of the purified molecule was then examined using the murine macrophage cell line, J774A. They found that phycocyanin increased the secretion of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 by J774A cells, along with the expression of IL-1β and COX-2 proteins. In addition, both Spirulina and phycocyanin inhibited expression of inflammation-related genes by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV-2 microglial cells.
Spirulina also affects the immune response in healthy, elderly male and female human subjects. Spirulina supplementation resulted in a significant rise in plasma IL-2 concentrations in both male and female subjects, along with a marked reduction in IL-6 concentrations (Park et al. 2008.)
Anemia and immunosenescence are common in older subjects. A working group led by Dr. Gershwin (Selmi et al. 2011) suspected that Spirulina might ameliorate anemia and immunosenescence in senior citizens. Therefore, they treated volunteers (>50 years old) with Spirulina for 12 weeks. They found that the levels of corpuscular hemoglobin had increased in both sexes after this time. Moreover, the majority of subjects showed an increased indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase enzyme activity, a sign of immune function, along with an increased white blood cell count, after 6 and 12 weeks of Spirulina supplementation respectively. Thus, Spirulina appears to ameliorate anemia and immunosenescence in older subjects.
Taken together, data from the studies reviewed in this section show that Spirulina and its active compound, phycocyanin, show immunomodulatory activity. Both stimulate the production of antibodies and up- or downregulate the expression of genes encoding IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IFN-γ, IL-17, and TNF-α. In addition, it may be that the reported tumoricidal effects of Spirulina are mediated indirectly via increased production of TNF-α and IFN-γ. Although Spirulina appears to ameliorate immunosenescence in older subjects, further human studies with larger cohorts are needed to support this conclusion.
To evaluate the effects of Spirulina on the immune system, the UC Davis immunologists collected blood samples from 12 healthy volunteers, separating out the peripheral blood mononuclear cells. These cells, which include macrophages, monocytes, and lymphocytes, including B and T cells, work as a team to mount an immune response. “People have used Spirulina throughout history says Judy Van de Water, associate professor of rheumatology, allergy and clinical immunology at UC Davis. “Through research, we are learning exactly how this superfood improves immune system function and how it is a beneficial addition to our diet.”
Woon et al. 2013 investigated the Spirulina that was grown in deep seawater. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential of using deep-sea water to enhance the anticancer and immunomodulatory activities of Spirulina. Finally, Spirulina grown in deep seawater resulted in high anticancer activities because of the significantly high β-Carotene and ascorbic acid contents.
Raw Living Spirulina
Very often we are asked what kind of water do we use to grow Raw Living Spirulina. Our water source originates from the center Floridian Aquifer which is sandwiched between the surface aquifer and the ultra-deepwater by different subterranean layers and is accessed from between 400 and 800 feet below the surface. It naturally rises to the surface on the farm under high pressure. It is also highly mineralized making it ideal for Spirulina and the subsequent nutritional value. Vero Beach is known to have some of the best water in Florida which is another reason why we chose this location. Our water also does not contain chlorine, fluoride, or harsh chemicals found in municipal water systems.
Research continues to uncover more and more potential benefits of Spirulina, and studies have shown that adding Spirulina to your routine could strengthen your immune system.
Everyone! Raw Living Spirulina is an ideal concentrated whole-living food for people of all ages and lifestyles. While we all strive to eat a well-balanced diet, our active lifestyles and easy access to processed food often prevent us from getting all the nutrition we need to maintain optimum health.
The National Research Council Committee on Diet and Health recommends eating 5-9 servings of fruit and vegetables daily. According to a 2012 NASA study, a one-ounce serving of Raw Living Spirulina equals the essential antioxidants, enzymes, vitamins, and mineral nutrients levels found in 58 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables. While we encourage everyone to eat their fruits and vegetables, spirulina helps enable ‘picky eaters’ and others who don’t like vegetables to still “eat some greens.”
Spirulina offers a much broader array of nutritional benefits than chlorella. Our feeling is: “Why should we cultivate the second-best aquaculture superfood when we already cultivate the best?”
The photosynthetic pigments in cyanobacteria are chlorophyll a, phycocyanin, and phycoerythrin. Phycocyanin is a blue color pigment and phycoerythrin is a red color protein pigment complex from the light-harvesting phycobiliprotein family accessory to the main chlorophyll pigments responsible for photosynthesis.
Consuming fresh Raw Living Spirulina has a two-tier effect in the body. The first is a powerful detoxification process as the high levels of chlorophyll acts as a magnet to pull and scrub the epithelium lining of the digestive tract. In doing this the (blue liquid inside the cell) phycocyanin acts as a lubricant (Omega oils) as the mucus and lining debris is scrubbed and removed as these living cells pass down the to the lower intestines. This process of cleansing can result in an abrupt change in the mucosa lining triggering an immediate need to release these toxins as excess undigested fecal matter from the colon becomes very liquid as the body tries to dilute this rush of toxins into the colon.
If there is not a good free-flowing clean digestive track from top to bottom and a backup somewhere along the pathway, in the mid to upper section, the Spirulina may become trapped in the stomach where it will go to work cleaning. This process can release toxins in the upper system and possibly cause an unsettled feeling in the stomach. Although very rare, nausea may occur under these situations. Be sure to consume first thing in the am on empty stomach.
Once the entire digestive becomes internally clean, the living spirulina cells are broken much higher up in the digestive tract where the nutrients are almost immediately absorbed into the body. This is the second tier phase and the normal pathway of living food transport to the cells.
When this phase occurs the nutrients go to work inside the body vs in the digestive tract. Here, toxins that have been accumulating in the cells, tissues, and organs of the body begin to be released into the blood and lymph fluids. As these toxins travel around inside they can trigger various detox symptoms such as headaches to skin rashes. This is also a sign of internal cleansing vs digestive cleansing.
Drinking lots of clean water, citric fruits, fresh coconut water, charcoal, can help bind and flush out these wastes. Infrared sauna, exercise, skin scrubbing and massage (guasha) will also help move these towards the exit.
As many of us are in tune with our bodies, most are unaware of the body’s natural process as many times as good processes. For example, a fever is the body’s natural way of protecting itself and keeping the immune system strong. When a rush of toxins is released the body will naturally trigger immune responses to protect itself. It’s like scrubbing the inside of a fish tank. It looks clear until you start moving around the bottom.
One thing we suggest and highly recommend is colon hydrotherapy. This process is essential in today’s world of “foodstuff” to keep the inside “pipes” clean. If you haven’t had this done before I would suggest at least one time prior to consuming the Spirulina if you have been consuming the standard American diet of processed and cooked animal products.
Detoxification is essential to keep the body healthy and fresh living food is the best way to renew and revitalize the entire body. Because everyone’s lifestyle is different it is impossible to predict what if any effects each will have. If you feel that you may have high toxicity, begin with 1/2 tablespoon for the first 2-3 days.
http://www.aulamedica.es/nh/pdf/9001.pdf
Minerals
The inorganic nutrients of most relevance in Spirulina are iron, calcium, and phosphorous. People tend to consume a significant number of fiber foods that contain phytates and oxalates, which, in turn, lower the bioavailability of iron in vegetables.
Spirulina could be able to counteract these two aspects: a) its iron content is substantially high: comparatively, cereals –which are usually considered good sources of iron– contain between 150-250 mg/kg; blue-green algae contains about 580-1800 mg/kg; b) algae does not have pericardium (as cereals do), hence it does not present phytates/oxalates that could chelate iron and lower its absorption (this is what happens, for example, with spinach).
The relative proportion (Ca:P) of these micronutrients is compatible.
The preservation of bone health since it reduces
the decalcification risk. Moreover, as was previously
As stated, the cyanobacterium of interest is an oxalate-free
Plant food, thus –as with iron- provides calcium
With high availability; thus it improves its absorption.
This is mostly the residual rinse water we use when rinsing the spirulina after harvesting. Frost is due to home freezer defrost cycles. Every time this happens there is more nutrient loss in the Spirulina. We recommend sealing the Peak trays in a zip lock bag or plastic container with a snap lid to protect from this frost.
Yes consuming Raw Living Spirulina is always beneficial at any time. We suggest for maximum bioavailability that one consumes on an empty stomach due to the fact that there is no cellulose fiber in the cells. Here it can be fully absorbed into the bloodstream through the stomach as a prebiotic without the need to pass on down into the lower digestive system. When fibrous foods are present in the stomach the Spirulina will mix and carry on down the digestive system together dramatically reducing the bioavailability and absorption amounts however it is still very beneficial in the lower digestive system as an early stage probiotic.
YES! Raw Living Spirulina is alive. When you receive it, you can look at it under a microscope, and you will see the Spirulina cells moving around like they are dancing. Frozen, powder, or any processed Spirulina is not alive. It no longer contains the electrical vibrational energy it had when it was alive and fresh. You could undoubtedly use Raw Living Spirulina as a starter culture to grow your own.
Anywhere FedEx goes we can ship. However, we do not have control over possible customs delays in each country so at this time it is the full risk of the customer to have our product shipped outside the USA. There is also an additional international shipping cost which would be added based on the specific country.
Contact us if you would like a price quote on shipping to your country.
Yes, we do offer wholesale pricing and shipping to many juice bars, health clinics, medical doctors, plant-based cafes, specialty stores, etc. We fully support those that truly help others with a plant-based healty lifestyle. Contact us to receive an application.
We are very proud to work with RNC eco packaging in Georgia in designing a custom cooler box that is 100% compostable and 100% recyclable to ship our Raw Living Spirulina. These custom cooler boxes will keep the product cold for up to 72 hours based on the season. We pack and ship our Raw Living Spirulina in 16-ounce glass jars. The jars are bubble wrapped and placed in the cooler custom payload area with Nordic Ice bricks on top and bottom. We ship FedEx 1-2 day express.
Our mission is not only to protect and support the health of humanity but also to the health of our planet.
We harvest fresh every Monday and Tuesday and ship every Tuesday and Wednesday except during holidays that interfere with FedEx express shipping. We are generally sold out by Saturday for the following weeks shipments. Orders are shipped in the order they are received based on the weeks availability.
We recommend 1 pound per day or fresh Raw Living Spirulina per 150 pounds for normal activity adult male and 3/4 pound per 120 pounds active adult female.
Plus 1 ounce of water per pound. This will satisfy the micronutrient requirements during the fast while providing full support for the detox.
Here is a detailed video experience.
Our owner-co/founder Timothy White and Attila our farm assistant (Hippocrates Health Educators) fasted for 30 days on Raw Living Spirulina, June 2017. They consumed a total of 1 pound each per day with full blood tests on day 1 and a follow up on day 30. Test results available on their respective bios.
The best time to consume Raw Living Spirulina is first thing in the morning. This is because Spirulina does not contain cellulose fiber like most vegetables. The super-dense nutrients contained inside the cell walls are like tiny water balloons. Once they enter the stomach they rupture releasing these living liquid nutrients. Within 15 minutes the micronutrients will permeate through the epithelial cell lining into the bloodstream flooding your body with this vital nutrition.
For Maximum absorption –
Raw Plant-Based Lifestyle: Wait 15 minutes after consuming.
SAD (Standard American Diet) diet: Wait 1 hour after consuming.
Raw Living Spirulina is like a gourmet cream (nut) cheese or yogurt pudding with almost no smell or taste, unlike powdered Spirulina which smells and tastes very unpleasant. When it is freshly harvested it is clean pure, earthy and delicious.
As time passes after 12-14 days in the refrigerator it begins to convert into a probiotic like sauerkraut and does take on a bit of the fermentation effect.
We do not sell powdered Spirulina. This requires high heat processing which destroys the life force and vital nutrients. Our mission is to provide the highest form of living nutrition on the planet.
Yes, Raw Living Spirulina is excellent when used internally (implant) as a probiotic after a colon hydrotherapy treatment or enema to replenish the colon microflora.
Raw Living Spirulina can greatly aid in introducing good flora into the colon, reducing candida and other bacteria that can be causing intestinal and health issues.
1. We invested over 5 years and over $1M to create a state of the art super-farm in USA Florida.
2. The process is very labor-intensive as the fragile cells must be harvested very carefully with specially designed systems. This takes many hours to collect a small amount vs. commercial operations blasting theirs through high heat spray drying machines, killing the fragile nutrients.
3. Because our Spirulina is alive it must be shipped quickly in special custom coolers with ice bricks via FedEx so it gets to the consumer quickly. This is about 25% of the cost per package.
4. We have a microbiologist who lives on-site and monitors the systems every day with daily lab testing.
5. We use only the purest highest grade plant-based nutrients available, unlike large commercial operations who use the cheapest.
So, taking all this into account, we are doing this to sincerely help strengthen the health of humanity. It is a mission that we take very seriously.
Not all Spirulina farms are created equal. It’s quality vs quantity.
The bottom line is: you get what you pay for. The question is how valuable is your health.
We have designed our own unique proprietary harvesting system that we feel marks our distinction between all others which allows us to produce such a high quality healthy & delicious product. Our system has been fine tuned over many years of trials and testing to now have the ability to capture the highest quality living spirulina cells from the greenhouse water.
Spirulina cells range in size and shape as well as where they are in their life cycle. Our system of delicately harvesting the Spirulina at the peak of their development as well as their quality is important to us. We verify this on a daily basis by looking at our water and cells under a microscope in our laboratory before and after each harvest.
Although you may see the term “Organic” on some Spirulina products online and in stores, the truth is that Spirulina is a plant that grows in water, something akin to hydroponics. So that being said, it is not the intention of the USDA to deem an aquatic plant Organic…it must grow in soil to fall under the guidelines of the definition.
Organic-labeled Spirulina uses animal waste (Urea – Cow Urine) as a fertilizer in the water; it’s ONLY grown outside the USA, usually in China and India, resulting in high contaminants & heavy metals, bad taste & smell (from processing and storage), and is irradiated upon entering the USA. Watch out for organic Spirulina claiming it’s manufactured in the USA – meaning bottled, not grown. Raw Living Spirulina uses 100% earth-based nitrates & no pesticides, herbicides, or GMOs, producing the cleanest, highest-quality fresh Spirulina.
There is still a debate on how the USDA will resolve the issue, so until then, we will continue to grow organically but only hold certification once a ruling has been made. Our Raw Living Spirulina is grown in fresh spring water that we control. We use only natural & organic plant-derived nutrient food in our growing medium.
It’s important to explain “organic standards” regarding spirulina. USDA organic standards were developed for dirt-and-soil farming. Spirulina is an “aquaculture” crop, meaning it’s grown in large pools of water, not dirt.
Spirulina requires an abundant nitrogen and carbon source, and the USDA says that organic farmers need to use manure compost as that nitrogen source. That would be gross in large pools of water. You wouldn’t want us to dump cow manure into large pools of our spirulina tanks to label it “organic,” would you? Yet, that’s what the USDA wants spirulina growers to do as part of being considered organic.
Raw Living Spirulina is BETTER THAN ORGANIC. We use clean sources of nitrogen and phosphorous that have nothing to do with animal feces. We wouldn’t even think of dumping animal waste into our pools! That would increase the bacteria count and contaminate the entire crop.
That’s why our spirulina is not “certified organic.” In our view, it’s CLEANER than organic, and no animal feces is used in its production (thank goodness). We always choose organic when it comes to soil-grown foods like berries, non-GMO, etc., but when it comes to aquaculture (i.e., foods grown in pools of water), the USDA organic standards make no sense. (The USDA needs to update its organic standards for aquaculture radically.)
Here is a video from our Microbiologist, who explains this very well.
The primary thing freezing does to the living spirulina is stop the cells’ enzymatic life energy.
Freezing is like suspended animation of the nutrients. Freezing whole fresh Raw Living Spirulina does rupture some of the cells; however, it does not destroy the nutrition like heating (powdered). Freezing reduces the nutritional value by approximately 5% immediately upon freezing, and there is roughly a 5% monthly loss. Home freezers go through regular defrost cycles and thus will further degrade the nutrient value of the Spirulina over time, so it is best to consume within three months after freezing.
Shelf Life of Raw Living Spirulina
Microbiological Shelf Life: From a microbiological perspective, Raw Living Spirulina remains safe to consume for up to 61 days, as verified by Kappa Labs, the official laboratories of the FDA and USDA.
Freshness Shelf Life: However, regarding freshness, consuming Raw Living Spirulina within ten days is recommended. This is due to its delicate cellular structure, which can be likened to tiny water balloons. The green part represents the balloon (Chlorophyll), while the inside water is blue (Phycocyanin). The cell walls gradually break down in the refrigerator after approximately seven to ten days, releasing the vital liquid nutrients (blue phycocyanin) into the jar. A bluish-dark liquid will appear at this stage, indicating that probiotic effects have begun.
Freezing Option: To significantly slow down this breakdown process, it is advisable to freeze the spirulina into single-serve portions using silicone ice cube trays. This method places the Spirulina into a state of “suspended animation,” halting the breakdown process.
Yes, we test for BMAA on a periodic basis and the results are consistently below the very low analytical detection limit of 0.5 microgram/kg – meaning “non-detectable.”
Spirulina has a Class A (the highest) level of safety per the Dietary Supplement Information Expert Committee (DSI-EC) of the United States Pharmacopeia (USP). These independent experts reviewed all available evidence for Spirulina consumption and concluded that it does not indicate a serious risk to the health of other public health concerns.
Please rest assured that our spirulina is safe to use and if a lot were not to pass for any reason, it would be disposed of and not release for sale.
Raw Living Spirulina is a 60 – 70 percent bioavailable protein (depending on growth time of year) consisting of all 9 essential amino acids which the human body recognizes as the original foundational building block of nature. Raw Living Spirulina contains bioactive living natural Vitamin B-6 (unlike powders and pills) which is an essential precursor to protein absorption.
The liquid inside the cell is phycocyanin, a blue pigment present in only Spirulina. This pigment is a very powerful antioxidant found in Spirulina and is the primary source of its high protein and nutritional profile. Phycocyanin is a characteristic light blue color, absorbing orange and red light, particularly near 620 nm (depending on which specific type it is), and emits fluorescence at about 650 nm (also depending on which type it is). Phycocyanin is from the Greek phyco meaning “algae” and cyanin is from the English word “cyan”, which conventionally means a shade of blue-green (close to “aqua”) and is derived from the Greek “kyanos” which means a somewhat different color: “dark blue”.