What the difference was between your Arthrospira Maxima and the Arthrospira Platensis is? Apart from the fact that your strain of A. Maxima was taken from NASA (super cool). Are there nutrient differences?

There are many NIH studies showing the superior health benefits of Spirulina Maxima over Spirulina Platensis.

Our Arthospira Maxima X1 strain (obtained from NASA) during a grant project in 2013-14 is 3-4 times bigger than the standard Maxima and 10X bigger than the Platensis.

The main reason this is so valuable to us is that this strain now has the superior strength and resilience that is necessary to cultivate and harvest our product the way we do and to maintain its much longer stability time fresh. Basically the Platensis is too small to capture from the water without damaging the cell.

The Platensis strain is also too fragile to hold up as a fresh and stable product.

As for the nutrient differences, all Spirulina is is primarily dependent on the nutrients that are in the water during the growth process. (i.e.) the nutrients we add and the quality of the nutrients in the water it grows in.

Spirulina is like a sponge, it will soak up and absorb what its environment provides, which is why it is best to stay clear of all powdered Spirulina, as these large commercial operations (open pond systems) which use the cheapest fertilizers, (containing heavy metals) and the water and air in these areas (primarily, China, India) are very contaminated.

The nutrient differences are also dependent upon the amount of sun and warmth of the water. The sun provides the photosynthesis of the cells structures which produce the green (chlorophyll) and the blue (phycocyanin) phytonutrients.  These are the the primary protein structures of the cells. The micronutrients are supported by these.

So, as you can see there are many factors that determine the nutrients in the growing & harvesting process.

The final stage in determining the value of the nutrients in the cells is the processing, storage, time, heat, pressure, and light that the Spirulina is subjected too. These factors are the most destructive to the sensitive nutrients.

All vitamins, are destroyed under heat processing (spray drying, microwave and oven drying).

All the antioxidants, phytonutrients are also destroyed under these conditions.

The only nutrients that are somewhat stable through these processing (that turn the fresh living cells into a powder) are minerals/heavy metals. So, powders are basically a mineral ash of mostly potassium and heavy metals.

We do everything possible here at Raw Living Spirulina to grow, harvest, and maintain the freshest possible highest quality nutrient values by keeping the integrity of the cell structure whole and alive so your body can absorb and thrive on true living super – nutrients.