Spirulina

Spirulina is an ingredient that I have been sure to include in my glider diet for the last 14 months or so. Spirulina is an ingredient in the Knudsen Mega Green Juice that is one of the standard ingredients in my staple mix. It is a blue-green algae that is very safe for consumption.

In order to provide you more information on Spirulina, I am going to take excerpts from several sources. Links are at the bottom of this post. Pay particular attention to the references to liver function.

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So how nutritious is spirulina to the human body? The algae is a highly digestible food, containing 60 to 70% of protein, and provides all the essential amino acids, which is a rarity among plant foods. It is so nutritionally balanced that it is 5 times easier to digest than meat.

Besides protein, spirulina is a rich natural source of Vitamin E and B12, iron, calcium, anti-oxidants, minerals, carbohydrates and enzymes. Its rich phytochemical composition are carotenoids, chlorophyll (known as a blood purifier), and phycocyanin. Phycocyanin is a blue pigment found only in blue green algae. Experiments have shown that this particular protein can increase the survival rate of mice with liver cancer. That means it can inhibits cancerous cells growth. It can also inhibit viral replication, and strengthen the humoral and cellular arms of the immune system.

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Spirulina contains over one hundred vitamins and minerals, and is rich in beta-carotene, iron, vitamin E, B-12, chlorophyll, phytonutrients, and GLA - a rare essential fatty acid. The Aztec peoples used spirulina for hundreds of years.

spirulina may help boost immune system function by helping the body develop new blood cells, enhancing bone marrow, macrophage, t-cell and natural killer cell function.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that spirulina may be useful for weight control. It can increase the function and quality of beneficial microflora (thus increasing digestive efficiency), and its mineral and vitamin content can help control appetite. Spirulina also detoxifies the body#

Information on the minerals and substances found in Spirulina

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Unique Bilin Protein Phycocyanin
Spirulina's intensely blue bilin supplements our body's own natural defenses against the toxic free radical super-oxide through the biliverdin-biliverdinreductase-bilirubin cycle. No other food does that.

# Beta carotene for body defense
Spirulina beta carotene is ten times more concentrated than carrots. So even if you don't eat the recommended 5 to 9 servings of fruits and vegetables every day, get your natural beta carotene insurance from spirulina to support your body's antioxidant defenses.

# Zeaxanthin/Lutein
This nutrient is especially good for the eyes. Spirulina is a very good source of zeaxanthin.

# Iron for women
Iron is essential to build a strong system, yet is the most common mineral deficiency. Spirulina is a rich source of iron.

# GLA rare essential fatty acid can be a key to health
Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) in mother's milk helps develop healthy babies. Studies show nutritional deficiencies can block GLA production in your body, so a good dietary source of GLA can be important. Spirulina is the only other whole food with GLA.

I feel this ingredient is really worth checking out if you have not already.

http://www.spirulina.com/SPBenefits.html


http://www.healthsession.com/articles/spirulina-benefits.html

I have noticed that if I offer a variety of things to sick gliders, the Mega Green Juice is much more likely to be eaten than anything else. I don't know if this is a result of the flavor or if the gliders know it contains stuff they need.

My gliders too love green drink. I don't know if it is relevant or not, but some parrots develop itchiness from spirulina. Not mine, they do well w/it, but if gliders seem to be itchy w/o a discernible cause, we might remember that we feed spirulina and take it away for a week or so and see if the itchiness clears up.

So where do you find this green juice? At the health food store?

You can even find it at some grocery stores. Mine does not carry it here in the middle of nowhere, but the health food store here does carry it. Most health food stores will have Knudsen brand juices. Even if your local one doesn't carry the Mega Green juice, you can probably ask them to and they will get it for you.

http://www.rwknudsenfamily.com/products/simply_nutritious/mega_green

On the top right side of this website, they have a "where to buy" button. Click and enter your zip code.

I believe the Odwalla brand Superfood juice also has Spirulina in it.

The Knudson juices are in the juice aisle at one of my groceries, then in the "Health food" section at another branch of the same store. The Odwalla juices are in the produce section at every single one of my stores. Odwalla is more expensive, and doesn't have nearly as much in it as the Mega Green.

My Walmart carries the Naked Green Machine Superfood. Ive been adding it to my HPW for about 3 months now....My gliders LOVE the new mix...I take out 1/2 a cup of the honey and replaced it with the Green Machine Superfood per batch..

Here is a list of ingrediants in it
Apple juice, mango puree, pineapple juice, banana puree, kiwi puree, spirulina, chlorella, broccoli, spinach, barley grass, wheat grass, parsley, ginger root, blue green algae, odorless garlic


and I MUST mention.... This stuff is a nasty dark green but it tastes sooo yummy!!!!....The gliders have to fight me and the kids for it LOL (not really, I just have to buy the BIG bottle everytime I have to make up a batch of HPW so its "shared" amongst us)....I do however have to beat the kids to it or away from it to get any for myself LOL...

That is very similar to Odwalla superfood. My gliders would eat anything mixed with this and will jump out of a pouch if I'm pouring it.

Actually I DO remember seeing the "Naked" brand in some of our grocery stores. I just never thought of it as something for the gliders. I am going to have to give this a try. I like giving them lots of variety.

Naked juice question

Chris R wrote:

Here is a list of ingrediants in it
Apple juice, mango puree, pineapple juice, banana puree, kiwi puree, spirulina, chlorella, broccoli, spinach, barley grass, wheat grass, parsley, ginger root, blue green algae, odorless garli

Is it OK to use this with garlic in there?? I saw it at Walmart also but put it back because of the garlic.

I think its one of those "wivestells". More of an "everything in moderation". Its not like Im cutting up garlic in their veggie mix anyways... Odorless garlic is the last thing listed so its a nominal amount at best. I've been feeding it since January and the only thing I have noticed is how WONDERFUL everyones coats look and the fact that the gliders love it, are rapidly producing (just had triplets) and how chunky/healthy those joeys are!!

I figured it was fine but sometimes you just have to ease your mind when you have read soooo many times not to do/use it.

Thank you Chris and now I think I have 2 options to use since our Stop and Shop carries the Knutsen brand I am pretty sure.

I am going tp try it in my veggie mix instead of fruit juice.

LADIES, LADIES, LADIES, ...and gentlemen....

Just thought I would make an announcement... FYI and that sort of stuff!
I discovered an organic wholesaler and will soon be selling (its on its way as we speak) ********* "ORGANIC PURE SPIRULINA POWDER" *************

We can now just add a TBSP or so to our diet mixes! I will be working on packaging options (ie, size of packaging) so if anyone has any ideas, I would love to hear them! I have a vaccum sealer that I will be using to make sure the products stay fresher for longer periods of time as well!

Okay, got a bottle of the Naked brand Green Machine juice today! Adding it to dinner tonight, let's see what the babies think...

Val - do you use the Spirulina powder in your Green Variation Diet or is the amount in the Knudson's Green juice enough?

If you use the Spirulina powder (it is not in the list of 'extras') how much does Dr. Welsh recommend adding on a regular basis. The powder seems high in sodium and Iron.

Candy
My diet recipe is posted here on TSS.
https://thesweetspot.forumotion.net/glider-gourmet-f76/val-s-green-variation-t86.htm

The powder is not listed in the list of extras on purpose.

Oh, and it is Dr. WALSH, not Welsh. I only correct it because people get so confused between Dr. Walsh and Dr. Welch.

I will not comment on whether it is high in sodium and iron as I do not claim to know just what the nutritional requirements of gliders are.