Tag Archives: Spirulina

Spirulina Crunchies

These pretty little green crunchies are made of 100% raw spirulina and are 100% delicious.  Many people find straight spirulina a bit of an acquired taste but even those eating a mainstream diet find these crunchies tasty.  It’s a bit of mystery; what do they do to the spirulina to make it taste good?  I gather that it’s some sort of natural alchemy involving sun-drying strands of spirulina paste, but however they do it, I love the results.  I sprinkle these crunchies on practically everything to add sparkles of savoury tastiness to my food, similar to the way the Italians use parmesan cheese.  This photo shows them adding extra flavour to red pepper and walnut pate on a light and crispy Lebanese Cauliflower Cracker from Kate's brilliant recipe book Raw Living.

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"Welcome to the other side, where the grass is always greener"

Greener Grass is Raw Living's special  blend of green powders and high vibrational food.

I've been sneaking it into my food as possible to up the sparkle level!  It's made an appearance in my raw soups, green smoothies and even chocolate creations!

I have also decided to always keep some in my bag for those emergency salad situations...you know what I mean, when you get served a couple of leaves of iceberg lettuce and a slice of tomato! But with some of this blend to hand, there will always be a way of amplifying both the nutritional value and yum factor of any meal!

Greener Grass is really versatile, and such an easy, effortless way to get some extra goodness in you. It's recommended that you start off with off by taking one tablespoon a day, and then work your way up to two or three. For me, taking some makes me feel super charged; uplifted and balanced, ready for anything!

So, what exactly is in this magical mixture?

Hemp Protein Powder gives us a high quality hit of vegetable protein. It's easily digestible, contains essential fatty acids, and is excellent for those of us who are always on the go. It has a subtly nutty taste that combines really well with the green powders in the mix.

Spirulina is a blue green algae which is very high in protein – between 55% and 77% – and contains all of the amino acids. It is also high in B vitamins, minerals, and is a source of those important essential fatty acids.

Crystal Manna is fantastic stuff, and  not only because it actually glitters! Crystal Manna is a highly potent form of wild blue-green algae, and probably  one of the most perfect things that we can eat. My favourite thing about it is that it contains PEA, also known as the molecule of joy, which can help us to feel happy! Crystal Manna reportedly also contributes to greater mental energy, attention, memory, and focus.

Barleygrass has amazing alkalising properties. It also contains eighteen amino acids and a whole host of vitamins and minerals including magnesium, calcium and five B vitamins.

He Shou Wu, also known as Fo Ti, is a herb that is used a lot in Traditional Chinese medicine. He Shou Wu is renowned as a rejuvenator, and for its ability to increase energy and for promoting longevity. It is also a tonic for the liver and the kidneys, and according to some can help to restore hair colour and thickness. I find it to be energising, yet at the same time grounding!

Kelp is an exceedingly nutrient dense food, a true powerhouse of minerals, and is the best source of iodine that we know about.

Purple Corn Extract is extremely high in antioxidants. Also, since there aren't many purple foods available to us, it's great for making sure we're eating from the full spectrum of colours. In ‘Raw Magic’, I read that there is an ancient Mayan prophecy saying that when purple corn comes to the West, we will experience a shift between the ages, a time of remembrance, and of great changes. Pretty amazing!

Greener Grass also contains a pinch of Himalayan crystal salt and just the right amount of chilli.

Greener Grass

It took me a while to get round to trying Raw Living's green powder blend, Greener Grass, as I had most of the individual ingredients at home and I didn't think it necessary to buy the blend. Having started including it my diet recently however, I think it ranks among my favourite nutrient-dense food supplements ever. Here we see a wonderful example of how the whole is sometimes greater than the sum of its parts as Miss Magic has once more lived up to her name and created an alchemical mix of superfood and herbal powders that is detoxifying, alkalising, blood building, deeply nourishing and balancing to the mind and emotions.

If there is one type of food that is necessary in today's world, I believe it's these kinds of high quality greens which can help us get many of the trace minerals that are missing from modern foods without having to resort to expensive pills. Greener Grass powder is very easily digested by the body, which many multi vitamin/mineral supplements are not, so you need less to get a beneficial result. Many people in our culture have a highly acidic diet which is lacking in many of the most vital nutrients. Even those of us that eat a well balanced diet high in raw foods can often suffer from the stress that accompanies our modern, fast-paced lifestyles and stress is one of the most acidifying things for our bodies. Stress also depletes magnesium so it's essential that we correct this balance with high magnesium foods like Greener Grass. What's wonderful about Greener Grass is that not only does it help us deal with the damaging effects of stress, it actually prevents it as many of the trace elements it includes help to keep the mind more balanced. I have certainly noticed this effect from taking the powder, much more so than when using any of the individual ingredients separately.

You can enjoy it in a number of ways; stirred into most foods, sprinkled on greens, added to a spouted quinoa and seed salad, mixed into creamy hemp or cashew dressings and blended with raw soups to name but a few. If you're not completely raw, never fear, you can add it to cooked foods too, I've enjoyed it with cooked quinoa and millet, just make sure you add it after cooking so as not to destroy any of the vital nutrients by heating it.

Greener Grass, fresh leaf and sea veg salad with seeds and a lemon and flax dressing.

Greener Grass contains a lovely blend of vitamins, minerals, trace elements and amino acids and the protein in it makes it a great food for vegans. With barley grass, hemp protein, spirulina, he shou wu, purple corn, crystal manna, kelp, crystal salt and a wee kick of chilli it'll get you up and at 'em in no time.

Algae is an ancient food with the memory of the world stored within its simple cells. It offers us these things, simplicity and connection to the world around us when we consume it regularly and with gratitude. To me, Greener Grass is a vital food which keeps me connected to the here and now in a balanced and nourished way. That's why I think the grass is greenest here and now, at least when you have some Greener Grass to sprinkle on your dinner!

With blessings for all that is green and good,

Lucinda x