- Fact Checked
Last Updated: November 4, 2019
If you’d asked me 10 years ago how I like my powdered green algae served, I probably would have questioned your sanity. However, I’ve become a big fan of certified organic spirulina supplements, and I credit them for a lot of my health improvements since switching to veganism.
As far as superfoods go, organic spirulina just does it all. It works as an antioxidant, assists in weight loss, lowers blood pressure, and detoxifies the body.
But, as with all supplements, the best ones are hard to find. So, our team here did some extensive searching and testing to bring you some really good options.
Image | Product | Features | Price |
---|---|---|---|
![]() | Organifi Green Juice - Organic Superfood Powder - 30-Day Supply - Organic Vegan Greens - Helps Decre
| 9.7 | Check Price |
![]() | Prebiotic Greens does it better in two parts. Part-One is Algae Greens: Each serving of Prebiotic Greens contains 3 grams of ultra-nutrient rich spirulina and 3 grams chlorella to deliver vitamins, minerals, protein, and heavy-metal detoxification [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. Spirulina and chlorella offer unparalleled nutrition on a gram per gram basis [6, 7, 8, 9]. Part-Two is Prebiotic Fibers: Each serving of prebiotic greens contains 3 grams organic acacia fiber , 3 grams organic green banana flour [12, 13], and 1 gram organic Jerusalem artichoke fiber [14, 15, 16] which together provide gut-healthy and gluten free soluble, un-soluble, and slow fermenting fibers. This two pronged approach maximizes nutrient utilization by optimizing your often-overlooked microbiome and consequently affecting all aspects of digestion and wellbeing. | 9.5 | Check Price |
![]() | Nutrex Hawaii, Pure Hawaiian Spirulina Powder, Vegan, Supports Immune System, Heart, Cells and Energ
| 9.1 | Check Price |
![]() | Micro Ingredients Organic Spirulina Powder, 16 Ounce, Raw Spirulina (Arthrospira Platensis), The Ric
| 8.8 | Check Price |
![]() | Organic Spirulina Powder 12 oz - Kate Naturals. All-Natural Vegan, Non-GMO, Gluten-Free & Organic Nu
| 8.6 | Check Price |
![]() | Now Foods Organic Spirulina Tablets, 100
| 8.2 | Check Price |
![]() | 8 | Check Price | |
![]() | Earthrise ® Spirulina Natural 6.4oz powder, Natural Premium Spirulina from California- Support Immu
| 7.7 | Check Price |
![]() | Organic Spirulina Powder (16 Ounce): Naturally Vegan, Supplies Folate, Vitamin B12, Iron, Omega Fatt
| 7.4 | Check Price |
![]() | HealthForce SuperFoods Spirulina Manna - 5.25 oz Spirulina Powder - All Natural Nutrient Rich Superf
| 7.2 | Check Price |
![]() | Premium Chlorella Spirulina 1,250 Tablets - 4 Months Supply, Non-GMO, Vegan Organic Capsules, Broken
| 9.5 | Check Price |
The team unanimously agreed on Organifi as our top recommended spirulina supplement because of 3 things — it’s organic, vegan, and contains more greens than anything else on this list.
It’s basically pure spirulina and every superfood there is, including moringa, chlorella, mint, matcha green tea, ashwagandha, and wheatgrass.
An interesting review we found from a user online is how Organifi helped regulate his blood pressure and cholesterol levels. It has also helped other users in losing weight healthily.
It’s also one of the best in taste. While it doesn’t necessarily taste like a milkshake, it has a fresh, minty flavor that’s quite enjoyable for a spirulina green juice.
The only thing I’m not satisfied with is it hides the ingredient amount in a proprietary blend.
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Transparent Labs (see also ‘Transparent Labs CoreSeries BCAA Glutamine Review‘) has managed to live up to its claims that it has created the best quality spirulina supplements.
With a unique blend of organic spirulina and chlorella, the gluten free ingredients of the prebiotic greens are backed up by scientific studies [1]. These studies support their claim that it can help with detoxification and significantly lower free radicals.
And from a nutrition perspective, it also provides a healthy dose of prebiotic fibers to help your digestion.
The taste isn’t too bad, but I’d love to see a flavored option to make it just a bit easier to take as a morning drink (see also our article on Red Bull).
If you’re not a fan of the taste of algae (let’s face it, who really is?), then these Nutrex Hawaii capsules are going to be the best alternative.
From a nutrition point of view, you’ll still get all the value, but you can avoid pinching your nose to get it down.
You will need to take 3 capsules a day of this pure Hawaiian spirulina for the full effect, while also allowing you to spread out the benefits throughout the day [2].
One thing I should mention is that a few people have reported that it can cause your breath to smell a bit fishy, so it might be best to take it before food.
Do you worry about the heavy metal content of some seafood? It’s certainly something that is a big issue with a lot of fish and shellfish.
But as a vegan, I was surprised that many sea plants could also contain these dangerous minerals.
BN Labs makes it clear in their advertising that they rely on third-party testing to verify the gluten free ingredients and lack of pesticides and heavy metals.
With absolutely zero cholesterol and only 1 g of fat, this organic spirulina powder from BN Labs is certainly a very healthy option.
Personally, the taste didn’t bother me too much; it certainly beats having seaweed and algae in your breakfast (yes, that is a thing).
Kate Naturals is another favorite here at the office, and it’s possibly one of the cheapest products available.
It doesn’t have the same fiber and high dosage of active nutrients as the above Transparent Labs option, but it’s still a positively reviewed diet supplement (see also ‘What Are The Best SARMs to Increase Endurance?‘).
It has a total of 76 servings per container, so if you want to get a larger dose, that’s still a cost-effective choice.
A lot of people like the fact that it’s grown in California and certified to be pesticide-free, which does provide some extra peace of mind.
The only downside, if you don’t like shaking your supplements like a professional cocktail master, then it might be best to use a blender.
Another excellent spirulina supplement that my dietitian recommended comes from NOW Foods.
It has a vegan certification, and you get the recommended daily dose of 3 g of organic spirulina.What a lot of people like about it is that you won’t need to take other dietary supplements to boost your intake of B12, so you can save a bit of money and still get all the essential nutrients.
I generally mix these nutrition supplements with a morning veggie smoothie, so the flavor doesn’t bother me. But a few of the flavor-sensitive guys on the team here aren’t a big fan of the taste.
What I like about this Triquetra product is that the company has gone a long way to get as many third party certifications as possible.
What users appreciate the most is that the content of this organic spirulina powder has been certified free of pesticides, herbicides, and other harmful chemicals.From a nutrition perspective, it covers a broad range of essential amino acids, minerals, as well as vitamins A and K [3].
These all help your body’s immune system and overall health.
One thing you might want to keep in mind about this spirulina supplement is that you may need to blend it and not rely on a shaker.
If you want to stock up on a year’s supply of certified organic spirulina tablets, then Earthrise is possibly one of the most cost-effective ways.
The content of this bottle gives you 360 tablets, which is also going to be favored by those that just don’t like the taste of organic spirulina in general.
With plenty of vitamins and minerals, your body will get a good boost, and there are many positive reviews on the quality of the nutrients.
Some people found that the spirulina tablets can be a bit difficult to swallow, so you might want to break them in half before taking them.
This is another one of those products that can provide you more than just the primary benefits from pure spirulina powder.
It can supply you with all the B12 you need as well as some bonus omega fatty acids.A lot of reviewers also highlight the fact that it provides 7 g of protein with a full range of amino acids to support many body functions.
One word of warning for those with sensitive taste buds, this organic spirulina powder does have a bit of a fishy aftertaste.
Sari Foods has put a lot of effort into getting vegan and USDA organic certifications, and they claim to use only high-quality algae.
A lot of people made positive comments about how this organic spirulina powder helped improve their energy levels.But there is a reason this one has been pushed towards the bottom of the list.
This product used to be higher up on my list until someone pointed out that the label actually has a lead warning on it. Since I noticed that, I’ve switched to some of the other options above, as it’s not a risk worth taking.
This blue-green algae product from Soul Organics is very popular on Amazon, mainly because it’s possibly one of the cheapest options of all the organic products.
The content of this certified organic spirulina powder is also low in cholesterol and provides a good boost of vitamin A.
Also, from a calorie perspective, you won’t have to worry that it might mess with your fasting periods.
One thing we didn’t like about this spirulina powder is that you’ll struggle to get it properly mixed in a shaker. It also has one of the most overpowering tastes, so you might want to mix with other strong flavors.
There are a handful of things that our team focused on when assessing the ingredients of the listed spirulina powder supplements. The best products we found had certain nutrients on the content labels, and here is what my dietitian said we should focus on:
Protein – Spirulina is a great source of vegan protein which covers a wide range of amino acids that your body needs to function properly [4].
Iron – Iron is one of the vital nutrients that a lot of vegans can lack in their early days of adopting this lifestyle. Because spirulina is so nutrient-dense, it has been proven to supply plenty of iron.[5]
Vitamins – You’ll find that the vitamin content of spirulina is very supportive of providing you with vitamins A, B12, and K. This can eliminate the need for many other supplements.
Related article: Plant-based multivitamins
Powder Vs. Capsules – In the above list, we provide options as both powder and capsules. Personally, I always stick to taking it the way nature intended, but if you really can’t handle the taste, then stick with the pills.
Now, let’s check out some of the benefits.
As I mentioned above, I never thought that I would ever feature algae in my diet. But once I found out about some of the health benefits of just a small dose of high quality spirulina powder, I was convinced.
Reduce Blood Pressure – Heart health is a serious issue these days. Upon reading several studies that linked spirulina to reduced blood pressure (see also ‘How Does Pre-Workout Affect High Blood Pressure?‘) [6], I was sold.
Detox – Spirulina is one of the most antioxidant-rich plant foods that you can find. If you have concerns over the accumulation of toxins in your body, maybe from years of eating meat, then this is a must-take supplement (see also ‘Performance Lab Mind Review’).
Spirulina is a fantastic source of antioxidants, which can protect against oxidative damage. Its main active component is called phycocyanin. This antioxidant substance also gives spirulina its unique blue-green color.
Joe Leach
Registered Dietitian
Weight Loss – This is another one of the important benefits for anyone struggling with maintaining their body weight. Studies have shown that after 3 months of taking this supplement, BMI in test groups went down [7].
The good news is that these simple algae are not known as a common allergen, and most people will tolerate the small amounts that you need to take. At the same time, it can be a good idea to try lower doses when you first start taking it.
If you notice some nausea or headaches, then it could be the spirulina supplement you chose, or it might simply take a few days for your body to adapt to these nutrients.
Take it easy at first, and once you lose some of the side effects, then you should be in a great position to really make improvements to your health. Also, some spirulina products may contain heavy metals, which can affect your overall health if taken in copious amounts.
The best time to take spirulina is first thing in the morning with your breakfast or a smoothie. This gives your body a boost to get you through the day by providing more energy.
Yes, spirulina is safe for the kidneys (see also ‘Can Certain Supplements Cause Kidney Stones?‘), unless you have underlying kidney issues. In that case, it’s best to talk to your doctor before you start taking these supplements.
You can make spirulina taste better by mixing it with fruit and veg that have a stronger taste. Creating veggie smoothies is a common option, and it will suppress even stronger tasting products.
No, spirulina won’t make you gain weight as you won’t be taking in large volumes of calories. It also has been shown to trigger metabolic processes that help reduce your body fat (see also our guide to tightening neck fat).
Yes, spirulina will break a fast as it will introduce both macro and micronutrients. With 70% of its content made up of protein, even a small amount will impact your fast.
Of all the best spirulina supplements we tested out, Organifi is the one we all eventually agreed deserves the #1 spirulina protein powder. It contains certified organic spirulina and many other green superfood blends, to support your overall health.
Between the positive online reviews, our own experience, and the fact that it has a very refreshing taste, it had us all convinced.
If you’ve taken any of the above products, then make sure you let us know on social media how it worked for you.
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