Have you ever heard of Psyllium Husk or Spirulina? Yeah me either. As an avid smoothie drinker, an old co-worker turned homeopathic homegirl of mine mentioned that she puts both ingredients in her smoothies as well. The names were a little intimidating to me, but I took the time to do some more research on exactly what they were and their health benefits. Health is wealth, right?
Spirulina is actually a type of cyanobacteria, which is also referred to as blue-green algae. It comes in a deep green powder form, and all you need is a tablespoon every day to reap the benefits. According to Healthline.com, a single tablespoon contains the following nutrients below:
Protein: 4 grams
Vitamin B1 (thiamine): 11% of the recommended daily allowance
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin): 15% of the recommended daily allowance
Vitamin B3 (niacin): 4% of the recommended daily allowance
Copper: 21% of the recommended daily allowance
Iron: 11% of the recommended daily allowance
It also contains decent amounts of magnesium, potassium, manganese, and small amounts of almost every other nutrient that you need.
Spirulina may also improve muscle strength and endurance (which is needed as I train for the Shamrock Shuffle), improve symptoms of allergic rhinitis, reduce blood pressure, and many other health benefits. You can read more about Spirulina here.
Psyllium Husk is a type of fiber made from the husks of the Plantago ovata plant’s seeds and is essentially nature’s laxative. It comes in a powder or wafer form and basically soaks up the water in your gut and makes going to the bathroom a little easier. Psyllium helps with weight loss (obviously) and helps to manage your cholesterol levels. More information about the supplement can be found here. I usually order the powders from Amazon, but they can also be purchased at your local health food store.
Here’s to a healthier you!