FAQ Module

Frequently Asked Questions

Since spirulina contains the full spectrum of minerals and vitamins, is it redundant to eat vegetables? Besides the fiber, are we already getting everything we need from the spirulina? Or do vegetables provide some additional benefit?

Does the pseudo vitamin B12 present in spirulina inhibit in some way the absorption of the active form of B12? For example if other B12 are taken as a complement or even the part of active B12 from Spirulina?

How much Raw Living Spirulina should I consume per day?

My “Use By Fresh” date was 2 days ago. It the product still OK to consume? Or do I need to throw it out.

I froze the entire jars for the last two I received. I see now it says NOT to freeze the whole jar. If I take it out to use, will it be okay?

Do I need to take “supplements” if I consume the minimum recommended amount of Raw Living Spirulina every day?

Based on our 7+ years of scientific data with Raw Living Spirulina, 50+ combined years of study in holistic nutritional health as Hippocrates Health Educators (Naturopathic doctors), working with thousands of people, examining hundreds of blood tests, both intracellular and CBC, before and after lifestyle changes including Raw Living Spirulina, thousands of hours listening to our customers, helping them through some of their most challenging times, and most of all our extreme journey deep in this lifestyle, our most confident and educated answer is this:

First Note: Raw Living Spirulina is not a “supplement.” It is a super-concentrated whole-living food that can replace all supplementation needs.

1. Healthy individuals on a 100% Whole Plant lifestyle with one ounce of Raw Living Spirulina every am, with adequate unblocked sunshine, a home organic garden, and no exposure to Chlorine, should not need to take any supplements.

2. For those above that may not have a home organic garden or receive enough sunshine, we recommend for most, that they take Vitamin B-12 3-4X per week of Methylcobalamin and Vitamin D. (We recommend Premier Research Labs for both)

3. For those below the above reference, we recommend that before randomly consuming any supplement, a Comprehensive Micronutrient Intracellular Blood Test (Spectracell Labs) should be completed to determine if one has any nutritional deficiencies. This test should be done after at least two months with no supplements for optimum results.

Once it is determined a true nutrient deficiency exists, it is recommended that one consume raw plant foods that contain these nutrients. After four months, we recommend having a follow-up test done. If the results still show the same low nutrient levels, and those foods were consumed, then whole food supplements can be an excellent temporary bridge option while evaluating the root cause.

Supplements should always be “whole food,” not synthetic. Unfortunately, approximately 95-97% of all supplements today are artificial. Synthetic nutrients are produced artificially in industrial processes and are commonly made from chemical ingredients such as coal tar and turpentine. Synthetic nutrients do not include “whole food supplements,” made from concentrated, dehydrated whole foods.

If your supplement is synthetic, you can check the label. Whole food supplement sources are labeled as made from 100% plants and do not include the word natural. They will also cost much more than the synthetic versions.

Supplements that list nutrients individually, such as vitamin C use chemical names like ascorbic acid and are most undoubtedly synthetic. Ascorbic acid is not Vitamin C. For example, scurvy disease is caused by a deficiency of Vitamin C. Taking even high amounts of ascorbic acid does not cure it; however, consuming an orange, lemon, or lime does.

Research consistently shows that synthetic nutrients are no replacement for a healthy plant lifestyle. Every moment 24/7/365, our 100 trillion cells require fresh raw materials to rebuild new cells, repair tissues and restore used energy. These nutrients are in high demand and must contain living enzymes for complete cellular function. Unfortunately, pills, powders, and potions do not have living enzymes, so our bodies must steal from other sources to use them. This process in itself is depleting.
Meanwhile, nutrients must be recognized and adequately absorbed into the bloodstream to have any effect internally. Consuming unrecognizable stuff does not trick your body into using something fake. Getting our nutrients from whole plant foods is always the best option.

However, taking a whole food supplement can be beneficial if you genuinely lack a specific nutrient, and you know for sure via intracellular blood tests.

Supplements should be considered “as additions to not in place of” and used only as a last resort.

Raw Living Spirulina is the optimal bridge for nutrient deficiencies in today’s food.

What is the best way to mix Raw Living Spirulina into liquid?

May I add freshly squeezed lemon juice to my morning Raw Living Spirulina?

What are the red pigments visible in Raw Living Spirulina?

Does Raw Living Spirulina contain the phytonutrient Astaxanthin?

How long can Raw Living Spirulina stay frozen in the freezer?

How does a single serving of Raw Living Spirulina correspond to 500mg tablets, nutritionally?

This is an impressive theoretical question, for sure.

1. All powder or tablet forms of Spirulina are not whole foods; they are isolated parts of the whole.

2. Most powders are not pure Spirulina, and tablets are not at all.

Tablets require the initial processing of a dry powder followed by secondary processing using binding agents to hold the ingredients (cellulose, magnesium iterate, silica, sodium starch glycolate, and silicon dioxide)) together.

3. Powders and tablet Spirulina are cooked in large spray drying machines, destroying most nutrients. What is left behind is mineral-based ash.

So, given that being said, and because of this, it is pretty difficult and unfair to mother nature to compare “apples to apples” in this sense.

Imagine Fresh Spirulina like a whole cucumber. If you bake it in the oven at 600 degrees for an hour, then put the remains into a blender, imagine what amount you would have left compared to the original cucumber.

As in most fruits and vegetables, the water content is quite a high percentage of the whole. This is because living nutrients are water or liquid-based. Each living Spirulina cell is like a tiny “water balloon.”

The living nutrients are what we absorb into our bloodstream to feed our cells while our body allows the dry material to pass down the system and be eliminated as waste.

When these cells are cooked in high temp processing at 202 C for 3-5 min. to make powders, the cell walls are exploded, allowing the liquid nutrients to spill out into the heat, which evaporates into the air leaving behind the dry substance. All the micr0-phytonutrients present in living Spirulina are fragile and destroyed with heating.

This dry powder is generally 1/8th the original weight of the whole cell.

The bioavailability of food is determined by many things, with water content given the highest value.

However, as stated above, even at 8X the powder, you will still need something remotely close to the original whole living cell nutritional value.

How long will the Raw Living Spirulina last after adding to a fresh green juice?

What if you vacuum seal the fresh juice in a mason jar (using the food saver jar sealer) – then keep it refrigerated/cold at 32 or fewer degrees – how long could the raw live spirulina last?

I am a Gerson patient trying to figure out the routine for each day
What I’m considering is making three green juices each morning to be consumed at 10a, 2 pm, and 7 pm

If the Spirulina cells are whole (not damaged – gently whisked or stirred into juice), they will hold their vitality and nutrients in the refrigerator much longer than the vegetable juice.

Juicing ruptures plant cells, which is why we have juice. This juice has no preservatives. The nutrients are exposed to air which causes oxidation and nutrient loss as the oxygen is dissolved into the air.

As the study showed a 50% loss of nutrients in green juices 30 minutes after juicing sitting in a jar at room temp.

The Spirulina are like tiny water balloons, so as long as the cells are whole and cold, they will hold their value until the cells break.

When the whole Spirulina cells are submerged into a liquid, depending on the temperature and ph of the liquid, the cells can last longer than just, for example, sitting in the jar in the open air.

Fresh Spirulina has a ph of 10.3 to 10-5, whereas most green juices range between 5 and 6.

Thirty-eight degrees is perfect for preserving the Spirulina for the most extended period.

Freezing accelerates the breakdown of the cells immediately upon freezing as ice crystals are formed that puncture the Raw Living Spirulina cell membranes.

Freezing puts the whole Spirulina cells into a state of suspended animation; however, upon thawing, these nutrients be exposed to air and degrade extremely fast, within minutes.

We highly recommend, if freezing, that the Spirulina be consumed within 5 minutes or less after thawing. Please don’t ever refreeze the Spirulina.

Making the three green juices in the am and adding the Fresh Spirulina to them, stirring gently with a whisk, then sealing them with an air-tight lid and keeping them cold until consuming each day works well.

Remember, the Fresh Spirulina is much more stable than the juices.

Can I blend Raw Living Spirulina into a smoothie?

Do you test the Raw Living Spirulina product as how the consumer would receive?

How much Raw Living Spirulina would you recommend for a stage IV cancer patient per day?

We are health educators and nutrition experts with over 25 years of individual experience and knowledge, following protocols that prevent malnutrition from leading to disease.

As this is not medical advice, we believe that cancer is the resulting cause of unnatural lifestyles of human behavior, creating a weak immune system.

So, given that, correcting these causes while cleaning the body is the fastest way to strengthen the immune system.

We live and teach the Hippocrates lifestyle and Gerson protocol for preventing disease and maintaining vitality.

In today’s toxic world, we need both, not just one or the other.

Raw Living Spirulina is a potent food as a 2-stage protocol, (1. cleansing & detoxifying) and (2. providing the micronutrients) required to support the immune system that defends ourselves from disease; it is also as important to follow a healthy lifestyle. Below are the top 6 things I can recommend to give the body the best chance. 1: Eliminate all animal products, including dairy (no cheese, milk, or eggs) 2. Eliminate all processed foods 3. Eliminate all added salt, oil (except flax), and sugar. 4: Eliminate all synthetic supplements. (take high-quality natural supplements only when determined by Spectra-cell blood test of deficiencies not affected by whole food) 5. Consume high amounts of organic plants in the form of fresh raw juice. (slow masticating juicer) 6. Daily cleansing via coffee enemas, one after every 3rd juice (min 2 per day)

Consuming: 3 options. We recommend using the fresh Raw Living Spirulina. Mix 1 ounce (1 tablespoon) of RLS into 8 ounces of fresh juice or water immediately using a whisk.

1. Complete fast (min 3 days) to ….. (3 days to empty the digestive system, burn off carbohydrates as a primary fuel source).

3-7 days to cleanse and rebuild intracellular fluids.

Qty: 3/4 to 1.5 pounds per day (1 jar = 1 pound) during the fast, plus pure Springwater or distilled water in the glass.

2. Daily with juicing after fast: 4 ounces per day as daily protocol (per Dr. Vickers of Gerson cancer clinic)

3. When healthy: 1 ounce per day for maintenance

I am wondering how the freshness of your product is retained in shipping, doesn’t it need to be refrigerated shortly after being harvested?

What is the percentage amount of Spirulina inside the fresh paste? eg: x% Spirulina, x% water?

First, it is essential to understand two perspectives.

Intracellular and extracellular

Spirulina, in its whole live form, is a cell. Think of them as tiny water balloons. If we were to place a water balloon into a bowl of water, we would have intracellular (water inside the balloon) and extracellular (the water outside the balloon)

The nutrient-dense fluid inside the cell (phycocyanin, chlorophyll, etc.) is primarily water-based, as all cells are. This living fluid is held in suspension by the cell membrane.

Water (extracellular) surrounding the cell would be the medium in which the Spirulina is grown (tank, lake, greenhouse, etc.)

Immediately after harvest, our fresh Raw Living Spirulina is drained and carefully rinsed with our highly filtered Springwater.

It is then drained a second time using a unique system that concentrates the living Spirulina to 35 Billion cells per pound while removing most of the excess rinse water, leaving behind approx. 2-3% of the extracellular rinse water.

We then allow the fresh Spirulina to drain while being chilled overnight in refrigeration systems. This allows almost all of the remaining 2-3% rinse water to drain off while the Spirulina is cooled from the 90+ degree growth systems to approx. 36 degrees.

The intracellular fluid is not damaged or destroyed (as with all other Spirulina processing methods) and is still contained within the cell membrane.

At this point, the Spirulina is a fresh living paste with less than 1% extracellular water. It is then carefully packed by hand in glass jars packed into custom coolers with ice bricks and shipped that same day via FedEx Express for 1-2 days.

There are other Spirulina (Algae) products available. Frozen Spirulina packets are 50-60% extracellular water due to the need for the re-addition of water to make a wet slurry, so the product will pass through small tubes in the machines that make the frozen packets. These products contain approx: 15 Billion cells per pound held in suspended animation by the ice crystals.

So to answer your question, Raw Living Spirulina is 99% (+/- 1%) living Spirulina cells and 1% (+/- 1%) extracellular water.

Living Spirulina cells are 81% Intracellular Fluid by Nature and 19% total solids.

How does Raw Living Spirulina effect the Immune system?

Spirulina To Be An Effective Immunomodulator

The blue-green algae Spirulina commonly referred to as a superfood due to its high concentration of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and proteins is an effective Immunomodulator (an agent that can dramatically affect the behavior of our immune cells.)

This blue-green alga is a freshwater plant that is now one of the most researched and most talked superfoods in history.

So, let’s take a closer look at Raw Living Spirulina, why exactly you may want to consider adding it to your routine and how can it impact your immune system?

Spirulina Superfood

Spirulina has incredible nutritional value as it has been described as the most nutrient-dense food on earth meaning that it’s packed with vital nutrients, many not found in our everyday common foods. Beyond its impressive vitamin, mineral, and antioxidant content, Spirulina is a complete protein meaning it has all the essential amino acids our body needs to rebuild new cells and repair damaged ones.

Spirulina is specifically a great source of vitamin B1 which we need for energy and brain health and digesting fats and proteins.

It’s also a phenomenal source of absorbable and digestive friendly iron (non-heme) and has about 25 times more calcium than milk.

Spirulina gets its green color from chlorophyll which is the key chemical for plants to make energy from sunlight. Chlorophyll boosts red blood cells, fights cancer, and helps slow down the signs of aging. Chlorophyll is a great source of vitamin A, C, E, and K as well as minerals like potassium, magnesium and fatty acids like GLA, difficult to find in food sources. GLA is a powerful anti-inflammatory and along with the omega-3 fatty acids in Spirulina, can lower cholesterol, blood pressure, and the risk of stroke.

Spirulina isn’t just some ancient remedy from a thousand-year-old book. It has got modern science behind it. To date, there are over 2000 peer-reviewed scientific articles evaluating its health benefits. One of the top reasons to consume Spirulina is that it is known as an immune booster due to its high content of chlorophyll.

Immune System

The immune system is our friend. It protects our body from infection. Give it your full support and, as with any friend, there will be perks.

The immune system is an interactive network of organs, cells, and proteins that protect the body from viruses and bacteria or any foreign substances. The main tasks of the body’s immune system are:

To neutralize and remove pathogens like bacteria, viruses, parasites or fungi that enter the body,
To recognize and neutralize harmful substances from the environment, and
To fight against disease-causing changes in the body, such as cancer cells.

Without an immune system, we would have no way to fight harmful invaders that enter our bodies from the outside or harmful changes that occur inside our bodies.

The immune system can be activated by a lot of different things that the body doesn’t recognize as its own. These are called antigens. Examples of antigens include the proteins on the surfaces of bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses. When these antigens attach to special receptors on the immune cells (immune system cells), a whole series of processes are triggered in the body. Once the body has come into contact with a disease-causing germ for the first time, it usually stores information about the germ and how to fight it. Then, if it comes into contact with the germ again, it recognizes the germ straight away and can start fighting it faster.

In other words, having a strong immune system will help your body heal fast and will also protect and prevent your body from getting ill.

Spirulina as Immunomodulator

Many preclinical and clinical studies suggest that Raw Living Spirulina (and its major active compound phycocyanin) has immunomodulatory activities. We know that phycocyanin and β-carotene are important active ingredients in Raw Living Spirulina and that they contribute to their immunomodulatory properties.

Dysfunctional immunity causes many diseases in humans, including atherosclerosis, cardiac hypertrophy, heart failure, and hypertension. Thus, the immunomodulatory activities of Raw Living Spirulina may play an important role in human health.

According to Qureshi and Ali 1996; Mao et al. 2000; Gad et al. 2011; Khan et al. 2005, studies were done on animals show that Spirulina is a powerful stimulator of the immune system.

In another study done on humans by Mao et al. (2000), Spirulina has marked immunomodulatory effects. They showed that there was a significant increase in IL-1β, IL-4, and interferon (IFN)-γ production by PBMCs by almost 2.0, 3.3, and 13.6 times basal levels. Together, increases in these cytokines suggest that Spirulina is a strong proponent for protecting against intracellular pathogens and parasites and can potentially increase the expression of agents that stimulate inflammation, which also helps to protect the body against infectious and potentially harmful micro-organisms.

An in vivo study showed that when mice suffering from systemic candidiasis and breast cancer were treated with Spirulina for 3 days, the expression of genes encoding IL-4 and IL-10 was significantly reduced, whereas that of genes encoding IL-17, TNF-α, and IFN-γ was markedly increased (Shokri et al. 2014).

In another study, Chen et al. (2014) puriﬁed phycocyanin from Spirulina using power plant ﬂue gas. The immunomodulatory activity of the puriﬁed molecule was then examined using the murine macrophage cell line, J774A. They found that phycocyanin increased the secretion of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 by J774A cells, along with the expression of IL-1β and COX-2 proteins. In addition, both Spirulina and phycocyanin inhibited expression of inﬂammation-related genes by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV-2 microglial cells.

Spirulina also affects the immune response in healthy, elderly male and female human subjects. Spirulina supplementation resulted in a signiﬁcant rise in plasma IL-2 concentrations in both male and female subjects, along with a marked reduction in IL-6 concentrations (Park et al. 2008.)

Anemia and immunosenescence are common in older subjects. A working group led by Dr. Gershwin (Selmi et al. 2011) suspected that Spirulina might ameliorate anemia and immunosenescence in senior citizens. Therefore, they treated volunteers (>50 years old) with Spirulina for 12 weeks. They found that the levels of corpuscular hemoglobin had increased in both sexes after this time. Moreover, the majority of subjects showed an increased indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase enzyme activity, a sign of immune function, along with an increased white blood cell count, after 6 and 12 weeks of Spirulina supplementation respectively. Thus, Spirulina appears to ameliorate anemia and immunosenescence in older subjects.

Taken together, data from the studies reviewed in this section show that Spirulina and its active compound, phycocyanin, show immunomodulatory activity. Both stimulate the production of antibodies and up- or downregulate the expression of genes encoding IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IFN-γ, IL-17, and TNF-α. In addition, it may be that the reported tumoricidal effects of Spirulina are mediated indirectly via increased production of TNF-α and IFN-γ. Although Spirulina appears to ameliorate immunosenescence in older subjects, further human studies with larger cohorts are needed to support this conclusion.

To evaluate the effects of Spirulina on the immune system, the UC Davis immunologists collected blood samples from 12 healthy volunteers, separating out the peripheral blood mononuclear cells. These cells, which include macrophages, monocytes, and lymphocytes, including B and T cells, work as a team to mount an immune response. “People have used Spirulina throughout history says Judy Van de Water, associate professor of rheumatology, allergy and clinical immunology at UC Davis. “Through research, we are learning exactly how this superfood improves immune system function and how it is a beneficial addition to our diet.”

Woon et al. 2013 investigated the Spirulina that was grown in deep seawater. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential of using deep-sea water to enhance the anticancer and immunomodulatory activities of Spirulina. Finally, Spirulina grown in deep seawater resulted in high anticancer activities because of the significantly high β-Carotene and ascorbic acid contents.

Raw Living Spirulina

Very often we are asked what kind of water do we use to grow Raw Living Spirulina. Our water source originates from the center Floridian Aquifer which is sandwiched between the surface aquifer and the ultra-deepwater by different subterranean layers and is accessed from between 400 and 800 feet below the surface. It naturally rises to the surface on the farm under high pressure. It is also highly mineralized making it ideal for Spirulina and the subsequent nutritional value. Vero Beach is known to have some of the best water in Florida which is another reason why we chose this location. Our water also does not contain chlorine, fluoride, or harsh chemicals found in municipal water systems.

Research continues to uncover more and more potential benefits of Spirulina, and studies have shown that adding Spirulina to your routine could strengthen your immune system.

Who should consume Raw Living Spirulina?

Why don’t you cultivate chlorella?

Why doesn’t my Doctor know the about Raw Living Spirulina?

What is the serving size for complete daily nutrition?

What is the bioavailability difference of powdered Spirulina to Raw Living Spirulina?

Does Spirulina affect Kidney stones?

I am inquiring about parasites existing in the product due to it being “living”? I was advised by my MD not to drink raw milk because it is an unsafe product.

A parasite is is an organism that lives on or in a host organism. Parasites do not generally live on plants as they need to get their food at the expense of the host. Since plants do not eat, (they draw nutrients from the soil or water ) parasites don’t live on or in plants.

Parasites are found in animals as the animal feeds itself (the host) so the parasite can live inside while getting a constant supply of nutrients from that host. People become infected with parasites by consuming animal products, mainly meat and especially fish. Cooking the meat will not kill 100% of the parasites. Also, people with pets have shown 100% in tests to have parasites.

Although consuming raw milk, probably won’t give you parasites, it will, however, cause many other serious health problems. Consuming milk other than our mother’s milk (from ages 0-2) is the only milk humans should ever consume in their lifetime. Here is a great video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcN7SGGoCNI

We have our Raw Living Spirulina regularly tested at multiple USDA/FDA labs to make sure there are no harmful organisms, etc. to worry about. These are extensive tests that take weeks to complete. The results are shared on our Laboratory page.

Spirulina is a monoculture, which means it dominants is the environment. It only grows in very high PH water (10-10.5) where most other organisms can not survive.

For this and many other reasons, Spirulina is the only algae declared safe by the FDA and is GRAS certified.

Below is a study by UC Davis that showed that Spirulina actually protects the body from parasites.

https://health.ucdavis.edu/publish/news/newsroom/2658

“Together, increases in these cytokines suggest that spirulina is a strong proponent for protecting against intracellular pathogens and parasites and can potentially increase the expression of agents that stimulate inflammation, which also helps to protect the body against infectious and potentially harmful micro-organisms.

Is the plastic covering your Spirulina greenhouse safe?

1. The plastic covering the greenhouse is a biofilm used in all greenhouses to produce food. It is food grade.

It has 2 main purposes.

1. It creates a barrier between the air and the water the Spirulina grows in to keep out any unwanted substances that may be in the rain and the air from above. Most commercial Spirulina farms grow in open systems that are constantly inundated with birds that land in the ponds as well as small animals that get in and die then decay in the ponds until they are scooped out each week.

These companies don’t care too much about this because they incinerate the Spirulina in Spray drying machines after harvest which kills any foreign harmful decaying substances along with killing all the living nutrients.

2. The covering also provides a sun control system that we can adjust as needed. During the summer we add an extra layer to filter out the intense sun while in the winter we require more sun so we use the minimum thickness. Glass is transparent to visible light which blocks nearly all UVB rays because the energy of a photon is insufficient to raise the electrons in the glass to a high enough energy level to cause them to interact with the photons. The Spirulina requires both UVA and UVB rays to be healthy and strong.

We want to have as close to full control over our growing systems as possible so we do everything necessary to maintain this. This is the only way the USDA/FDA will allow us to offer this product to the consumer, it must be super pure and clean.

We constantly have our water, Spirulina, and our nutrients tested by third-party labs and share that information on the site for all to see.

Link here. https://www.rawlivingspirulina.com/laboratory-tests/

We are Hippocrates health Educators who are extremely serious about what we consume personally. We don’t eat at restaurants, we don’t shop at grocery stores. We grow all our own food and drive 1000 miles every 3 months just to collect our own Springwater in Back Mountain NC. All our clothes are organic, the paint in our homes is Natura. We do not use any cleaning chemicals, etc. etc. So if there was anything remotely unsafe or harmful in our Spirulina we would not be consuming a pound a day.

What is the red phytonutrient in Spirulina?

Are there any possible side effects with consuming Raw Living Spirulina?

Consuming fresh Raw Living Spirulina has a two-tier effect in the body. The first is a powerful detoxification process as the high levels of chlorophyll acts as a magnet to pull and scrub the epithelium lining of the digestive tract. In doing this the (blue liquid inside the cell) phycocyanin acts as a lubricant (Omega oils) as the mucus and lining debris is scrubbed and removed as these living cells pass down the to the lower intestines. This process of cleansing can result in an abrupt change in the mucosa lining triggering an immediate need to release these toxins as excess undigested fecal matter from the colon becomes very liquid as the body tries to dilute this rush of toxins into the colon.

If there is not a good free-flowing clean digestive track from top to bottom and a backup somewhere along the pathway, in the mid to upper section, the Spirulina may become trapped in the stomach where it will go to work cleaning. This process can release toxins in the upper system and possibly cause an unsettled feeling in the stomach. Although very rare, nausea may occur under these situations. Be sure to consume first thing in the am on empty stomach.

Once the entire digestive becomes internally clean, the living spirulina cells are broken much higher up in the digestive tract where the nutrients are almost immediately absorbed into the body. This is the second tier phase and the normal pathway of living food transport to the cells.

When this phase occurs the nutrients go to work inside the body vs in the digestive tract. Here, toxins that have been accumulating in the cells, tissues, and organs of the body begin to be released into the blood and lymph fluids. As these toxins travel around inside they can trigger various detox symptoms such as headaches to skin rashes. This is also a sign of internal cleansing vs digestive cleansing.

Drinking lots of clean water, citric fruits, fresh coconut water, charcoal, can help bind and flush out these wastes. Infrared sauna, exercise, skin scrubbing and massage (guasha) will also help move these towards the exit.

As many of us are in tune with our bodies, most are unaware of the body’s natural process as many times as good processes. For example, a fever is the body’s natural way of protecting itself and keeping the immune system strong. When a rush of toxins is released the body will naturally trigger immune responses to protect itself. It’s like scrubbing the inside of a fish tank. It looks clear until you start moving around the bottom.

One thing we suggest and highly recommend is colon hydrotherapy. This process is essential in today’s world of “foodstuff” to keep the inside “pipes” clean. If you haven’t had this done before I would suggest at least one time prior to consuming the Spirulina if you have been consuming the standard American diet of processed and cooked animal products.

Detoxification is essential to keep the body healthy and fresh living food is the best way to renew and revitalize the entire body. Because everyone’s lifestyle is different it is impossible to predict what if any effects each will have. If you feel that you may have high toxicity, begin with 1/2 tablespoon for the first 2-3 days.

How long is fresh Raw Living Spirulina safe to consume in the refrigerator?

Why do you recommend consuming Raw Living Spirulina on an empty stomach and waiting 15 minutes before eating solid food?

Is Fresh Raw Living Spirulina a high Oxalate superfood?

Over the years, we have received a few questions in the Spirulina about Oxalates. Oxalates are an anti-nutrient that can cause mineral absorption issues with kidney stones. Oxalates can be formed by high-fiber plant foods in the lower digestive tract, mainly in the colon, but can also occur in the kidneys and other parts of the urinary tract. For most people, these compounds are then eliminated in the stool or urine. Spirulina contains no fiber. There is no cellulose structure to the cell membrane, so as a whole fresh food quickly permeates through the epithelial cell lining in the upper digestive system, which is why we highly recommend consuming it on an empty stomach.

Below is a research article published by the National Institute of Health regarding this and their results showing that Phycocyanin in Spirulina protects cells from Oxalates.

C-phycocyanin Protects MDCK Cells from Oxalate-Induced Loss of Mitochondrial Membrane Potential

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3972226/

http://www.aulamedica.es/nh/pdf/9001.pdf

Minerals

The inorganic nutrients of most relevance in Spirulina are iron, calcium, and phosphorous. People tend to consume a significant number of fiber foods that contain phytates and oxalates, which, in turn, lower the bioavailability of iron in vegetables.

Spirulina could be able to counteract these two aspects: a) its iron content is substantially high: comparatively, cereals –which are usually considered good sources of iron– contain between 150-250 mg/kg; blue-green algae contains about 580-1800 mg/kg; b) algae does not have pericardium (as cereals do), hence it does not present phytates/oxalates that could chelate iron and lower its absorption (this is what happens, for example, with spinach).

The relative proportion (Ca:P) of these micronutrients is compatible.

The preservation of bone health since it reduces

the decalcification risk. Moreover, as was previously

As stated, the cyanobacterium of interest is an oxalate-free

Plant food, thus –as with iron- provides calcium

With high availability; thus it improves its absorption.

Is the use by date on the jar lid an immediate shelf life deterioration or is there further days of its lifecycle?

The use-by date is an estimated approximation average time that the cellular structure of the cells stays whole. Fresh Spirulina cells do not contain a cellulose fiber cell structure to them as vegetables do. Imagine them like tiny water balloons.

Fresh Spirulina contains a phospholipid bilayer cell membrane which is where phospholipid molecules orient to provide qualities necessary to maintain a cell in a water-based environment. It consists of two layers of phospholipids, with a hydrophobic, or water-hating, interior, and a hydrophilic, or water-loving, exterior.

This cell membrane is made up of fatty acids. The thickness and strength of the membrane are determined by the amount of sunlight the cells get during their growth time. This acts as its protective shield to the cell which regulates the number of molecules that pass into and out of the cell. As the sunshine time increases the cell membranes’ fatty acid strength and structure increases and the protein (phycocyanin) decreases. As the sunshine decreases (rainy or cloudy days) the cell membrane fatty acids decrease and the protein (phycocyanin) increases.

Many times during the hot sunny summer months we see the Spirulina last over a month in the refrigerator without any cellular breakdown while some cold cloudy days in the winter we have seen it last only a few days. We do our best to grow the strongest most vital Spirulina in the Florida sun however the much of this is determined by mother nature.

Fresh Spirulina is dominantly a blue-green organism (algae). The green (chlorophyll) is primarily near the cell membrane and the blue (phycocyanin) is the main protein liquid filling up the inside.

When the Spirulina is harvested the cell membrane is whole providing the perfect protection and structure for the cell and the color is a very beautiful green. Because the Spirulina is a water-based organism its structure is designed to keep the structure whole in its natural environment – the water. When we remove it from its environment its natural qualities begin to slowly breakdown.

As each day passes the cell membrane gets thinner and weaker. Gradually, the inside blue phycocyanin begins to show thorough becoming more dominant over the original green. You may see the green get darker, then mostly dark blue, then when the cells start popping, you may see this blue liquid collecting in the jar which is a sign that you should speed up consuming.

The blue liquid in the jar will begin to ferment (like sauerkraut, yogurt, etc.) as it has no preservatives nor any enzymatic sterilizations, turning it into a probiotic. This is not harmful at all, however, it can be quite powerful for some as the body allows it to pass down through the lower digestive system instead of absorbing it into the blood through the stomach membrane, as it does normally when it is whole.

We have had the Spirulina tested many times by the USDA/FDA labs and it has always shown completely safe at 61 days in the refrigerator. Those laboratory test results and others are available on the website for anyone to see.

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.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3824145/

https://www.biotech-asia.org/vol9no1/heavy-metals-concentration-in-commercially-available-spirulina-products/

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.

What can I do to protect the frost building up on the Spirulina in the freezer?

What form of Magnesium is contained in Spirulina? I understand that different forms are available, and I am taking two Magnesium supplements that I’m wondering if Spirulina provides.

Would consumption of Raw Living Spirulina around mid-day (after one has already consumed breakfast) still be beneficial?

What’s the best ratio of spirulina to water when freezing into cubes?

What can I expect to feel after consuming?

Raw Living Spirulina has a synergistic dual pathway approach to our systems. This pathway can be an inward direction as well as an outward within the body.

Depending on your diet and lifestyle, where you live and other internal factors the amounts of these pathways can vary.

On a scale from 1-10:

1 = super clean perfectly healthy, 100% raw plant organic-based food, with perfect biometrics, and lived outside in the sunshine in the jungle. (Yea, doesn’t apply to too many)

10 = toxic sick, 100% cooked animal foods, disease, and living in the center of a city, no sunshine.

The person at a 1 would feel 100% beautiful energy (phycocyanin) almost instantly. They would feel a clean high with no side effects or disruptions internally. The nutrients would enter and feed the cells, (inward cellular direction).

The person at 10 would feel 100% detox (chlorophyll) almost instantly. They would experience disruptions in the entire body. As the scrubbing and cleaning action works to clear the system. The nutrients would not enter the cells, (outward cellar direction).

A person at a 5 may or may not experience detox symptoms nor feel dramatic energy until the body moves toward a more dominant direction.

Detox symptoms can include feeling nauseous, headache, sluggish, skin rashes, diarrhea, etc.

These symptoms will subside in time as the body cleans the house as long as the reintroduction of toxic substances stops. Raw Living Spirulina will always move a person towards a number 1. Toxic lifestyle choices will move the body towards a 10.

When detox. symptoms occur it is important to drink lots of clean water and organic citrus fruits. (Springwater in glass), get lots of good sleep and allow the body to eliminate the debris. Helping the body through colon hydrotherapy, infrared sauna, skin scrubbing, vacation to #1 locations, will help accelerate this journey.

Be sure to consume the Raw Living Spirulina on an empty stomach first thing in the am.

Be sure to use it all with 14 days from the date of harvest if kept in the refrigerator. (Usually 12-13 days from the date you receive)

Use within 3 months if frozen.

Is Raw Living Spirulina really alive?

Do you ship internationally?

Do you offer wholesale pricing?

How do you keep Raw Living Spirulina cold during shipping?

When do you harvest and ship orders?

How much should I consume per day for a full fasting detox?

When is the best time to consume Raw Living Spirulina?

What does Raw Living Spirulina taste like?

Do you offer tours of the farm?

I live locally can I pick up from the farm?

How to I thaw the frozen cubes for use?

Does Raw Living Spirulina help with heavy metal detox?

Yes, Spirulina is rich in Chlorophyll (10x more than wheatgrass). Chlorophyll is a great absorber of heavy metals like a sponge. However, if the Spirulina is not clean and pure it may already be saturated with heavy metals from where and how it is grown, especially in countries out the USA.

The first thing we recommend would be to look into a heavy metal blood test or hair sample results to confirm the presence of excessive heavy metals in the body. Once this is known for sure and depending on the amounts and symptoms, I would develop a lifestyle protocol to eliminate as best as possible all foods, creams, lotions, shampoos, clothing, soaps, water, home, etc. that would be causing this. This should be the first step.

Second would be (based on the levels) to apply a detox protocol. Glutathione is one of the best for this. Infrared Sauna, lots of clean water, (distilled in glass) or natural spring in a glass, colon hydrotherapy is essential to move the toxins out once they are removed from the tissues. The elimination channels must be kept very clean. No animal foods at all. They contain very high concentrated levels of heavy metals, especially fish.

Skin scrubbing, removing the dead skin cells, so sweating can occur naturally. Sweating is one of the best ways to eliminate heavy metals.

The body is pretty good at elimination if the pathways are clean and the intake levels are reduced.

Our Raw Living Spirulina was fully tested by Kappa Labs, a USDA/FDA certified laboratory in Miami Florida and tested to have NO heavy metals. This is very important as the sponge is clean and free to absorb what is inside the body.

Spirulina reduced urine radioactivity levels by 50% in only 20 days

https://shadowproof.com/2011/03/27/spirulina-dropped-radioactive-urinary-excretion-levels-of-chernobyl-victims-50-in-20-days/

Heavy Metals concern for human health.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4303853/

Glutathione is one of the best for heavy metal detox. This is the best one we have found and one we use. https://hippocratesinst.org/shop/glutathione-oral-4-oz

https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2016/06/19/heavy-metal-detoxification.aspx

It is very important to stay away from Spirulina powders especially those grown outside of the US, which is mostly because of the high levels of heavy metals in them. Spirulina is like a sponge. It absorbs whatever it comes in contact with, whether that be good nutrients or heavy metals. Most Spirulina is grown in open ponds in very polluted areas such as China, and India where the water and air are not safe.

Below is a list of the heavy metals found in Spirulina powders/tablets, etc.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3824145/

Do you sell powdered Spirulina?

Are there any known interactions with medications, herbs, supplements or other foods?

Is Raw Living Spirulina good to use as an implant?

Is Raw Living Spirulina good for the skin?

How was the price value established for Raw Living Spirulina?

What is the difference between Spirulina and Chlorella?

Why is there a sugar content in some powdered Spirulina products?

What is the definition of the word “Raw” Food?

What is the difference between “Raw” Living Spirulina and “Raw” powdered Spirulina?

How does Raw Living Spiruliuna method of harvesting differ from other Spirulina operations?

How do you grow Raw Living Spirulina?

How do you harvest Raw Living Spirulina?

Is Raw Living Spirulina certified organic?

Although you may see the term “Organic” on some Spirulina products online and in stores, the truth is that Spirulina is a plant that grows in water, something akin to hydroponics. So that being said, it is not the intention of the USDA to deem an aquatic plant Organic…it must grow in soil to fall under the guidelines of the definition.

Organic-labeled Spirulina uses animal waste (Urea – Cow Urine) as a fertilizer in the water; it’s ONLY grown outside the USA, usually in China and India, resulting in high contaminants & heavy metals, bad taste & smell (from processing and storage), and is irradiated upon entering the USA. Watch out for organic Spirulina claiming it’s manufactured in the USA – meaning bottled, not grown. Raw Living Spirulina uses 100% earth-based nitrates & no pesticides, herbicides, or GMOs, producing the cleanest, highest-quality fresh Spirulina.

There is still a debate on how the USDA will resolve the issue, so until then, we will continue to grow organically but only hold certification once a ruling has been made. Our Raw Living Spirulina is grown in fresh spring water that we control. We use only natural & organic plant-derived nutrient food in our growing medium.

It’s important to explain “organic standards” regarding spirulina. USDA organic standards were developed for dirt-and-soil farming. Spirulina is an “aquaculture” crop, meaning it’s grown in large pools of water, not dirt.

Spirulina requires an abundant nitrogen and carbon source, and the USDA says that organic farmers need to use manure compost as that nitrogen source. That would be gross in large pools of water. You wouldn’t want us to dump cow manure into large pools of our spirulina tanks to label it “organic,” would you? Yet, that’s what the USDA wants spirulina growers to do as part of being considered organic.

Raw Living Spirulina is BETTER THAN ORGANIC. We use clean sources of nitrogen and phosphorous that have nothing to do with animal feces. We wouldn’t even think of dumping animal waste into our pools! That would increase the bacteria count and contaminate the entire crop.

That’s why our spirulina is not “certified organic.” In our view, it’s CLEANER than organic, and no animal feces is used in its production (thank goodness). We always choose organic when it comes to soil-grown foods like berries, non-GMO, etc., but when it comes to aquaculture (i.e., foods grown in pools of water), the USDA organic standards make no sense. (The USDA needs to update its organic standards for aquaculture radically.)

Here is a video from our Microbiologist, who explains this very well.

https://www.rawlivingspirulina.com/how-its-grown/

How do you insure quality control of your product?

My Raw Living Spirulina is turning blue/purple color, is this normal?

Does freezing Raw Living Spirulina effect the nutrients?

The primary thing freezing does to the living spirulina is stop the cells’ enzymatic life energy.

Freezing is like suspended animation of the nutrients. Freezing whole fresh Raw Living Spirulina does rupture some of the cells; however, it does not destroy the nutrition like heating (powdered). Freezing reduces the nutritional value by approximately 5% immediately upon freezing, and there is roughly a 5% monthly loss. Home freezers go through regular defrost cycles and thus will further degrade the nutrient value of the Spirulina over time, so it is best to consume within three months after freezing.

Note: Most frozen vegetables and fruits in bags in grocery stores have been blanched (dipped in boiling water) to kill all enzymatic life before freezing.

Freezing commercial (algae) involves the pre-rupturing of cells in powerful centrifuges that destroy the cells, which is done due to the location that has grown and the problems with contamination in these watershed reservoirs.

Algae companies store frozen products for months to years before thawing, packaging, and refreezing. During this process, water is generally added to the thawed product to dilute the breakdown of cells during this lengthy processing to give the product a more uniform refreezing effect and to increase profit margins by cutting the original density.

The cell structure stays intact when freezing is done naturally, wholly, and correctly without processing. We have thawed our frozen Raw Living Spirulina, looked at the thawed cells under the microscope in our laboratory, and have consistently seen whole cells. We have also been able to regrow the thawed cell after they were frozen for many months.

We have thawed many other frozen algae products and have found that the cells are not whole and will not re-grow.

Yes, frozen is way way better than any powder.

When you freeze your fresh Raw Living Spirulina at home, you are assured that you are freezing a whole new product in its pure living form. You know the date it was harvested, how it was frozen, and when it was frozen; you are in complete control. Also, I would like to assure you that no processing or expected dilution was done to the product, and there was no thawing or refreezing during transport and storage.

What if I can’t consume all of the product within the freshness time?

What is the “shelf life” of Raw Living Spirulina?

How long will Raw Living Spirulina stay fresh in the refrigerator?

Are there any concerns consuming Raw Living Spirulina if I have a shellfish allergy?

Do your test Raw Living Spirulina for BMAA?

Is Raw Living Spirulina good for weight loss?

Is Raw Living Spirulina good for pets?

Is it possible to survive on Raw Living Spirulina alone?

Is Raw Living Spirulina safe to consume?

What is the best way to consume Raw Living Spirulina?

What do institutions say about Spirulina?

How much protein is in Raw Living Spirulina?

What is the blue in Spirulina?

What is the green in Spirulina?

What is Raw Living Spirulina?

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