In the raw food movement, the subject of adequate protein consumption is always up for debate.  What is not up for debate though, is the current state of livestock raised for food consumption. The majority of livestock are inhumanely slaughtered, and their bodies are ridden with chemicals, pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, genetic modification and so on - a far cry from a natural life!

Sustainable

People of the world are realizing a desire to protect the earth, and are choosing to do it in different ways such as simply recycling, composting or choosing organic foods. Cutting back on meat eating is yet another very significant way of lifting the burden of destructive factory farming, which is a step in protecting our world.  You may have heard of “eating low on the food chain.”  The food chain starts with the smallest of living organisms and moves its way up to the largest of beasts. Choosing foods higher up the food chain, such as large animals, means more accumulation of toxins. A primarily raw food diet, such as vegetables, which is low on the food chain, helps to keep our ingestion of toxic compounds at a minimal.

Try making the change to lower food chain items. You might be worried about insufficient protein intake, but there are many sources of plants that are rich in protein. 

As we look back in history we find many paths to sustainable nutrition when meat was not readily available. One source was spirulina; a single-cell, blue-green spiral algae.  It was a steady food source for millions of Aztec people and also a staple for African people who called their wild spirulina “dihe”.

Nutrient Dense

Fundamentally, spirulina is at the bottom of the entire food chain and thus provides food for all living beings on the earth.  It contains a vast array of nutrients which include protein, vitamins, chlorophyll, minerals, essential fatty acids and antioxidants, just to name a few.  Spirulina is a complete protein source and has the highest protein concentration (by weight) of any food.  It is a superfood that contains a whopping 65-71% protein!

In comparison, animal proteins must be well cooked to kill the presence of any harmful bacteria.  Some research also suggests that up to 50% of the protein in meats is lost when the food is cooked.  Spirulina, on the other hand, is a raw source of protein and is easy digested and assimilated into the body.  Gram for gram, it is 4 times more absorbable than beef and contains just as much iron.  Another bonus; the brilliant blue-green pigments also signify high-antioxidant protection against free radical damage.  

Easy To Use

Spirulina has a mild flavour but is easily masked when blended into water, smoothies, soups or salad dressing.  A little goes a long way - an average adult dose would be 2-3 teaspoons daily.

Even as a substitution for animal protein once or twice a week, spirulina is a cheaper and more humane, sustainable, eco-friendly, and pure raw vegan option to help support our planet and to support a strong and healthy body.  Got spirulina?

Rachel Hynd