Spirulina vs Matcha - The Trendy Showdown

Key points: 

• The two most common green powders available on the market today are spirulina and matcha. Both of them are staples in the diets of many people, and both offer many health benefits.
• Spirulina is a superfood known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It can improve muscle endurance, help with anemia, maintain blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and is rich in essential vitamins and minerals. Studies also suggest that spirulina can be a potential anti-cancer treatment. 
• Matcha is a type of green tea rich in antioxidants. Matcha also contains more chlorophyll than regular green tea. It can lower the risk of chronic diseases as well as reduce cholesterol levels, and aid in weight loss.

Spirulina and matcha are probably two of the biggest health trends that are all over social media today. While they are similar in many ways, each of them still offers slightly different health benefits. Both spirulina and matcha are nutrient-dense foods that are rich in essential vitamins and minerals. While some influencers prefer spirulina over matcha or vice versa, the question is, how are they different? Is one more beneficial than the other? We reveal all the answers in this article. 

What is Spirulina?

Spirulina is blue-green algae, one of the oldest life forms in the world. Spirulina is also the most popular superfood known for its unique and impressive nutrient content. Spirulina is a storehouse of vitamins B1, B2, and B3, minerals like copper, iron, magnesium, potassium, and manganese, but also protein and 18 amino acids. All of these nutrients are beneficial both for your body and your brain. It’s also one of the most antioxidant-rich foods out there. 

Benefits of Spirulina

Spirulina is now the target of many government-sponsored studies because of how easy it is to cultivate it. Spirulina is even considered a potential sustainable food source for astronauts in space. Its incredibly high nutrient content is the reason why spirulina delivers so many health benefits.  

Spirulina Has Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Properties

Its mesmerizing blue color is derived from phycocyanin, the main active component in spirulina. Phycocyanin is a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent that helps the body to fight free radicals and block inflammatory signaling molecules.

Spirulina May Benefit Muscular Endurance

Some studies have found promising evidence that spirulina may help to improve endurance, which makes it a must-eat food for athletes and fitness junkies. Spirulina may also improve energy levels due to its protein content. 

Spirulina May Prevent Anemia

While there are different forms of anemia, the most common one occurs as the result of low hemoglobin content in the blood. Studies have found that supplementation of the diet with spirulina can help increase hemoglobin levels in people with anemia.

Spirulina May Lower Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is linked to many chronic diseases, including strokes, heart disease, and kidney disease. Spirulina may help to reduce blood pressure as well as cholesterol levels. 

Spirulina Is Beneficial For Skin

People also apply spirulina topically to relieve dandruff, alleviate fine lines, brighten their overall complexion, and make their skin glow. It may also help fight acne-causing bacteria and improve hair growth. 

It Can Be a Potential Anti-Cancer Treatment

Some studies have found that spirulina shows anti-cancer properties. Research conducted in animals found that spirulina supplementation may lower the risk of cancer as well as reduce tumor size. It’s all due to the phycocyanin content that helps the body to fight cancerous cells. Currently, spirulina is still being researched for its potential anticancer properties. 

Spirulina Is Rich In Nutrients

Nowadays, a lot of people are deprived of the necessary vitamins and minerals due to busy and hectic lifestyles and poor nutrition. Spirulina offers an easy way to get your daily dose of vital nutrients. Spirulina is available in different forms, and you can find it in compressed tablets, powders, or jellies. The best and most convenient way, however, is to drink spirulina.

FUL® Sparkling Spirulina Drinks

One of the easiest ways to get your spirulina is by drinking FUL® sparkling spirulina drinks. There are a lot of reasons why you should choose FUL® drinks instead of commercial spirulina. First, FUL® drinks are delicious, and they come in convenient pre-made formats so that you can drink them on the go. We also grow and process our spirulina in a way that makes it more bioavailable than most spirulina powders available on the market. Our ability to do this has allowed us to make delicious, convenient, and healthy fizzy drinks that have no trace of the unpleasant taste and smell regular spirulina has. 

If you’ve ever tried spirulina before, you know that most commercially available spirulina sold in powders has an unpleasant smell. But FUL® drinks contain spirulina extract, which keeps all the soluble nutrients while eliminating the bad taste. Spirulina used in FUL® drinks is also more potent due to its higher bioavailability, and it is grown in closed-loop systems to ensure the best nutrient quality and avoid any impurities or contamination. Check out our store and choose your favorite flavor today!

What is Matcha?

Matcha is a type of green tea that comes from the plant known as Camellia sinensis. The major difference between matcha and regular green tea is the way it’s cultivated. A month before harvest, tea plants meant for matcha are covered, which leads to higher production of chlorophyll. This is what gives matcha its green color and antioxidant properties. The other difference between matcha and other types of green tea is that, typically, green tea is dried and crumbled and then steeped in water. Matcha, on the other hand, is made by grounding the whole leaves, mixing the powder with water, and whisking the mixture. This gives the drink a stronger flavor and preserves all the nutrients. Matcha is also known as a powerful superfood and is a storehouse of nutrients from the entire tea leaf. Compared to regular green tea, it has more antioxidants and more caffeine.

Benefits of Matcha 

As with any other type of green tea, matcha is rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants found in matcha help to prevent cell damage and lower the risk of chronic diseases. Matcha is rich in catechins, and research has shown that matcha contains up to 137x more catechins than regular green tea. The catechins also help lower blood pressure and the levels of bad cholesterol in the blood. Researchers have found that drinking matcha may be beneficial for the liver, and it can also promote heart health. However, its antioxidant benefits are not as strong as those of spirulina. 

Matcha also has other health benefits. For example, it works very well for detoxifying your body, promoting cognition, maintaining healthy cholesterol levels, and even aiding in weight loss. Studies also suggest that drinking green tea while exercising can help boost fat oxidation.

If you apply matcha topically, it can alleviate inflammation and make your skin more smooth and elastic. 

So Which Green Powder is Best?

Now that you know the benefits of both spirulina and matcha, which one is the best? 

Overall, spirulina is the best from the nutrition point of view since it’s one of the most (if not the most) nutrient-dense foods in the world. Compared to matcha, it has stronger antioxidant benefits and offers more vitamins and minerals. 

Matcha, on the other hand, is a great drink if you’re looking for a green tea alternative. It’s tasty and comforting and is also great for those who’re looking for a little caffeine boost. Our verdict is that matcha is a by-choice drink, while spirulina is a must-to-include health supplement. 

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