In a word, yes! Spirulina, like many other plant-based super foods, is absolutely safe for kids to eat. As food, spirulina represents a complete vegan protein source. When it is sourced safely and administered correctly, it can be a fantastic supplement for both adults and children.
The keys to safely giving your kids spirulina is to know that you are getting it from a safe, reputable source, and to know how much to give them.
Safe Sourcing of Spirulina
Any of the negative attention spirulina has received in regard to its safety has to do with the unethical practices of a few harvesters and producers, specifically farms outside the US. Spirulina, like many of the other forms of blue-green algae, can be contaminated with certain substances, such as chemicals or other bacteria.
This is why it is especially important that you only purchase your spirulina, for yourself and for your children, from a reputable, trusted source, like Nutrex Hawaii. We are one of the few spirulina producers that is “farm to bottle” – meaning that we grow our own spirulina, harvest it, and package it under our Hawaiian Spirulina® brand name. Growing our own spirulina ensures that we have complete control over the entire process, including quality control, to deliver a final superior product.
Where spirulina is grown, matters. Taking advantage of the natural resources provided by our location in Kona, Hawaii, we use year-round natural sunlight and fresh lava-filtered aquifer water. When ready for harvest, Hawaiian Spirulina is processed from pond to powder in just 30 minutes, preserving many of the essential nutrients and enzymes found in our Hawaiian Spirulina. Hawaiian Spirulina is the only spirulina grown in a Biosecure Zone, free of any herbicides, pesticides, and GMOs.
Getting the Correct Amount of Spirulina in Your Child’s Diet
Children are smaller than adults – that much is obvious. Because of this, the correct amount of spirulina to give your children will differ depending on their age and weight. The typical correct amount will be less than an adult serving. Consider consulting your primary caregiver prior to giving your children any supplement, including spirulina. That said, spirulina is a food and as such, it is safe for children.
Spirulina Health Benefits for Children
Spirulina's health benefits as a source of plant-based complete protein may get most of the attention from nutritionists, bloggers, and journalists, but did you know that spirulina also brings a host of non-protein health benefits with it?
Spirulina is an excellent source of complex B vitamins, vitamin A (in the form of beta carotene), iron, and a wide variety of essential minerals, as well. In studies, it has been shown to have beneficial effects on the immune and cardiovascular systems.†.
Other Considerations That Make Spirulina an Exceptional Source of Nutrition for your Children
Not only is spirulina a great source of protein and many of the other essential building blocks of whole nutrition in a sound diet, but it also comes without the ecological compromises of many other protein sources. When spirulina is harvested, packaged, and distributed ethically, it has almost no negative impact on our fragile ecosystem.
Unlike animal-based sources of protein, the production of Hawaiian Spirulina does not produce harmful green-house gases, deplete our world’s dwindling fresh water supply, or contaminate the water table. In fact, spirulina takes CO2 out of the atmosphere and produces oxygen in exchange. With all that in mind, spirulina is basically a guilt-free nutritional powerhouse – and one that’s good for both you and your children.
It is very important for children to begin healthy eating habits at a young age because rich nutrition is not only necessary for their bodies to grow, but it can also influence the way they eat throughout their life. Nutrex Hawaii’s Pure Hawaiian Spirulina is an excellent source of rich nutrition that is safe for children and can easily be included into their diet. Check out our delicious spirulina recipes, such as popcorn, energy balls, or smoothies.
References:
http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/spirulina
http://www.nutrex-hawaii.com/faqs
http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/20001211/pond-scum-makes-health-splash
