The start of a new year brings new opportunities to start afresh and try something new. Whether you're hoping to increase your fitness or start drinking less, January is a great time to start, especially if it's been on your mind for a while. However, there's one resolution that a lot more people are focusing on in 2024 than previous years, and that's to consume more protein.
It's no lie that there's a confusing amount of information surrounding how many grams of protein we should eat a day, and what protein sources are best. There also seems to be increased anxiety about consuming enough protein if you follow a vegan diet. As Veganuary is also a hugely popular New Year's resolution, it's important to quash the rumours that it's impossible to get all the nutrients you need when avoiding meat.
With this in mind, nutrition brand Verve has revealed the trending superfood ingredient that contains twice the amount of protein than a steak. This means it's a perfect vegan protein source, especially for those carrying out Veganuary. Have you guessed what it is yet? Spirulina.
Before you find out more, check out our best protein shake blender to get you started.
What is spirulina?
Spirulina is a blue-green algae that has been classed as a superfood due to its natural nutritional content. The benefits of eating the superfood include supporting eye health and maintaining healthy cholesterol levels, and its vitamins and minerals can help your immune system, fight diseases and lower blood pressure.
Its 60% protein content has been hailed far and wide as a ‘saviour’ for those who struggle to maintain a healthy protein intake. What's more is that spirulina can contain up to 126% more protein than most meats, and findings from the USDA have revealed that 100g of spirulina contains 57g of protein as opposed to 100g of steak containing just 25g. Crazy, right?
A study by the University of Exeter exploring algae-derived proteins from spirulina and chlorella also found that they work as great alternatives to animal proteins, particularly efficient in maintaining and building muscle. This means spirulina is great companion to your gym workout, especially as its rich nutritional content makes it a healthier option than a lot of other protein powders.
Check out some of our top spirulina picks below:
The V80 greens powder by Verve has 800mg of spirulina per serving. This nutrition drink has a blend of 80 unique vitamins, minerals and wholefood-sourced ingredients, equivalent to taking 41 vitamins and minerals every day. Just pop one level scoop in a glass of water or smoothie per day, and you're good to go!
F-S (Free Soul) Greens is a superfood powder that’s made from an advanced blend of 21 nutrient-dense greens and superfoods to support immunity, energy and digestion. FS-Greens offers the benefits of 21 different raw ingredients and has a high amount of spirulina in one simple daily serving.
These spirulina tablets from Holland & Barrett are great if you're just looking for that extra source of protein. You can buy either 60 tablets or 200 tablets, and they're quite affordable as well!
Why don't you now have a look at these 5 simple protein blender smoothies to supercharge recovery after exercise? They're easy to make and will give you a good excuse to try out your new favourite protein source...
