Introduction: Spirulina platensis Fresh
What is fresh Spirulina platensis?
Fresh Spirulina platensis refers to a type of blue-green algae known as Spirulina platensis that is harvested and consumed in its live, raw, or fresh form.
What is the difference between fresh and dried Spirulina platensis?
Fresh Spirulina platensis, harvested and consumed in its live, raw form, has a milder taste and smoother texture than dried Spirulina, making it more palatable for some people. Fresh Spirulina platensis generally has a shorter shelf life and must be refrigerated to maintain its freshness, but is considered to be less processed and may retain more of its original nutrients.
Dried Spirulina platensis, on the other hand, has most of its moisture removed during the drying process, resulting in a powder or tablet form with a concentrated nutrient content and a longer shelf life. The choice between fresh and dried Spirulina depends on personal preference, convenience and availability, with each form having its own unique advantages and potential drawbacks.
How can fresh Spirulina platensis be used?
Fresh Spirulina platensis is an unprocessed product and contains valuable proteins and vital substances such as carotenoids and phycocyanin[5, 6]. It is a natural raw food, which means that all enzymes and pigments are still biologically active and can perform their functions. For this reason fresh Spirulina platensis is used in fresh cuisine and for the production of food. For a longer shelf life, the product can be easily frozen in portions and added to meals as needed.
What are the benefits of using fresh Spirulina platensis in food products?
Compared to powder, fresh Spirulina platensis has an advantage in taste and texture. It has a milder flavour and a creamy consistency. It can be eaten on its own or simply used as a dip or spread on bread. There is no loss of flavour, as is often the case with dried spirulina products.
Fresh spirulina paste is ready to use and does not need to be rehydrated like dried powder. It can be easily incorporated into a variety of recipes such as smoothies, sauces or dressings.
Typical applications: Spirulina platensis Fresh
Fresh Spirulina platensis is typically used as a nutrient-rich dietary supplement or food ingredient due to its high protein content, essential vitamins and antioxidants[5, 6, 7]. Its milder taste and smoother texture compared to dried Spirulina make it suitable for adding to smoothies, juices, salad dressings, or other recipes as a convenient way to incorporate.
Sources:
- Spirulina platensis - M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 20 August 2024. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway (https://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=51883)
- Spirulina platensis - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthrospira_platensis)
- Calella P, Cerullo G, Di Dio M, Liguori F, Di Onofrio V, Gallè F, Liguori G. Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of spirulina in exercise and sport: A systematic review. Front Nutr. 2022 Dec 14;9:1048258. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.1048258. PMID: 36590230; PMCID: PMC9795056. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36590230/)
- Zheng J, Inoguchi T, Sasaki S, Maeda Y, McCarty MF, Fujii M, Ikeda N, Kobayashi K, Sonoda N, Takayanagi R. Phycocyanin and phycocyanobilin from Spirulina platensis protect against diabetic nephropathy by inhibiting oxidative stress. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2013 Jan 15;304(2):R110-20. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00648.2011. Epub 2012 Oct 31. PMID: 23115122. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23115122/)
- Maddiboyina B, Vanamamalai HK, Roy H, Ramaiah, Gandhi S, Kavisri M, Moovendhan M. Food and drug industry applications of microalgae Spirulina platensis: A review. J Basic Microbiol. 2023 Jun;63(6):573-583. doi: 10.1002/jobm.202200704. Epub 2023 Jan 31. PMID: 36720046. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36720046/)
- Grosshagauer S, Kraemer K, Somoza V. The True Value of Spirulina. J Agric Food Chem. 2020 Apr 8;68(14):4109-4115. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.9b08251. Epub 2020 Mar 25. PMID: 32133854. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32133854/)
- Wu Q, Liu L, Miron A, Klímová B, Wan D, Kuča K. The antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and anti-inflammatory activities of Spirulina: an overview. Arch Toxicol. 2016 Aug;90(8):1817-40. doi: 10.1007/s00204-016-1744-5. Epub 2016 Jun 3. PMID: 27259333. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27259333/)
- Gunes S, Tamburaci S, Dalay MC, Deliloglu Gurhan I. In vitro evaluation of Spirulina platensis extract incorporated skin cream with its wound healing and antioxidant activities. Pharm Biol. 2017 Dec;55(1):1824-1832. doi: 10.1080/13880209.2017.1331249. PMID: 28552036; PMCID: PMC6130752. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28552036/)
- Metekia WA, Ulusoy BH. Antimicrobial activity of Spirulina platensis extract on total mesophilic and psychrophilic bacteria of fresh tilapia fillet. Sci Rep. 2023 Aug 11;13(1):13081. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-40260-z. PMID: 37567905; PMCID: PMC10421913. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37567905/)
- Zeng Q, Jiang J, Wang J, Zhou Q, Zhang X. N-Terminal Acetylation and C-Terminal Amidation of Spirulina platensis-Derived Hexapeptide: Anti-Photoaging Activity and Proteomic Analysis. Mar Drugs. 2019 Sep 4;17(9):520. doi: 10.3390/md17090520. PMID: 31487895; PMCID: PMC6780235. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31487895/)
- El-Shall NA, Jiang S, Farag MR, Azzam M, Al-Abdullatif AA, Alhotan R, Dhama K, Hassan FU, Alagawany M. Potential of Spirulina platensis as a feed supplement for poultry to enhance growth performance and immune modulation. Front Immunol. 2023 Jan 31;14:1072787. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1072787. PMID: 36798131; PMCID: PMC9927202. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36798131/)
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