Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

What follows is my review I posted on the 1lb jars of Nutrex Spirulina a few years ago, with a few extra comments regarding this bulk 5 lb option (which is the way I buy it). My so-called "reviews" are typically long. This is no exception. If that's not what you're after, I provide the IN BRIEF section at the top. If you have the time and inclination to browse over a lot more information about spirulina, please read the FULL REVIEW[...]. Thanks. << IN BRIEF - THE CONDENSED REVIEW >> With this brand of Spirulina you are on to a good thing! Especially as far as taste and quality are concerned. Simply put, after 20+ years of Spirulina usage, this is the best Spirulina I know of, at one of the the best prices (and shipping options) I have seen anywhere online and off-line. If the best tasting Spirulina, made to high standards, is what you are looking for, this is the one to buy. In my opinion, it's best to pass on the slightly cheaper non-Hawaiian varieties (from India, China, etc.). There are a few other US made brands that are also good, but for reasons explored below, I stick with the Hawaiian variety. If you've never had spirulina, try this one first, as that taste is the easiest to handle. If you've had (non-Hawaiian) spirulina and didn't like the taste, try this one as it will likely taste better. Worried about Fukushima fall-out? Nutrex spirulina comes up clean. Only into RAW foods? Nutrex spirulina is dried at below 116F using a patented "OceanChilled" drying process. It's about as raw as you'll get unless you grow your own fresh spirulina. Looking for organic spirulina only? Nutrex was certified organic up until around 2008. Then the rules changed around the use of what's called Chilean Nitrate. So they dropped the certification, as Cyanotech believe other nitrogen sources are no "cleaner" or better than Chilean Nitrate. So, in my opinion, Nutrex is as good as certified organic, but if the certification matters to you, check out NOW Foods organic spirulina. That's my IN BRIEF review in a nutshell. I like to share detailed information where appropriate, so people like yourself can inform yourself if you so desire. For my more in-depth info, please read on: << FULL REVIEW - THE FULL MONTY >> Let me first put this review into a helpful context. I have been eating Spirulina on an almost daily basis for approximately the past 20 years. Since my mid-teens I've been making big green looking smoothies every morning. My father and I affectionately refer to them as my "Swamp Water" or "Swamp juice" drinks. This particular Spirulina is from a fantastic high-tech Spirulina production facility on the coast of the Big Island of Hawaii. They use ultra pure deep ocean water for both growing and drying the Spirulina. It is dried at a low temperature to keep the nutrients in tact (at or below 116F / 46C). << THE 5LB BULK OPTION >> It is worth noting that quite often the 1 lb jars actually work out cheaper, per pound, than the 5 lb bags (here on Amazon). The 1 lb jars often drop to around $23 to $25 each, which is around $115 to $125 for 5 lbs. The 5 lb bags are often selling on Amazon for around $140. Right now (Nov 4, 2014) I see 5 lb is only $118, which is the best I've seen in the last few years. So currently it's the best deal, but be sure to check as it might change by the time you read this. If you are having your order shipped internationally (via freight forwarding, or a friend, or simply in your luggage, since Amazon don't ship this item internationally) the 5 lb bag weighs a LOT less than 5x 1 lb jars, as the glass is heavy. So even if the 5 lb bag costs a little more than 5x 1lb jars, it may be worth it to cut back on weight. << STORAGE - IMPORTANT >> If you buy the 5 lb bag, one concern for some people is whether they will use it quickly enough before it deteriorates. Here is what I suggest: Take a few weeks to a months worth out of the bag and store in an air-tight glass jar (use an old Nutrex spirulina jar, if you have one), and store the 5 lb bag in the fridge or freezer. Keep it well sealed. It will last a LONG time (many years) stored in the freezer. I recommend to NOT use the main bag (especially if you keep it in the fridge or freezer) on a daily basis. Aside from the fact the bag is hard to seal well, and the snap-lock seal will likely peel away from the bag if used often, it will also keep the spirulina dryer. Because refrigerated spirulina is much colder than the atmosphere in your house, each time you open the bag a little moisture will condensate onto the powder (this is especially true in humid [60% +] environments). << THE TASTE FACTOR >> I'd been eating Spirulina for perhaps 5 years before I tried this Hawaiian variety (manufactured by Nutrex). Now, let me say I had always loved the taste of Spirulina. I'd put a couple of heaped tablespoons of it into my morning drink. Friends and family, however, found the taste too strong and "green" if I put in that much though. One day I met the guy who was importing Nutrex Hawaiian Spirulina into New Zealand (where I lived at the time). He asked if I'd like to try some (at a health Expo). I said, "No thanks, I am very familiar with Spirulina". He said, "Not Hawaiian Spirulina. It tastes much nicer than the other kinds". I let him know that I actually already enjoy the taste of Spirulina. At the time I was getting New Zealand branded Spirulina (imported from India or China). The guy said that compared to the Hawaiian variety, other Spirulina tastes like earth. I'd never noticed that. Curious, I tried his little cup of green stuff, and WOW it was extra delicious. I realised, for the first time, that indeed the other varieties tasted a bit like soil. Whereas the Hawaiian variety tastes creamy and... well, it's hard to describe. Let's just say it is delicious for those people into concentrated green foods, and whilst perhaps calling it "delicious" is going too far for some, it is certainly the most palatable for those folk who are not yet used to eating concentrated green foods. So, that was over 15 years ago, and I've eaten primarily Hawaiian Spirulina ever since. Partly because it tastes great, which means I can put as much as I want into my drink without it getting over-powering, but also because my research indicated that the Hawaiian variety is superior in quality and nutritional content. This particular one being sold here on Amazon is at one of the best prices I have seen, which is why I often buy it from here when I am in the USA. << SPIRULINA BENEFITS >> Rather than me listing here all the many benefits of spirulina, I suggest doing some research online. There's no point in me repeating already widely available info. What I will say is that I am not without reason for using spirulina pretty much every day for over 20 years. For me, I consider it a staple food. I have excellent health, and I attribute some of that to regular use of spirulina. If I couldn't buy it any more (for whatever reason), I'd get into growing it fresh myself (in fact I am investigating that option anyway). If you are new to Spirulina and super-foods in general, I suggest adding this product to a smoothie, and drinking that each day. Use clean spring water if you can. Certainly avoid chlorinated and fluoridated tap water if at all possible. In a blender add to the water 1 ripe organic banana as a base. It will greatly improve the taste. Then add the following: - Start out with 1 teaspoon of Spirulina. Increase to 2 or so tablespoons if you wish, and as you get accustomed to the taste. - Start with 1/2 a teaspoon of Yaeyama Chlorella powder. Increase to 1 to 2 teaspoons over time, as you get accustomed to the taste. - A handful of Raw Organic Goji Berries (soak them in water overnight if you want them to blend more smoothly), - 1/2 to 1 tablespoon of Gelatinized Maca Powder - 1/2 to 1 tablespoon of Lucuma Powder - 1 tablespoon of Y.S. Organic Bee Farms - Fresh Bee Pollen Whole Granules (or any other decent pollen on Amazon, as there are quite a few now) - 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of organic Ginger Root Powder (that'll help with your digestion of the other goodies). This approximate recipe is for about a quart (1 litre) of drink so use 1 quart (1 L) of water. Blend them up in a blender, and enjoy. I have given workshops on what I call "Intelligent Nutritional" throughout Europe and Canada, and this is a basic version of a recipe I share with people. I've had many people after just 3 to 7 days tell me they feel like a new person (they look like it too!!) after drinking this each morning. Friends comment on how them seem to be "glowing" and ask what they are up to!! Try it out. << TABLETS OR POWDER ? >> I recommend using spirulina as a powder, if possible. I think it's best to taste and "chew" (keep in the mouth for a little time) what we are eating. Swallowing tablets by-passes that step. If you really can't stomach the taste of Spirulina at all (and I know some people can't), you'll have to go with the tablets. Power is also more instantly digestible, although that's unlikely to make any real difference. If you decide to buy tablets from another company, make sure they are 100% low pressure/low-heat pressed tablets. Some brands have fillers and binders in their tablets which indicate a poor quality product and high-pressure tableting machines (which will damage the spirulina). Nutrex tablets are good quality. If you know little or nothing about Spirulina, please read up on it on the Internet - it's worth leaning about. I'll mention here that it is a highly concentrated source of a very broad range of nutrients. I'd say a couple of tablespoons of this rich green powder contains more nutrition that the people eating the Standard American Diet (SAD) might get in a week worth of meals. This is powerful stuff that will change the way you feel, big time! Enjoy! I know many people who have had a wide range of very positive benefits from adding spirulina to their diet. Less food cravings, diminished desire for junk food, more energy, improved sex-life, less need for coffee in the morning, weight loss, improved memory, and many other benefits are just some of what people have reported to me and in literature. << ORGANIC STATUS >> If you want ORGANIC spirulina, the Nutrex brand is NOT certified (or un-certified) organic. HOWEVER my research into spirulina indicates it is not possible to grow certified organic spirulina with reputable certification authorities (such as the major ones in the "Western World". Since October 2005, most of ` Organic Spirulina ' was from USA. Two major USA companies (Cyanotech, the makers of Nutrex brand, being one of them) have both ceased production of `Organic Spirulina', due to the USDA terminating the use of a fertiliser which was originally permitted as an organic feed for the growth of Spirulina. When those rules changed, the organic status was dropped. It is my understanding the only so-called "organic spirulina" is from China and India, and that one reason for this is that the so-called "organic" standards there are questionable (i.e. not worth paying extra money on). The best organic spirulina, according to my research, is made by Parry Nutraceuticals, and marketed by third parties under many different brands. For the past 18 years I have been eating almost more-or-less only organically produced foods. Yet in the case of the Nutrex spirulina it does not bother me that it lost its organic certification status due to changes in the organic standards. Having researched the matter, I have no problems with that technicality in this particular case. I have asked NOW Foods about their ORGANIC SPIRULINA POWDER and their non-organic spirulina (that was previously from Hawaii). The organic product is certified organic (by a number of reputable certifying groups) and grown/produced in India. They tell me it is very high quality and from a state-of-the-art facility there in India. I am aware it is manufactured by Parry Nutraceuticals. You can look them up online. I have a tub of it sitting in my kitchen draw. It's been there since mid-2012, hardly touched. The reason is that it tastes awful. It literally smells and tastes like cow or horse manure. I've bought a wide range of spirulina brands around the world, and the Organic NOW Foods Spirulina takes the award for the worst tasting, by a long shot. It's the first time I've found Spirulina to be unpalatable. I understand from Parry literature (online) their product is high quality, and has a long list of organic certifications. But in this instance taste wins out over my wish to eat organic foods. I have communicated with NOW Foods numerous times in the last year about this issue. They say they are aware of it and are that the manufacturer is working on it. You can read my full review of the NOW Foods Spirulina for more details of those emails. << OTHER BRANDS (of Hawaiian Spirulina) >> It should be noted that ALL of the above info I have been posting applies not only to the product this review is on. It applies to all Hawaiian spirulina, under any brand, as it is all manufactured by Cyanotech, the owners of the Nutrex brand. Other brands that are stated to be Hawaiian are: MicrOrganics (UK), TruNature (from Costco), Nature's Life Hawaiian Spirulina, Lifetime Hawaiian Spirulina, Thompson Nutritional Products. Obviously the prices go up and down, but in general this Nutrex product I am reviewing is the best price. [[ UPDATE on the above statement: Since late 2011 Cyanotech ceased selling their Hawaiian Spirulina in bulk to US based companies, who then resell it under their own brands. This means that there are no US brands with Hawaiian spirulina except Nutrex. If they still claim to be selling Hawaiian spirulina, it is highly questionable. Only non-US companies continue to bulk buy from Cyanotech and package this spirulina under their own brands (mostly in the UK). There are brands selling spirulina grown in California, and perhaps some other US sources I am not aware of (see below). << OTHER USA GROWN OPTIONS ? >> Apart from the various brands listed above which are Hawaiian, the other USA grown spirulina (from California, not Hawaii) is the Earthrise Spirulina Natural brand. I have bought it a few times over the years (although not in the last 5 years or so) and I don't recall having any personal issues with it. I see most people report it tastes acceptable or nice. I know some people have switched form Nutrex to Earthrise because of concerns about radioactivity from Fukushima. I think it's pretty hard to say what the exact impact of that ongoing (yes, it's still critical, as of Feb 2013) disaster. Most, if not all, of the US West coast received fallout from Fukushima, so the Earthrise facilities in California might have been just as likely to be affected as Hawaii. Anyway, that's another option if you want a US made product (as opposed to spirulina from China, India, or Thailand - the other main producers), that is also is quality packaging (brown glass jar). Right now on Amazon, Earthrise Spirulina Natural is $30.99 plus $5 shipping (shipped by Swanson Health Products). << BETTER PRICE OPTIONS ? >> As mentioned in my UPDATE above, there is no companies in the United States selling Hawaiian spirulina except Cyanotech who have the Nutrex brand. There if Hawaiian spirulina is what you want, this is it. The best option, and the best price. PACKAGING NOTE: Spirulina is sensitive to oxidation from light and air. The dark brown glass jar of the Nutrex brand (and Earthrise brand) is superior to the thin white HDPE plastic used by many companies bottling spirulina. << NOW FOODS SPIRULINA (the non-organic one) >> For a nearly two years I was recommending in this review that people buy the bulk 4 lb tub of (non-organic) Hawaiian Spirulina from NOW FOODS. That's because it came from the same grower in Hawaii (Cyanotech) as the Nutrex brand. At that time the 4 lb tub was by far the best price for Hawaiian Spirulina. As of late 2011 I dropped that recommendation, because NOW FOODS changed their non-organic supplier to Parry Nutraceuticals (the same company they get their Organic product from). I have not tried it, but from what I am reading online it tastes as awful as the organic one from Parry (many people have also mentioned the manure smell and taste). If it tastes anything like their Organic Spirulina from India, it will not be at all pleasant. So since late 2011 I've been again recommending the Nutrex brand as the best spirulina at the best price. There are a few other companies selling the Hawaiian variety, but their prices are higher and their packaging cheaper (plastic as opposed to dark brown air-tight glass bottles). << COMMUNICATIONS WITH CYANOTECH ON ORGANIC STATUS>> (12/Mar/2012) I have received numerous communications from Cyanotech in response to my questions to them. I'll pass on the following information for your consideration: I communicated with Cyanotech some time ago now... and they assure me their spirulina is "herbicide, pesticide, and GMO free". They did not mention fertilisers, so I will enquire further on that. They have stated: (Quote) >> "Plant-based organic (biological) agriculture is fundamentally a system of maintaining soil health and therefore plant vitality. Organic farming relies heavily on the use of nitrogen fixing cover crops, composted manures, crop rotation, and of course organic farming eschews the use of synthetic pesticides (including herbicides). Properly managed organic growing systems build a healthy topsoil with a minimum of soil loss, and also minimized losses of nutrients to ground water, streams, and lakes. The line between organic and standard cultivation of Spirulina is much less distinct, as pesticides and herbicides are not used in the culture of Spirulina. Furthermore, since Spirulina is grown without soil, there is no crop rotation or direct additions of manure to the growing system. Instead, Spirulina growers create the exact conditions of nature (high baking soda and ample amounts of soluble phosphorous and nitrogen) . Manures do not work in this system as they would be harvested with the algae and would contaminate it. This is because Spirulina is a filamentous algae and must be screened out of the water using a very fine mesh. In many ways, however, Spirulina culture belongs with more traditional biological growing systems. Spirulina does not create any ground water pollution or soil erosion (it is grown in lined ponds). Water and energy use are much enhanced over those of terrestrial agriculture (including organic systems). And as I mentioned, there are no pesticides or herbicides used. Spirulina culture is also extremely energy efficient. And although traditional organic farming can use cover crops for nitrogen, there are also phosphorous inputs that are from outside sources (this is absolutely necessary also with Spirulina). Simply put, both organic terrestrial and Spirulina culture systems are reduced input farming techniques that are much lower impact in terms of pollution and soil loss than typical commercial farming." >> (End quote) Their literature also states the following about their Spirulina: >> "Pesticide free, Herbicide free, Environmentally friendly, Full nutritional value, Purified nutrients, Highest growth rate, Low heavy metal level, Low bacterial count" There is still no mention of where they source the nutrients for spirulina production. I'll asked about this in March 2012, with no reply. (Feb 2013, I have asked again, and will post their answer when I get it). Nutrex also share the following explanation about why they dropped the organic certification: >> "In October 2002 the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) voted to continue to allow the use of mined Chilean nitrate in Spirulina production until October 2005. (Chilean nitrate is a water soluble form of nitrogen used in the production of Organic Spirulina.) Unfortunately, the USDA organic production regulations are directed at terrestrial farming and do not address the unique position occupied by aquatic farming of crops such as Spirulina. Production of Spirulina requires water soluble forms of phosphorus and nitrogen. This is not desired in terrestrial farming as soluble forms of phosphorous and nitrogen can harm the soil and contaminate ground water; on the other hand, in Spirulina production this is not a problem because all culture ponds are lined and there is no runoff or contamination of ground water. Cyanotech feels that the NOSB will vote to disallow the use of Chilean nitrate in October 2005 as it is mined and thus not considered a sustainable source of nitrogen. With Chilean nitrate prohibited in all organic production systems, an alternative source of organic soluble nitrogen must be found. The only sources of soluble nitrogen allowed under organic regulations are compost teas and various manures. Cyanotech has examined these potential sources of soluble nitrogen and found them unsatisfactory because they would: 1) Contaminate our Spirulina with lead and other heavy metals 2) Increase the bacterial count in Spirulina 3) Produce inferior Spirulina products at a much higher cost For these reasons, Cyanotech will stop production of organic Spirulina if Chilean nitrate is disallowed in October, 2005. Instead we will concentrate our efforts to continually improve the quality of our All Natural Spirulina products. In many ways standard Spirulina culture methods (not organic) are compatible with traditional organic growing systems. Spirulina does not create any ground water pollution or soil erosion since it is grown in lined ponds. Water and energy are used much more efficiently than in terrestrial agriculture use (including organic systems). Cyanotech's All Natural Spirulina products are GMO free, are produced without the use of pesticides or herbicides, are produced using pure deep seawater pumped from a depth of 2000 ft as a source of trace minerals and use a patented OceanChill(tm) drying process to preserve oxygen sensitive nutrients. Hawaiian Spirulina from Cyanotech has the highest purity, and by far the highest nutritional value of any Spirulina available. >> (End quote) I will post back here when I find out more about their fertilisation methods. For now it seems they use what is called "Chilean nitrate," which was until 2005 an excepted fertiliser under US organic standards. << FUKUSHIMA RADIOACTIVITY CONCERNS >> (Added 13/03/2012) Fukushima radioactivity impact report: Nutrex/Cyanotech assure me (and the public) they have not experienced any fallout or related effects from the Fukushima nuclear power plant incident in Japan. They have made this public statement: >>" Cyanotech implemented monitoring of our Hawaiian Spirulina Pacifica and BioAstin Natural Astaxanthin products immediately after the disaster in Japan through independent third party laboratory analysis. The analyses found no detectable radiation (less than 1.0 Bq/kg for iodine-131; less than 0.5 Bq/kg for cesium-134; and less than 0.6 Bq/kg for cesium-137), in products produced on 3/22/2011, which was the time in which it was theorized that the tail of the radiation plume from Japan could reach Hawaii. Cyanotech continues to test its products for radiation contamination through independent third party laboratory analysis to ensure that they are the highest quality, most healthful products available in the supplement industry. Recent radiation testing of Hawaiian Spirulina Pacifica and BioAstin products find no detectable radiation." << (End Quote) For those people concerned about radioactivity in general, please note that Spirulina has been proven to significantly reduce the ill effects of radiation exposure. If you want to maximise that effect look into using Astaxanthin, which is extracted from Spirulina. It is the primary antioxidant in Spirulina, and is considered to be the most potent anti-oxidant we know of. There are many options for this on Amazon so I recommend doing a search to see them all. << MY CONCLUSIONS >> Nutrex Hawaiian Spirulina is a great product and I am sure you'll be as or more happy with it that the other spirulina options. Ideally go for the powder, but if you can't stomach it, switch to tablets. If you want certified organic you'll have to go with a potentially fowl tasting variety from India. If you simply want US made, use either Hawaiian (Nutrex or one of the other brands I listed) or Earthrise (from CA). This bulk 5 lb option is often the most cost effective way to buy Hawaiian spirulina, but the price can vary a lot, so I suggest comparing the per pound price to the 1lb jars before you purchase. I wish you all the best of health, Jonathan Evatt International lecturer, Traditional Naturopath, and award-winning author of Peace, Power, and Presence: Wisdom for a Lift of Freedom. >>[...]. P.S. I have posted links to the products above, specifically selecting only brands I personally have tried and highly recommend. Different merchants, however, sell these products on Amazon and elsewhere online. So search here and elsewhere for the best price. The ones I have posted links to do not necessarily represent the best price and shipping deals, etc. Although some of them are the best prices I have come across (which helps, because stocking up on super-foods can seem expensive for some of us)