Is Wakame the Same as Spirulina? A Clear Look at the Differences Between the Two
Many people have eaten wakame and have also heard of spirulina, which is advertised as having health benefits, so is wakame the same as spirulina?
1. Is wakame the same as spirulina?
Wakame is not spirulina. Wakame is a brown alga in the family Alariaceae, genus Undaria; spirulina is a blue-green alga in the family Oscillatoriaceae, genus Spirulina. The two belong to different types, but both are algae.
2. Basic introductions to wakame and spirulina
1. Wakame
Wakame is named for its shape, which resembles a large broken palm-leaf fan and also a skirt ribbon, hence the name wakame; it is also called sea shepherd's purse, and wakame is generally divided into two types: lightly dried and salt-dried.
The internal structure of wakame is very similar to that of kelp (Saccharina japonica); on both sides of the stipe of the growing sporophyte, it forms sporophylls with overlapping wood-ear-like folds, and when mature, sporangia form on the sporophylls.
The main distribution areas of wakame are Dalian in Liaoning, Qingdao, Yantai, Weihai and other places in Shandong.
Wakame has high economic and nutritional value, because wakame is rich in protein, vitamins, minerals and so on, can provide the human body with a variety of nutrients, and also has effects such as lowering blood lipids and lowering blood pressure.
2. Spirulina
Spirulina originated in alkaline lakes in Mexico and central Africa; the environment suitable for its growth is a high-temperature alkaline environment. About 25 species of spirulina have been discovered so far, and they grow in both freshwater and saltwater environments.
The suitable growth temperature for spirulina is generally 28°C-35°C; 15°C and 40°C are its minimum and maximum growth temperatures respectively, and its temperature-loving and heat-tolerant strains can be cultured at 35°C-40°C.
The suitable pH for spirulina growth is 8.3-10.3, and when the pH is 11, it still grows well. Research has found that Spirulina platensis grows best in water with a salt concentration of 20-70g/L. Spirulina is a strictly photoautotrophic alga, relying on sunlight and absorbing CO2 from water to carry out photosynthesis.
Spirulina contains high-quality protein, vitamins and other trace elements, so it is also promoted as a health product, with various effects such as lowering blood lipids, antioxidant, anti-infection, anti-cancer, anti-radiation and anti-aging.