We’re delighted to announce the implementation of PlantPills Trace, a system that bridges the physical product-in-hand with the digital information associated with it.

The Safety and Authenticity Verification label is attached to the product, and contains three matrix type barcodes known as Quick Response (QR) codes.

Use your smartphone to scan each of these codes to quickly and easily review the independent third-party laboratory testing for your specific batch, and the logistical tracking information associated with your order.

 

Please see the Trace page for further information.

_{Published on: July 25, 2021}

We’re offering an extra 10% free on bundle deals of Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN) powder and Micronized Trans-Resveratrol powder.

The pack sizes for this promotion are as follows:

• 50g NMN with either 50g or 25g trans-resveratrol
• 100g NMN with either 100g or 50g trans-resveratrol
• 250g NMN with either 250g or 100g trans-resveratrol
• 500g NMN with either 500g or 250g trans-resveratrol
  

For example, if purchasing the 100g NMN/50g trans-resveratrol bundle, an extra 10% of each (10g and 5g) is included, resulting in a total of 110g of NMN and 55g of trans-resveratrol.

No voucher, coupon or discount codes are needed, just visit the deals page here.

_{Published on: Nov 26, 2020}

We are delighted to announce the launch of our Whole-Food Spermidine Tablets and Powder, independently verified to contain by far the highest spermidine content of any whole food in the world, at over 900 mg/kg (over 0.9mg per gram).

Spermidine may be the most important nutrient linked with extending human lifespan in human studies. A large human study published in 2018, conducted on 829 people over a 20 year period, found that people with a diet rich in spermidine had an increased survival rate equivalent to 6 years over those with less dietary spermidine.

The study analysed 146 nutrients, and found spermidine to have the strongest link of any nutrient to increased survival.
These findings were independently validated in a second study, with the diets and mortality of 1,770 healthy unrelated people analysed.

This corroborates previous studies that found spermidine supplementation significantly increased lifespan in yeast (40-150%), worms (10-15%), flies (15-20%) and mice (10-25%).

Tissue spermidine concentrations decline with age, which may in part be due to a decline in the biosynthetic activities of polyamine-producing enzymes as they become less efficient.
It has been theorised that because the body produces sufficient spermidine during youth, but not in old age, that spermidine evolves to the status of a vitamin and should be supplemented for health maintenance.

As spermidine concentrations in the body decline with age, increasing dietary spermidine may decrease mortality and increase lifespan, as indicated by studies on humans, yeast, worms, flies and mice.
In addition to noting that spermidine levels decline with age, one cross-sectional observational study found healthy individuals in their 90s and 100s to have higher spermidine levels, similar to those found in younger, middle-aged people.

_{Published on: Sept 17, 2020}

We are delighted to announce the launch of our Spirulina and Chlorella powders to complement the tablet versions.

The materials are exactly the same as the tablet versions, as our spirulina and chlorella tablets have always been 100% product pressed into tablet form.

The tablet versions are more suited to those that do not like the taste of spirulina or chlorella, or those who take it on the move, and can’t easily measure and mix powder into water.

The powders are more suited to those that have difficulty swallowing tablets, or otherwise find it more convenient to consume as a drink.

From a scientific perspective, powder offers a much higher surface area available immediately higher up in the digestive tract, which may result in increased or more efficient absorption of some nutrients.

Method of administration

Both spirulina and chlorella powders can be prepared with water and drunk, by placing 40ml (1.5oz) of water per 5ml teaspoon of powder into a cup, before adding the powder, stirring, and drinking.
Spirulina powder has a tendency to clump, but this can be minimised with vigorous stirring.

Independent lab testing for every batch

Every batch of our Spirulina and Chlorella is now independently verified by third-party laboratories to have no dangerous levels of heavy metals or micro-organisms. The certifications for the current batch are viewable on the website. Every one of our products has third party testing completed for every single batch.
We have some exciting new products relating to healthy ageing and longevity to be released soon, please ensure you stay subscribed to the newsletter to hear about them first.

_{Published on: Sept 6, 2020}

We are delighted to announce the launch of our Gold Standard Shilajit Paste.

Shilajit is a sticky tar-like substance, formed over hundreds of years as a result of a long-term humification process, and contains humus substances, including fulvic acids, humic acids, humin, and hymatomelanic acid, as well as coumarin derivatives (benzocoumarin, DBPs; dibenzo-alpha-pyrones).

Humic acids were first discovered to have anabolic properties when given to chickens in 1951, with average body mass increased by 5-7%. This was confirmed in rats in 1966, which concluded that the body is able to utilize food better when supplementing with shilajit. Fulvic acids may also act as carrier molecules or chelating agents for smaller, more bioactive compounds.

Shilajit has been shown to activate mitochondrial respiration and increase muscle, brain and blood levels of an Adenosine triphosphate (ATP – a precursor to DNA and RNA), an energy carrying molecule known as the “molecular unit of currency” of intracellular energy transfer.
Shilajit has also been shown to increase blood levels of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), and facilitate the regeneration of ascorbic acid (vitamin C).

What are the benefits?

Shilajit is used as a rejuvenator in traditional Russian and Ayurveda medicine, and has been used in the folk and herbal medicine of several countries for around 3,000 years, both topically on the skin and internally by swallowing.

Shilajit has been shown in studies to assist with various ailments, and forms part of several medical drugs manufactured by pharmaceutical companies.

Shilajit was secretly used by the former USSR to enhance the physical and mental performance of Olympic athletes and special military forces for nearly 40 years. Applications included reducing stress-related injuries, benefitting recovery, as well as increasing strength and muscle mass. Much of the research conducted by the former USSR into shilajit remains classified and has not been released.

Studies have given positive indications for these types of potential benefits, including some that suggest shilajit may relieve fatigue and increase energy and endurance.

How is it packaged?

Our shilajit comes packaged in a glass jar, eliminating any possibility of shilajit reacting with the container during long term storage, and providing an effective barrier against oxygen.

A 0.1ml measuring spoon is included and when filled level, provides a 0.25g serving.

How do I take shilajit, and how much?

The consistency of genuine shilajit makes filling the spoon, and then emptying it quite difficult. We recommend using the volume of the spoon as a guide, and placing shilajit on the opposite end of the spoon at roughly the same size.

This can then be taken straight into the mouth, or stirred into body-temperature spring water or re-mineralised distilled water. Taking shilajit straight into the mouth is quicker, as although it is completely water soluble, it can take several minutes for it to dissolve in water.

The recommended dosage is 0.25 grams (1x level 0.1ml spoon), 1-2 times per day.

What does shilajit taste like?

Shilajit is relatively rare, and has a unique taste. It’s a humic substance like peat, and people sometimes comment that shilajit has a peaty, sharp, smoky taste.

Does shilajit contain dangerous amounts of heavy metals?

We thoroughly test every batch of shilajit, and have third party laboratories perform various tests to prove that our shilajit is genuine, of high quality, and is safe for human consumption.

All these certifications are displayed on the main shilajit page, and include tests for authenticity, humic and fulvic acid levels, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and zinc levels, a microbiological certificate of analysis, heavy metal content and aluminium content.

Aluminium content of some shilajit has been a contentious issue, and should be tested by a third party laboratory for every batch. One serving (0.25g) of PlantPills Shilajit contains the same amount of aluminium as two slices of bread, or two chicken breasts, or 50 grams of pasta, or 5 grams of chocolate.

These tests verify that PlantPills Shilajit is authentic, high quality, and safe for human consumption.

Do you deliver to my country?

Yes! Although we are in the UK, we deliver worldwide. The shipping costs are automatically calculated in the shopping basket.

Please see the main shilajit page for further details and sources.

_{Published on: Jan 16, 2019}

We’re thrilled to announce the launch of our Raw, Field-Grown, Freeze-Dried, Kamut® Khorasan Wheatgrass Juice Powder.

Discovered in the 1890s, and pioneered by Charles Franklin Schnabel in the 1930s, Ann Wigmore in the 1950s, Yoshihide Hagiwara in the 1970s, Steve Meyerowitz in the 1990s, and validated by numerous human studies, wheatgrass has a long history of being beneficial to human health.

Although wheatgrass contains some nutrients in relatively high amounts, it is the sheer number of nutrients that is remarkable; wheatgrass contains most of the known vitamins and minerals, 297 proteins, over 80 active enzymes including the anti-oxidant and anti-ageing enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD), fatty acids, immunomodulators, growth hormones, phytonutrients such as chlorophyll, carotenoids (including alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, xanthophylls, and zeaxanthin), bioflavonoids, growth factors, RNA, DNA, and a highly important group of unclassified micro-nutrients simply referred to as grass juice factors.

What makes our wheatgrass juice powder unique?

Growing, harvesting, processing and packaging high quality wheatgrass is difficult. Our R&D department has spent more than 5 years developing what we believe to be the highest quality wheatgrass juice powder available…

Grain species

It’s often overlooked, but an important part of growing high quality wheatgrass is using a high quality grain. The vast majority of wheatgrass products use a modern wheat grain. These grains have been genetically modified via hybridization for the purposes of disease resistance and maximising wheat yield.
We use an ancient, heirloom variety called Kamut®, which has never been hybridized or genetically modified, unlike modern wheat. Kamut® wheat is organically grown, and gram for gram has several nutritional advantages over modern wheat, but is also 34% larger than modern wheat, giving a significantly larger nutrient base for the wheatgrass to utilise.

Field grown

Our wheatgrass is grown outside, in organic soil, in fields on an organic farm. The wheatgrass grows at a natural rate for several months, before being harvested, as opposed to about 10 days for wheatgrass grown in trays, resulting in a much higher nutritional content.

Raw, low temperature processing

A modified freeze-drying method removes all moisture from the freshly squeezed juice within a few minutes, leaving just the solids from the juice in the form of juice powder.

From the harvest of the grass to the juicing of it, to removing the moisture from the juice, to the packaging of the juice powder, the material remains raw. It’s not heated above around 40°C (around 104°F). This is very important for the preservation of the active enzymes, vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients that are denatured or destroyed by heat.
When water is added to our wheatgrass juice powder, the resulting liquid is virtually identical to freshly squeezed wheatgrass juice, as the only processing that was done to the original juice was the removal of the water at low temperature.

Juice powder

We use the juice solids, known as wheatgrass juice powder. Many wheatgrass products are whole leaf products. Drying the whole grass leaf and then milling it into a powder is much easier and cheaper, but contains the non-nutritional cellulose fibre, which offers no vitamins or minerals and slows down the digestion.
The powder of the juice is vastly more nutritious than whole leaf wheatgrass powder.

Packaging

What a waste it would be, to go to the trouble of making such high quality wheatgrass juice powder, just for the nutrients to rapidly deteriorate after opening the packet.
Our proprietary PillFresh™ packaging continually removes oxygen for 40 openings, continuing to keep wheatgrass fresh, preserving the nutrients.

Testing

Any retailer or producer of wheatgrass should be able to show you tests from a third party laboratory to back up any claims they make about the nutritional content. Without third party testing, it’s completely unknown whether the product is what it claims to be, and whether it’s even safe for human consumption. The product could be riddled with heavy metals, yeast, mould or bacteria.
We have third party laboratory test certificates available, detailing the content of carotenoids, zeaxanthin, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, zinc, chlorophyll and superoxide dismutase (SOD).
We also have third party laboratory tests confirming there is no trace of 69 pesticides and organic contaminants, as well as the absence or safe levels of yeast, mould, bacteria and heavy metals.

How much wheatgrass was grown and juiced per pack?

One 250g pack of PlantPills Wheatgrass Juice Powder contains the solids of 4.1 litres of wheatgrass juice (1.1 US gallon), which is 138 shots (30ml or 1oz measures) of wheatgrass.
The 4.1 litres of wheatgrass juice was extracted from 5.3 kilograms (11.7 lb) of fresh raw Kamut® wheatgrass, which is roughly equivalent to 12 trays of wheatgrass (each tray measuring 40x28cm or 16×11”).

How do I take wheatgrass juice powder, and how much?

1. Add water
   Add 40ml of water to a drinking glass for every teaspoon of powder you intend to add.
   In the above example, 120ml of water has been added to the grass, because we are going to add three teaspoons of wheatgrass juice.
2. Add powder
   One teaspoon (5ml – the size of the included white spoon) holds roughly 2.5g of wheatgrass juice powder. Add the wheatgrass juice powder on top of the water.
   In the above example, three level white scoops have been added to 120ml of water.
3. Stir thoroughly
   Use a fork to stir the wheatgrass juice powder into the water. Roughly 100 revolutions in each direction is enough to thoroughly mix the water with the powder. Some clumps may remain, it is not an issue.
4. Drink!
   Please note that when drinking wheatgrass juice, it is best to hold some in the mouth for a while. Spread it around the mouth, including on the cheeks and under the tongue, holding the contents in the mouth for a minute or so, like a mouthwash, before swallowing.
   This route of administration is called buccal and sublingual, and provides highly efficient absorption of some of the molecules within wheatgrass juice. Some of the absorption is provided via the blood vessels under the tongue, bypassing the digestive tract, and can result in a much more efficient absorption rate, depending on the molecule.

What does wheatgrass juice taste like?

While all wheatgrass juice has a taste similar to the smell of freshly cut grass, feedback from our clients suggests that our wheatgrass juice tastes much smoother and sweeter than other wheatgrass juice.

How is it packaged? Do I need containers?

The only reliable methods for storing food produce in an oxygen free environment are aluminium-lined pouches, and glass jars. Plastic is permeable to oxygen, so is not suitable.

We supply our wheatgrass juice powder in aluminium-lined pouches, which are perfect for storage and transportation. The pouches are re-sealable via the integrated grip-seal, and aluminium never comes into contact with the powder. However, grip-seal mechanisms are generally not reliable for storage of produce in an oxygen free environment, and opening and closing this for every serving can be fiddly.

For convenience, we have glass jars available for purchase at checkout. They are easy to open and close, always create an excellent seal, and are the most reliable for storage of produce in an oxygen free environment.
The jars are re-usable, and are supplied with integrated seals on the lids. The jars also protect the wheatgrass juice powder from damage from light, but they should still be stored in a cool, dark place.

Do you deliver to my country?

Yes! Although we are in the UK, we deliver worldwide. The shipping costs are automatically calculated in the shopping basket.

Please see the main wheatgrass page for further details and sources.

_{Published on: Aug 31, 2019}

We are delighted to announce the launch of our Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN) and Micronized Trans-Resveratrol powders.

NMN and resveratrol are both found naturally in plants in tiny amounts, and are at the cutting edge of longevity and anti-aging research, with remarkable results observed in preclinical studies.
The two molecules go hand-in-hand, with resveratrol indirectly activating the “anti-aging” sirtuin enzyme SIRT1, and NMN boosting NAD, required for sirtuins to function.

Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN)

NMN has only been produced as a nutritional supplement since 2015, and much of the published research and studies on NMN so far have been on mice. Some of the results observed include rejuvenation, the reduction of several markers of age-related degeneration, increased endurance, extended lifespan, improvements in skeletal muscle, liver function, bone density, eye function, insulin sensitivity, DNA repair, immune function, body weight and physical activity levels.

Micronized Trans-Resveratrol

Resveratrol has been present in medicinal preparations for over 2000 years. There have been at least 30 published clinical trials on humans reporting the effects of resveratrol on human health. It is becoming evident that resveratrol exerts cardio-protective benefits through the improvement of inflammatory markers, atherogenic profile, glucose metabolism and endothelial function. These effects have been observed using both high and low doses of resveratrol and both in healthy volunteers and medicated patients.
Resveratrol has been shown to rejuvenate human cells, restoring splicing factor expression and increasing telomere length. Studies on mice, rats and rabbits have found resveratrol to enhance exercise performance, whether training or not, increase blood testosterone concentration and improve sperm quality (in male rabbits).
Resveratrol seems to act as a neuroprotective agent, has an antiallergenic effect, has beneficial effects on bone regeneration, and appears to protect against muscle and bone alterations after disuse.

Potential Implications and Applications

If human trials are able to replicate some of the results seen in studies on mice, the potential implications are significant and wide-ranging. It is theorised that some of the potential applications of NMN and resveratrol could be in reversing or slowing down aging, treating illness, aiding in recovery from injury or illness, boosting physical performance, delaying degenerative diseases or extending lifespan.

Please see answers to some of the most commonly asked questions below:

Are your NMN and resveratrol powders the real deal?

Both our NMN and resveratrol powders are pharmaceutical grade, and the current batches have been independently verified to have a purity of 99.6% and 100% respectively, on par with or better than others commercially available.
Independent lab tests have also verified that both powders contain very low or undetectable levels of heavy metals, with some 10 or 100 times less than others available, as well as equally impressive microbiological results.
The third party laboratory certifications can be viewed on the NMN and resveratrol pages.

Why are they so expensive?

We are dedicated to supplying pure, clean and safe material at the best possible price.
The processes involved in producing NMN and refining trans-resveratrol are complicated and expensive, especially when made to such high quality and purity standards.
The price of NMN is much lower than it used to be, thanks to more efficient production methods, and we expect the price to gradually reduce in the long term.
After using NMN and resveratrol for some time, it is advisable to purchase in the highest quantity that your budget allows, in order to reduce the cost per gram as much as possible. We offer sizes from 5g up to 2kg, selectable in the shopping basket.

How much NMN and resveratrol should I take?

The upper daily dosage for NMN is 1 gram, and the upper daily dosage for trans-resveratrol is 0.5 gram.
Our 0.5ml scoops hold approximately 0.125g of NMN, or 0.25g of trans-resveratrol.
Our 1ml scoops hold approximately 0.25g of NMN, or 0.5g of trans-resveratrol.

If taking the upper daily dosage for both, it would equate to four 1ml scoops of NMN (4x 0.25g = 1g), and one 1ml scoop of trans-resveratrol (1x 0.5g).

How should I take NMN and resveratrol?

We recommend taking NMN by placing it under the tongue, and allowing it to dissolve for a minute or two, before swallowing. We also recommend spacing the dosage throughout the day, so if taking the upper daily dosage for NMN, it would be one 1ml scoop (approx. 0.25g), four times a day.

We recommend taking trans-resveratrol by placing it under the tongue and swirling around in the mouth for a minute or two before swallowing. The dosage for trans-resveratrol doesn’t need to be split, so if taking the upper dosage, it would be one 1ml scoop (approx. 0.5g), once a day.

What does NMN and resveratrol taste like?

NMN has a sharp taste, and rapidly dissolves in the mouth. Trans-resveratrol has a plain, chalky taste, and doesn’t fully dissolve in the mouth.

How long until I see results, and what benefits will I notice?

Users of NMN and resveratrol have reported a variety of benefits. It must be noted that these are subjective, anecdotal reports. NMN boosts the production of NAD, which declines as we age, so any benefits may be most dramatic in older people.
It’s also worth noting that in trials on mice, dramatic results were noticed in periods as short as a week. However, a week of NMN supplementation to a mouse could be equivalent to 25-45 weeks in a human.

The reported benefits can be split into results that are noticed quickly, and results that are noticed over the long term.
Reported benefits of supplementing with NMN and resveratrol that were noticed quite quickly (within a couple of weeks), include increased energy, requiring less sleep, and increased strength and endurance.
Benefits noticed over the long term (6-12 months) include feeling younger, physically looking “well” or “healthy”, healing and recovering faster, muscle growth/restoration, increased mobility, increased mental clarity, and reduction or resolution of minor aches and pains.

How is it packaged? Do I need containers?

All our NMN and trans-resveratrol comes packaged in sealed foil pouches, with a 0.5ml scoop included.
We have reusable glass jars that hold 20 grams of NMN or 40 grams of trans-resveratrol available for purchase in the shopping basket. These can provide a more convenient form of administering the daily servings while keeping the main packet stored away.
Larger 1ml scoops are also available for purchase in the basket.

Do you deliver to my country?

Yes! Although we are in the UK, we deliver worldwide. The shipping costs are automatically calculated in the shopping basket.

Please see the NMN and resveratrol pages for further details and sources.

_{Published on: Apr 03, 2019}

Spirulina and chlorella are both extremely nutritious whole foods, and consuming them may seem like a straight forward process. It’s just a case of picking up a pack at your local health food store or online shop, and everything’s OK, right?

Unfortunately, it’s not quite so simple. Both spirulina and chlorella are complicated to culture, grow and harvest, and are especially difficult to keep free of contaminants in order to be safe for human consumption.

The most common types of contaminants are heavy metals absorbed by the produce in the growing stage, as well as other strains of algae or bacteria that grow alongside it – that are then harvested and processed along with it. These can be toxic to humans and need to be regularly tested for.

Secondary contaminants are foreign objects that make their way into the produce.

An example of a contaminated algae product that was tested by the FDA in the USA contained adult flies and adult fly fragments, maggots and maggot fragments, ants and ant fragments, cicada and cicada fragments, hundreds of other insect fragments, ticks, mites, ostracods, rat or mouse hairs, bird feathers, and water fleas.

There is also a misconception that products labelled as “organic”, must be safe to eat. Unfortunately organic certification doesn’t test for these heavy metals, other strains of algae, bacteria, or foreign objects.

We’ve put together a list of 5 things to check before purchasing or consuming any spirulina or chlorella product. These can also be applied to other food supplements:

1. What are the ingredients?

It’s important to check the ingredients or contents of the product. We supply both spirulina and chlorella in tablet form, for ease of use. These tablets are simply the whole produce pressed into tablets, there are no fillers, binders or excipients added, and nothing is taken away.

The contents of our spirulina tablets is simply 100% whole spirulina, and likewise the contents of our chlorella tablets is simply 100% whole chlorella (cracked cell wall, strain: Chlorella Pyrenoidosa).

When taking a food supplement, you are making a conscious decision to add the produce to your diet. But if there is anything else on the ingredients list, you are also committing to consume that alongside the produce on a regular basis.

Many fillers, binders and excipients are included for ease of processing at the factory, not for human health, and are certainly not whole foods.

It is important to check the ingredients or contents section of any food supplement. If you decide that you are happy to regularly consume a controversial ingredient like magnesium stearate on a regular basis, at least you have formed that opinion after making yourself aware of the ingredients.

2. Who is the producer or grower?

It’s important to know who the producer is, because spirulina and chlorella are so difficult to grow and process, especially contaminant free and safe for human consumption.
Ideally you’d like to know where they are located, how long they have been producing it for, what kind of certifications they have, and what standards they are held to.

In general, it’s good if the producer has been operating for more than 20 years – they should have the experience of anything that could go wrong, and the knowledge of how to prevent it.
A long standing producer should also know how to make the best quality produce possible.

For example, PlantPills Spirulina is grown for us in Tamil Nadu, southern India, by Parry Nutraceuticals, who are part of the Murugappa Group conglomerate.
They have been making high quality spirulina for over 30 years, and are acknowledged to be among the very best producers in the world. They are USP verified, hold various ISO and GMP certificates, as well as being certified Halal and Kosher.

PlantPills Chlorella is grown for us in Taiwan, by Taiwan Chlorella Manufacturing Company (TCMC).
They are the world’s largest and oldest producer, making high quality chlorella for nearly 60 years.
They hold various UKAS, ISO and GMP certificates, and are also certified Halal and Kosher.

If a shop or supplier of a spirulina or chlorella product doesn’t tell you who produced or grew the produce, it is very suspicious and a huge red flag for anyone considering consuming it.

3. Independent third party lab tests

Both spirulina and chlorella are extremely nutritious whole foods, containing high protein, chlorophyll, fatty acids and various vitamins and minerals.

It’s easy to make claims about the nutritional content of a spirulina or chlorella product, but without independent third party laboratory testing to back them up, any details or stats could just be guessed or made-up numbers.

In addition to confirming the nutritional content, independent third party lab tests are important to ensure that the produce is meeting standards for contaminants and bacteria, and is generally safe and non-toxic for human consumption.

In-house testing or testing by anyone who could be affiliated with either the grower or the vendor should not be considered as independent.

For example, we (PlantPills) are located in the UK, our spirulina is grown in India (by Parry), and third party lab tests are performed in USA by Covance Inc.
For our chlorella, again we are located in the UK, our chlorella is grown in Taiwan (by TCMC), and third party lab tests are performed in Japan by Japan Food Research Laboratories.

If a shop or supplier of a spirulina or chlorella product can’t provide independent third party laboratory tests to confirm nutritional content and safety, it is suspicious and a red flag for anyone considering consuming it.

4. The certificate of analysis (CoA) for the batch

Each batch of spirulina or chlorella that any producer makes should have a certificate of analysis to accompany it.
This will have the name and address of the producer, the date of manufacture, the date of expiry, and various nutritional and safety related items tested for. The testing methods for each one of these should be detailed, and the signatures or stamps of everyone involved in the testing process should be present.
By nature, this is completed in-house, and should be combined with independent third party laboratory tests to build up a full picture of the quality and trustworthiness of the produce.

We publish the latest CoAs and independent laboratory testing results on the relevant spirulina and chlorella pages of our site.

Again, if a shop or supplier of a spirulina or chlorella product can’t provide the CoA for the batch that the product is part of (in order to confirm basic nutritional content and safety), it is suspicious and a red flag for anyone considering consuming it.

5. Quality of the packaging

Packaging is an often neglected part of food supplements, especially for spirulina and chlorella.

It is imperative that spirulina and chlorella is transported and stored in an oxygen-free environment, even after opening. If spirulina or chlorella is exposed to oxygen, the nutritional value quickly starts to diminish, because vitamins, enzymes and antioxidants are particularly sensitive to oxygen.

Spirulina or chlorella tablets are typically packaged in plastic tubs, or “vacuum sealed” Mylar aluminium pouches. Mylar pouches are preferable, as plastic tubs are permeable to oxygen, so are no good for keeping this type of produce fresh.

However, tablets in aluminium pouches are difficult to vacuum seal, and this type of vacuum sealing typically contains at least 2% oxygen. This is enough oxygen to start diminishing the nutritional value, and considering mould can grow in air with a 0.3% oxygen content, this really isn’t acceptable.

A significant amount of nutrition is lost before a typical package of spirulina or chlorella is even opened by the consumer. Then, after opening, the exposure to oxygen quickly starts to diminish the nutritional value further.
Typical packaging will result in a 37% loss in beta carotene content after four weeks, and an 85% loss in chlorophyll content after 8 weeks.

PlantPills products maintain 100% (or very close to 100%) of the nutrients, with our unique PillFresh packaging removing oxygen to a content of less than 0.1%.
It then continues to remove the oxygen after each time the pack is opened, for 40 openings.
Our innovative packaging is unmatched and exclusive to PlantPills.

To summarise…

When purchasing or consuming spirulina or chlorella, be sure to:

1. Check the ingredients for anything that isn’t the produce
2. Check who the producer or grower is, where they are, and how long they have been operating
3. Ask to see independent third-party tests to verify nutritional content and safety
4. Ask to see the certificate of analysis (CoA) for the batch
5. Check the quality of the packaging

If you found this article useful or have any questions, please share it, leave a comment or contact us.

The PlantPills Spirulina mentioned in this article can be found here, and PlantPills Chlorella can be found here.

_{Published on: Jun 15, 2018}

Following successful trials, we have enabled several more delivery regions, including Africa, Russia, Australia and New Zealand.

As a result, the delivery network for our high quality spirulina and chlorella now reaches pretty much anywhere in the world, at very reasonable prices.

With regards to transit time, delivery within the United Kingdom is generally made within 2 working days.
Delivery to most of Europe generally takes between 3 to 5 working days, and between 1 to 2 weeks to the rest of the world.

The cost of delivery is dependant on the weight of the order, and is automatically calculated at checkout.

If you are unsure about the appropriate region for your country, or have any other questions, please feel free to contact us.

_{Published on: Jun 7, 2018}

We have launched a recurring delivery service for our Spirulina and Chlorella tablets. The service is set-and-forget, with automated payment and delivery on an ongoing basis, eliminating the need to continually reorder.
We also offer a slight discount and ring-fence stock for subscribing clients, so there is no danger of us being out of stock.

We have faced a challenging first half of 2018, with short periods where Spirulina or Chlorella were out of stock. We always try our absolute best to avoid or minimise this, but spikes in demand and unexpected delays in production and logistics can sometimes lead to periods where we have run out of stock before the next batch arrives.

In order to eliminate being out of stock for our regular clients, we have launched a subscription service.

We ring-fence stock for subscribing clients, ensuring that we always have enough to fulfil recurring orders – even if we are showing as out of stock on the website.

In addition to benefiting from guaranteed stock availability, there is no hassle of continually having to reorder; after the subscription is initially set up, payment is made to us automatically and delivery is made to you automatically.

We are also offering a slight discount to subscribing clients, and the subscription can be started or cancelled at any time.

All subscription options are on a monthly basis, are processed via PayPal, and are for delivery to the UK. If you would prefer a different time-frame (maybe every 6 weeks, two months, three months, etc.), or would like to pay via standing order, or would like delivery outside of the UK, please contact us and we will set up a custom subscription for you.

To subscribe or see full details of this service, please see the subscriptions page here.

_{Published on: May 31, 2018}