Latest news with #healthdrinks
Telegraph
16-05-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Pret's new iced latte is spiked with spirulina – but it's definitely not a health drink
There is a new, vibrant, blue-green algae in town and it has found a way into your morning coffee. Spirulina is an increasingly popular health booster, usually sold as a bright blue powder famed for its high mineral and protein content but it is now on the coffee menu at Pret. I tried the chain's spirulina macaron iced latte to find out if it was worth swapping my regular Americano for this algae-laced alternative. I was met with a combination of ingredients that creates a sickly-sweet caffeine hit, void of any of the usually earthy-tasting spirulina I've had before in smoothies or yogurt bowls. Then there's the fact that the bright blue syrup poured into the bottom of the drink makes the drink look like a science experiment gone wrong (and the coffee turns a swampy green colour if you don't drink it quickly enough). 'We often see spirulina as a health supplement,' says Aisling Pigott, a registered dietitian and spokesperson for the British Dietetic Association. It's an algae (technically a cyanobacterium) that grows in fresh and saltwater and has been used as a food source for a long time. But Pret's drink – which also packs in 19.4g of sugar per cup (around five teaspoons, which is more than is found in a can of Pepsi, Fanta or San Pellegrino Limonata) – is 'definitely not a health drink', she notes. Nor did it taste like one. Yet the powder on its own, although not well studied or as highly consumed, is reported to have numerous health benefits. Should we be all sprinkling it into our morning coffees (and swerving the extra teaspoons of sugar)? What are the health benefits of spirulina? 1. It's full of nourishing nutrients 'Spirulina is pretty highly concentrated in some vitamins and minerals,' says Rob Hobson, a nutritionist and author of Unprocess Your Life. A 15g (two tablespoon) serving of a typical spirulina supplement contains the entire recommended dietary allowances (RDA) for vitamin B1 (which keeps the nervous system healthy) and vitamin B2 (which keeps the skin and eyes working properly), Pigott says. 'It also contains a decent amount of magnesium and calcium,' she notes. It is also very high in plant-based protein, offering 10g per 15g serving – more protein per gram than meat, eggs or nuts – and is full of vitamin A, which supports a healthy immune system. The blue powder also offers around a third of the iron we need in a day but it's worth remembering that our bodies struggle to absorb iron from plant-based sources like vegetables, wholegrains and algae (known as non-heme iron), while iron from animal sources like meat and fish (heme iron) is more readily absorbed, Hobson says. This means that people following a plant-based diets tend to be advised to consume more iron-rich foods to counteract this effect. 2. It packs a powerful punch of antioxidants 'It is rich in antioxidants, especially phycocyanin, which gives it that vibrant blue-green colour and has anti-inflammatory properties,' Hobson explains. Antioxidants help to counteract the damage of unstable molecules in the body called free radicals, which damage cells and DNA. Phycocyanin, in particular, has been shown to scavenge free radicals, which means it may help protect against inflammation. However, our bodies create some antioxidants themselves and a healthy, balanced diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables will also provide a steady supply of antioxidants – without needing to take any supplements. 3. May help reduce blood pressure and cholesterol 'Small clinical trials suggest spirulina may help reduce blood pressure and 'bad' LDL cholesterol, and even improve markers of blood sugar control,' Hobson notes. But the doses used to achieve these effects tend to be higher than what people typically take in supplement form, he notes. Also, the evidence suggesting that spirulina can improve blood pressure readings is of poor quality compared to the strong evidence showing that eating a healthy, balanced diet will benefit our blood pressure and therefore heart health, Pigott adds. 4. Reduces hay fever symptoms There's some evidence that spirulina might ease hay fever due to its anti-inflammatory effects on the nasal passages, Hobson explains. One paper found that spirulina reduced nasal discharge, congestion, sneezing and itching caused by hay fever. However, for this effect and the other health benefits of spirulina, more large-scale human studies are needed to prove that spirulina is causing these improvements, he notes. 'We're far from the stage of saying spirulina is a cure-all,' Hobson says. 'I would think of it as a functional food that might support health as part of a broader diet, rather than something that replaces good nutrition basics.' Are there any health risks? 'Spirulina is generally safe when sourced from reputable producers, but it's crucial to buy a clean, tested product,' Hobson says. Spirulina grown in uncontrolled environments can be contaminated with heavy metals or harmful bacteria, he explains. Additionally, people with phenylketonuria (PKU), a rare genetic condition present from birth which means the body can't break down an amino acid called phenylalanine (which is found in spirulina) should avoid the supplement, he adds. How to incorporate spirulina into your diet Spirulina powder is the most common form of the supplement and easy to add to smoothies, juices or yoghurt bowls, Hobson says. 'But be warned, it has a very earthy, seaweedy flavour that can overpower a dish,' he notes. 'Best to pair it with strong-flavoured ingredients like citrus, ginger or berries to balance it out.' There's no hard rule on the best way to consume spirulina, but it's better to add to cold dishes because heat can degrade some of the nutrients, Hobson says. 'It makes a very attractive looking smoothie bowl you can top with brightly coloured berries and toasted coconut,' he suggests. It's also available in capsules or tablets if you're not a fan of the taste. Verdict: Is spirulina actually good for you? Setting aside Pret's spirulina iced latte, the algae is nutrient-rich and packed with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, notes Hobson. 'But it's certainly not the magic bullet some marketing suggests,' he says. 'It's best viewed as a nutritional booster, so nice if you enjoy it, but definitely not something you need to add to your diet to stay healthy. 'I would think of it as a functional food that might support health as part of a broader diet, rather than something that replaces good nutrition basics.' FAQs How much should you have and how often? It depends on the product that you buy. Some manufacturers recommend 1 to 3g per day, while others suggest 15g. 'Around one teaspoon (about 3 to 5g) per day is common and considered safe,' Hobson says. 'You can take it daily, but more isn't always better so if you are going to take it stick with moderate, consistent use as part of a balanced diet.' Does spirulina cleanse the gut? Spirulina isn't a probiotic or fibre-rich food, so it doesn't directly feed gut bacteria the way something like inulin (found in fruit, vegetables and herbs) or fermented foods would, Hobson explains. But it may have an indirect effect on gut health. 'Animal studies and a few human trials suggest it might help reduce gut inflammation or support the intestinal barrier,' he notes. 'It's definitely not a gut-health hero like kefir or sauerkraut, but it could play a supportive role in an overall healthy, anti-inflammatory diet.' Does spirulina burn belly fat? 'There are a few small studies suggesting spirulina supplementation might help with modest weight loss or improvements in body composition, likely due to its effects on appetite or inflammation,' Hobson says. However, weight loss is complex and depends on many factors, such as diet and activity levels, so, on its own, spirulina is unlikely to have much of an impact on body weight, he says. 'Better focusing on the diet as a whole,' he says, 'and getting more active rather than sipping spirulina.'
Times
12-05-2025
- Business
- Times
Siblings of tycoon who ‘abhorred paying tax' battle partner over will
Three siblings of a lawyer turned health drinks tycoon who 'abhorred paying tax' are continuing their court battle with his former lover over a multimillion-pound estate. Alan Lorenz became a multimillionaire after giving up a career as a divorce lawyer to sell weight-loss shakes, having joined the company Herbalife in 1984. He rose to the top of the business and by the time he died in 2021, Lorenz was said to have a fortune that included a £3.5 million Maltese property, a £4 million home in Mayfair, central London, £8.8 million in cash and £2.1 million worth of rights to the health drinks company. When Lorenz died aged 78, he left his estate to his Maltese partner, Sheila Caruana, with whom he had entered a
