Protein content
A 1 tbsp serving of spirulina contains 4 g of protein - a moderate source of protein, about 8% of the 50 g Daily Value.
Share of this food's calories that come from protein - it is extremely protein-dense.
| Serving | 1 tbsp (7 g) |
|---|---|
| Protein per serving | 4 g |
| Protein per 100 g | 57.5 g |
| Calories per serving | 20 kcal |
| Protein density | 79% of calories |
| Share of 50 g Daily Value | 8% |
| Protein quality | Complete protein |
| Category | Vegetables |
| Food type | Prepared / processed |
| USDA record | FoodData Central #170495 |
A typical 1 tbsp serving of spirulina contains 4 grams of protein (57.5 g per 100 g), which makes it a moderate source of protein. That covers roughly 8% of the 50 g reference Daily Value, so it adds toward your protein total for the day.
About 79% of the calories in spirulina come from protein, which makes it extremely protein-dense - close to the practical ceiling for a whole food. Foods in this band are the ones that let you raise your protein intake without raising your calorie intake much at all.
Among the 105 vegetables in the database, spirulina ranks 18th by protein per serving, and 538th out of all 796 foods on the site. Set against artichoke, another vegetable entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.5 g more protein (artichoke has 3.5 g per 1 medium).
It is a complete protein - it supplies all nine essential amino acids in adequate amounts, so it can carry a meal's protein on its own. The serving above is measured by volume at 7 g. The per-100 g figure lets you compare it directly against any other food here, whatever its serving.
Spirulina supplies all nine essential amino acids, which is unusual for a plant source, though a typical spoonful is a small serving.
Source: USDA FoodData Central #170495 - "Seaweed, spirulina, dried" (SR Legacy, published 4/1/2019). Values are the published reference figures for that record, not lab measurements for a specific brand or batch.
Quick answers
Spirulina has 57.5 g of protein per 100 g. A typical 1 tbsp serving (7 g) provides 4 g.
Yes. Spirulina is a complete protein - it supplies all nine essential amino acids in adequate amounts, so it can carry a meal's protein on its own.
A 1 tbsp serving of spirulina contains 4 g of protein, about 8% of the 50 g reference Daily Value.
Spirulina is a moderate source of protein, and about 79% of its calories come from protein, which makes it extremely protein-dense. Set against artichoke, another vegetable entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.5 g more protein (artichoke has 3.5 g per 1 medium).
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