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[[Image:spirulina_farm.jpg|thumb|right|150px| Crossspirulina Spirulina farmin India]][[Image:harvesting_pressing_and_drying_spirulina.jpg|thumb|right|150px|harvestingHarvesting, pressing and drying spirulina]][[Image:various_edible_forms.jpg|thumb|right|150px| Crossvarious_edible_formsSpirulina drink, energy bars, chikki, and pills]]
Spirulina is an aquatic micro-organism often referred to as an algae, though it more closely resembles bacteria. It is used as a food supplement to combat malnutrition. It has an extremely high protein content, with 60-70% of its dry weight consisting of a balanced mix of various essential amino acids. Further it is very rich in beta carotene (to produce vitamin A), iron, vitamin B12, ganna-linolenic acid and other micronutrients. It exists as a thin filament rolled up into a spiral. It has no cell wall and is therefore very easy to digest.