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Spirulina LAB by &LAB Tokyo
Creating the future of food and health: Spirulina LAB
── Our activities for the future 20 years from now ──
What is Spirulina LAB?
"Small steps in healthcare that are close to your daily life"
"Small steps in healthcare that are close to your daily life"
Spirulina LAB was created as a joint project between the chef team "&LAB" and DIC Corporation.
Through recipe suggestions utilizing the superfood spirulina, we are making this future source of nutrition more accessible and spreading the "little extra habit" of incorporating it into daily life.
Algae recipes to support women's health, frailty prevention, and the future.
Spirulina is a superfood containing over 50 types of health and nutritional components, and just one spoonful provides the same amount of nutrients as a day's worth of green and yellow vegetables.
It can efficiently supplement nutrients that are often lacking in modern diets , including plant-based protein, iron, vitamins, and chlorophyll.
Furthermore, its high absorption rate of over 98% and its ease of use, including its suitability for cooking, make it ideal for everyday use .
We have developed numerous themed recipes tailored to different life stages , such as women's health, frailty prevention for the elderly, and metabolic care for working adults .
Through books and workshops, over 30 people from across Japan, including doctors, registered dietitians, chefs, and parents , have volunteered their time to co-create more than 250 recipes.
Recipes born from "future ingredients x everyday wisdom,"
We support healthy daily lives for all generations.
Developing recipes that combine seasonal ingredients and traditional Japanese food with spirulina.
Through sharing on social media and Cookpad,
We provide opportunities for everyone to naturally engage with "health."
All activities are volunteer-based and driven by local residents.
With material provision and public relations support from DIC Corporation , we handle all aspects of planning, production, and dissemination ourselves.
▶ What is spirulina?
LAB's Philosophy and Objectives
Why focus on spirulina?
This is because spirulina is attracting attention as a next-generation food in terms of its nutritional value, sustainability, and functionality .
Extending healthy life expectancy
Contribution to nutrition and food education
A step towards a sustainable future
Furthermore, just one teaspoon (approximately 5g) of spirulina contains nutrients equivalent to a day's worth of green and yellow vegetables , and boasts a high absorption rate of over 98% .
It requires very little water or land, and is attracting attention as a "food of the future" with a low environmental impact .
We aim to engage in activities that contribute to solving social issues from a food perspective.
Participating members introduction
Spirulina LAB brings together food professionals.
Over 30 members from across the country participated, including doctors, registered dietitians, chefs, and parents.
Leveraging their individual expertise and life stages, they co-create "recipes they want to share from their own perspective."
Each of us has real-life experience and we are sharing practical recipes and information that are useful in your home kitchen.
Initiatives as a form of social contribution
Spirulina LAB operates under the motto "Contributing to society through recipes," and engages in the following activities:
Recipe suggestions that are easy to incorporate into your daily life (over 250 recipes published on Cookpad)
Production of educational content and books utilizing the alga Spirulina
Courses and social media posts to encourage changes in eating habits
Assisting with judging the Suizenji Nori contest for high school students, etc.
We are working with the hope that small steps in our daily lives will lead to a healthier culture and the SDGs for future generations.
Activity details
Development of themed recipes (frailty prevention / women's metabolic care / health support for working adults)
Information is shared on Cookpad, Instagram, and the DIC official website.
Nutritional explanations in the doctor-supervised book '&RAW LIVING'
Our recipes are designed to help people of all generations connect with nature and health.
Achievements and Results
Over 250 original recipes published on Cookpad.
The book "&RAW LIVING" introduces the nutritional benefits of spirulina under medical supervision.
Participant surveys revealed comments such as "I was able to get through menopause" and "My sleep quality improved."
Doctors and caregivers have also reported that it was "helpful in patient education" and "led to improvements in home diets."
Participation mechanism
Learn through courses, training sessions, and books provided by the organizers, and participate as a LAB member.
With operating expenses of less than 100,000 yen, and with support from DIC, the project is run primarily by residents and volunteers .
The pace of column contributions and participation can be flexibly designed to suit different life stages such as childbirth and caregiving.
Future prospects
Since 2016, we have been focusing on algae, a food ingredient that will also be a focus of attention at the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo, and have continued to propose recipes that are easy to incorporate into everyday life and to raise awareness.
Spirulina is gaining attention as a future nutritional source, and we plan to hold recipe contests and publish books to reach a wide range of people, from young people to the elderly .
We would also like to work on developing products tailored to different life stages, such as food to prevent frailty, nursing care food, and baby food, and we are considering collaborating with companies and organizations that will work with us .
We are also planning to develop a series that utilizes the connection with seaweed culture and fermentation.
We are also considering overseas dissemination and international expansion through an English-language website and translated books.
