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Micro-Algae Chris Baker Note: The information on this website is presented for
educational purposes and This document was provided by Micro-Algae are primitive, single-celled aquatic plants that evolved out of the primal soup that was planet Earth some 3 - 31/2 billion years ago, believed to be amongst the first life that nature created. Measured in microns, they exist at the beginning of the food chain and the evolution of life, and in recent years are being rediscovered as an important source of food. The three algae species now commonly available are Klamath Lake Blue-Green Algae, Spirulina and Chlorella. All contain high levels of amino acids, vitamins and minerals. They provide the highest concentrations of protein and beta-carotene (pro-vitamin A, an antioxidant), of any foods and supply other micronutrients not found elsewhere, contributing to their reputation as healing foods. Their use extends from antiquity by the Mayans and the Aztecs to the present by the Kanembus people near Lake Chad in sub-Saharan Africa.
Klamath Lake Wild Blue-Green Algae (KBG) This is considered by some to be the most nutritionally important of the three, particularly because it is the only one gathered from the wild. All KBG algae is harvested from the dense natural blooms that flourish annually in the Upper Klamath Lake in Oregon. This 140- square mile body of fresh water is notable for its exceptionally high mineral content from its seventeen tributary rivers and streams that flow through a volcanic basin high in the Cascade Mountains, a remote region of natural beauty. The unpolluted lake is one of the few remaining alkaline lakes on the planet. Harvesting is not considered ecologically detrimental as KBG algae is vigorously prolific, the amounts taken growing back within a few days. Klamath Blue-Green algae contains the eight essential amino acids in proportions that correspond very closely to human dietary need, making its protein content (which is high at 60%) between 75% and 95% assimilable. KBG algae thrives in a very high light intensity and contains a correspondingly high level of chlorophyll, the plant pigmentresponsible for photosynthesis, valued for its detoxifying, wound healing and anti-inflammatory properties. Paul Pitchford, in Healing with Whole Foods, says people "with an extensive background of antibiotic use normally benefit by improving the intestinal flora with chlorophyll rich foods such as micro-algae...".1 KBG algae is unique in metabolizing molecular nitrogen directly from the air – it breathes nitrogen – synthesizing peptide molecules that are the precursors to neurotransmitters which are used by the brain in communication between neurons. It stimulates the opening of neural pathways and people using KBG algae have reported improved mental clarity, concentration and alertness. It may therefore be helpful in dealing with lethargy and depression. One gram of KBG algae gives 133% RDA of Vitamin B12, deficiency of which a recent study has found to be associated with immune suppression and increased likelihood of illness.2 B12 is also known to be deactivated by large doses of vitamin C 3 and is sometimes lacking in a vegan diet. KBG algae also provides significant amounts of all other vitamins and minerals in naturally chelated forms with high bio-availability.
Spirulina With some similarities to KBG algae, Spirulina is also blue-green in color but is not normally available harvested from the wild, all quality commercial varieties being cultivated in plastic tanks, subject to an artificial environment. It contains higher levels of Beta-carotene than even KBG algae and slightly more amino acid content; the chlorophyll level is significantly lower. Most is spray-dried, which is known to reduce enzyme activity and cause loss of heat-sensitive vitamins and results in lower bio-availability of proteins.
Chlorella Chlorella is an emerald green colored algae more evolved than KBG and Spirulina, and contains a more advanced nucleic acid structure. It is also cultivated artificially and, having a tough cell wall is usually processed to render the nutrients available. Chlorella Growth Factor (CGF), isolated in the 1950s and related to the more complex nucleic acid structure is a substance unknown in other foods and has been shown to promote growth and repair of normal tissue without stimulating disease or tumor processes. Substances in Chlorella have also been shown to stimulate interferon production and enhance anti-tumor and immune function.
Diet Supplementation Many vitamin and amino acid supplements are highly processed and purified substances far removed from the natural balance and form of good organic food sources. With so many supplements now being advocated for nurturing health in the context of immune suppression there comes the risk of overdoing it and thus countering the benefits that are sought – more is not necessarily better. Micro-algae, by comparison, offer the densest possible supply of nutrients in a natural balance and, being directly assimilable, make few demands on the digestive system. Of the three discussed, only KBG algae is a wild food, growing naturally in an unpolluted habitat. Each micro-alga has its own unique properties and benefits, and some formulae include all three algae along with other nutrients. All are available in powder, capsule and tablet form, and sometimes as liquid extract. Supplementation of Spirulina is often taken at 10-20g/day; because of their detoxifying properties KBG and Chlorella are generally recommended at a lower dose of 1/2g/day initially, increasing to 1 or 2 g/day or more in illness and stress conditions. Micro-algae are foods and, as such, intuition might guide the amount consumed and over what period.
References 1. Healing With Whole Foods, Paul Pitchford. North Atlantic Books, 1993. 2. Positive Times, March 1997. 3. Diet and Nutrition: A Holistic Approach, Rudolph Ballentine. Himalayan Int. Institute 1978.
Algae from Upper Klamath Lake, a booklet of further information on Wild Blue-Green Algae, is available on request from Continuum. |