Can Algae Make You Healthy?

We know algae as that slimy green stuff that grows on the side of aquariums. Nature had a bigger plan for algae, not all, but most have health benefits that comes in many different forms.

Of the more than 1500 known species, some are useful as food, while others have been reported to cause gastroenteritis and hepatitis. Like many products in the category of "natural", there are claims that overstated the benefits, I mean how many ways can you produce a vitamin C? This is where companies start stretching the envelope and get into trouble in their attempt to market and make money.

Lets look at a few of the benefits claimed by manufacturers:

For thousands of years marine plants & Algae have been used for food with the reputation for enhancing health, boosting the immune system and detoxification. It was discovered that seaweed and algae defend themselves against specific pathogens (Ill making bacteria/micro-organism) with natural antibiotics. As the waters become more polluted with with these potentially dangerous microbes, plant life becomes more endangered. As a result, algae had developed a unique defence to fight disease. As they claim, nature has responded to the polluting of the waters by building the defense of these plants, algae is one of them. Essential to humans and there health, algae boosts your immune system.

Next, we want to look at the nutritional value that algae has.

There are four types of algae that are an excellent source of nutrition, Klamath Lake blue-green algae, spirulina, chlorella and red marine algae.

Supplements are the most common form of algae to take. The main benefits for your body is protein, carbohydrates, carotenoids, amino acids, vitamins and trace minerals. It is also used for vegetarians or individuals suffering from malnutrition.

Klamath Lake blue-green algae comes from the fresh-water Klamath Lake in Oregon and is a rich source of vitamin B12 and all 22 amino acids.

Spirulina, another fresh-water blue-green algae, is about 65-71% protein and contains 8 essential amino acids and an abundant amount of omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid.

Red marine algae is a rich source of vitamins, minerals, proteins, complex carbohydrates, enzymes, essential fatty acids, fiber and trace elements. Because Algae stimulates the immune system, increases white blood cell count and promotes the growth of healthy colonic flora, algae supplements are ideal for improving overall health. Algae is also beneficial for treating anemia, infections, fatigue, obesity and toxicity.

Chlorella is close in comparison to spirulina; it has less protein, but contains twice as much nucleic acid and chlorophyll.

The common colors of algae is red, brown and green. As mentioned, supplements are widely used for nutritional intake, but cooking algae and seaweed has been the norm in asia for centuries. In many oriental stores you can buy dried packets which then expand when cooking.

What's important is absorption. If one cannot get the nutrients into their system, then whatever method you choose for eating algae won't matter. Digestion is a subject for another time.

Here is what we know for sure, many times profit comes before fact. We also know that we are bombarded by all sorts of claims about cures and treatments from both the medical system and the supplement companies. How does one sort this out?

Well, if we know that phytonutrients are required for optimum health, and we know that nature has supplied this in plants, then algae qualifies. We also know that lakes and oceans have many of the minerals we need for good health, algae qualifies in this area too. We now know that these plants have built up an immunity to toxins and pollution in the waters, this keeps algae in good standing for our health.

What we have to conclude, using common sense, is that millions of people who have taken these supplements haven't been harmed by them. The big question is, have they been helped? If we look at other countries that use algae and other plants of this type all the time, can we conclude that they live a long and healthy life? I think so.