08 May 2014

Blue Green Algae

(Aphanizomenon flos-aquae)

Blue-green algae have gained attention in recent years as the new superfood of the health food market. Often called “wild blue-green” because it grows wild in the pure, fresh waters of Klamath Lake in Oregon, it is a powerhouse of nutrients. These cyanobacteria microalgae are the most primitive of food sources, going back over 3 billion years, yet is one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet. It is a supreme whole food, a foundational food.

Blue-green algae is a very efficient photosynthesizer. Using only sunlight, carbon dioxide, nitrogen from the air, and hydrogen from water, they synthesize proteins, enzymes, carbohydrates, and lipids. The colloidal mineral sediment of Klamath Lake, measured at depths of 35 feet, makes blue-green extremely rich in minerals, notably high in boron, and essential trace elements. These minerals are in a chelated form meaning they are organically bound and therefore bioavailable. Ounce for ounce, blue-green is one of the richest sources of protein (at 60%) and chlorophyll. It is considered a “complete protein” and contains all eight essential amino acids in a profile that is nearly identical to that required by the human body. Protein is necessary for keeping the immune system healthy. Blue-green is an immune system enhancer. It contains most of the non-essential amino acids and is also rich in B vitamins, particularly B-12, and in vitamins C, E, K, beta carotene, inositol, choline, and biotin.

Blue-green algae are probably best known for their amazing effects on the nervous system. Their ability to metabolize nitrogen directly from the air allows them to produce neuropeptides which are the precursors of neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are the chemical link whereby neurons communicate with one another. Blue-green algae are a neural stimulant that most people find quite positive. They help provide sharper mental focus and alertness. They have brain-enhancing qualities that make them a potentially powerful mentally healing food. On subtle levels, they can have spiritually integrating properties. For body and mind, blue-green algae are considered one of Nature’s most potent regenerators.

What makes blue-green different from most algae on the market is that they are harvested in their natural state. Because of the still pristine qualities of Klamath Lake and because blue-green are at the very bottom of the food chain, they are virtually pollution-free which cannot be said of almost all the food that we eat today. These algae, so named because of their typical blue-green color, can actually vary in color from season to season as well as varying in texture and density. Blue-green algae can be mixed with juice or water. Their soft glucose cell wall makes them highly assimilable. This is nutrition in its simplest and most complete form.

Klamath blue-green are harvested from the summer bloom in the middle of the deepest part of Upper Klamath Lake. The greatest purity of blue-green is found there. The clean air, mineral-rich water, and high-intensity sunlight make this a perfect growth medium for these nutrient-dense whole foods. Immediately frozen after harvest, all the blue-green vital nutrients remain intact and biologically active. They are then checked to ensure they are free of Daphne and microcystins and are then freeze-dried.