Blue Green Algae
Klamath Blue Green Algae (aphanizomenon floss aquae) Oregon
Wildcrafted from a mountain wilderness
lake fed by unique mineral rich springs and streams. Unique growing conditions
have selectively created a unique food - "spiritual" by many accounts.
Careful low-temp handling yields optimal bioactivity. Unique mental attributes,
immune boosting, general tonic, energy, endurance, youth, longevity. Typically
provides a profound feeling of well-being.
Enzymatic pigments, carotenes,
chlorophyll & phycocyanine, plus amino acids, trace minerals & unique
phytonutrient factors.
MIRACLE SUPERFOOD: WILD BLUE-GREEN ALGAE
by Gillian McKeith, Ph.D
Of all the many strains of different types of algae in existence, the blue-greens are the
most distinct from other plants and algaes. There are anywhere form 500 to 1500 different
species of these blue-green algaes. Fossil records indicate that the blue-greens are the most
primitive of all algaes, dating back over four billion years. These algaes have endured while thousands
of other plant and animal species have become extinct. The blue-greens are true survival pioneers,
quickly changing and adapting to light conditions, temperatures and physical and chemical changes as
the environment dictates. They were probably the very first organisms to release elemental
oxygen into the primitive and barren planetary atmosphere. In evolutionary terms, the blue-greens
(scientifically known as Cyanobacteria) represent a link between bacteria and green plants.4
This algae type, therefore, is both a plant and a healthy bacterium. Blue-green algae and
bacteria have a similar composition. The genetic makeup, photosynthesis apparatus and the
respiratory system are not separated by internal membranes. The 'information' in the blue-green
algae or bacteria, such as how to produce enzymes, how to digest antibiotics, how to
repair cellular injury and how to quench free radicals is totally accessible. (Free radicals
attack other molecules with which they come in contact.) Blue-green algae and bacteria are sometimes
referred to as prokaryotes (cells which lack membrane-bound nucleus). All other algaes and
higher evolved plants are called eukaryotes. (The nucleus and pigments are confined within distinct
membranes.) This is quite significant in terms of absorption, providing access to the goodness of
the algae. Research scientist Daryl Kollman writes in his book Hope Is a Molecule
about the ease of access to the nutrient profile: .... the essential bacteria in your intestinal tract
[have] access to all the information contained in the blue-green algae.. It is Kollman's opinion
that 'the biological information learned routinely by the blue-green algae' is information
that the human race needs in order to survive. For instance, it might take us a million years to
develop genetic information that would allow us to adapt to excess radiation; blue-green algae
would adapt to it in a few months. When we eat the algae we then have access to that information
and knowledge of adaptation to our surrounding environment, argues Kollman. On a more metaphysical
level, some algae enthusiasts be- lieve that if you eat blue-green algae on a regular basis, you
will connect with something essential and ancient. Richard France, a macrobiotic counselor,
states, "It is not inconceivable that on subtle vibrational levels, unique genetic memories and
messages of harmony and peace are stored in algae, which have grown undisturbed for aeons in
a pristine environment. This information may be passed on to us at a cellular level, encouraging
harmony among our own cellular family."
SHARED CHARACTERISTICS WITH PLANTS, ANIMALS, BACTERIA
Blue-green algae are quite distinct from other algaes in that they share characteristics
with plants, animals and bacteria. Like plants, they have the ability to perform photosynthesis, but they
do it far better than any other plant. They are the most chlorophyll-rich organisms on the
planet..
Special phycolilin pigments initiate the conversion of light energy to chemical energy
by certain wavelengths of visible light to which chlorophyll is not as sensitive. The energy is
absorbed by the pohycolilins and passed onto the chlorophyll. Further- more, blue-green algae
are similar to animal cells in structure in that both have a soft, digestible cell wall composed of
glycogen, which our bodies can use as a food. Many other plants have indigestible cellulose cell walls.
Thus, because the algae's cell walls are soft and easy to digest, we can obtain more nutrients from its
ingestion.
UNIQUENESS OF THE KLAMATH LAKE ALGAE STRAIN
Wild blue-green algae (Aphanizomenon flos-aquae or AFA) from Klamath Lake, Oregon is
different and distinct from most algaes. It is a wild, uncultivated plant food. It is one of the few
species of algae which grows wild in its own natural habitat, one of the world's most rich "nutrient
traps". Unlike this indigenous and wild form of blue-green algae, some algaes are grown artificially
in manmade farming ponds. The extraordinary and natural environment in which wild blue-green
algae is grown is impossible to duplicate on these algae farms. Wild blue-green algae are
completely free of artificial, synthetic influences. Because AFA is so purely and naturally grown in its
own wild habitat, it has the most beneficial impact upon the human body. My basic argument is
that wild AFA is superior:
- in its rate of assimilability, digestibility and absorption,
- as a food and energy source,
- in nutrient density, and
- as a preventative against disease.
Absorption
First, AFA algae have a soft cell glucose (glycoliprotein complex protein bonded to
carbohydrate) wall that is easily digested by the body; this allows rapid absorption and
assimilation of vital nutrients. Other synthetically cultivated algaes and plants may have
indigestible cellulose walls making absorption difficult or impossible. Wild blue-green algae
is an anabolic substance.
Translation: its organic compounds are more readily assimilated, absorbed, digested,
metabolized and utilized by the human body.
Life Force Energy
Second, AFA algae require intense sunlight to grow. They favor the summer months in Oregon
for their most prolific growth period. This may explain why they have such high levels of
chlorophyll. Plant energy can be transferred from the chlorophyll directly to hemoglobin in
the red blood cells of human blood plasma. The red blood cells and the plasma transfer the
plant energy directly to the cells and to the bond structure, which then transmit it to the
overall human body. AFA algae therefore have the ability to purify blood, quell inflammations and
rejuvenate.
Fixing Nitrogen
Third, AFA is now known to fix nitrogen. This means that the algae breathe in nitrogen from the
air to produce a rich source of proteins, nucleic acids, nitrogen compounds and other essential
nutrients. These compounds enrich the soil and environment around them, as the nitrogen acts
just like natural fertilizer. Un- like AFA, some algaes do not have the ability to metabolize
nitrogen from the air and can only grow in soils where nitrogen compounds are already present or
artificially added.
Nutrient Density
Fourth, AFA is a most nutrient-dense food with high concentrations of vitamins, minerals and
other important natural sub- stances. Over 95 percent of the nutrients can be used directly by the
body in the same form. The vitamin B-complex profile of AFA is very high, especially vitamins
B2, B6 and B12. For example, one gram of wild blue-green algae supplies more than the Recommended
Daily Allowance (RDA) of vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 is essential for the production of red blood cells.
It helps them to develop to a point where protein, folic acid, iron and vitamin C can mature
properly and thus carry more oxygen to the cells. A deficiency of B12 may cause pernicious anemia.
Restricted diets and poor absorption can cause a B12 deficiency. AFA has the highest active
vegetable source of vitamin B12, in a form that is totally usable by the body. AFA algae
have 65 times the B12 content of kelp, and almost 700 times more B12 than alfalfa.
The B vitamins within AFA algae are of such high quality that they can boost the body's
energy level, endurance and stamina. B vitamins convert carbohydrates into glucose, which
the body can then utilize to produce energy. The ability of blue-green algae to efficiently
transfer glucose into energy (via the B vitamins) may represent its most important health
contribution. In addition, the algae strain AFA has a broader spectrum of minerals than
any other green algae. To date, over 40 macro- and micro-minerals have been identified in
the wild blue-green algae. These minerals are bound into a colloidal matrix, which means
they are enzyme-bound. Such configurations cannot be synthesized.
Choline, an ingredient important to the brain's phospholipids, is absent in many blue-greens
but is present in AFA algae. AFA is an elixir for the brain unlike any other algae and has a
beneficial impact upon brain synchronization: it specifically enhances the hypothalamus, the pineal
and pituitary glands. In my own clinical research, I have found patients reporting improved
mental clarity, enhanced memory and a sharper sense nf focus after ingesting AFA algae for
several months. It ought to be noted that AFA has a slightly bitter taste.
According to traditional Chinese medicine, bitter flavors influence the heart-mind system,
actually helping the mind to focus better. Victor Kubinskas in his book Survival into
the 21st Century described it as a "mental buzz and blissed out feeling". You can't
achieve this type of mind enhancement with any other algae. AFA has a much higher
concentration of vitamin C than any other algae. This is important because iron needs the
synergistic effect of vitamin C to be properly assimilated in our bodies. The iron content
of wild blue-green algae is equally impressive; its ability to build the quality of
the blood is thus superior. Of its dry weight, more than two-thirds of AFA is assimilable
protein, more than any other algae. AFA wild blue-green algae gets its protein content from
atmospheric nitrogen. AFA may even have "special vibrational fields". Dr. Gabriel Cousins
describes it as "subtle, organized energy fields". These vibrational energy fields are the
life forces of the algae, which he believes has the ability to regenerate mind, body and
immune forces. Therefore, more so than any other algae, this wild blue-green strain is a
perfect food and perfect food supplement in preventing and treating nutritional
deficiencies, imbalances or disorders.
Please note that when I refer to "wild blue-green algae," I mean specifically the
Aphanizomenon flos-aqua (AFA) strain. I use the terms interchangeably, the only difference being that
one is the biochemical name and the other the common name.
MIRACLE SUPERFOOD: WILD BLUE GREEN ALGAE
THE ALGAE OF KLAMATH LAKE
Klamath Lake is one of the world's richest sources of the AFA strain of wild blue-green algae,
the strain scientifically referred to as Aphanizomenon, flos aqua (AFA). This lake is nestled 3000
feet up in the almost inaccessible Cascade Mountains of Oregon, boasting one of the most abundant
supplies of minerals and trace elements. This mineral treasury is the result of massive volcanic
eruptions that occurred several thousand years ago, blanketing the area with millions of tons of
mineral-rich volcanic ash. Fifty thousand tons of this ash flow every day into the 140-square mile
lake from the 4000-square mile volcanic basin through a network of 17 rivers, streams and
falls. This spectacular lake in its unique position of isolation has become a natural power-packed
nutrient-trap impossible for man to duplicate. The blue-green algae from Klamath Lake grows
wild; it is free of adverse bacteria, heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides, insecticides and
fungicides..
TOXICITY
Algae researcher Dr. William Barry has personally examined many blooms of the AFA strain
from Klamath Lake (and other lakes too) and has never found any toxicity. A research report
produced by Rapala in The Journal of Applied Phycology (1993) confirmed Barry's conclusion;
this report emphatically states that the AFA algae strain is not capable of producing toxins. As
further testament to its safety, it should be noted that hundreds of thousands of people
worldwide have consumed the AFA strain algae with no trace of toxicity. The only time that AFA
should be used cautiously is when you are extremely weak, thin, very dry with a cold constitution
or are already pregnant. There are two strains of blue-green algae which have produced toxins
at various times: one is called Anaboena-flos aquae, the other Microcystic aeroginosa.
Neither strain is produced commercially and so human consumption would be virtually impossible.
The focus of this book is on the nontoxic and safe AFA wild blue-green strain, rather than any potentially
toxic forms.
NUTRITIONAL CONTENT
AFA wild blue-green algae is the most nutrient-dense and perfectly balanced whole food
in the world. With a dynamic nutritional profile, it is the richest source of almost every
nutrient in its purest form. Because it is recognized by the body as a food, it is immediately
available with a greater than 90 percent assimilation rate. This means that the body is capable
of utilizing virtually a11 of the algae's nutrients; When taking a conventional multiple vitamin with
minerals, the body may only absorb a small fraction of the actual nutrient dosages. In my own
clinical practice, I tell my patients that what you eat is important; but what you absorb and
assimilate may even be more important. AFA blue-green algae has an extraordinarily high content of
vitamins, minerals, amino acids (complete protein) and live enzymes: including a complete
amino acid profile with 62 per- cent protein content, high in beta-carotene, antioxidants
and the highest known natural dietary source of vitamin B12 and chlorophyll. The nutritional
composition of the foods we eat is vital, as it determines just how much energy our bodies
need to break down and process those foods. The more processed the food, the harder our bodies have
to work. The more cooked-out foods we eat, the more strain we place on our enzyme quotient.
Enzymes are protein molecules which digest our food and make it small enough to pass through
the minute pores of the intestines into the blood. Modern diets are so devoid of key nutrients and
enzymes to help break foods down and absorb their goodness that we tire our bodies from
simple food abuse. This is why you may feel tired after meals, or bloated and low in energy.
Extra energy is needed to break down and absorb foods that are "empty" or nutrient deficient.
Further energy is required to break down and eliminate pesticides and other toxins from
our food and environment, and to curb the disruptive effects of high levels of mental stress.
The end result is low energy and poor elimination of toxins and waste products. Our bodies then store
these nasty residues in our fat cells, in the blood- stream and in the key organs. We poison
ourselves and rob our bodies of strength. Depletion of energy reserves is thought to contribute to the
fall in immunity and the rise in degenerative diseases that we are now witnessing.
MINERALS
One of the greatest contributions of blue-green AFA algae is its full spectrum of minerals.
Minerals are the framework for our bodies, critical to our overall mental and physical wellbeing.
Bones, teeth, muscle, blood, nerve cells, tissues and internal fluids all contain varying quantities
of minerals. They help to build the skeletal structure, regulate the heart, balance internal
pressure of body fluids, nerve response and oxygen transport from the lungs to the tissues.
Minerals act as catalysts for many biological reactions within the body, including muscle response,
digestion, metabolism of nutrients in foods, and transmission of messages through the nervous system.
Minerals help to maintain the body's delicate water balance, allowing the mental and physical
processes to function properly. They keep blood and tissue fluids from becoming too acid or too
alkaline, thus balancing the body's pH. Minerals permit other nutrients to pass into the bloodstream.
Minerals also help draw chemical substances in and out of the cells and aid in the creation of
antibodies. The problem with minerals, however, is that they can only be supplied to the human
body through diet. Thus, if your diet is poor, your mineral profile will be poor, too.
Not only are we often robbed of minerals by our inadequate diets, but most soils in which our
produce grows are severely mineral deficient. Remember, your body cannot make minerals: if
they are not in the soil, they are not in the produce, and are certainly not in you. A U's.
government paper illustrated this problem forcefully when leading authorities from Johns Hopkins
University, Yale, Columbia University and the U's. Department of Agriculture reported that
"Ninety-nine percent of the American people are deficient in food complexed minerals. A marked
deficiency in any one of the more important minerals actually results in disease. Any
upset of the balance, any considerable lack of one or another element, however microscopic
the body requirement may be, can cause us to sicken, suffer and shorten our lives."
And that statement was issued in the 1930s! The matter has worsened since then. Therefore, I
propose that AFA blue-green algae can potentially prevent, correct, alleviate and treat these
mineral imbalances and deficiencies. Trace minerals or micro-minerals are needed in minute
quantities by the body. No one mineral can function without affecting the others. Each
mineral needs other minerals for proper utilization. For example, calcium requires magnesium
for its absorption and assimilation. Moreover, a deficiency of even just one mineral can cause
severe imbalances of vitamins as well. In my own practice, blood tests have revealed that 98
percent of the people who first come to see me are deficient in one or more macro- or micro-mineral.
More troubling, the pregnant women who have come to my office were all deficient in certain minerals
on their first visit. I correct these mineral deficiencies with algae, and other components if
necessary. Getting enough minerals in the right balance is critical if you are to feel well; wild
blue-green algae seems to provide a framework for a perfect mineral balance. Wild blue-green
algae contains all the essential trace minerals: boron, calcium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron,
magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, zinc and vanadium.
Since the algae is in such a natural state, it is conceivable that it may even contain
other minerals not yet discovered or identified. But the most significant story here
is that these minerals are in perfect balance for maximum benefits and positive impact upon human
biochemistry. In my practice, the most common mineral deficiency I have discovered is magnesium.
Magnesium is an essential part of many digestive systems and metabolic processes.
According to studies, 80 to 90 percent of the US population may be deficient in the mineral
magnesium. Dr. Mildred Seelig, one of the country's leading authorities on magnesium (along
with Dr. William Rea) suggests also that approximately 90 percent of the population is
magnesium deficient..4 I have been able to correct magnesium deficiencies using AFA wild
blue-green algae. As I mentioned at the outset, I suffered for years with a zinc deficiency, even
though I was ingesting zinc supplements. Zinc is an essential trace mineral required by the
body in larger amounts than any other trace mineral except iron. It is an essential cofactor needed by more
than 100 enzymes in the eyes, liver, kidneys, muscles, skin, bones, testes and other organs. To
maintain plasma zinc concentrations, frequent intakes of dietary zinc are necessary...
Zinc is critical in maintaining many healthy bodily organs and functions. The blue-green AFA algae
finally corrected my zinc deficiency only because the mineral composition of the algae was
perfectly balanced and bio-available, thus allowing my body efficient absorption and assimilation
of this key mineral. According to Dr. Maurice Schiff, a Professor of Medicine at the University of
California at San Diego, the extraordinary mineral profile of the algae will combine and arrange
its mineral matrix as if it were identical to the building blocks of our own flesh. "Because
everything is in its proper proportion, it is readily absorbed by the body," he concludes.
It is worth noting that wild blue-green algae has one of the highest sources of cobalt, the
essential mineral part of vitamin B12 and one of the highest natural concentrations of iron known. The
AFA thus builds up the quality of our blood and assists in resistance to infection and diseases.
VITAMINS
Wild blue-green algae contains the most perfect balance of vitamins of all algaes.
Vitamins are essential to life. They aid in digestion, elimination and resistance to disease. Depletions
or deficiencies can lead to various nutritional disorders, depending on which vitamins may be
lacking in the diet. With a few exceptions, most vitamins cannot be manufactured by the body.
They must be supplied by the diet or by supplement pills. The vitamin composition of blue-green
algae is far superior to any multivitamin supplement pills. In a recent study at Yale New Haven
Hospital 257 brands of multivitamin supplement pills were evaluated. The study concluded that
80 percent of the vitamin pills were inadequate, incomplete or imbalanced. With wild-blue green
algae, the composition and balance of vitamins is in perfect harmony with human biochemistry
for maximum utilization.
PROTEINS/AMINO ACIDS
Wild blue-green AFA algae is an exceptionally high source of protein (60 percent), nearly
identical to the human body's protein composition. The quality of the protein in AFA algae is
superior to that of most other plant or animal protein sources, being derived from all eight
essential amino acids. It is important for general good health of the skin, hair, nails,
brain, ligaments, bones, teeth, hormones, sex glands and enzymes that we eat foods with all eight
essential amino acids. If even one amino acid is missing, then the body cannot make protein.
Because plant proteins tend to lack certain amino acids, some vegetarians may suffer
from a deficiency of basic protein. On the other hand, meats (including fish, chicken, beef,
turkey) usually contain all eight essential amino acids to form complete protein. But studies
clearly indicate that animal protein raises cholesterol, increases the risk of heart disease and
forms excess mucus. In addition, animal protein is rather difficult to digest. If protein digestion is
incomplete, then bacteria can form toxic compounds. AFA algae protein is of a type called
glycoprotein, whereas meat and regular vegetable protein is of a type called lipoprotein.
The body must convert lipoproteins into glycoproteins in order to utilize it. Since algae
is already in the form of glycoprotein, the body need not make any biochemical conversion. Thus,
eating the blue-green algae protein is more biochemically efficient and preserves metabolic
energy. The protein in AFA algae is 85 percent assimilable, compared to beef with just a 20
percent assimilable rate. Improper or incomplete protein digestion may not only produce toxins,
but may very well render the protein worthless.
Finally, AFA protein assists in nourishing the brain and nervous system because of algae's rich
source of amino acid peptides. These peptides are precursor for neurotransmitters which carry messages
from the brain to ordinary muscles, and from the organs back to the brain. Although the brain
comprises just two percent of total body weight, it actually uses 20 percent of the body's energy
resources. Thus, the brain needs to be fed and satisfied virtually every minute of the day. The
nervous system and brain interface with each other continually as messages are sent back and forth
incessantly. Therefore, if there is the slightest break in this amino acid-peptide link, you
may experience memory loss, mental fatigue or nervous disorders.
ENZYMES
There are thousands of live active enzymes in AFA algae. Enzymes are critical for life;
they are the body's labor force. Enzymes metabolize, digest and assimilate all substances
entering the body. For example, live enzymes digest food, destroy toxins, even break down fats and
cellulose and metabolize starch and proteins. Furthermore, enzymes are involved in moving muscles,
nourishing nerves, stimulating brain function, breathing, accompanying male sperm and female eggs,
fighting off illness, infection and disease and more. A shortage of live active enzymes could wreak
havoc in your body. Unfortunately, most people do not have sufficient enzyme activity. Although the
pancreas manufactures a certain limited number of enzymes for digestion, there is still a need to
supplement the body with additional enzymes. Supplementary enzymes are generally acquired through the
foods that we eat; raw fruits and vegetables are packed with live active enzymes. However, these
supplementary enzymes are easily destroyed when we cook, broil, boil, bake, fry, saute, poach or
even freeze our foods. The enzymes within the body are further destroyed by stress, fatigue,
chemical pollutants, even pregnancy and possibly an extraordinarily strenuous exercise regime. Thus, the thousands of live active enzymes within wild blue-green AFA algae can contribute to a
substantially healthier life.
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