Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Blue Green Algae Supplements Support Good Nutrition

By Sally Delacruz


When high levels of nutrients, adequate sunshine and the right temperatures prevail, a murky, pervasive, substance may develop in certain bodies of water. Called an algal bloom, this phenomenon is actually a microscopic population explosion. Most varieties of this organism are not normally eaten by humans, and a few can actually be harmful. Some edible species have become the source of blue green algae supplements, a popular dietary addition.

The organisms are biologically fascinating. While people might assume that their characteristic green color makes them members of the plant kingdom, these creatures are actually tricky to classify. Plant-like processes takes place internally, but they also have properties considered more bacterial in form and function. They have successfully lived for eons almost everywhere on earth, and have even been found underneath glacial ice.

Products made from algae include agar, usually derived from salt-water members of this family. Some varieties are named for their characteristic cyan blue color, which occurs as a result of bacterial photosynthesis, a method of deriving energy directly from sunlight normally used only by plants. When processed into consumable tablets or powder, some of the products made from algae have been glowingly called the most promising food of the future.

Although it may be hyperbole to call it a super-food, this green soup has become a source of profit for some farmers. One prime location in North America is Klamath Lake in the State of Oregon. With its ideal climate and unpolluted water, conditions are ideal for raising creatures at the very bottom of the food chain. Spirulina is the variety most often grown, and is said to possess the greatest nutritional properties.

The excitement these products generate among health-conscious consumers is easy to understand. Because of their unique internal processes, the same factors that give them their vibrant color also makes them higher in beta-carotene and vegetable proteins. Their anti-oxidant characteristics are well-known, and they also contain essential minerals and vitamins. These substances have been the source of substantial health claims.

Even though science has not yet substantiated these results, the substance is used to help drop extra pounds, relieve chronic anxiety and depression, and even to mitigate some female reproductive health problems. Daily use is said to reduce early stages of oral cancer, bolster the immune system, and relieve chronic fatigue while boosting energy. Users say it helps with the common problems associated with ADHD (hyperactivity-attention disorder).

Even though it does provide excellent nutritional support, some extreme claims regarding inherent, beneficial properties cannot actually be proven, and have generated legal actions and controversy. Although there is no realistic evidence against taking this supplement over the long term, any claims about actual medical advantages fall into the area of subjective interpretation, and are different for every user.

Although not a drug or medication, this food supplement is available in powders that can be sprinkled over other foods or dissolved in juice or water, or can be taken in standard capsule form. Harm from over-dosing is rare, but pregnant women are advised to temporarily avoid using it. People who consume it daily say that it imparts of feeling of overall good health and increased well-being.




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