MIRACLE SUPERFOOD: WILD SUPER BLUE GREEN ALGAE
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Gillian
McKeith, Ph.D. is a practicing clinical nutritionist in the United Kingdom and
Director of
the McKeith
Health Clinic of London. She conducts clinical research, publishes findings and
treats illness
through comprehensive nutritional biochemistry. Dr. McKeith incorporates
orthomolecular
nutrients, dietary counseling, allergy, toxic-metal and biochemical testing,
and
believes that
most disease can be eradicated with the proper application of a natural and
nutritional
approach. Dr. McKeith signed as the Healthy Living Expert for the BBC.s .Good
Morning Show.
in Great Britain. She was the celebrity nutritionist for both the .Mike k Maty
Show. on ABC
and .The Joan Rivers Show.. She also co-hosted the syndicated .Healthline
Across
America. radio program originating from Station WMCA in New York. Dr. McKeith
authors
regular editorial columns in national and international publications, and
presents her
.Ultimate Healthy
Living. Workshops to audiences worldwide. She was educated at the
University of
Edinburgh, University of Pennsylvania, the London School of Acupuncture and the
American Holistic College of Nutrition.
NUTRITIONAL
BENEFITS - Preface
Almost 98 percent of the patients I see in my clinical practice
are deficient in one or more minerals or vitamins. Yet our health is dependent
on complete availability and absorption of nutrients in a form that our bodies
can utilize. Even a deficiency in just one nutrient can cause a chain reaction,
triggering eficiencies in many other nutrients. There are many biochemical and
nutritional reasons for poor nutrient absorption which may include (1) a
sluggish body, (2) excess of unhealthy mucus along the walls of the small
intestines, (3) nutrient-deficient foods, (4) malfunctioning digestive system.
It is possible that a person may consistently take vitamin or mineral
supplement pills, with little or no recognized benefit if the body’s
biochemical absorption system fails to function properly. Unlike supplement
pills and unlike most other foods, the AFA algae has a greater than 90 percent
assimilation rate. This means that the algae, recognized by the body as a food,
absorbs with unsurpassed efficiency and rapidity when com- pared to most other
natural or perhaps unnatural substances. Thus, even if a person.s internal
absorption system is malfunctioning, the algae is so biologically assimilable that
tangible benefits can still be obtained nonetheless. For these reasons, the
wild blue-green algae could play a major role in wiping out malnutrition. For
example, an acclaimed study on severely mal- nourished children, under the
auspices of the Central American University (1994), found that 79 percent of
these subjects no longer exhibited nutritional symptoms of malnutrition after
just six months on the algae.. In addition, NASA has been studying the algae as
a possible food source for space missions.. It is understandable that this
algae delivers such a broad spectrum of nutritional benefits ranging from
weight loss to memory booster to immune system enhancer and much more; it.s all
in the rate of assimilation and absorption. Finally, it.s interesting to note
that the Russians have used algae to treat patients exposed to radiation in the
Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Following are summaries of
this algae.s potential nutritional benefits, based on my own
clinical research and clinical case
studies and other research reports as well.
Miracle Superfood:
Wild Blue-Green
Algae
The nutrient powerhouse that
stimulates the immune system,
boosts brain power and
guards against disease
© Gillian McKeith, Ph.D.
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ALGAE AND ME
As a clinical
nutritionist, I have always prided myself on eating nutritious foods,
exercising
regularly and
helping hundreds of my own clients to achieve optimum health. I had one secret
blemish,
however: small white specks appeared on my finger- nails. Laboratory tests
revealed my suspicions that I was deficient in the mineral zinc. Zinc
deficiency has been associated with infertility, hair-skin- nail problems,
immune system dysfunction and various systemic disorders. Therefore, I
attempted to supplement my intake of this vital mineral. Over the course of
several years, I tried zinc capsules, tablets, lozenges and even zinc 1.iquid.
Nothing worked. My zinc deficiency persisted and my fingernails continued to be
littered with the most awful white spots.
It was obvious that my body was not absorbing the zinc supplements. Cognizant
of the dangers of zinc deficiency (especially since I wanted to get pregnant),
I kept my eyes open for other alternatives. The revelation appeared at my
doorstep several years ago; actually it occurred while I was co-hosting a
national health radio show in the U.S., .Healthline Across America.. I was
interviewing a guest who had survived an insidious strain of leukemia. After
two relapses (a third relapse would be considered fatal) and chemotherapy
radiation treatment, this patient had checked himself out of the hospital and
turned his back on all of the conventional treatment that he claims were making
him more ill. (Note: I would never condone a leukemic patient checking out of
hospital.). Ten years later as a guest on my show, he was in the radio studio
to tell us that he was now continually free of leukemia and feeling great. His
horrifying disease had gone into remission. I asked him why he thought he was
able to stave off a relapse for so long.
He responded, “There.s just one thing I.m doing differently”. I
countered, “What is that one thing?” He
said, “I take something called blue-green algae from Klamath Lake every day,
and I never miss taking it”. At the time, I had never heard of this blue-green
algae, but his words seemed to hit me like a ton of bricks. I made it a point
to find out all that I could about wild blue- green algae; it has now become my
life-long obsession. I then began taking wild blue-green algae from Klamath
Lake as part of my own nutritional regimen. Within 3 months, the white spots on
my fingernails disappeared. I decided to take the blue-green algae all through
my recent pregnancy as well. Every morning I made an algae drink which
consisted of apple juice, aloe vera juice and water mixed with two teaspoons of
the blue-green algae. Each time I drank this concoction, I felt as if my baby
and womb were both expanding. The doctors were amazed when my petite frame
produced a hefty eight- pound baby. I continued the wi1d blue-green algae drink
after the birth. Many months later, I still continue to breast-feed; my
gynecologist has said that I have the thickest creamiest mother.s milk. I
contribute much of my rapid recovery, my high energy level and my baby.s
wonderful development to this algae. I have since become one of the world’s
leading advocates of wild blue-green algae, specifically Aphanizemenon flos-aqua from Klamath Lake, Oregon.
6 / MIRACLE SUPERFOOD: WILD BLUE-GREEN ALGAE
WHAT ARE ALGAE,
A note on
grammar. .Algae. is the plural of .alga,. and is properly treated as a plural
noun:
.Algae are,.
etc. There are times, though, when this sounds awkward, and for my readers. and
my own ease, I
shall use the singular form when it is more comfortable: .Blue-Green algae is
an excellent food.. Now let us consider what algae are, or is. Algae, also
known as phytoplankton, are plant life without roots, leaves or flowers. It is
estimated that there are more than 25,000 species of algae in existence. Most
are mainly marine algae in the oceans; the rest are freshwater algae. Pond scums,
water mosses, sea vegetables or seaweeds are all forms of algae. These algaes
span an array of sizes from tiny picoplankton, which need to be magnified 1,000
times in order to be seen, to giant kelps in the oceans up to 50 meters in
length. All algaes are composed of
self-sufficient cells. For example, if you break off a piece,
the broken
piece and its host will still thrive. In addition, algaes can be separated by
color. Algaes may be blue-green, green, red, brown, golden, purple. The deeper
the color, the more intense is the spectrum of biochemicaI properties. The hot
springs at Yellowstone National Park are called the .Paint Pots.because of the
striking colors produced by the permanent residue of algae. There are credible
scientific and archaeological indications that during the first 30,000 years of
the existence of our human race, algae were a significant source of food. The
Aztec civilizations of ancient Mexico used and traded edible algae from their
lakes. The algae were often mixed with maiz.e (corn) to provide a nutritious
meal. There is historical evidence to suggest that the ancient Incas of South
America harvested and ate raw algae. And to this day the Kanembus tribe still
eat algae from Lake Chad in Africa, just as their ancestors did; the algae are
swept up with nets, sun-dried and shaped into small cakes, sold in the market
at Chad.s capital, N.Djamena and through- out the country. It is used for soups
and sauces, like bouillon cubes. The algae-eating children of this tribe show
no signs of malnutrition, unlike their non-algae eating neighbors, who suffer
various degrees of malnutrition. Some scholars maintain that, in the Near East
during biblical times, the food called manna was prepared with species of algae
harvested from the Dead Sea. Moreover, red algae provided the name and color
for the Red Sea.. For thousands of years, Chinese herbalists have been using
algae to treat vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Algae are medically known in
the Far East as an aid to digestion.
OXYGENATION
Algae have
been around much longer than people, being in fact the initial form of life on
Earth. Prior to the existence of algae,
the Earth was a barren wasteland with only poisonous gases, devoid of oxygen.
Algae assisted the process of making the environment habitable by animal life
by using the power of the sun to split water molecules, combining the hydrogen
part with carbon dioxide. This biochemical reaction allowed algae to create
their own food from the surrounding gases and minerals. The oxygen half of the
water molecule was freed into the atmosphere as a by-product, providing the
basis or all human and animal life. To flourish, algae need only minerals,
water and sunlight. Today, these remarkable forms of life are credited with up
to 80 percent of nature.s food supply and 90 percent of the Earth.s oxygen
production.. If there were no algae, life as we know it would cease to exist.
BLUE-GREEN ALGAE
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-gqeens
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 ceIlular 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 (Aphanizemenon flos-aqua
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: 1) in its rate of assimilability,
digestibility and absorption, 2) as a food and energy source, 3) in nutrient
density, and 4) 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 resent 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 MIRACLE SUPERFOOD: WILD
BLUE-GREEN ALGAE / 11
cells. It
helps them to develop to a point where protein, folic acid, iron and vitamin C
can ature
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 pro- duce 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 Aphanizemenon 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.
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
Aphanizemenon, 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 per- fectly balanced whole food
in the world. With a dynamic nutri- tional 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 utiliz- ing virtually
a11 of the algae.s nutrients; When taking a conven- tional 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 imple 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 well-
being. 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. Miner- als 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-reen
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 in- takes 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
MIRACLE SUPERFOOD: WILD BLUE-GREEN ALGAE / 17 or deficiencies can lead to various nutritional disorders, de-
pending 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.
Table 2. Key Vitamins in AFA Algae
B1 (thiamine)
choline
B2
(riboflavin) pantothenic acid (B5)
B6
(pyridoxine) biotin
B3 (niacin)
folic acid
B12 E
C (ascorbic
acid)
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 pep-
tides. 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
enter- ing 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.
Table 3. Amino Acid
Content of AFA Algae
Essential
Semiessential Nonessential
Isolelucine Arginine Alanine
Leucine Histidine Aspartic Acid
Lysine Cystine
Methionine Glutamic Acid
Tryptophan Proline
Threonine Serine
Phenylalanine Tyrosine
Valine