Friday 3 February 2012

Klamath Blue Green Algae – A truly amazing Superfood?

“SUPERFOOD”, I hear you say! Yes it is true, “superfood” is a buzz word that has been used to the extreme, unfortunately misused, overused and abused. So lets look a little bit closer, where did this term originate? 

According to Wikipedia the term superfood was first used in 1998 by Aaron Moss in the journal Nature Nutrition which stated "Humans have many options when it comes to fuelling their bodies, but the benefits of some options are so nutritious that they might be labelled as superfoods."

Considering the above, can Klamath blue green algae be classed as a superfood? Firstly lets discus what blue green algae is.

There are eleven groups of algae, these microscopic plants grow in blooms when the conditions are just right in lakes and ponds throughout the world. One of the best known and highest quality blue green algae crops are from Upper Klamath Falls in Oregon USA.  To date there are 1500 known species and some are used as foods where others are known to cause serious conditions if consumed. Blue green algae is a is a freshwater species of cyanobacteria, one of the most simple members of the plant kingdom, but are more closely linked to bacteria than plant. It is widely considered that algae is one of the first organisms on earth to photosynthesise (use of energy from the sun to make food for itself, the process of photosynthesis). 

Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (AFA) Blue-green algae is considered the most ancient food on earth, high in protein, up to 70% compare that to chicken or beef at 22%. Even though its at the bottom of the food chain, pound for pound it is the most nutrient rich food, it has impressive levels of vitamin B12, beta carotene, chlorophyll, protein, amino acids (AFA’s amino acid profile is equivalent to the requirements needed by the human body), enzymes, and many more that are completely assimilated by our body. It’s been reported that it can help mental & physical health, increase energy, oxygenate cells and much more. AFA is a superb food cram packed full of nutrients and has been hailed the "building blocks of health".
A truly amazing Superfood?, I will leave it up to you to decide.

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