Blue Green Algae by Ray Sahelian, M.D. Cyanobacteria

Blue green algae are not really algae, but they actually are more closely related to bacteria. Because they are photosynthetic and aquatic, cyanobacteria are often called "blue-green algae". This name is convenient for talking about organisms in the water that make their own food, but does not reflect any relationship between the cyanobacteria and other organisms called algae. Cyanobacteria are relatives of the bacteria, not eukaryotes. Cyanobacteria are aquatic and photosynthetic, that is, they live in the water, and can manufacture their own food. Because they are bacteria, they are quite small and usually unicellular, though they often grow in colonies large enough to see. They have the distinction of being the oldest known fossils, more than 3.5 billion years old. Cyanobacteria are still around; they are one of the largest and most important groups of bacteria on earth.

The two types of Blue-Green Algae

Blue green algae are an important part of the food chain in lakes and ponds worldwide. The two main blue-green types are Spirulina and Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (AFA). AFA is harvested from Upper Klamath Lake in Oregon and then freeze-dried and sold in capsules and other forms.

Source Naturals Blue-Green Algae, 500 mg, 200 Tablets
From Klamath Lake

Source Naturals' Blue-Green Algae is wildcrafted and harvested in the prime upper regions of Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon, and is of the highest quality available. The name Blue-Green Algae comes from the two color pigments it contains; phycocyanin, which is blue, and chlorophyll, which is green. Blue-Green Algae also contains significant levels of vitamins, minerals, and rich pigment nutrients and is a good nonanimal source of protein and amino acids.


 

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Blue- Green Algae Supplement Facts:
Amount Per 2 tablets:

Blue-Green Algae 1,000 mg  * (Aphanizomenonflos-aquae)
Niacin 4 mg
Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin) 0.25 mcg
Biotin 5 mcg %
Iron 350 mcg
Phosphorous 7 mg
Manganese 22 mcg
Molybdenum 40 mcg
Vitamin A as Beta Carotene - 500 mcg

* Blue-Green Algae daily value not established

Benefit of Blue Green Algae

Promoters claim blue-green algae to be nutritious and to treat or cure a number of medical conditions including allergies, depression, fatigue, hypoglycemia, digestive problems, improve memory and mental ability, “detoxify” the body, and boost the immune system. However, there is no human research to prove any of these claims regarding blue green algae supplements. However, one study hints at the possibility that a compound from blue-green algae may have a role to play in Alzheimer's disease. Perhaps future research may give us a better clue of the potential real benefits of blue-green algae.
 

Blue Green Algae Benefit

Blue green algae may have a compound that acts as an anticholinesterase, with the potential to be helpful in Alzheimer's Disease.
 

Blue Green Algae Research
Natural compound from 'pond scum' shows potential activity against Alzheimer's: A compound isolated from a cyanobacterium, known as Nostoc, shows promise of becoming a natural drug candidate for fighting Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases, according to an in vitro study by researchers in Switzerland. It is believed to be the first time that a potent agent against Alzheimer's has been isolated from cyanobacteria, commonly known as 'pond scum.' Cyanobacteria and other marine natural products have been increasingly found to be a promising source of drug candidates for fighting a variety of human diseases, including cancer and bacterial infections, but their chemistry has been largely unexplored. Karl Gademann, Ph.D., an organic chemist at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zürich reports the newly isolated compound, nostocarboline, was shown to be a potent inhibitor of cholinesterase -- a brain chemical thought to be important for memory and thinking -- whose breakdown has been associated with the disease's progression. The natural compound's potency is comparable to galanthamine, a cholinesterase inhibitor already approved for the treatment of Alzheimer's,. Source: Dec. 26, 2005 issue of the Journal of Natural Products.

The largest manufacturer of blue green algae is a company called Cell Tech, which sells its product as “Super Blue Green Algae”