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NUTRITIONAL
BENEFITS
ABOUT
THE AUTHOR
ALGAE
AND ME
WHAT
ARE ALGAE ?
SHARED CHARACTERISTICS WITH PLANTS,
ANIMALS, BACTERIA
UNIQUENESS OF THE KLAMATH LAKE ALGAE STRAIN
THE
ALGAE OF KLAMATH LAKE
NUTRITIONAL
CONTENT
MINERALS
VITAMINS
Table
2. Key Vitamins in AFA Algae
PROTEINS/AMINO
ACIDS
ENZYMES
Table
3. Amino Acid Content of AFA Algae
EXCERPTS
FROM THE BOOK MIRACLE
SUPERFOOD: WILD BLUE GREEN ALGAE.
BENEFITS
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 deficiencies in many other nutrients. There are
many biochemical and
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
othernatural
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 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 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 benefits, based on my own clinical research
and clinical case
studies
and other research reports as well.
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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 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
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
Hea1thy 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.
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.
KEATS PUBLISHING LOS
ANGEI.F, S NTC/Contemporury
Pubiishing Group.
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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 some- thing 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 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.
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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.
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MIRACLE
SUPERFOOD: WILD BLUE-GREEN ALGAE / 7
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.
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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 for 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.
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/ MIRACLE SUPERFOOD: WILD BLUE-GREEN ALGAE
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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.
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MIRACLE
SUPERFOOD: WILD BLUE-GREEN ALGAE / 9
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.
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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.
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10 / MIRACLE SUPERFOOD: WILD BLUE-GREEN ALGAE
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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MIRACLE
SUPERFOOD: WILD BLUE-GREEN ALGAE / 11
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 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 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.
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12
/ 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 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.
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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.
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MIRACLE SUPERFOOD: WILD BLUE-GREEN ALGAE / 13
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 simple
food abuse. This is why you may
feel tired after meals, or bloated and low in energy.
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14
/ MIRACLE SUPERFOOD: WILD BLUE-GREEN ALGAE
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.
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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.
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MIRACLE
SUPERFOOD: WILD BLUE-GREEN ALGAE / 15
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.
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16
/ MIRACLE SUPERFOOD: WILD BLUE-GREEN ALGAE
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.
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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.
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MIRACLE SUPERFOOD: WILD BLUE-GREEN ALGAE / 17
Depletions 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.
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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)
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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.
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18 / MIRACLE SUPERFOOD:
WILD BLUE-GREEN ALGAE
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.
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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 foodsthat
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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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
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