The Suprising Health Benefits of Algae

When you think of Algae you probably think of dirty pond water and all the scum that floats around in the water but guess what this age old form of life has its health benefits. Initial reports claim that Algae can help fight cancer, AIDS, heart disease, lower cholesterol, boost the immune system, and detoxify the body. These claims are very encouraging and enlightening for something that floats around in the pond. And although there still needs to be more research done to validate those claims, there are supplements available to see if those benefits are a fact.

Here is a brief explanation of the different types of algae that are currently available.

The popular blue-green algae really aren’t algae at all, but bacteria called cyanobacteria. Although, algae doesn’t produce any byproducts that can be toxic to humans, cyanobacteria does, which is why you should be very careful when purchasing and using blue-green algae supplements. Spirulina is the most popular, and the safest, type of blue-green algae available. Many supplement companies grow spirulina in controlled ponds that are regularly screened for toxins. Even those that harvest it from nature make sure it is a pure product. So, you’re asking yourself what are the benefits in taking algae. The benefit is that it is a great source of complete protein because it has all the amino acids and contains a good range of vitamins and minerals. Also, spirulina is a vegetable source of omega-3 fatty acids and is a good source of antioxidants.