Blue-green algae are among the most nutrient-rich foods on the planet.
The most commonly consumed forms of blue-green algae are two types: Spirulina and AFA algae. Both have superfood status due to their high concentrations of nutrients.
Blue-green algae contain a high concentration of nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and essential amino acids.
They are also rich in biologically active chlorophyll, protein, and phytonutrients. Additionally, the algae’s impressive nutritional content is easily absorbed.
They are an excellent food for vegans, vegetarians, those who exercise a lot, children, and anyone who wants to add extra nutrition and color to their food.
They suit all kinds of diets such as paleo, keto, LCHF, raw food, anti-inflammatory diets, rainbow diets, and more.
Our three favorites
1. Hawaiian Spirulina
The Hawaiian spirulina from Nutrex contains Spirulina Pacifica, which is rich in protein, vitamins such as A, K1, K2, B12, minerals and trace elements, phytonutrients like carotenoids (including beta-carotene), GLA, SOD, and phycocyanin, chlorophyll, and antioxidants.
Their Spirulina Pacifica is cultivated in freshwater ponds on the Kona coast of the Big Island of Hawaii.
The freshwater comes from aquifers (water naturally filtered through lava rock), and they add about 5% deep seawater (from 600 meters depth) to provide unique trace elements in the final product.
Pure water produces a pure final product, and you can taste the difference.
Nutrex Hawaii’s Ocean Chill Drying™ method dries the spirulina in just 3-7 seconds and eliminates oxidation and damage to carotenoids, enzymes, and other nutrients. The method uses very cold, deep seawater to provide moisture and uses less than one percent oxygen to preserve the phytonutrients.
2. Biosuperfood
Biosuperfood contains four types of microalgae: Spirulina Pacifica, Spirulina Plantensis, Dunaliella, and Astaxanthin from Heomatoccoccus Pluvialis.
Astaxanthin is a unique pigment considered one of the most biologically active antioxidants. Dunaliella Salina is a single-celled saltwater algae very rich in beta-carotene, among other nutrients.
Biosuperfood provides complete protein, including all essential amino acids, vitamins A, B, C, E, K, minerals and trace elements, enzymes, essential fatty acids, chlorophyll, phytonutrients, antioxidants, and carotenoids.
These algae were selected from thousands of ingredients tested by Dr. Kiriac* during many years of research aimed at finding a combination that could promote health for everyone.
*BioNutrition, which produces Biosuperfood, was founded by Dr. Michael Kiriac after extensive research on algae and their nutritional and healing properties.
Dr. Kiriac is one of the world’s leading authorities on algae nutrition and has received many international awards and medals for his research and conclusions in algae nutrition and ecology.
Biosuperfood’s algae are cultivated in Siberia under controlled conditions in glass tubes completely protected from the atmosphere.
There, they pump spring water from 600 meters deep in volcanic soils containing 92 different trace elements, including selenium and bicarbonate, at an ideal temperature of 35-37 degrees Celsius, directly into bioreactors without contact with air.
The ideal environment for algae growth is thus fully controlled and contains absolutely no environmental toxins. The algae are grown without fertilizers, pesticides, antibiotics, growth hormones, or any additives.
Despite this careful control, every batch is also tested for bacteria, pesticides, heavy metals, including radiation, and other environmental toxins.
3. E3AFA algae
E3Live produces a unique blue-green algae – the AFA algae (Aphanizomenon flos-aquae) which provides a full spectrum of 65 easily accessible vitamins, minerals, trace elements, and amino acids, and contains more biologically active chlorophyll than any other known food, as well as being a source of a wide range of antioxidants.
They also contain high-quality protein, all B vitamins, the blue pigment phycocyanin, and Phenylethylamine “PEA,” which is also found in cocoa.
The AFA algae are harvested from Upper Klamath Lake in southern Oregon, USA, which is naturally rich in trace elements. The algae are then filtered to preserve the most living nutrition and further purified by centrifugation. The algae are then cooled and sold frozen or dried as a powder.
E3Live uses Refractance Window™ drying with circulating water at atmospheric pressure to transfer heat to the product being dried.
The moist product is applied to the upper surface of an infrared-transparent plastic conveyor belt that floats on the surface of the heated, circulating water. The water is recirculated and continuously heated to maintain temperature as heat energy is transferred to the product.
Unlike hot air dryers that require several hours or freeze dryers that take between 12 and 72 hours, Refractance Window drying takes only 2 to 6 minutes to dry most products.
Refractance Window drying has major advantages as ingredients are exposed to much milder temperatures and the final products retain high levels of sensory qualities such as color, taste, and aroma.
Factors contributing to their quality include where and how they harvest, superior filtration and storage, as well as ongoing quality control and testing of all their products.
All E3Live products are thoroughly tested by independent USDA-certified laboratories for food safety and sustainability and undergo various other purity tests.
