How Algae Is An Anti-Aging Superfood?

On this episode of Anti-Aging Hacks, Faraz Khan and Catharine Arnston discuss if algae is an anti-aging superfood.

Overview of Algae

Algae developed in the oceans over billions of years and serve as food to support life forms in the ocean such as fish, turtles and many more.

Algae from spirulina and chlorella are particularly dense form of nutrition. NASA says one gram of algae has a 1000 times more nutrition than any other fruit or vegetable. Yes, one tiny tablet of spirulina or chlorella can have more nutrition than two pounds of veggies.

In addition to being the most nutrient dense food, algae is very high in protein. Algae also has profound health and antioxidant benefits. It contains a variety of vitamins and minerals needed by your body. It can also serve to improve energy and support detox pathways in your body.

Algae is used extensively by millions of people in Asia as a food source. It is backed up by research and has 100,000 scientific studies behind it.

After doing this interview, algae has moved to the top of my list of superfoods that I keep close at hand.

On this episode of the Anti-Aging Hacks, Catharine Arnston and Faraz Khan go deep dive on algae and discuss if algae is an anti-aging superfood.

How Catherine Got Into Algae

Her sister got cancer and was advised to eat alkaline foods
Started learning more about plant-based nutrition
Started teaching people about greens, Catharine learned about algae

What Are The Health Benefits (Hint: Algae Is An Anti-Aging Superfood)

NASA says one gram of algae has a 1000 times more nutrition than any other fruit or vegetable
United Nations endorsed it in 1974 as the answer to world hunger
There are 100,000 studies documenting the benefits of algae
Spirulina is about 60% protein by weight
Spirulina is high in gamma linoleic acid (GLA), EPA and DHA (these lipids help make up the cell walls of your cells)

Chlorella and Spirula: What Are The Two Types of Algae

Algae is its own food subcategory
Macroalgae is seaweed and kelp – this is the larger algae
Microalgae – this is microscopic in size and eaten by fish
Blue-green microalgae is called spirulina
Green microalgae is called chlorella

Benefits of Spirulina

Spirulina has a blue pigment called phycocyanin and green pigment called chlorophyll
It is an energizing algae, has the highest concentrations of protein, also has B12, iron, nitric oxide, has essential omega-3 fatty acids
Extremely high in antioxidants such as beta carotene and omega-3 fatty acids.
It has over 40 vitamins and minerals that your body needs
It helps increase superoxide dismutase (SOD)
Spirulina is technically a bacteria and does not have a cell wall and it gets into your cells very quickly
Best to take spirulina in the morning

Benefits of Chlorella

Chlorella is a wellness and health algae
Helps you recover from toxins and alcohol, lactic acid
Helps you build your immune system
There are no anti-nutrients in chlorella
Chlorella has the hardest cell wall in the plant kingdom – this can help pull out toxins and heavy metals from your body
Also contains fiber
Also has vitamin K2, which helps pull out the calcium out of soft tissue
Repair and detox is improved at night. Best to take chlorella at night.
For daily use, best to take at least 5 tablets
For detox, best to take 15-30 tablets
Also has a high concentration of tryptophan

So What Is Chlorophyll?

It is a fat based pigment in chlorella
Has 1000x more chlorophyll than chinese greens
Chlorella has chlorophyll, which is a fat based pigment and helps support individual cell walls
Chlorophyll is identical to composition to blood (haemoglobin). Chlorophyll helps build blood.
If you have chlorophyll in your system, you can expose yourself to sunlight and it helps your generate ATP
Chlorophyll can assist as an antioxidant in the mitochondria and helps you create energy

Antioxidant Benefits of Algae

Spirulina supplementation improves levels of superoxide dismutase, glutathione and catalase
This helps with antioxidant function in the body through various processes
Algae has an ORAC value 100 times that of cherries
High concentration of omega-3’s contributes to antioxidant and anti-inflammatory pathways