Did you know that algae has been used as food and medicine for centuries? It’s one of the original “superfoods”. It’s rich in protein, antioxidants, vitamins, and nutrients. The benefits of algae for seniors can be especially amazing because it is so easy to consume.
Most algae grow under the sea and don’t have significant nutritional values. Some algae can be downright bad for you or poisonous. Others such as Spirulina and Chlorella are grown as crops. These two types of algae for seniors offer the greatest health benefits.
Differences between Algae for Seniors
Spirulina is one of the first algae on Earth. It was a part of the Aztec’s regular diet. Spirulina is a cyanobacterium or blue-green algae. The blue-green pigment comes from one of its components called phycocyanin.
Phycocyanin aids in preventing Angiogenesis. Angiogenesis is a process where blood vessels form in order to support tumor growth.
The body also absorbs protein from Spirulina faster since it is already in its amino acid form. There’s no need for the body to break it down into simpler units. The body doesn’t have to work as hard as it would to absorb protein from meat.
Chlorella is another type of freshwater algae. It’s closely related to Spirulina and it offers many healing benefits. However, unlike its cousin, it doesn’t have the blue-green pigment phycocyanin. Instead Chlorella is rich in chlorophyll – the reason for its greenish color.
Chlorella supplements are a great addition to the vegetables you eat. Eating the recommended 7-8 servings of vegetables each day is just not attainable for most people. Algae supplements can give you a chance to consume all the health benefits in powdered form or in a single capsule.
Top Benefits of Algae for Seniors
As people get older, their bodies may have a hard time taking in essential nutrients from the food they eat. Lack of nutrients increases the risk of disease.
A lot of studies prove its curative properties of algae. Here are some of the many reasons why you should consider adding algae to yours and your elderly loved one’s daily diet:
Prevents Cardiovascular Diseases
One of the major dangers people face as they grow older is heart disease. Older hearts may tend to work less efficiently than younger hearts. That’s why lowering the risk of heart disease is one of the biggest benefits of algae for seniors.
The algae Spirulina is rich in Serine and Vitamin B3. Serine and B3 aid in lowering the senior’s blood pressure as well as blood vessel softness. In fact, phycocyanin and the gamma linoleic acid found in Spirulina has an effect in preventing cardiovascular diseases and nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases by preventing inflammation and oxidative stress.
On the other hand, Chlorella algae contain omega-3 essential fatty acids which help in lowering blood cholesterol levels.
Lowers Blood Pressure
Phycocyanin or the pigment in spirulina, offers a lot of healing properties. One of the promising effects of this pigment is its ability to prevent hypertension.
According to the Japanese researchers who conducted a study on the antihypertensive effect of phytocyanin, the blood pressure decreased as the endothelial dysfunction in metabolic syndrome reversed upon the influence of the pigment.
Anti-aging Properties
A lot of components found in algae help reverse aging. I’m sure this is an important consideration of taking algae for seniors. For instance, the algae Chlorella contains nucleic acids that contribute to preventing the eyes from showing the signs of aging.
The anti-aging substances of Spirulina such as Vitamin E, beta-carotene, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and gamma linoleic acid (GLA) help rid the body of free radicals, slowing down the process of aging. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) in spirulina also helps in neutralizing oxygen. Although oxygen is vital for life, it contributes to aging as well.
Boosts the Immune System
The chlorophyll found in both Spirulina and Chlorella is an effective immune system booster. It improves the function of the t-cells. It also acts to detoxify free radicals all over the body. Spirulina also helps in improving the production of cells in the bone marrow.
Anti-cancer Properties
Many cancer studies have supported the fact that Spirulina really has an effect in preventing cancer. For instance, melatonin has a direct effect in preventing the growth of breast cancer cells by putting the cells to sleep. This prevents uncontrolled spreading. Spirulina enhances melatonin production.
Dr. David E. Blast of Tulane University has confirmed this. He found that healthy melatonin levels suppress the growth of cancer cells, specifically breast cancer, by 70%.
Chlorella removes the carcinogenic heavy metals the body absorbs, therefore preventing the development of cancer cells. It also helps the t-cells in fighting the cancer cells.
Detoxifies the Body
The benefits of Algae for seniors extend to those who have gone through a radiation treatment. Or others who might have been exposed to high levels of heavy metals. Chronic or acute toxicity can affect the function of many organs as well as the nervous system.
Chlorella algae can act as a suppressor of the heavy metals that have accumulated in the body. It detoxifies the heavy metals and removes them from the body. It wraps itself around the toxins to prevent them from being reabsorbed by the system.
Lowers Cholesterol Levels
Spirulina could also help decrease the cholesterol levels of the body. A sterol called fucosterol is found in algae. It reduces the levels of cholesterol naturally. The phytosterol in algae decreases the LDL levels by lowering the cholesterol absorption in the intestines.
How to Consume Algae
Now that you know how beneficial algae is to your body, the next question is how can you consume it?
There are different ways to eat algae, such as adding spirulina to your favorite morning smoothie or to homemade desserts. Or better yet, go for the ones in tablet form. One good example of a reputable chlorella and spirulina algae tabs is EnergyBits.
EnergyBits is a company that seeks to make our planet a better place to live. When they discovered that 97% of the illnesses in the United States are caused by deficiencies in nutrition, they started thinking of ways to counter this problem.
EnergyBits made a product called the Algae BITZ. They want to energize people and have them enjoy the benefits of algae. A lot of athletes take these tablets and their testimonies have proved the product to be a great alternative to other supplements. By taking this regularly, you will be able to see the difference in no time.
We’ve Secured a Discount on Algae for Seniors
The founder of Energy Bits, Catherine Arnston, has generously agreed to give our blog post readers a 20% discount on all their products.
If you want to purchase their algae, just go to their website, and type in ‘APFP’ in the discount block at checkout.
Catherine has some of the best, most natural algae you can buy. It is grown naturally in Taiwan – source of the best algae on earth.
