When you think of a futuristic nutrition source, what comes to mind? Maybe astronaut food that packs a three-course meal into a squeeze tube? Or how about a new form of protein “product” grown in a lab and made into a burger?
The truth is, that one of the most innovative, futuristic nutrition sources comes from one of the oldest living organisms on earth — algae!
At Pure Synergy®, we’re on the leading edge of nutritional supplement research and development, and we’re big proponents of using algae. Read on to learn more about these special organisms and how they’re some of the most nutrient-dense, sustainable, and clean sources of nourishment on the planet.
What Are Algae?
Algae are an incredible and diverse group of organisms that include single-celled microalgae, phytoplankton, and macroalgae like seaweed. It’s thought that algae of one kind or another have been living on our planet for more than 2 billion years, and that humans have been eating them since prehistoric times. No one knows exactly how many types of algae exist but estimates range anywhere from 30,000 species to over one million.
Where Do Algae Live?
These amazing organisms live just about everywhere on earth: in the sea, rivers, and lakes; on trees, soils, and walls; and as symbiotic partners with fungi (as lichens) and with animals (such as those found in corals). They are an extremely important part of our ecosystem and are the foundation for all aquatic food webs.
Fun Fact: 70% of the oxygen in the air we breathe is made by marine algae.
A Sustainable Resource
Algae is used for food (think about the last seaweed salad you ate at your favorite sushi restaurant), animal feed, fuel, fertilizer, and to make dietary supplements. They’re not only one of the most nutrient-rich forms of food on earth, they’re also great for the environment.
- Some of the ways they’re a sustainable resource are:
- They create oxygen and consume CO2
- Algae do not compete with agriculture for land use
- They grow quickly and produce high yielding products
- They can be grown without the use of any chemicals or pesticides
- They filter and clean the air and water
Pure Synergy Products Containing Algae
Algae contain many natural bioactive compounds with wide ranging health benefits that make them perfect for dietary supplements.
Some of our algae derived products are:
SuperPure® Beta 1,3-Glucan
Beta 1,3-Glucan is a compound found in yeast, fungi, and algae that has powerful immune-supportive effects and that fosters digestive tract health.
Beta 1,3-glucan is commonly derived from yeast using harsh chemicals. Our SuperPure Beta 1,3-Glucan, on the other hand, is a patented water-extraction that’s made exclusively from Euglena gracilis algae using no yeast or chemical solvents whatsoever.
The algae are sustainably grown in carefully controlled, closed system tanks in an extremely clean and efficient process. Nearly everything grown in the tanks is used to make our beta glucan supplement with almost no waste generated.
SuperPure® Astaxanthin
Astaxanthin is one of the most powerful and versatile antioxidants in nature with a long list of health benefits. It’s a red pigment found in Haematococcus pluvialis microalgae that helps rejuvenate the skin, eyes, brain, muscles, and more.
Our SuperPure Astaxanthin utilizes the purest, most hygienically produced astaxanthin in the world and is cultivated in the most advanced and environmentally responsible manner imaginable.
The red algae are grown outdoors using Himalayan water in a completely closed system of long glass tubes. The astaxanthin photosynthesize inside the glass tubes, and the whole farm runs on solar power. No pesticides or herbicides are used anywhere in the operation, and no waste or side product is left after production.
Organic Blue-Green Algae
Officially known as Aphanizomenon flos-aquae, or AFA, our Organic Blue-Green Algae is one of nature’s most regenerative food sources packed with vitamins, minerals, trace elements, nucleic acids, essential fatty acids, carotenoids, and chlorophyll.
The algae grow naturally in the Upper Klamath Lake in Oregon, surrounded by the Cascade Mountains.
The precipitation that falls on the mountains washes tons of mineral-rich volcanic soil into this alkaline lake annually. The combination of mineral-rich water, clean air, and high intensity sunlight make the unique ecosystem of Upper Klamath Lake a perfect spot for the nutrient-dense algae to grow.
The AFA are gently harvested in a way that preserve the delicate algae without harming the sensitive ecosystem of the lake. It’s then carefully filtered and cold dried, tested by third-party independent laboratories for purity, and vacuum sealed for optimal nutrient retention.
SuperPure Fucoidan
Fucoidan is a naturally occurring compound found in brown seaweeds that is best known for supporting a healthy immune response and the body’s natural defense mechanisms.
Our SuperPure Fucoidan comes from organic Undaria pinnatifida seaweed hand harvested from the pristine waters of Patagonia, Argentina.
The Undaria algae is considered an invasive species in that region, which reduces native seaweed diversity, so harvesting it helps the local ecosystem.
Most fucoidan products use chemical solvents to extract the compound from the seaweed. In contrast, SuperPure Fucoidan is made with a zero-carbon, water-only extraction process that yields a nature-identical extract of superior quality with optimal bioactivity and purity.
D3+K2 Complex
Most vitamin D supplements are made one of two ways. The first way is from sheep lanolin, the second is from lichen. The problem with the first method is that many people don’t want to consume a product that is derived from an animal. In order to make vitamin D3 from lichen, though, it needs to be harvested from the wild and is often over-harvested in an unsustainable way.
We found a better way to make the vitamin D3 in D3 + K2 Complex. And, you guessed it, it’s by using algae! Our D3 is extracted from algae that’s grown in sealed indoor tanks. No animals or wild harvesting necessary. It is processed using cutting-edge technology and is highly purified with no chemical solvents used at all. It’s ultra clean, made with organic ingredients, Non-GMO, vegan, gluten, and dairy free.
The Future is Now
Now when you think of the future of nutrition, we hope you are reminded of the multitude of amazing, ancient organisms that are at the very foundation of life itself. Algae are at the base of every food chain and are designed to provide all of us with the most diverse array of bioavailable, sustainable nourishment available.
