One of the advantages of obtaining minerals from Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (AFA) is the high bioavailability of its nutrients. Being a cyanobacterium, AFA has thin cell walls composed of polysaccharides rather than the tough cellulose found in many plants. This makes AFA highly digestible - the body can break it down easily and absorb its vitamins and minerals. In fact, it's been noted that up to 97% of the vitamins, minerals, and enzymes in blue-green algae are absorbable by the human body.
By contrast, some synthetic mineral supplements or poorly digested plant foods may only be 5-25% absorbable. Essentially, AFA offers minerals in an organic, food-based form that the digestive system recognizes and uptakes efficiently.
AFA is rich in iron, magnesium, and other trace minerals. Research indicates that iron from blue-green algae is more bioavailable than iron from certain plant-based foods (like whole wheat). In a hemoglobin-repletion assay, blue-green algae iron had significantly higher absorption than wheat, though slightly less than the highly absorbable ferrous sulfate salt.
This suggests that the iron in microalgae is in a form that the body can utilize effectively. Additionally, AFA lacks phytic acid (a compound in grains and legumes that can inhibit mineral absorption), which means fewer inhibitors are present to block the uptake of minerals like iron, zinc, and calcium. Overall, AFA provides minerals that are readily released and absorbed, with studies showing they can improve iron status in animals and humans with anemia when used as a dietary supplement. Much of this availability advantage is biological - a result of being truly ancient food, one of the first on the planet, and basal to the food change.
Comparison to Synthetic Supplements
Synthetic mineral supplements (e.g., isolated pills of iron, calcium, and zinc) can certainly address deficiencies, but they often lack the co-factors present in foods that aid absorption and utilization. For instance, taking high-dose iron tablets can cause gastrointestinal irritation and constipation. Not all of the iron is absorbed since some forms have low uptake and free iron can generate oxidative stress in the gut. In contrast, food-based mineral sources like AFA provide smaller doses of minerals in a naturally chelated form (bound to amino acids or organic compounds) which tend to be better tolerated.
An algae supplement offers a complex of nutrients; for example, AFA provides magnesium along with vitamin B6 and chlorophyll, which may help magnesium's uptake and usefulness in the body. Moreover, because the minerals in AFA come along with proteins and polysaccharides, they may remain longer in the digestive tract for absorption (time-release effect) as opposed to some supplement pills that dissolve quickly and can overwhelm absorption pathways. One review on microalgae notes that species such as AFA can contribute significantly to the intake of critical nutrients like protein, calcium, iron, magnesium, and zinc, helping to cover gaps in the diet.
In summary, increasing mineral intake through AFA is an efficient strategy because AFA's minerals are highly bioavailable and come in a synergistic whole-food matrix. Compared to synthetic sources, AFA's nutrients are more gently absorbed and utilized, and compared to other algae, AFA is on par or better, especially given its complete digestibility and broad nutrient spectrum.
Testimonial - Wild Algae Blend
“I absolutely love Wild Algae Blend. I have been using it for over 15 years, and I highly recommend it. It's amazing how just a small amount makes such a big difference!"- Cynthia M. for Wild Algae Blend
Do you have a podcast? We’d love to be a guest! Email us at providersupport@newearth.com to get something booked.
Spotlight on Science
AFA SUPPLEMENTATION IMPROVES NUTRITIONAL AND ACADEMIC STATUS OF CHILDREN
A study on malnourished children in Nicaragua found that supplementing with 1 gram of AFA daily for six months significantly improved their nutritional status, school attendance, behavior, and academic performance. In contrast, children in the control group experienced a decline in these areas. These findings suggest that AFA supplementation can be an effective nutritional intervention for improving both health and learning outcomes in undernourished children.
If you have a study, tip, or story you’d like to share, we’d love to highlight it and give you a shoutout! Send us an email at providersupport@newearth.com.
Let's Foster Wellness Together
If you or your clinic colleagues have an upcoming community patient talk, we would love to have our medical team share the benefits of algae with them! Simply email us at providersupport@newearth.com with the details, and we will get it on the schedule.
Lunch & Learns Now Available
Curious to learn more about New Earth products and how they can help your patients? Our product experts would love to host a lunch and learn with you!
These informative lunchtime meetings are the perfect opportunity to learn directly from our product experts and ask any questions you may have about our all-natural, superfood supplements and how you can start using them in your practice.
To schedule a lunch and learn, simply email our team at providersupport@newearth.com and we will get you on the books.
Request Free Samples & Try AFA with Your Patients Today
Right now, we have an exceptional offer for you—the chance to get 40 Mind sachet samples to share with your patients. That way, they can experience the benefits for themselves!
Click below to request your samples today.
P.S. New Earth's Organic Wild Microalgae products are available on Fullscript, so you can easily share this powerful superfood with your patients!
