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Definitions and the nutritive substances you find in Chlorella and Spirulina:
Chlorella
-Chlorellae is a collective name for a single-celled algae. It is about 2 to 10 µm and is a circular organism. It has chlorophyll in its cell and looks green when gathered. It has a very high photosynthesis ability and multiplies rapidly with carbon dioxide, water, sunlight, and small amount of minerals.
Chlorella has been continuously researched as a potential replacement food because it is high in protein. When dried, it is about 45 percent protein, 20 percent fat, 20 percent sugar, and 10 percent various minerals and vitamins.
The name Chlorella is taken from the Greek word chloros meaning green and the Latin diminutive suffix ella meaning small and was named by a Dutch biologist. A German biologist Otto Heinrich Warburg received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1931 for his study of Chlorella. Melvin Calvin received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his research on carbon dioxide assimilation in plants, in the study of which he used Chlorella.
Spirulina
-Spirulina is a genus of filamentous cyanobacteria (commonly called blue-green algae), with a coil-like shape. ITIS recognises 13 species.
Spirulina is also the commercial name for the species Arthrospira platensis (previously known as Spirulina platensis), which is cultivated around the world as a food source. It is a very rich source of nutrition. In fact, it was a staple of Aztec cuisine. The genus is also responsible for the flamingo's pink plumage.
It is currently popular as a health food in the U.S. and Europe, often taken as a dietary supplement in the form of powder or tablet.
Micro-algae
High-quality complete protein that is more dense and more digestible than any animal-derived protein. (Chlorella is 58% protein.)
All the known B vitamins, including vitamin B12 which is almost never found in plants.
-Vitamin B is a complex of several vitamins. The name arises because it was once considered a single vitamin, much like Vitamin C or Vitamin D. Since later research has shown it is in fact a complex of chemically distinct vitamins that happen to often coexist in the same foods, the name has gradually declined in use, being replaced by the generic term "the B vitamins", the vitamin B complex, or by the specific names of each vitamin. In addition to coexisting in the same foods, the B vitamins often work together to bolster metabolism, maintain healthy skin and muscle tone, enhance immune and nervous system function, and promote cell growth and division - including that of the red blood cells that help prevent anemia.
Together they also help combat the symptoms and causes of stress, depression, and cardiovascular disease.
All B vitamins are water soluble, and are dispersed throughout the body and must be replenished daily with any excess excreted in the urine.
Vitamin C
-Vitamin C is a water-soluble nutrient essential for life, used by the human body for many purposes. It is one of a number of such key nutrients called vitamins.
To the best of scientific knowledge, all animals and plants synthesize their own vitamin C, except for humans and a small number of other animals, including, apes, guinea pigs, the red-vented bulbul, a fruit-eating bat and a species of trout. This has led a minority of scientists, most notably Linus Pauling to conclude that failure to produce the chemical by an animal species is a genetic defect and to hypothesise that if it were replaced in humans to the level found in animals better health would result.
Vitamin C was first isolated in 1928, and in 1932 it was proved to be the agent which prevents scurvy. In 1937 Albert Szent-Györgyi was awarded the Nobel Prize for this feat.
Vitamin C is a weak acid, called ascorbic acid or ascorbate (an L-enantiomer of ascorbic acid; an l-enantiomer is simply one of two mirror image forms of the same chemical molecular structure, see optical isomers). The active part of the substance is the ascorbate ion, which can express itself as either an acid or a salt of ascorbate that is neutral or slightly basic. Commercial vitamin C is often a mix of ascorbic acid, sodium ascorbate and/or other ascorbates. Some supplements contain in part the d-entantiomer, which is useless but harmless. See the ascorbic acid article for a full description of the molecule's chemical properties.
Functions in the body
- As a participant in hydroxylation, vitamin C is needed for the production of collagen in the connective tissue. These fibers are ubiquitous throughout the body; providing firm but flexible structure. Some tissues have a greater percentage of collagen, especially: skin, mucous membranes, teeth and bones.
- Vitamin C is required for synthesis of dopamine, noradrenaline and adrenaline in the nervous system or in the adrenal glands.
- Vitamin C is also needed to synthesise carnitine, important in the transfer of energy to the cell mitochondria.
- It is a strong antioxidant.
- The tissues with greatest percentage of vitamin C - over 100 times the level in blood plasma - are the adrenal glands, pituitary, thymus, corpus luteum, and retina.
- The brain, spleen, lung, testicle, lymph nodes, liver, thyroid, small intestinal mucosa, leukocytes, pancreas, kidney and salivary glands usually have 10 to 50 times the concentration present in plasma.
No bodily organ stores ascorbate as a primary function, and so the body soon depletes itself of ascorbate if fresh supplies do not continue to arrive through the digestive system, eventually leading to death if unresolved.
Vitamin E
-Tocopherol, or Vitamin E, is a fat-soluble vitamin in eight forms that is an important antioxidant. Vitamin E is often used in skin creams and lotions because it is believed to play a role in encouraging skin healing and reducing scarring after injuries such as burns.
Natural vitamin E exists in eight different forms or isomers, four tocopherols and tocotrienols. All isomers have a chromanol ring, with a hydroxyl group which can donate a hydrogen atom to reduce free radicals and a hydrophobic side chain which allows for penetration into biological membranes. There is an alpha, beta, gamma and delta form of both the tocopherols and tocotrienols, determined by the number of methyl groups on the chromanol ring. Each form has its own biological activity, the measure of potency or functional use in the body.
Forms of vitamin E
Alpha-tocopherol is traditionally recognized as the most active form of vitamin E in humans, and is a powerful biological antioxidant. The measurement of "vitamin E" activity in international units (IU) was based on fertility enhancement by the prevention of spontaneous abortions in pregnant rats relative to alpha tocopherol. It increases naturally to about 150% of normal in the maternal circulation during human pregnancies. The other isomers are slowly being recognized as research begins to elucidate their additional roles in the human body. Many naturopathic and orthomolecular medicine advocates suggest that vitamin E supplements contain at least 20% by weight of the other natural vitamin E isomers. Commercially available blends of natural vitamin E include "mixed tocopherols" and "high gamma tocopherol" formulas. Also selenium, Coenzyme Q10, and ample vitamin C have been shown to be essential cofactors of natural tocopherols.
Tocotrienols, with four d- isomers, also belong to the vitamin E family. The four tocotrienols have structures corresponding to the four tocopherols, except with an unsaturated bond in each of the three isoprene units that form the hydrocarbon tail. Tocopherols have a saturated phytyl tail.
Antioxidants such as vitamin E act to protect cells against the effects of free radicals, which are potentially damaging by-products of the body's metabolism. Free radicals can cause cell damage that may contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease and cancer. Vitamin C and other anti-oxidants recycle vitamin E end-products back into effective suppressors of free radicals. Studies are underway to determine whether vitamin E might help prevent or delay the development of those chronic diseases.
Vegetable oils, nuts, wheat germ and green leafy vegetables are the main dietary sources of vitamin E. Fortified breakfast cereals are also an important source of vitamin E in the United States. Although originally extracted from wheat germ oil, most natural vitamin E supplements are now derived from vegetable oils, usually soybean oil.
Commercial vitamin E supplements can be classified into several distinct categories: fully synthetic vitamin E, "d,l-alpha-tocopherol", the most inexpensive, most commonly sold supplement form usually as the acetate ester; semisynthetic "natural source" vitamin E esters, the "natural source" forms used in tablets and multiple vitamins; highly fractionated natural d-alpha tocopherol; less fractionated "natural mixed tocopherols"; high gamma-tocopherol fraction supplements; and tocotrienol supplements.
Synthetic vitamin E, usually marked as d,l-tocopherol or d,l tocopheryl acetate, with 50% d-alpha tocopherol moiety and 50% l-alpha-tocopherol moiety, as synthesized by an earlier process is now actually manufactured as all-racemic alpha tocopherol, with only about one alpha tocopherol molecule in 8 molecules as actual d-alpha tocpherol. The synthetic form is not as active as the natural alpha tocopherol form. The 1950's thalidomide disaster with numerous severe birth defects is a common example of d- vs l- epimer forms type problem with synthesized racemic mixtures. Information on any side effects of the synthetic vitamin E epimers is not readily available. Naturopathic and orthomolecular medicine advocates have long considered the synthetic vitamin E forms to be with little or no merit for cancer, circulatory and heart diseases.
Semisynthetic "natural source" vitamin E, manufacturers convert the common natural beta, gamma and delta tocopherol isomers into esters using acetic or succinic acid and add methyl groups to yield d-alpha tocopheryl esters such as d-alpha tocopheryl acetate or d-alpha tocopheryl succinate. These tocopheryl esters are more stable and are easy to use in tablets and multiple vitamin pills. Because only alpha tocopherols were officially counted as "vitamin E" in supplements, refiners and manufacturers faced enormous economic pressure to esterify and methylate the other natural tocopherol isomers, d-beta-, d-gamma- and d-delta-tocopherol into d-alpha tocopheryl acetate or succinate. Tocopheryl nicotinate and tocopheryl linolate esters are used in cosmetics and some pharmaceuticals. In the healthy human body, the semisynthetic forms are easily de-esterified over several days, primarily in the liver, but not for common problems in premature babies, aged or ill patients.
The Recommended Daily Allowance for vitamin E is based on the alpha-tocopherol form because it is the most active, or usable, form as originally tested. Results of two national surveys, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III 1988-91) and the Continuing Survey of Food Intakes of Individuals (1994 CSFII) indicated that the dietary intake of most Americans does not provide the recommended intake for vitamin E. However, a 2000 Institute of Medicine (IOM) report on vitamin E states that intake estimates of vitamin E may be low because energy and fat intake is often underreported in national surveys and because the kind and amount of fat added during cooking is often not known. The IOM states that most North American adults get enough vitamin E from their normal diets to meet current recommendations. However, they do caution individuals who consume low fat diets because vegetable oils are such a good dietary source of vitamin E. "Low-fat diets can substantially decrease vitamin E intakes if food choices are not carefully made to enhance alpha-tocopherol intakes".
Macrominerals:
calcium, magnesium, zinc, potassium and many more
-Macrominerals (also known as macroelements or bulk minerals) are macronutrients that are chemical elements. They include calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, phosphorus and chlorine. They are dietary minerals needed by the human body in high quantities (generally more than 100 mg/day) as opposed to microminerals (trace elements) which are only required in very small amounts.
Trace minerals
-Microminerals (also known as trace elements) are micronutrients that are chemical elements. They include boron, chromium, cobalt, copper, fluorine, iodine, iron, manganese, molybdenum, selenium, silicon, tin, vanadium, and zinc. They are dietary minerals needed by the human body in very small quantities (generally less than 100mg per day) as opposed to macrominerals which are required in larger quantities. Note that the use of the term "mineral" in this context is to be distinguished from the definition commonly used in the geological sciences.
Omega-3 fatty acids including GLA
- Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids found in oil from oily fish and vegetable sources such as the seeds of chia, perilla, flax, purslane, hemp and canola. Omega-3 fatty acids are classed as essential fatty acids.
Common omega-3 fatty acids in the human body are a-linolenic acid (18:3; ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5; EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6; DHA).
Health effects of omega-3 fatty acids
Many studies have supported the health benefits of increasing omega-3 fatty acids in diets deficient in this nutrient; these studies have also provided information as to the detrimental effects of an omega-3 deficient diet. Many studies have shown that high doses of omega-3 can treat bipolar disorder and depression, while other research has shown a better benefit at a lower doses and no benefit, and even worsening of the symptoms at higher doses. Some have explained those surprising results by the hypothesis that higher doses deplete and create a deficiency of Omega 6, which is also essential for the conditions which are believed to be treated with Omega 3. In those same studies, doses between 1 to 2 grams for psychiatric conditions were optimal. The researchers believe that omega-3 fatty acids have shown great results in treating those disorders, and if approved, it could be a better drug (fewer side effects) than others such as lithium carbonate. Limited research also suggests that omega-3 is useful for treatment of borderline personality disorder and migraine. See the list of references at the end of this article for some of these studies. Non-topical use of certain omega-3 fatty acids has been shown to be useful for treating and healing distressed skin (eczema, psoriasis).
A recent report in the Journal of the American Medical Association concludes:
A large body of literature spanning numerous cohorts from many countries and with different demographic characteristics does not provide evidence to suggest a significant association between omega-3 fatty acids and cancer incidence. Dietary supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids is unlikely to prevent cancer.
On September 8, 2004, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave "qualified health claim" status to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) omega-3 fatty acids, stating that "supportive but not conclusive research shows that consumption of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease."[1]
Mucopolysaccharides
- Mucopolysaccharides is a gel-like substance found in body cells, mucus, and joint-lubricating fluids.
Beta-carotene
- Carotene is an orange photosynthetic pigment important for photosynthesis. It is responsible for the orange colour of the carrot and many other fruits and vegetables. It contributes to photosynthesis by transmitting the light energy it absorbs to chlorophyll.
Nucleic acids (RNA & DNA)
- A nucleic acid is a complex, high-molecular-weight biochemical macromolecule composed of nucleotide chains that convey genetic information. The most common nucleic acids are deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). Nucleic acids are found in all living cells and viruses.
- Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a nucleic acid polymer consisting of covalently bound nucleotides. RNA nucleotides contain ribose rings and uracil unlike DNA, which contains deoxyribose and thymine. It is transcribed from DNA by enzymes called RNA polymerases and further processed by other enzymes. RNA serves as the template for translation of genes into proteins, transferring amino acids to the ribosome to form proteins, and also translating the transcript into proteins.
- DNA (or deoxyribonucleic acid or deoxyribose nucleic acid) is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions specifying the biological development of all cellular forms of life.
Chlorophyll
- Chlorophyll is a green photosynthetic pigment found in plants, algae, and cyanobacteria. Its name is derived from ancient Greek: chloros = green and phyllon = leaf. Chlorophyll absorbs mostly in the blue and to a lesser extent red portions of the electromagnetic spectrum, hence its intense green color.
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