Microalgae: A wonderful phytonutrient-rich food

Aug. 28, 2014 - PRLog -- What are phytochemicals?

Phytochemicals are non-nutritive plant chemicals that are a plant's way of protecting itself. Some are responsible for color and other organoleptic properties. They are not essential nutrients, but they have the ability to alter body processes and protect against heart disease, cancer, and many other chronic diseases. There are more than thousand known phytochemicals include carotenoids, catechins, chlorophyll, and phycocyanin.

How do phytochemicals work?

Phytochemicals act in several ways:

(1) scavenge free radicals directly and disarm them

(2) support the body in the supplying of a strong nutritional base which assists in the detoxification process

(3) inhibit the expression of unhealthy changes in cells and to block the reproduction of unhealthy cells

(4) boost the production of various enzymes that are involved in DNA repair.

Since the passage of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) in the United States in 1994, a growing number of phytochemicals are being sold as dietary supplements.

Many of the phytochemicals are sensitive to heat. In general, the more richly colored and the more deeply pigmented a food is, the more protective phytochemicals the food contains. Chlorella and Spirulina are known to be rich source of phytochemicals. You don’t need to heat them, just absorb the nutrition directly.

Microalgae are rich in various forms of phytochemicals!
Lutein and zeaxanthin

1. Reduce the generation of free radicals in the retinal pigment epithelium and choroid.

2. Protect the muscles of the eye from light-induced oxidative damage; help prevent macular degeneration (AMD) and developing cataracts.

Beta-carotene

1. Reduced cancer risk.

Beta-carotene has powerful antioxidant functions, it helps the body scavenge free radicals, thereby limiting the damage to cell membranes, DNA and protein structures in the cell.

2. Mitigating the cellular damage that leads to degenerative disease.

Beta-carotene is a protector of the cells while slowing the aging process.

3. Cellular nutrient

Beta-carotene can be converted to retinol (vitamin A) when needed in the body

Chlorophyll

1.        Help with anemia.

Can increase the quality and quantity of your red blood cells, and result in better oxygen transportation.

2. A powerful antioxidant, can

(1) Lower your risk for developing certain types of cancer.

Chlorophylls and related chemicals could inhibit the ability of certain DNA-damaging chemicals to cause mutations in bacteria. Can effectively form a complex with the carcinogens that your body has a difficult time absorbing.

(2) Reduce inflammation in your body, such as arthritis and amygdalitis.

(3) Detoxifies the liver.

3. Eliminates body odor and bad breath as a natural deodorizer.

4. A promoter of good digestive function, it can clean the digestive tract.

Phycocyanin

1. Improvement of weakened immune functions.

(1) Phycocyanin has shown enhancement of proliferation and differentiation of bone marrow hematopoietic cells, thereby increasing the levels of various cytokines like IL-1ß, IFN-g, GMCSF and IL-3.

(2) Sustains functions of the mucosal immune system and reduces allergic inflammation by the suppression of antigen-specific IgE antibody.

2. Hepatoprotective effect

Increase the expression of essential enzymes and biochemicals related to the balanced function of liver and kidney. This further leads to the detoxification.

3. Potential anti-tumor effects.

(1)Enhanced NK activation.

(2) In conjunction with selenium, phycocyanin was found to be a potent antiproliferative agent against human melanoma cells and human breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7 cells.

4. Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective.

Scavenge alkoxy, hydroxyl and peroxyl radicals and to react with peroxinitrite (ONOO-) and hypochlorous acid (HOCl).

4. Help ward off the effects of bad cholesterol, and keep arteries clean.

Summary

Chlorella and Spirulina are rich in carotenoids that include chlorophyll, phycocyanin, beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin. Mixture of these carotenoids are more effective than any one of the individual xanthophylls at the same total concentration!