Why whole food sourced from microalgae is big deal? David Foreman, The Herbal Pharmacist, explains

Consumers are increasingly interested in getting their nutrients from food versus synthetic ingredients.  Using AstaPure® Arava powder as an example, we can see that whole food nutrition is obtained from microalgae that have survived millions of years on this planet.  Harsh conditions, droughts, and even climate changes have never been too much for this evolutionary giant.  Yes, AstaPure® Arava powder comes from microalgae and can still be considered a giant.  Haematococcus pluvialis (HP) is the microalgae in which we receive nature’s most potent antioxidant-astaxanthin- yet we also get a whole host of other nutrients which are believed to improve the health benefits of the whole.

DOWNLOAD  The eBOOK to learn more about whole food from microalgae

READ: A Foundational supplement program with AstaPure® Arava

Why Whole Food?

The idea of whole foods being better for you isn’t a new concept as it has been taught for generations by dietitians.  The purpose of getting “all you need” from your foods is taught in health professional programs around the globe.  Why? Our body is designed to get what it needs from food.

Regretfully, the average human diet is full of unhealthy, nutrient deficient foods or full of foods that have been grown and harvested in a manner which yields them lacking much if any nutritional value. This is where supplementation comes in.  We supplement our diets with other nutritional components to replace what might be missing either from our poor diet or lack of healthful ingredients in our whole foods.  When we eat a diet high in processed foods, these are no longer “whole” foods and will often be fortified to make up for their shortcomings.

The body is used to digesting, absorbing and utilizing the nutrients in food because it was designed that way.  Synergistic effects of having the nutrient be a part of the food is the key.  One example comes from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition(2003) in which the authors stated, “additive and synergistic effects of phytochemicals in fruit and vegetables are responsible for their potent antioxidant and anticancer activities, and that the benefit of a diet rich in fruit and vegetables is attributed to the complex mixture of phytochemicals present in whole foods.”[i]  The sum is greater than the parts or Synergy. Whole food is full of vitamins, enzymes, coenzymes, and trace minerals.  All of which play a role in their health benefits in the body.

Now that we see whole food nutrition is better, taking a closer look at AstaPure® Arava powder from Algatech, we see that not only is it a fantastic source of whole food astaxanthin-nature’s most potent antioxidant- we see it is loaded with other nutrients to benefit health such as, dietary fibers, essential fatty, essential amino acids, key vitamins, and minerals.

Adding this whole food powder to your everyday diet or blending it with other nutritional supplements is a sound plan for health.  If we factor in the health benefits of astaxanthin and combine its benefits with other synergistic ingredients that support any of these health areas, we will glean even greater benefits.

AstaPure® Arava’s fiber combined with the other components would be a great whole food addition to fiber supplements, smoothies, and probiotic blends.  We know that by adding dietary fibers will also support healthy blood sugar and cholesterol levels as well as support overall immune health.

In addition to the whole food dietary fiber, AstaPure® Arava powder is also high in whole food vitamins and minerals.  These are a great addition to the daily diet and to other supplements that contribute to replacing essential nutrients such as B-vitamins and Vitamin D_3. Adding these whole food components will have a profound effect on the physiological function of enzymes, cellular processes, cellular communication and act as precursors for functional molecules.

Lastly, AstaPure® Arava powder is high in whole food essential fatty acids. HP yields approximately 30-percent lipids with an extraordinary fatty acid composition of great nutraceutical value: ~ 16% of fatty acids in the oil consist of the essential omega-3 fatty acid alpha linolenic acid (ALA), which is known to be one of the essential fatty acids required for human well-being. Studies suggested that a well-balanced intake of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids is essential for human well-being.

We know that the body utilizes EFAs throughout all areas including; heart, lung, skin, eye, nerve cells, etc.  Modern medicine even embraces their use for support of the nervous, cardiovascular, ocular, immune and structural systems.  These also include systemic inflammation and skin health.  In addition, AstaPure® Arava powder also contains phospholipids, which are known for their ability to improve the absorption of nutrients. Getting these essential nutrients from a whole food such as AstaPure® Arava powder can only add benefit to the body.

DOWNLOAD  The eBOOK to learn more about whole food from microalgae

[i] Health benefits of fruit and vegetables are from additive and synergistic combinations of phytochemicals. Liu R, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2003 Sep;78(3 Suppl):517S-520S

About AstaPure® Arava

Algatech’s flagship product is widely known in the nutraceuticals market – AstaPure®. AstaPure® is a natural astaxanthin derived from the microalgae Haematococcus pluvialis, cultivated in the harsh conditions of the Arava desert. Algatech’s organic medium and proprietary technology mimics the natural habitat and biological processes of the microalgae. This unique Arava strain is exposed to harsh desert climate conditions, which stimulates it to produce high levels of active compounds. Algatech has been a well known market leader in the space of astaxanthin since 1998, supplying the most prominent industry leaders with various delivery forms of natural astaxanthin. Recently, Algatech has launched a new, innovative astaxanthin product – AstaPure® Arava whole algae powder. The complete array of nutrients and full benefits of Haematococcus pluvialis can be found in the whole algae. The microalgae is cultivated organically, having been shaped by the harsh and extreme desert conditions to become fully potent. Now, thanks to Algatech’s latest innovation and proprietary ESL technology, allowing us to preserve all the natural components in the microalgae undamaged, consumers can finally reap the numerous potential health benefits of the whole alga’s striking survival capabilities.