Microalgae: A wonderful phytonutrient-rich
food
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!
Time to take Chlorella & Spirulina now ?
Let's buy from Amazon online shop / Ebay online shop
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