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The Nutrient Density of Algae - ENERGYbits

The Nutrient Density of Algae

, by Catharine Arnston, 11 min reading time

If you’re not feeling your best, subclinical nutrient deficiencies could be to blame. Our soils are depleted of minerals, our supermarket produce travels from hundreds or thousands of miles away, and processed foods have become our staples. All this explains the epidemic of poor health and accelerated aging. The good news is that you can easily replenish your nutrient levels with nutrient-dense whole foods like ENERGYbits® and RECOVERYbits®.

In this article, we’ll share with you the real statistics of nutrient deficiencies, their consequences, and what you can do about them.

What Are Subclinical Nutrient Deficiencies?

Subclinical deficiencies are deficiencies that hide under the surface without showing the classic symptoms of frank (very bad) deficiencies. For example, frank deficiencies of vitamin D can cause rickets, and of vitamin C can cause scurvy and eventually death.

Recoverybits fruits and vegetable

In the US, subclinical nutrient deficiencies are very common, as ~90% of Americans don’t even get their daily 5 servings of fruits and vegetables <1>,<2>. They can have long-term health consequences. According to the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003-2006, 100% of Americans don’t consume enough potassium, 94% don’t consume enough vitamin D, and over half don’t consume enough magnesium <3>. 95% of American children and 68% of adults have serum omega-3 levels below dietary guidelines <4>.

chart of micronutrients
The majority of Americans don’t meet minimum micronutrient requirements for several nutrients <5>

Consequences of subclinical nutrient deficiencies

recoverybits smoothie
  • Poor immune health <6>,<7>: Your immune system relies on many different nutrients. Certain nutrients (vitamin C, vitamin D, zinc, and iron) can impact how well your immune system functions and may be depleted during infections. This can increase your risk of infections, more severe symptoms, and longer recovery times.
  • Brain health <8>,<9>: Subclinical deficiencies in B vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, and iron can impact how your brain functions. This can manifest as issues with memory, concentration, and learning.
  • Mood changes <10>,<11>: Your brain needs specific nutrients to function properly. Low levels of B vitamins, zinc, calcium, vitamin D, and magnesium, in particular, play a role in regulating mood.
  • Chronic health conditions <12>,<13>: Nutrition plays an important role in long-term health. Subclinical deficiencies can have long-term effects, and increase your risk for heart disease, osteoporosis, and other conditions.
  • Reduced endurance <14>: It’s not only athletes who need endurance! Low levels of iron, magnesium, and potassium can all impact your endurance, strength, and energy levels throughout the day.

Now that you’re aware of these deficiencies and their consequences, you may be considering supplementing to cover your bases. As a nutrient-dense powerhouse, microalgae like spirulina and chlorella tablets are great candidates.

What Is Nutrient Density?

Nutrient-dense foods provide high amounts of nutrients relative to their calorie content. In other words, nutrient-dense foods pack in a lot of nutritional value per calorie.

These foods are typically unprocessed or minimally processed. They are whole foods – think fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, organ meats, and healthy fats.

Nutrient Density of Algae Tablets

energybits facts

Algae tablets, especially microalgae like ENERGYbits® and RECOVERYbits®, are great examples of nutrient-dense foods. They are highly nourishing because they are highly concentrated in a range of vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients. This makes them a great option for filling in your day-to-day nutrient gaps.

Algae tablets has achieved “superfood” status. This is because of its complete protein, vitamins, minerals, antioxidant compounds, and omega-3 fatty acids content <15>. It’s also a great source of prebiotics and polyphenols that feed your gut flora, brain, and digestive health. In mice, spirulina partly delivers health benefits by improving the gut flora <16>. Other animal studies found that by improving the gut flora, spirulina seems to also improve immune functions <17>,<18>.

Table: Comparison of omega-3 and micronutrient levels between ENERGYbits®, RECOVERYbits®, and two very nutrient-dense foods: kale and salmon.

Nutrient Adult RDA <19> 30 Spirulina <1> <2> ENERGYbits® 30 Chlorella RECOVERYbits® Salmon (100 g) <20> Raw Kale (100 g) <21>
Vitamins
Vitamin A 700-900 mcg 2083 mcg 1300 mcg 193 mcg 50.61 mcg
Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) 1200 mcg 50 mcg 1.3 mcg 207 mcg 24 mcg
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 1300 mcg 41 mcg 19 mcg 155 mcg 73 mcg
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 14-16 mg 1 mg 2 mg 8.67 mg 0.248 mg
Vitamin B5 500 mcg 30 mcg 0 mcg 1550 mcg 78 mcg
Vitamin B6 1300-1700 mcg 6.3 mcg 83 mcg 636 mcg 31 mcg
Vitamin B8 (Inositol) No RDA 5.1 mg 11.7 mg
Vitamin B9 (Folate) 400-600 mcg 8.2 mcg 94 mcg 26 mcg 13.02 mcg
Vitamin B12 2.4 mcg 15 mcg 23 mcg 3.23 mcg 0.00 mcg
Biotin 30 mcg 2400 mcg 30 mcg 5 mcg n/a
Vitamin C 75-90 mg 0 mg 3 mg 3.9 mg 19.6 mg
Vitamin D 15-20 mcg 0 mcg 14 mcg 11 mcg 0.00 mcg
Vitamin E 15,000 mcg 90 mcg 526 mcg 3550 mcg 14000 mcg
Vitamin K 60-120 mcg 102.4 mcg 165.2 mcg 0.5 mcg 81.8 mcg
Omega-3 fatty acids 1.1 – 1.6 g 0.086 g n/a 2.503 g 0.00 g
Minerals
Boron 0.5 mg 75 mcg 0 mcg n/a n/a
Calcium 1000-1300 mg 13 mg 0 mg 9 mg 53.34 mg
Copper 900 mcg 7.5 mcg 0 mcg 0.045 mg 0.01 mg
Iron 8-18 mg 4 mg 12 mg 0.34 mg 0.34 mg
Magnesium 310-420 mg 29 mg 21 mg 27 mg 6.93 mg
Manganese 1.8-2.3 mg 186 mcg 391 mcg 11 mcg 193 mcg
Molybdenum 45 mcg 7.5 mcg 0 mcg n/a n/a
Phosphorus 700 mg 78 mg 10 mg 240 mg 11.55 mg
Potassium 2000-3400 mg 102 mg 68 mg 363 mg 73.08 mg
Sodium 1500-2300 mg 35.9 mg 0 mg 59 mg 11.13 mg
Zinc 800-1,100 mcg 123 mcg 84 mcg 0.36 mg 0.08 mg

Getting nutrients into your body goes beyond the number of milligrams of each nutrient in the food or supplement. This is because you’re not what you eat, but rather what you absorb, use, and retain.

Algae Tablets as a Whole-Food Vitamin vs Traditional Multivitamin & Mineral Supplements

There are plenty of vitamin and mineral supplements on the market, but they’re not all created equal. Most of these supplements, especially with higher doses of nutrients, are synthetic and not formulated for maximum health benefits. Whereas, food sources like algae tablets provide better bioavailability, synergy, and retention, so they deliver more health benefits with virtually no side effects.

Dr. David Jokers energybits review

Algae’s nutrient bioavailability and absorption

The word “bioavailability” means how well your gut can absorb the nutrients and how well your body can use them. Your body is made to get nutrients from food, not from synthetic or isolated forms. As a result, food sources tend to be safer and more bioavailable.<22>,<23>,<24>

Bioavailability can be affected by many different things, including:

  • Nutrient form Some nutrient forms are more familiar to the body and more readily used. For example, iron is a commonly deficient nutrient that’s particularly hard to correct because synthetic iron supplements are poorly absorbed and can irritate the gut <25>. A rat study demonstrated that spirulina and chlorella were superior to ferrous citrate at reversing iron-deficiency anemia <26>.
  • Presence or absence of other nutrients or non-nutritive components (see Nutrient Synergy)
  • Processing, such as cooking, chewing, extraction, or breakage of cell walls, can release certain nutrients and eliminate others.
  • Dosages can influence absorption and functions. Your gut and cells can have limits as to how they can absorb certain nutrients. In some cases, excessive doses of certain vitamins can cause symptoms of deficiencies or induce deficiencies of other nutrients. This is one of the reasons long-term supplementation of isolated nutrients at high doses can have side effects.

Nutrient synergy in ENERGYbits® and RECOVERYbits® algae tablets

recoverybits and apples

Synergy means “the sum greater than its individual parts.” In nutrition, synergy explains how you need various molecules or nutrients together to get the health effects. It explains why these molecules are always found together in nature. For example, B vitamins always work together and are always found together in nature. Calcium and magnesium also tend to work together.<27>,<28>,<29>,<30>

In other words, there is a greater effect of each nutrient when consumed together in a food source compared to if they were taken apart. You can get a B complex vitamin, but researchers still have yet to identify all the components in a cell that work together beautifully. The only way to maximize the synergy is to get it in a whole food <31>. This explains why you may get worse jitters and crashes with synthetic B complex, whereas ENERGYbits® just gives you steady energy, focus, and endurance.

Algae tablets provide natural combinations of vitamins, minerals, and other compounds that can work together to provide their benefits. Whereas, traditional vitamin and mineral supplements typically contain isolated nutrients and lack the synergistic effect from whole food sources.

Nutrient retention and health effects

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Aside from absorption and synergy, synthetic vitamins can also be metabolized or eliminated differently from the body than natural nutrients. Your body can treat high doses of isolated vitamins like it would pharmaceuticals. In the long term, these high doses can have harmful consequences, such as causing toxic build-ups or nutritional imbalances. Your body also eliminates the unfamiliar synthetic nutrients more readily than it would vitamins from whole foods.<32>,<33>,<34>

Vitamins and minerals from whole food like algae are safer and better value for the money, especially for the long term. Synthetic vitamins may have higher nutrient dosages and cost less, but they don’t measure up in terms of the value they give to your health.

ENERGYbits® as Nutritional Insurance

Algae tablets consumption can be a great way to ensure you get many important vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients as part of a healthy diet. It is one of Mother Nature’s natural multivitamins. The nutrient density of algae tablets provides a good “nutritional insurance”, or in other words, ensures that you are getting what you need in order to be healthy.

ENERGYbits® and RECOVERYbits® are easy to take, safe, and effortless – providing you and your family with the nutrients you need to stay healthy. Algae tablets are a sustainable, eco-conscious product that not only benefits you but also the environment, an added bonus! Just chew, swallow, and go. If you struggle with finding the time or energy to ensure you are getting proper nutrition, ENERGYbits® is for you.

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