If you’ve studied earth sciences at some point, you’ve likely read about the extensive family of organisms that fall into the category of algae. If you haven’t studied earth sciences, you may know of algae as a gooey, floating substance often found in shallow pools of water, lakes, or the ocean. But algae is a lot more than just some floating mush. In fact, it’s the beginning of much of life on earth, one of the older organisms out there, and its powers in relation to the earth’s past, present, and future cannot be understated.
So naturally, we as humans want to harness some of that power. We want to reap the benefits of what algae is offering us. That’s why algae supplements are gaining popularity in the realm of health. Taking algae in supplement form can yield impressive health benefits. It’s also one of the best sources of omega-3s out there, which is a large reason for its growing popularity in its supplement form. Much of the world is aware of fish and fish oil as an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, but, as it turns out, the real source of omega-3s, even for fish, is algae. Here’s everything you need to know about algae supplements as a source of omega-3s, and how both you and the earth can reap the benefits by taking the plant-based route to get those crucial fatty acids.
Algae and Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Let’s start simple: what are these omega-3 fatty acids, and why are they important? Omega-3s are a crucial and extremely beneficial type of fatty acid that the human body cannot produce on its own. Therefore, we turn to our diets and to supplements for the recommended amount. They’re found in some nuts and seeds, some vegetables (brussels sprouts), but, most commonly, fish and fish oils. However, with fish and fish oil as the most well-known source of omega-3 fatty acids out there, one might go a step further and ask where the fish are getting those omega-3s. Are they taking supplements? Obviously not. But it’s a part of their diet, too, and that’s what leads us to algae.
The Source of Omega-3s For All
While fish are a well-known source of omega-3s, they’re not the source. Fish get omega-3s from eating algae or krill, and those krill get omega-3s from eating algae. So for most of these aquatic organisms that we as humans get omega-3s from, the source of their omega-3s is algae. Algae is the ultimate source of omega-3s in the food chain, so why can’t we get it from the source, too? Well, we can. And now with algae supplements, we are.
Algae Supplements: Why They Work
Fish oil has long been popular because it works as a supplement for the two most important kinds of omega-3 fatty acids for humans: EPA and DHA. We won’t go too far into the science here, but both kinds of omega-3s are important for different parts of human health. Together, they benefit heart health, bones and joints, eyes and vision, mental health, brain development, and more. And in the past decade or so, algae supplements have been developed that contain both EPA and DHA fatty acids, just like fish oil. But unlike fish oil, an algae supplement has some additional properties that allow better absorption of those omega-3s into the human body. Algae supplements are bound to phosopholipids and glycolipids, which, in short, act as a shell around the omega-3s and give them more exclusive access for absorption into the body. Fish oil omega-3 doesn’t have that property, and because of that, algae supplements are about 50% more effective in allowing us to absorb the omega-3 than fish oil supplements are.
The Benefits of Algae Supplements
As mentioned above, algae supplements contain both EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids. This gives them a broad spectrum of benefits from omega-3 fatty acids, making them one of the most important supplements a human can take.
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Brain Development: DHA is a particularly important omega-3 for pregnant women, as it comes into play in a big way in a baby’s brain development. DHA accounts for a large portion of the fatty acids in our brains, so getting enough DHA omega-3s during pregnancy can help the baby’s social skills, intelligence, communication, and overall behavior. It also reduces the risk of developmental issues.
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Vision: While DHA makes up a large part of our brain’s fatty acids, it makes up an even larger part of the retina of our eyes. Getting enough omega-3s can reduce the risk of several eyesight-related issues. This comes into play again with babies and infants; those who consume DHA omega-3s in their will have better supported eye health through their lives.
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Cardiovascular Health: Both DHA and EPA omega-3s have been credited for improving heart health in numerous ways, particularly in lowering blood pressure and preventing blood clots. But the list of heart health benefits from omega-3s doesn’t stop there – they help soothe the immune system as your body fights against harm, they help maintain healthy cholesterol levels, and in general they help support a healthy heart.
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Mental Health: Studies show that omega-3 supplements (like algae supplements) support mental health and emotional wellness, and that those who have already received mental health diagnoses may see improvements after adding omega-3 to their diets. Additionally, omega-3s can help reduce mood swings and violent behavior in people with psychiatric disorders.
This is by no means an all-inclusive list of benefits, but just a few to provide a basic understanding of the importance of omega-3 fatty acids. Studies show they also help with focus, memory, physical performance, immunity, joint health, and more.
Is Producing Algae Omega-3 Supplements Sustainable?
As we discussed above, algae is the source of omega-3 for all the fish that we get fish oil from. So in short, yes, because we’re starting further down the food chain. The further you work up the food chain, the more omega-3s you lose, and the more individual organisms you’ll have to take from to get a supply. So to put that explanation into numbers, a year’s worth of omega-3 algae supplements takes just about two square meters of algae; that’s just over 7 lbs. But that same amount of omega-3, if consumed in krill oil, takes over 13,000 individual krill. And if consumed in fish oil, it takes about 110 fish. So beginning there, why mess with the biodiversity of our bodies of water, our oceans, when we can grow and farm algae to create this supplement?
The process of growing and farming algae is also a sustainable one. It can be done with salt water, rather than tapping into precious freshwater sources, and the water can be reused and recycled to make more and more algae. It can also be done nearly anywhere, unlike many agricultural endeavors. For example, one brand set up camp for its algae farm in an unused plot of land in Texas, a plot of land that otherwise might not yield any crops or be a suitable environment for other agriculture. So algae farms are taking up space that otherwise is going unused, they’re not wasting water or resources, and they’re saving fish and krill and therefore, saving the biodiversity of our waters.
The Bottom Line
Algae supplements are gaining popularity quickly. Some experts predict they’ll take over the omega-3 marketplace in a matter of years, becoming the dominating supplement for the crucial fatty acids. Right now, they’re popular for those who follow a vegan diet, as it’s one of just a few omega-3 supplements that doesn’t involve fish or ocean creatures, and it’s the only one that actually rivals a fish oil pill. All in all, algae supplements are possibly the best option you can choose for your omega-3 intake. If you want the benefits, the absorbance, the sustainability – it’s all there in algae supplements, and they’re beating out every other source on the market.
