https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/algae2 My guest on today's podcast is Catharine Arnston, and she puts my own algae consumption to shame, eating 75 pieces of chlorella and 75 pieces of spirulina every day. She holds an MBA from Western's Ivey School of Business, and a BA in geography and economic development from Queen's University. She is a Board Certified Health Counselor from The Institute for Integrative Nutrition and a REIKI Master. She is also an algae expert and the CEO and Chief Scientific Officer of ENERGYbits, a sports nutrition company that sells algae in tablet form to athletes and consumers (click here and use code BEN to save 10% on any of their algae products). Catharine founded ENERGYbits eight years ago after she became aware of the health and athletic benefits of a plant based diet. When she subsequently learned that algae was the most nutrient dense plant in the world and that Asians had been growing it and benefiting from it for fifty years, she made it her life mission to bring algae into the mainstream so others could benefit from this superfood too. You may also recognize Catharine from this SharkTank episode! Anyways, Catharine makes the bold claim that a lack of chlorophyll (greens) in diet leads to the ten different leading causes of aging and disease worldwide. -What is chlorophyll? [10:50] Chlorophyll is a fat-based pigment that makes plants green. It is the substance that is responsible for photosynthesis - the usage of light energy from the sun to convert water & carbon dioxide into nutrition (glucose) for the plants. What foods are high in chlorophyll? Green foods! The darker the green, the more chlorophyll. In fact, algae has the highest concentration of chlorophyll in the world, containing 100-1000 times more chlorophyll than any other plant or vegetable (50 times more than wheat grass). Chlorophyll is a phytonutrient that oxygenates & detoxifies the blood. It is rich in enzymes and high in amino acids. It alkalizes the body, is anti-inflammatory, is an antioxidant, chelates heavy metals, been shown to repair damaged DNA and speed up the healing process of wounds. It even helps mitochondria ATP with a fuel source that is cleaner than glucose (with the addition of sunshine). The structure of chlorophyll is nearly identical to that of hemoglobin in our blood. The center atom of chlorophyll is magnesium (green) while the center atom of hemoglobin is iron (red). Magnesium is what helps alkalize the body and deliver oxygen to cells & tissues. Chlorophyll helps promote the formation of hemoglobin and red blood cells. In my article How To Eat Algae (The Ultimate Guide To Fueling With Spirulina And Chlorella) and my podcast Is This The Most Dense Source Of Nutrition On The Face Of The Planet? I introduce chlorophyll, but in today's show, Catharine and I take a deep dive into how chlorophyll intake can manage everything from excess acidity to inflammation to accelerated aging and beyond. During our discussion, you'll discover a host of new information (and a big credit to Catharine for gathering the research presented in the comprehensive shownotes below!): -How algae can reduce cellular inflammation due to its high concentration of essential fatty acids, alkaline composition and high concentration of antioxidants, including the three primary precursors to the body's most important antioxidants - glutathione (cysteine, glycine and glutamine)...[18:00] Inflammation References: Journal of Medicinal Food Feb 16 2013 - Health Benefits of Blue-Green Algae: Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Cancer Cell International Marine - Algal natural products with anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties June 2013 Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - General Subjects Edible blue-green algae reduce the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines by inhibiting NF-?B pathway in macrophages and splenocytes April 2013 Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - 2012 glutathione synthesis -How algae affects damaged and decreased mitochondria, particularly via Superoxide Dismutase in spirulina...[21:55] Mitochondrial References: NutritionFacts.org Mitochondrial Theory of Aging Michael Greger M.D. FACLM December 28th, 2010 Volume 4 Linus Pauling Institute Oregon State University/Micronutrient Information Center: Chlorophyll Journal of Zhejiang Univeristy SCIENCE B, January 20, 2009 Chlorella vulgaris triggers apoptosis in hepatocarcinogenesis-induced rats* Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology Protection against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity by Spirulina in rats December 2006 Robert Thiel pHD NaturoPath Food Antioxidants are Superior to Isolated Antioxidants and importance of SOD from plants -Why you should care about ATP production in relation to disease and aging, and what effect does algae has on it...[26:40] ATP References: Journal of Cell Science 2014 Light-harvesting chlorophyll pigments enable mammalian mitochondria to capture photonic energy and produce ATP Green Med Info May 12, 2015: Amazing Discovery: Plant Blood Enables Your Cells To Capture Sunlight Energy Biochemical Journal Assessing mitochondrial dysfunction in cells March 29, 2011 -The fascinating link between algae and cancer, and how spirulina and chlorella can reduce the growth of cancer cells...[32:25] Cancer References: Journal of Nutrition and Cancer Fruit, vegetables, and cancer prevention: A review of the epidemiological evidence 1992 Chlorella - the Miracle Food, July 2012 Can chlorophyll protect you from cancer February 8 2014 Additional references about chlorophyll preventing carcinogens from being absorbed More information about the cancer tests Catharine mentions References to scientific articles and research about Chlorella Growth Factor -How algae affects free radical and antioxidant production by increasing levels of both water soluble and fat soluble antioxidants...[42:35] Antioxidant References: Pharmacognosy Review July 2010 Free radicals, antioxidants and functional foods: Impact on human health Water soluble and fat soluble antioxidants -The actual scientific link between algae and detoxification...[47:00] Detoxification References: Journal of Medicine 2010 Chlorella Pyrenoidosa Supplementation Decreases Dioxin and Increases Immunoglobulin A Concentrations in Breast Milk Naturodoc Paul Pitchford M.S Author of Healing with Whole Foods: Asian Traditions and Modern Nutrition, North Atlantic Books; 780 pages Published 2002. -How algae affects the immune system by stimulating production of T-cells and anti-inflammatory cytokines...[51:55] Immune References: Chlorella Source: Nutrition Journal July 31, 2012 Beneficial immunostimulatory effect of short-term Chlorella supplementation: enhancement of Natural Killer cell activity and early inflammatory response Journal of Ethnopharmacology December 1988 Immunomodulation by a unicellular green algae (Chlorella pyrenoidosa) in tumor-bearing mice Spirulina Reference Source: Journal of Medicinal Food Effect of Spirulina on the Secretion of Cytokines from Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells March 2009 Cancer Science April 20, 2009 Enhancement of antitumor natural killer cell activation by orally administered Spirulina extract in mice Nutritional and Therapeutic Potential of Spirulina -Why you should care about your cell membranes, what algae does for them, and why algae is a perfect plant-based alternative to fish oil...[60:05] Cell Membrane References: Brazilian Journal of Microbiology December 2008 Culture Conditions stimulating high ?- Linolenic Acid accumulation by Spirulina platensis University of California Davis - Integrative Medicine. May 2014 Fish Oil Friend or Foe? Penn State Hershey, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center: Overview of Gamma-linolenic acid Journal of Nutritional Science November 23, 2015 Fishing for answers: is oxidation of fish supplements a problem? University of Maryland Medical Center: Importance of GLA (Gamma Linolenic Acid) Kimberly Snyder blog Feb 21 2012 fish oils are rancid: Low Levels Of Oxygen Can Breed Cancer.Increasing Cellular Oxygen Can Kill Cancerous Cells Peter Lapinskas Presentation at Conference A fitter future for fats 6 June 2000, Leatherhead Food Research Association, Leatherhead, England. -The anti-aging link between algae, IGF-1 and Mtor...[67:30] References: University of California Davis - Integrative Medicine Oct 12, 2016: Relatively Unknown Protein Problems and mTor University of California Davis - Integrative Medicine Oct 5 2015 The Protein Question Nutritionfacts.org Michael Grefer MD- April 7 2014 Volume 18 Four minute video explaining reducing mTOR pathway with restriction of animal protein Nutritionfacts.org Michael Greger MD- June 5 2015 Volume 25. Four minute video comparing non-heme iron with heme-iron Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine Iron- The Double Edged Sword Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition December 31, 2013 Influence of Protein Intake from Haem and Non-haem Animals and Plant Origin on Inflammatory Biomarkers among Apparently-healthy Adults in Greece References: Hippocrates Health Institute Chlorophyll Description June 1, 2012 Resources from this episode: [pdf-embedder url="https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/1.-chlorophyll-content-in-ENERGYbits-sprirulina-and-RECOVERYbits-chlorella-compared-to-other-vegetables.pdf" title="Chlorophyll Content In ENERGYbits Spirulina & RECOVERYbits Chlorella Compared To Other Vegetables"] How To Eat Algae (The Ultimate Guide To Fueling With Spirulina And Chlorella). Is This The Most Dense Source Of Nutrition On The Face Of The Planet? Click here and use code BEN to save 10% on any of the algae products I personally use, including spirulina ENERGYbits and chlorella RECOVERYbits. Show Sponsors: -biOptimizers - Crank your muscle gains to new heights by flooding your muscles with maximal amino acids without increasing your protein intake by a single gram. Go to BenGreenfieldFitness.com/biOpt to automatically get 10% off your order. -Blue Apron - Create incredible home cooked meals and get your first three meals free, with free shipping! Go to BlueApron.com/Ben. -Kimera Koffee - Proven to help you increase focus, power output and cognition. Go to KimeraKoffee.com and use code BEN to get 10% off! -Quip - Quip is an electric toothbrush that packs premium vibration and timer features into an ultra slim design, that's half the cost of bulkier brushes. Go to getquip.com/BEN to get your first refill pack free with a Quip electric toothbrush. Do you have questions, thoughts or feedback for Catharine or me? Leave your comments below and one of us will reply! You can also click here and use code BEN to save 10% on any of the algae products I personally use, including spirulina ENERGYbits and chlorella RECOVERYbits.
