Re: E3Live blue-green algae

[Guest guest]

--- " Jo " <johastings@s...> wrote or quoted:

> Does anyone regularly take some kind of blue-green algae

> like spirulina or the new E3Live?

I fairly regularly put spirulina powder into my juicer.

It seems to be a good source of B12 - among other things.

I also regularly consume wheatgrass - which is great stuff.

I'll probably consume Chlorella when I next come across a supplier.

[Guest guest]

> Does anyone regularly take some kind of blue-green algae like

spirulina or the

> new E3Live?

I used to occasionally drink those green algea drinks. Aweful,

aweful, aweful tasting stuff that I had to hold my nose to

consume. Then I heard that it might be toxic and so I quit that

nonsense. Might be toxic? Oh yea - granted I may worry too much

about things being toxic - *but* see this article from Health Canada:

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ehp/ehd/catalogue/general/iyh/algea.htm

Apparently blue-green algeas can produce toxins called microcystins.

These toxins can attack the liver and the nervous system

(neurotoxins). See especially the part of that article dealing with

blue-green algea products. Apparently spirulina is pretty safe but

the rest of the blue green algea products are not. Whether or not

spirulina is actually beneficial I do not know - although some no

doubt claim it is.

Given the risks (and the aweful aweful taste ) I'd need a stronger

case to consume algea than I have heard so far.

text from some of the article:

" ISSUE: BLUE-GREEN ALGAL PRODUCTS

Where do the blue-green algae used in food supplements come from?

Historically, large-scale harvesting of blue-green algae masses was

done for research purposes, to study their properties, their possible

use as therapeutic and antibiotic agents, and their potential as

agricultural commodities. Today, the algae used to manufacture blue-

green algal products are harvested from controlled ponds or natural

lakes. Before or during harvest, some types of algae will naturally

produce chemicals such as microcystins, and these toxins could be

retained in the blue-green algal products.

What is Health Canada doing about this situation?

A broad sampling and testing of blue-green algal products was

recently performed by Health Canada to measure the levels of

microcystins in blue-green algal products available on the Canadian

market and to determine the level of risk to Canadian consumers.

Results of the testing, conducted at three separate laboratories,

indicate that no microcystins were detected in blue-green algal

products containing only the blue-green algae Spirulina. However, for

many non-Spirulina blue-green algal products, particularly those

harvested from natural lakes, when consumed according to

manufacturers' directions, the resulting daily intake of microcystins

was above that considered acceptable by Health Canada and the World

Health Organization.

Health Canada's Food Directorate has communicated the test results

and their health significance to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency

(CFIA), and has indicated that products on the Canadian market, when

consumed according to the manufacturers' directions, should not

exceed the daily intake of microcystins considered acceptable by the

World Health Organization and Health Canada. Subsequent compliance

measures are the responsibility of the CFIA.

Should I stop taking my blue-green algal supplements?

Blue-green algal products are sold in some pharmacies and health food

stores as food supplements, often in tablet or caplet form. Health

Canada is advising consumers to apply caution in their use of the

products until evidence of their safety can be firmly established. In

particular, adult consumers who choose to use products containing non-

Spirulina blue-green algae should do so for short periods of time

only. However, consumers can safely use products made only from

Spirulina blue-green algae as these were found to be free of

microcystins.

What about my child, who takes these tablets as a treatment for

Attention Deficit Disorder?

Health Canada has not received adequate scientific evidence that

supports the claim for use of blue-green algae as an effective

treatment for Attention Deficit Disorder in children and has not

authorized the marketing of any blue-green algal products for any

therapeutic purpose. Most of the blue-green algal products in Canada

are sold as foods, and Health Canada does not allow therapeutic

claims for substances sold as foods. Meanwhile, because of their

lower body weights, there is a potential risk of children being

exposed to harmful levels of toxins if they ingest blue-green algal

products, particularly if they ingest the products for an extended

period of time.

As a precaution, Health Canada is recommending that the use of non-

Spirulina blue-green algae by children be discontinued until follow-

up measures have been implemented. "