Raw, it simply means uncooked. When it comes to food, raw can be powerful, that is when it’s the right food. It’s actually very interesting. Some foods hold more vitamins and nutrients in their raw form while others have enhanced nutritional benefits when cooked.
That’s where balance and whole foods come in, consuming a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and protein that are both raw and cooked.
So, what does all of this have to do with supplements?
Let’s start with the great debate of whether supplements are a necessary component of a healthy life or not. We have to first examine our food and where it comes from. Now of course, if we are discussing a healthy diet we are referring to whole foods that are in or very close to their natural state. These foods are grown in soil and are therefore only as rich in nutrients as the soil. The sad truth is, our soil isn’t what it once was in regards to nutrients, which means our food isn’t as rich in nutrients as it once was.
With the nutrients in the soil and the nutrients in our whole foods depleting, we turn to supplements to fill those nutritional gaps.
Choose Supplements Like You Choose Whole Foods
There is a common misconception about supplements that they are always safe, high quality, and good for you. However, not all supplements are equal.
On one hand, you have synthetic options which are often the cheapest. These vary in terms of their composition and processing methods. Some use synthetic versions of nutrients while others utilize whole ingredients and process them to the point where nothing but a shell of the original remains.
On the other hand, you have food-based natural or organic supplements. These are often sourced from all-natural ingredients with very little, if any, chemical additives. The best in this case are minimally processed. In fact, some are processed just enough for convenient consumption with very little interference with the structural integrity and power of the actual active ingredients.
So yes, your choice of supplements really matters. And, when it comes to making your selection, raw is an excellent option.
Raw Minimally Processed Supplements
Why choose raw supplements? It all comes back to processing and nutrient quality.
Raw, high-quality food-based supplements closely match the vitamin complexes found in nature and typically contain the cofactors required to assist the body with the absorption of the nutrients making them more effective. This includes ingredients like wild mushrooms, organic Wild Microalgae™, and more.
AFA: The Best Raw Supplement For Your Diet
AFA is short for Aphanizomenon flos-aquae, also known as Organic Wild Microalgae, which is a rare type of blue-green microalgae. This blue-green algae is very unique in that it’s wildcrafted and grows without any human intervention. It’s also as close to a perfect food as you can get when it comes to nutrient profile. Here’s a closer look at the nutrients found in AFA.
1. Micronutrients
Micronutrients are crucial nutrients that are required throughout life, in small quantities—sometimes even minuscule quantities. Micronutrients include vitamins, minerals, and trace minerals. Failing to obtain even small quantities of micronutrients can adversely impact health. There are close to 30 vitamins and minerals that the body cannot manufacture—these are called “essential micronutrients.” Essential micronutrients must be obtained from outside sources such as food and/or supplements.
So, exactly how many micronutrients does AFA contain? Over 70, including over 60 minerals and 13 different vitamins. These include vitamins like A, C, E, and K. It also has 9 of the B-complex vitamins. All these play a variety of roles from promoting the body’s defense system to facilitating cellular regeneration.
AFA also has several minerals including calcium, iron, and sodium. It also has rarer trace minerals like chloride, manganese, and chromium.
2. Amino acids
Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. There are 20 essential amino acids, and AFA contains all of them! Each amino acid offers a variety of health benefits, but together they provide vital fuel and energy; build and maintain neuropeptides; and help biomodulate emotions and moods. Wild Microalgae’s amino acid profile closely matches the Food & Nutrition council’s ideal profile.
3. Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs)
Wild Microalgae also supplies essential fatty acids in an all-natural form. Approximately 45% of the lipids (fats) within AFA are essential fatty acids. EFAs are required for the normal growth and repair of the skin, blood vessels, and nerve tissues. AFA contains both LA (Linoleic acid, an Omega 6 fatty acid) and ALA (Alpha-Linoleic Acid, an Omega 3 fatty acid) in an ideal balance/ratio—there is more ALA than LA.
4. Antioxidants
AFA is a fantastic source of antioxidants that help protect the body from harmful molecules called free radicals. These mighty antioxidants quench free radicals to avoid damage to our body’s cells and tissue.
5. PEA
Wild Microalgae also contains PEA—phenylethylamine—the “feel good” chemical compound. PEA is a naturally occurring alkaloid chemical compound made from the amino acid phenylalanine and is linked to energy, mood, and focus. PEA exists naturally in the human central nervous system and is responsible for the emotional experience associated with pleasure and mental awareness; it supports mental energy, mental clarity, concentration, and attention, and is a known natural mood enhancer.
Harvesting and Processing
This nutrient-rich microalgae is extremely delicate. If not handled properly and with the utmost care and precision, nutrients are depleted. That’s where harvesting and processing techniques come to play. And, when it comes to handling this delicate nutrient powerhouse experience goes a long way.
New Earth, also known as the original algae company, was the first to harvest this delicate organism back in the 1980s and still does today all while maintaining its rich nutrient profile and raw status.
This process begins with gathering the microalgae from the lake, testing it, cleaning it, and dewatering it. From there its rapidly chilled to maintain sensitive pigments, such as chlorophyll, and other important components. The algae is then transported by insulated tankers to the production facility where it’s screened and frozen. From there it undergoes more testing including third-party testing.
The algae is stored in the freezer as it awaits the drying process. The microalgae is dried via a low-temperature spray-drying process called Bioactive Dehydration™ that preserves phytonutrients. Testing indicates that the quality of this drying system is superior to freeze-drying, especially for heat-sensitive components such as vitamins, chlorophyll, and enzymes. Because the algae is dried at temperatures below 40C, it qualifies as a raw food.
It’s a true wild to doorstep process with very little intervention.
Add AFA to Your Diet
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