The Algae AD/HD
Connection
Can Blue Green Algae Be Of Help
With
Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity
Disorder?
by Dr. John Taylor, Ph.D.
Licensed Clinical
Psychologist
I have traveled throughout North America over the last
half decade giving the MEGA ANSWERS TO AD/HD seminar. In one jam-packed
day I survey academic, psycho-social and nutritional approaches to AD/HD for
mixed audiences of parents and helping professionals. While having no
connection with any company involved in harvest, manufacture or marketing of
foods, medicines, or nutrients, I have been in a position to talk with thousands
of parents and professionals very frankly about AD/HD. And blue-green
algae is consistently mentioned to me by parents as being of help for children
with AD/HD. Why? What exactly is the algae-AD/HD connection?
Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder is primarily a disorder of the
central nervous system, particularly of the brain. The answer to the AD/HD
- algae connection lies deep within the tangled web of 100 billion or so nerve
cells (called neurons) in the human brain. Let's examine what it takes to
keep these large and delicate cells functioning at their maximum level of
efficiency.
Blood Sugar
A landmark study of adults with AD/HD showed that neurons
throughout the brain have sluggish glucose metabolism (36). In other
words, they suffer from an abnormally low energy supply. As a result they
probably aren't conducting their chemical reactions properly, including the
manufacture of key chemicals used in thought - neurotransmitters. In
fact, a low level of dopamine and norepinephrine is one of the most consistent
findings in research on brain processes in AD/HD individuals (2,16). My
extensive experience in this field has shown me that anything that helps
stabilize and normalize blood sugar level will help AD/HD individuals become
calmer and more focused. Some of the components of blue-green algae seem
to have this kind of stabilizing effect on blood sugar
level.
Freedom from Toxic
Attack
There is a flood of research
indicating that brain nerves, when energy supplies are low, are more subject to
disruption of their functioning from toxic effects of various irritant chemicals
than when energy suppliers are normal (3,17,25). The AD/HD child's brain
is therefore probably more apt to be disrupted than that of a child who has no
psychiatric or medical problems (10).
Some of the neurotoxic chemicals
studied so far, that seem to be especially disruptive to low-energy-state brain
neurons are among 4000 chemical additives lacing foods and beverages
(1,3,9,15,17,19,20,21,22,23,24,26,28,29,33,34,35).
Some studies have actually
created hyperactivity and related conditions in lab animals by exposure to these
food additives (15, 19).
Numerous research projects have verified that
eliminating exposure to these potentially neurotoxic substances can
significantly improve the mental and behavioral functioning of AD/HD children
(4,5,7,11,13,14,18,30,32,35).
Blue-green algae is a natural food that is
harvested rather than manufactured, and is unlikely to be laced with artificial
dyes, preservatives or flavor modifiers, such as MSG or artificial sweeteners.
Amino Acids
The neurotransmitters are usually composed of amino acids and
are manufactured on-site by the neurons. AD/HD is ultimately a protein
metabolism problem. Giving the brain plenty of building blocks from which
it can make more neurotransmitters makes good sense. There is some
research evidence verifying that meals high in amino acids help reduce
behavioral problems from AD/HD children (10). The amino acid profile of
blue-green algae closely matches optimal profile recommended by the Food
and Nutrition Council.
The down side of amino acids is that some of them are
quite toxic to the brain and must be kept out, or allowed to enter only in very
small amounts, by special protective mechanisms within the neurons. These
protective mechanisms demand cellular energy and will falter if energy supplies
are low. Neurons can become "flooded" -- or attacked--by too much of any
one amino acid (3). Examples are the glutamate component of the flavor
enhancer monosodium glutamate (MSG) and the aspartate component of the
artificial sweetener aspartame (3,17,19,22,24,25,26,27,28,29). In AD/HD
part of the problem is the low energy supply to the neurons, and this fact could
explain the research finding that MSG is sometimes disruptive for AD/HD
individuals (5,35). Ideally, the brain would select whatever amino acids
it needs -- and in proper amounts -- from a wide variety available form the
bloodstream. A feature of blue-green algae proteins seldom mentioned but
crucial for AD/HD brain metabolism is that its amino acids are all in relatively
balanced proportion to each other. Thus the likelihood of toxic flooding
is minimal.
Trace Minerals
Neurons require numerous trace minerals to support the
incredibly large number of chemical reactions they must conduct. Children
with AD/HD have been found to be low in zinc (9). Their blood copper
levels have been found to be abnormal (6). They are at risk for poor
metabolizing of trace minerals and could probably benefit from a consistent
source of numerous easily-assimilable trace minerals. Blue-green algae
harvested from a pristine source, such as a mineral-rich lake, is likely to
contain a variety of trace minerals in assimilable form.
Protection from Oxidative
Stress
The brain is an expensive organ
to run. It uses a lot of oxygen -- about 1/5 of what the person breathes
in. It uses about 1/4 of all the calories obtained from food.
Whenever a considerable amount of oxygen is metabolized (in the brain, for
example), several electron pairs from the oxygen atoms break their bonds and
become unconnected or unpaired. They are said to be "free", and the resulting
bizarre molecule is called a "radical." The unpaired electrons instantly
seek out new electrons to pair with, grabbing them from a neighboring
molecule. The unstable, unpaired electrons are now stable, but they have
changed the neighboring molecule into a "free radical"; that is, a modified
molecule with one or more unpaired electrons in their outer orbits. These
chain reaction of electrons taking new partners from neighboring molecules can
proceed unchecked into any body tissue and is called oxidative stress. It
has been found by recent research to contribute to various disturbances is body
function and to some disease conditions (3).
Our interest, however, is in
oxidative stress through free radical damage to neurons. The brain has
its protective mechanisms, chief among which is a special donor of electrons,
Vitamin C. This interesting substance (known chemically as ascorbic acid)
provides new partners for unpaired electron, thus preventing the need for
grabbing elections from neighboring molecules within the nerve tissue.
Everyone's brain hoards Vitamin C, most probably for this purpose.
Anything that prevents or reduces oxidative stress would be desirable for any
person with stressed neurons or neurons low on energy and protective mechanisms
(3). Vitamin E, and to a lesser extent beta-carotene, perform a similar
function. Blue-green algae contains several components, including the
pigmented carotenoids, that are considered helpful in reducing oxidative stress.
Vitamins
If minerals are the soldiers for neurons, vitamins are the
generals. They determine the distribution and activity of trace minerals
within nerve tissue. The trace minerals thus facilitate and carry to
completion the actions of the crucial vitamins for the human brain -- A, B, C,
and E.
Vitamin A is best delivered in the form of beta-carotene, because the
body can make exactly the amount it needs from beta-carotene.
All of
the B vitamins facilitate functioning of the nervous system in general, and
neurons in particular. In a fascinating research project featuring a
direct scientific comparison with generic Ritalin (methylphenidate), Vitamin B-6
was found to produce to more consistent and longer lasting helpful effects on
behavior of children with AD/HD (8).
Vitamins C and E are important
especially for their free radical quenching properties, but also have other
useful functions within neurons.
Blue-green algae contains all of these
vitamins and is an especially concentrated source of beta-carotene and Vitamin
B-12.
Essential Fatty
Acids
Neurons are composed of nearly
50% fatty acids. These large molecules also facilitate many of the ongoing
chemical reactions conducted by the neurons. Children with AD/HD have been
found to be abnormally low in essential fatty acids (9,23,31). Also some
research projects have involved direct treatment of AD/HD with EFA's , with
encouraging results (9,12). While it contains both Omega-3 and Omega-6
EFA's, blue green algae is relatively rich in the much harder to find
Omega-3.
The Connection
What is the connection? Is it the presence of easily
assimilable trace minerals such as zinc? Of beta-carotene and Vitamin
B-12? Of Omega-6 and especially Omega-3 essential fatty acids? Of
numerous amino acids in balanced amounts? The answer, of course, is "all
of the above," and provided in a natural way, free of questionable artificial
additives.
Premium Quality Blue Green Algae
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