River algae species. filamentous algae

What is algae?

Algae is a problem for all reservoirs, ponds, lakes, rivers and others water bodies. But the concept of algae is often combined different plants. But not all aquatic plants are algae. And not all aquatic plants are the same: there are desirable and undesirable plants for your pond.
Even experts disagree on what to call or classify algae. It is very difficult to define what algae is, but generally speaking, algae are simple organisms, which may even consist of one or several cells, grouped into colonies and living in aquatic environment. There are three main types of algae: blue-green algae, filamentous (mossy) and slimy (attaching).

Blue-green algae– single-celled (planktonic), microscopic plants that take root in any body of water. They can bloom in different colors: bright green, pea soup color or even blood red. They are the base of the food chain, and a healthy pond should contain this type of algae as a food source for other living organisms. But their excessive growth can turn your pond into a swamp. Blue-green algae have recently been reclassified from the algae group to the Monera group, which includes bacteria, because blue-green algae are more closely related to bacteria than other types of algae. Blue-green algae are different colors, such as red, brown, or yellow. Blue-green algae are nitrogen-fixing organisms and require nitrogen to survive, as does carbon dioxide, a substance very common in most ponds. When blooming, blue-green algae form dense masses on the surface of the pond water and can cover the entire surface. It is believed that the Red Sea got its name from the bloom of red-colored blue-green algae.

Filamentous algae called mud or moss-type plants, they usually grow in water or cover the surfaces of objects and stones in the water in the form of greenish “moss” formations. These colonies of united cells have a slimy, mossy texture; the algae attached to the surface do not have roots, but have a dense structure. Filamentous algae grow in water with high levels of calcium and phosphorus. Typically, this type of algae is revitalized after lime is added to ponds to increase fish production. They usually appear in warm places in a body of water and can grow so large that they cover the entire surface of the water.

Slimy algae - usually have a slimy, hard or bristly texture, often applied great harm when they turn into a "mud" problem.

Benefits of algae

Oddly enough, algae to some extent fulfill the task of improving the health of the water in the pond, because... for their life activity they use harmful nitrogen and its compounds. Blue-green algae is the first link in most food chains found in your pond, so your pond ecosystem needs it. Zooplankton feed on blue-green algae, and baby fish (baitfish), in turn, feed on zooplankton. Without a food source, fish will compete rather than thrive in your pond. Often, pond owners who use their ponds to raise bass and koi will fertilize the water to maintain a high population of blue-green algae. This is done in order to provide more food for zooplankton and fish fry (baitfish), as well as to delay the rays sunlight and shading of water in the reservoir, which in turn leads to a reduction in the growth of filamentous algae and other undesirable aquatic plants. Fry can hide in thickets of aquatic plants, and their absence allows perches to get food much easier.

Problems caused by algae

Typically, the most common complaint about algae is that it harms the aesthetics of the pond. A green pond covered with algae is not pleasing to the eye. When algae covers the surface of a pond, it is not a pleasant sight.

Algae creates a problem for the health of your pond when there is too much of it and when it blooms. During photosynthesis, plants absorb sunlight and carbon dioxide and release oxygen. Photosynthesis is a beneficial process for every pond. Oxygen is necessary for the process of decomposition of organic substances, as well as for fish and other inhabitants of the pond for their vital functions. However, the process of photosynthesis occurs only in sunlight. As soon as the sun sets, plants stop producing oxygen and begin to consume it.
Therefore, the more aquatic plants and algae in your pond, the more oxygen they will produce during the day and the more they will absorb at night. During the night, the oxygen concentration in the water decreases significantly. The lowest concentration of oxygen in water occurs just before sunrise.

Water bloom is a process of very rapid growth and spread of unicellular algae under favorable conditions. Typically, water blooms occur during the hottest, sunniest part of summer. When algae blooms, the water in the pond can become covered with them very quickly. But the main problem When algae bloom, they die during and after the bloom. The death of algae during bloom can be caused by cloudy weather (lack of sunlight), the arrival of a cold air front, strong wind, etc.
When the algae in your pond dies, a large amount of organic matter appears, which settles to the bottom of the pond, where it is decomposed by microorganisms. With increased organic matter loads in your pond, the decomposition process intensifies, increasing oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production.

This creates two problems. The first is oxygen deficiency. When the oxygen in the pond is consumed by the decomposition of dead algae, there is not enough oxygen for fish and other aquatic life. The algae die-off can be so extensive that most of the dissolved oxygen in the water is used up in the decomposition process, and your fish and other aquatic life may die. Nature is designed in such a way that the larger the organism, the more oxygen it consumes. That's why big fish fish that have been living in your pond for several years may be the first to die if the oxygen concentration in the water decreases significantly.

The second problem associated with large-scale death of algae and increased amounts of organic matter is the emergence of new biogenic (nutrient) substances. When algae die and decompose, carbon dioxide and nutrients are available to the next generation of plants. Carbon dioxide and nutrients trigger the algae growth cycle over and over again.

Interestingly, in salty or hard water, a phenomenon called “Red Tide” can occur - a bloom of water caused by the presence of harmful algae that has this generic name. These algae produce toxins that can be ingested by shellfish that feed on the algae. Shellfish such as mussels and oysters are not safe to eat if they are caught in waters affected by Red Stream. Through the process of bioaccumulation, fish and animal organisms can accumulate toxins, especially in bones and fatty tissues. When an organism containing toxins is consumed by other animals or humans, the bioaccumulated toxins are transferred into their bodies. Crustaceans such as crabs, lobsters, and shrimp, as well as minke whale meat, are safe to eat because they do not accumulate toxins.

Another problem that occurs with excessive algae growth is the problem with the equipment and pumps used to operate the pond and to water it. It's no secret that many pond owners use pond water for irrigation. If algae grows excessively, it can clog the water pump and its filters, which will require many hours of work to clean. The algae that passes through the pump will be scattered throughout the irrigated area and will have an unsightly appearance when it dies.

Ways to combat algae

There are many products available to control and prevent algae growth. These are herbicides, bio-additives based on beneficial bacteria, chemicals, ultraviolet sterilizers, herbal additives, for example, barley straw. Each product affects algae in its own way, and in different conditions with varying effectiveness. Some products only work during one algal bloom cycle; others may work for a longer period of time. Consider these cleaning methods below, all their pros and cons.

Paints

Using the water tint method is an old technology, but it continues to be used and works. Special blue or black powder or liquid paints are used to darken the water and reduce the penetration of sunlight necessary for algae growth. For this purpose, “BioBlack enzymes & Pond colorant” TM Microbe-lift preparations are produced. An additional benefit that coloring water blue or black provides is that it prevents birds of prey catch fish in a pond, because in this case it is more difficult to see them there.
But purchasing special paints is not always easy, in addition, this treatment method does not work well in ponds that are intended for irrigation or connected to other bodies of water, because the paints are removed when the water moves. It is not always acceptable to tint the water in decorative ponds.

Bacteria and enzymes

Barley straw

We often hear about the “miraculous” effect of this remedy on the state of water in a reservoir. Barley straw has been used as a natural algaecide for centuries in England and Scotland. Research has shown that barley straw helps balance quality, lower pH and water hardness, which can affect the growth rate of certain unwanted plants and algae. Straw decomposes under the influence of water and sunlight, and a byproduct of its decomposition - peroxide (peroxide) - prevents the development of both filamentous and blue-green algae. But the rates of straw application and the success of its use are different for different ponds. Typically the recommended dose for private ponds is 25 kg of barley straw per 1000 m2 of water surface in relatively shallow ponds 1.2 - 1.5 m deep.
There are other ways to purify water using natural means - adding spruce needles and birch leaves (brooms) to the reservoir. At the same time, the acidity level of the water changes and algae growth slows down. However, it is better to use herbal remedies to control algae growth than to kill it once the algae has already become a problem.

Skimmers

Copper-based preparations

Copper is usually the first answer most people get when they bring up algae reduction. The most common copper-based preparation is granulated copper sulfate. Its low cost and effectiveness on blue-green and filamentous algae explain its wide application. But you need to keep in mind that copper is poisonous to certain types of fish (for example, gudgeons, as well as salmon), snails and other cold-blooded animals. Consistent use of copper-based products can lead to a buildup of copper in pond sediment, which is extremely harmful to both aquatic life and humans. The use of specific biological agents, rather than copper-based drugs, is probably the most reasonable approach.

Fish

Can fish clear algae from water? You can often hear the popular belief that fish clean the water of algae, well... or some of it. Carp and grass carp do indeed feed on aquatic plants, but they do not feed on algae. They are mentioned here only because fish are precisely the reason for changing the balance of aquatic plants and algae in the pond. After all, fish eat plants and produce waste, which, when decomposed, saturates the water with organic matter and promotes the growth of algae. The question is, do you want to grow plants or algae in your pond?
By the way, yes, telapia eat blue-green and filamentous algae in ponds, but they are tropical fish that become stressed when the water temperature drops to 10°C.

Herbicide-based preparations

Herbicide-based preparations are sometimes used in natural ponds on agricultural land. These preparations should be used strictly in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations regarding the elimination of algae, and not all plants in general. Herbicides have significant restrictions on their use in fish farming.

Physical algae removal

This very labor-intensive method is used to remove filamentous and non-motile (attaching) algae. For removal, nets, rakes, and water vacuum cleaners are used; algae can be removed from stones with scrapers and brushes. The method is labor-intensive and ineffective. Once you remove all the algae, new plantations will appear in the organic-rich waters.

The True Cause of Excessive Algae Growth

With all that said, algae or aquatic plants are not the problem with the pond water, they are simply the outward manifestation of the problem. Nutrients (nutrients) are the main problem in most ponds. The main reason for the growth of algae and unwanted aquatic plants is the excess of available nutrients in water, allowing them to thrive. Grass clippings, leaves, runoff from fertilized meadows and farm fields or pastures, animal waste (geese, ducks, fish, etc.) and organic materials (dead aquatic plants) are some of the most common sources of nutrients in ponds. All of them supply huge amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus to the water, which promotes the growth and prosperity of aquatic plants. The key to controlling the growth of algae and aquatic plants is to limit the amount of nutrients (nutrients) in the pond water.

Limiting nutrients is easier said than done. More detailed information is given in the article, but first step- physical blocking of nutrients (biogenic) substances entering the water. Second- removal of nutrients (biogenic) substances that are already in the pond. This process may consist of physically removing aquatic plants by trimming and raking them out of the water. All plants and algae in a pond contain nutrients and when they die, the nutrients are released and made available to the next generation of vegetation. The death of plants does not completely solve the problem - dead plants must be removed.

Third step- this is aeration. Additional oxygen, as stated above, speeds up the decomposition process and reduces the amount of nutrients available. In addition, aeration helps remove carbon dioxide and other gases that are released during the decomposition process and which provide food for aquatic plants.

Filamentous algae are the cause of water blooms. This plant is found everywhere. Filamentous algae are a family of representatives of ancient plants.

Filamentous algae are a well-known aquatic plant, or rather a family of aquatic plants. Most correct name This family is filamentous algae. People call them river mud, mulberry, and water silk. These plants have existed on the planet for more than two billion years.

If arrowhead grows along the banks, then mud appears in the upper layers throughout the reservoir.

Description of filamentous algae

Filamentous algae are rather long thin threads of bright green color. The most common algae of this species are Spirogyra, Ulotrix and Cladophora. Algae reach a length of fifty centimeters. These simple plants reproduce by simple cell division.

Where do filamentous algae grow?

They grow very well in water with increased hardness. The well-known and famous water bloom in swamps and artificial reservoirs is due to filamentous algae. Unlike other aquatic plants, they have a specific sweet smell and salty taste. I think that a normal person will not taste swamp mud. Let's trust the experts that the taste of mud is pungent and astringent. Filamentous algae live in all bodies of water where there is no strong current. The chemical composition has not been fully studied by scientists.

Filamentous algae in folk medicine

Traditional medicine knows that filamentous algae helps with inflammatory processes on the skin. Dried or fresh, but required pure plants applied to bruised areas, small wounds and the pain decreases. Algae not only reduces pain, but also promotes the healing of small wounds and ulcers.

Filamentous algae and fish

Algae actively absorb substances such as nitrates, phosphates and process them into substances that are safe for various aquatic organisms(ciliates, rotifers). For this reason, larvae and fry of fish, mainly of the carp family, live and feed in algae. They feed on filamentous algae different kinds fish Roaches simply love algae. Experienced fishermen use this plant as bait. The most convenient way to fish is with a fishing rod. The algae bait should move slowly. If there is a fish, then slowly swimming greenery will definitely attract its attention.

When treating with algae, brown algae are most often used. marine species, for example, kelp, ascophylium, ampheltia, fucus, containing greatest number alginic acid. Many doctors insist on the benefits of algae in treatment oncological diseases and diseases of the endocrine glands. Algae have also been used in cosmetology.

What is seaweed and how is it beneficial for humans?

Algae are a group of primarily aquatic, single-celled or colonial photosynthetic organisms. Unlike higher plants algae do not have stems, leaves, or roots; they form a protoplast. Contain a large range of useful substances.

The benefits of algae are known first-hand to adherents of alternative medicine. In particular, crushed or micronized algae are used in thalassotherapy: energy-rich substances penetrate the skin from the pulp, revitalizing metabolic processes and counteracting cellulite. In addition, the benefit of algae for humans is that they are rich in antioxidants: P-carotene, vitamins C and E, superoxide dismutase enzyme, microelements and are a source of essential fatty acids.

In total, there are more than 30 thousand species of seaweed - brown, green, red, blue-green and others. Treatment with seaweed is based on the fact that they contain large amounts of iodine, sea gum, plant mucus, chlorophyll, alginic acids, sodium salts, potassium, ammonium, and vitamins. Cosmetics mainly use extracts of brown algae - fucus, kelp, cystoseira. Speaking about the benefits of algae for humans, we must not forget that extracts obtained from individual types of algae differ in their composition and therefore have a targeted effect.

Vitamins in sea and freshwater algae

The content of vitamins A, B1 in freshwater and seaweed is especially high; B2, C, E and D. Algae also contains a lot of fucoxanthin, iodine and sulfoamino acids. The importance of algae in human life is that they are able to stimulate and regenerate skin cells, have a softening and mild bactericidal effect. In others, moisturizing and water-retaining properties are clearly manifested due to the higher content of polysaccharides, organic acids, and mineral salts. Third, due to the active influence of organic iodine, fucosterol, mineral salts and vitamins, they are effective against cellulite, acne, and are beneficial for the care of oily skin, since they provide regulation of fat metabolism and improve blood circulation.

In modern cosmetic practice, seaweed extracts are used in almost all types of skin and hair care products.

Main groups and features of algae, their classification

Speaking about the role of algae in human life, one cannot help but recall the modern theory of the origin of life, which states that bacteria were at the origins of all life on Earth. Later, some of them evolved, giving life to microorganisms containing chlorophyll. This is how the first algae appeared. Being capable of utilizing solar energy and releasing oxygen molecules, they were able to take part in the formation of the shell of atmospheric oxygen surrounding our planet. Thus, those forms of life on Earth that are familiar to modern man became possible.

Classification of algae in the general development table is difficult. The plant organisms called “seaweeds” are a highly random community of closely related organisms. Based on a number of characteristics, this community is usually divided into several groups. There are 11 main types of algae, and the difference between brown and green algae is more significant than the difference between green algae and higher plants such as grasses.

At the same time, all groups of algae have chlorophyll, a green pigment that is responsible for photosynthesis. Since only one of the groups of algae, green algae, has the same composition and ratio of pigments as higher plants, it is believed that they are the ancestors of forests.

In addition to green algae, there are blue-green, blue, red, and brown algae. But regardless of color, the entire huge number of species known to us are, first of all, divided into two large groups - unicellular and multicellular. Photos of the main types of algae are presented below on this page.

What are the main types of algae?

The main groups of algae include microscopic unicellular and large multicellular.

Microscopic unicellular algae are represented by one cell, which is capable of providing all the functions of the body. As can be seen in the photo, these algae have a size of several tens of microns (l micron is a thousandth of a millimeter). Most of them are adapted to a floating lifestyle. In addition, many species have one or more flagella, which make them very mobile.

The second main type of algae is large multicellular- consist of large quantity cells forming the so-called thallus, or thallus - what we perceive as an individual algae. The thallus consists of three parts:

• fixing apparatus - rhizoid, with the help of which the algae holds onto the substrate;
• stalk (legs), varying in length and diameter;
• plates cut into fibers in the form of strands or straps.

The dimensions of the thallus are very different, depending on the type of algae. For example, the thallus of the ulva, or sea lettuce (Ulva lactuca), does not exceed a few centimeters. The peculiarity of these algae is that their extremely thin plate can continue to develop and grow even after being torn off from the substrate. Some kelp specimens reach several meters in length. It is their thallus, clearly divided into three parts, that well illustrates the structure of macroalgae.

The shape of the thallus is also very diverse. There are known marine calcareous deposits consisting of algae of the genus lithothamnion (Lithothamnium calcareum), which during life looks like a small pink coral.

The role and importance of freshwater algae in human life

What types of algae are there, besides seaweed? The sea is not the only habitat for algae colonies. Fresh water ponds, small and big rivers is also their habitat. Algae live wherever there is enough light for photosynthesis.

Yes, even on great depth, near the bottom, live seaweed called benthic. These are macroalgae that require solid support to establish and develop.

Numerous microscopic diatoms also live here, which are either located on the bottom or live on the thallus of large benthic algae. A huge number of marine microscopic algae form a significant part of the phytoplankton that drifts with the current. Seaweed can be found even in bodies of water with high salinity. Small algae, when multiplying, can color the water, as happens in the Red Sea due to the microscopic algae Thishodesmium, which contains a red pigment.

Freshwater algae are usually presented in fibrous forms and develop on the bottom of reservoirs, on rocks or on the surface of aquatic plants. Freshwater phytoplankton are widely known. These are microscopic unicellular algae that live in literally all layers of fresh water.

Freshwater algae have unexpectedly succeeded in colonizing other areas, such as residential buildings. The main thing for any algae habitat is humidity and light. Algae appear on the walls of houses, they are found even in hot springs with temperatures up to +85 ° C.

Some unicellular algae - mainly zooxanthelles - settle inside animal cells, remaining in stable relationships (symbiosis). Even the corals that make up coral reefs cannot exist without a symbiosis with algae, which, thanks to their ability to photosynthesize, supply them with the nutrients they need for growth.

Laminaria is a brown algae

What types of algae are there, and in what industries have they found their application? Currently, science knows about 30,000 varieties of algae. Brown algae have found their use in cosmetology - kelp (seaweed), ampheltia and fucus; red algae lithothamnia; blue-green algae - spirulina, chrocus, nastuk; blue algae - spiral algae and green algae Ulva (sea lettuce).

Laminaria is a brown algae that was one of the first to be used in cosmetic products. Despite the fact that there are several types of kelp that look very different from each other, they all live only in cold, well-mixed water. The most famous is the sugar kelp (Laminaria Saccharina), which lives off the European coast and owes its name to the sweet taste of the mucus covering it. It grows in bushes, the size of which is directly dependent on the degree of protection of the habitat. It reaches 2-4 meters in length, its stem is cylindrical, turning into a long corrugated plate.

The well-known name “sea kale” is historically associated with the palmate kelp (Laminaria digitata), living in places protected from the surf at the uppermost boundary of the sublittoral zone - the sea shelf zone. Otherwise, kelp is called “witch’s tail.” The thallus of this algae, reaching a length of 3 meters, is beautiful a clear example general plan of the structure of macroalgae. The rhizoids (attachments), palmate, branched, with which the algae attaches to the stones are very clearly visible; stem - long, cylindrical, flexible and smooth; the plate is flat, solid in the lower section, and then cut into straps. This type of algae is especially rich in iodine, since kelp is always under water.

The use of algae of this type is established on an industrial scale. In addition to its nutritional purpose, it has valuable pharmacological properties. This type of kelp is especially known for its stimulating and tonic effect: it improves overall metabolism, is a source of microelements and is widely included in weight loss and anti-cellulite programs.

Numerous studies have shown that seaweed (and other algae) is distinguished by the fact that none of its components is harmful to patients, including those with malignant processes.

Fucus (fucus) is the second most important algae for cosmetics from the brown class (Phaeophycophyta). Grows on rocks in coastal zone and collect it by hand. Beneficial features These algae are due to the fact that they are extremely rich in iodine, vitamins, amino acids, plant hormones and microelements. You can find it on the beaches of the English Channel and along the entire Atlantic coast. For cosmetic purposes, two varieties of fucus are usually used:

Fucus vesiculosus

and Fucus serrafus.

The presence of a large amount of alginic acid determines the natural gelling and thickening ability of extracts of both kelp and fucus. Both seaweeds are rich in organic and non-organic organic substances, determining their high biological activity. Extracts of kelp and, to a greater extent, bladderwrack (Fucus vesiculosus) contain a complex of substances that stimulate the functioning of β-receptors and block α-receptors of fat cells, providing an effective anti-cellulite effect.

What is it - red, blue and green algae (with photo)

Red algae is a division of algae that lives in seawater.

Lithothamnia (Lithothamnium), like all red algae, they are found on underwater rocks North Sea, English Channel and Atlantic. It was colorfully described in 1963 by the famous submariner Jacques Cousteau. At a depth of a hundred meters, he discovered a red beach - a platform of limestone - lithothamnia. This algae looks like big pieces pink marble with an uneven surface. Living in the sea, it absorbs and accumulates lime. Its calcium content is up to 33% and magnesium up to 3%, and in addition it has an iron concentration 18,500 times greater than sea ​​water. Lithothamnia is mined mainly in Britain and Japan. It is included in cosmetic products due to its ability to restore the balance of minerals in the body, but it is also popular as a food additive.

In face and especially body care products developed in last years, it is common to use a mixture of fucus algae, kelp and lithothamnia. Rich in inorganic compounds, lithothamnia perfectly complements the action of brown algae, providing a comprehensive effect on the skin and hair.

Blue algae is a spiral-shaped algae that grows in some lakes in California and Mexico. Thanks to their high protein content, vitamin B12 and P-carotene, they increase skin elasticity and have a remarkable firming effect.

Look how blue algae look in the photo - they differ from other algae in their rich blue-turquoise color.

Green algae are a group of lower plants. Ulva (Ulva lactuca)- sea lettuce is a green algae that grows on rocks. It can only be collected at low tide. Sea salad- a real storehouse of B vitamins and iron, they help strengthen body tissues and improve blood circulation in capillary vessels.

Spirulina is a blue-green seaweed and is used for healing. Spirulina from more than 30,000 species of algae contains the richest set of vitamins, microelements, amino acids, and enzymes. It is rich in chlorophyll, gamma-linoleic acid, polyunsaturated fatty acids and other potentially valuable nutrients such as sulfolipids, glycolipids, phycocyanin, superoxide dismutase, RNase, DNase.

Spirulina differs from other algae in that it contains up to 70% of the most perfect protein; no other representatives of the plant and animal world on Earth contain such an amount.

Spirulina is the richest source of natural P-carotene, a vital antioxidant, and other carotenoids. Carotenoids are used by several organs in our body, including the adrenal glands, reproductive system, pancreas and spleen, skin and retina.

Only spirulina and mother's milk are complete sources of gamma-linoleic acid (GLA), which plays an indispensable role in ensuring the normal functioning of the body, all other sources are extracted oils. GLA helps prevent heart attacks and heart attacks, helps remove excess fluid, improves nervous system function and regulates cell reproduction, has anti-inflammatory properties, maintains healthy joints, and helps treat arthritis. GLK is also recognized important element nutrition, to prevent skin diseases such as psoriasis. Spirulina contains the most perfect protein and all the essential amino acids. Spirulina protein does not require heat treatment for consumption, whereas other products containing protein must be boiled or baked (cereals, meat, fish, eggs), as a result of which certain forms of protein partially, and some completely, lose their beneficial qualities.

Spirulina does not contain hard cellulose in its cell walls, unlike other algae, but consists of mucosol saccharides. This allows its protein to be easily digested and assimilated in the body. Protein absorption is 85-95%.

Seaweed has been part of the diet of many peoples since prehistoric times. The Japanese are best known for their love of algae, but there is also information about the active use of algae among the Vikings and Celts (red algae is described, among other things, in the Nordic sagas). Polynesians and Hawaiians have long grown kelp on special sea farms. The ancient Greeks also ate algae, which is reflected in one of the famous sayings Plato: “The sea cures all ailments!”

Among the known 10,000 species of algae are edible and suitable for other purposes. commercial use(cosmetics, fertilizers, etc.) there are considered to be 300-400 species. The nutritional value and therapeutic properties of algae are explained by the characteristics of the environment in which they grow.

The ocean is a giant mineral bath containing all 56 minerals we need for health in a bioavailable form. Algae absorb these minerals, and that is why they are one of the richest, sometimes unique sources of them, in particular, iodine, magnesium, calcium, iron, potassium, manganese and others.

Nutritional and therapeutic properties of algae

• Algae is the only plant source of Omega-3 fatty acids in the form that humans need to absorb. It is the consumption of algae that explains the high content of Omega-3 in wild fish. It is appropriate to recall here that Omega-3 is a macronutrient necessary for humans for brain health, immunity and regulation inflammatory processes .
• Algae are practically the only significant source of iodine in places with low levels of this mineral in the soil. Iodine is essential for normal function thyroid gland regulating our metabolism. This complex mineral should preferably be consumed exclusively in whole food format, like seaweed, where it is contained along with the antioxidant selenium, without which iodine can further disrupt thyroid function.
• Algae are known for their protective effect against radiation and pollution environment due to the effect on iodine receptors and preventing radioactive iodine molecules from entering them (receptors).
• Seaweed help strengthen bones due to the calcium they contain in a certain proportion with magnesium and vitamin K, which together are necessary for the proper absorption of calcium.
• Due to the high content of chlorophyll in combination with magnesium, the use of seaweed Supports healthy blood circulation, detoxification function- this is why algae is often recommended to be added to smoothies and used in beauty clinics for body wraps.

Common sea edible algae

Most algae used for food are seaweed. Seaweed is classified into 3 main categories based on color: red, green and brown. True, the color of the algae themselves does not always coincide with their classification. Among the most common types of edible algae are:

Arame

Known locally as seaweed, a type of Japanese kelp (brown seaweed) is usually dried and cut into thin strips, soaked before use and added to soups and salads. Arame is great source iodine, can contain 100-500 times more than seafood, vitamin A in the form of beta-carotene and calcium.

Wakame

Another type of brown algae, kelp, is used in very popular salad Chukka. It is distinguished by its high content of calcium, iron, vitamins A, E and K. The phytochemical fucoxanthin, which is contained in wakame, helps normalize lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, in other words, it can be effective as part of weight loss therapy for type 2 diabetes.

Nori

A type of red algae (despite its green color), it is especially known as the material in which rolls are wrapped. IN Lately also popular in the form of snacks - fried pieces of nori with salt and spices. Not a very significant source of iodine. It is better known for its high protein content - 30-50% of dry weight, rich in calcium, iron, potassium, vitamins E and K, beta-carotene. Nori chips are easy to make at home and serve as a nutritious snack!

Kombu

A type of brown algae (dark green in color). It is especially known for its high content of free glutamine, a substance to which we owe our rich protein taste. Kombu contains enzymes that help digest polysaccharides (substances, particularly in legumes, that cause gas in many people). For these properties, kombu is most often used in the preparation of Japanese rich broth - dashi, and is also added to dishes with legumes and rice for easier digestion. Kombu releases its minerals during cooking and is usually removed from dishes when cooked. Kombu sheets can also be used as a kind of crackers - they are toasted in the oven for about 10 minutes at 180C, broken into small pieces and topped with topping. In Finland, at a biohackers' dinner, pieces of toasted kombu were served with pollock roe and dried black chanterelles and were a big hit.

Dulce

Brown algae, which has a fairly neutral and pleasant mild taste, is often sold in the form of small flakes that can be added to salt in many dishes when cooking. Dulse, according to some studies, is the champion among algae in terms of the content of beneficial phytochemicals, including those that suppress uncontrolled cell growth. These algae are rich in iodine, calcium and iron.

A number of seaweeds are also widely used in cooking for their gelling properties. Among them are agar-agar, carrageenan from Irish moss.

River algae

The most famous river algae are spirulina and chlorella, which are a type of blue river algae.

Blue-green river algae. Due to its high nutritional density, particularly its protein content in the form of bioavailable amino acids, the UN has identified spirulina as a possible solution to the problem of malnutrition in poor developing countries.

In addition to being high in protein, spirulina is very rich in B vitamins, vitamin K, beta-carotene, iron, manganese, chromium, and antioxidant phytochemicals—all in a bioavailable form, in a whole food context. The fiber and phytochemicals in spirulina help normalize intestinal microflora - the growth and reproduction of friendly bacteria and inhibit the growth of pathogens.

Due to its high nutritional value, spirulina is a phenomenal nutritional supplement that helps produce energy at the cellular level, strengthen the immune system, reduce inflammation, and normalize limit metabolism.

Due to its very specific taste, it is often swallowed in tablet form and also added to smoothies. Dosages may vary as this is a whole product and negative consequences no large-volume consumption was detected.

Single-celled green algae is also highly nutritious, but is especially known for its chelating properties, that is, the ability to bind toxic substances and remove them from the body, including heavy metals.

Due to the high content of antioxidant substances, regular consumption of chlorella helps reduce the level of oxidative stress, which underlies premature aging.

There is a special substance in chlorella called “chlorella growth factor”, part of which are nucleic acids, which are necessary to prevent DNA mutations and tissue regeneration, the volume of which decreases with age. The cell walls of chlorella are very strong, and in order to absorb the nutrients it contains, you need to buy chlorella with broken walls.

It is important to know!

When choosing algae, it is important to know their place of origin. Just as algae absorb minerals from the environment, they absorb toxic substances - in places where the ocean is particularly polluted, in particular radioactive, like off the coast of Japan. That is why in developed countries everyone uses organic algae, whose origin is controlled by a certifying organization.