What’s All the Klatter about Klamath Lake?
May 9th, 2007
The health benefits of spirulina were not discovered at Klamath Lake in Oregon, but some of the first companies to offer spirulina products, under the name of “Blue Green Algae” came from this unique location. That was back in the late 70s and early 80s. Since then, companies have been raided by the FDA for “false claims” and other companies have sprouted up around the edge of the lake. Now there are four or five companies wild harvesting the algae from the lake for sale directly to consumers, through health food stores, or through network marketing structures.
The popularization of these early products brought about a heightened awareness of the health benefits of algae and a recognition of its primary constituent, spirulina. Since spirulina is, essentially, blue-green algae, the Klamath Lake entities further distinguished their products with the designation “Super Blue Green Algae,” pointing out that the Klamath algae is higher in a particular strain of algae called AFA, which normal spirulina has in only small amounts.
So far, however, there is no research to support that AFA algae is a “better” strain than normal spirulina. On the contrary, other forms of spirulina have been shown to contain more proteins and minerals than AFA, with the exception of vitamin B12. They are also thought to be “cleaner” than the “wild harvested” Klammath algae, since they are grown in controlled environments. However, as far as I can tell, there have been no conclusive studies to prove that the Klammath algae is somehow contaminated with “foreign matter from the lake.” Wild harvesting was, after all, the accepted method of gathering plants and herbs for consumption long before controlled environments were created.
One Klamath Lake company, known as StemTech, claims to have invented a process for isolating a chemical in the AFA algae, a chemical that enhances stem cell production in adults. They say that they are the only ones with this technology and only Klamath AFA algae can be used. Could this be another ploy to make people believe that Klamath algae is the “super” algae?
My guess is that they DO have a special process to isolate something from the algae, although I doubt that only Klamath algae can be used. But since they have the process and their labs are located on Klamath Lake, then it’s no surprise that they would try to favor their own strain. Most likely, if their stem-cell-enhancing technology is valid, then someone else will find a way to isolate the same element from normal Spirulina or AFA that is not from Klamath Lake. I’ve seen that happen over and over. Remember Willard Water–the special water that is more hydrating than normal water? Well, Willard Water is still around, but Dr. Willard, who invented (or discovered) the process of enhancing water, is today one of many suppliers of what is now known as Carbon Activated Water (CAW). And Willard’s carbon, which is from lignite matter, is now recognized as the least effective type of carbon for activating water. It’s still a great product and maybe his special touch does in fact make his CAW slightly better than the competition.
My guess is that the Klamath Lake companies are pretty much like Willard Water. Wait a minute…Dr. Willard was originally from Oregon too. Maybe there really is something in the water out there.
Read More On: spirulina, superfoods
