The Difference Between Frozen, Dried, and Raw AFA
If you know anything about AFA (Aphanizomenon Flos-Aquae), also known as organic Wild Microalgae®, you know that the harvesting and processing of this delicate freshwater blue-green algae is crucial to its quality. AFA is one of the oldest life forms and one of the most nutrient-rich foods on Earth. This specific strand of blue-green algae has been harvested for decades as a food source, and it’s beneficial qualities have been enjoyed by many. Although its nutrient profile is impressive, it is possible to weaken its unique nutritional value if not harvested and processed correctly.
Of course, every company operates a little differently and offers a choice on how to consume the microalgae superfood found in Klamath Lake. Currently, there are three different ways you can consume microalgae. These are frozen, raw, or dried. Let’s dive into the pros and cons of each option.
Frozen, dried, or raw?
There are a few different ways companies process AFA once it has been gathered out of its water source. Two of these include drying the algae with heat or blending with water and freezing. Unfortunately, both methods can compromise the microalgae’s quality, resulting in a less effective product.
When dried with too much heat, some of the antioxidants and essential enzymes required for the body to utilize the nutrients are destroyed, leaving the final product much less nutritious than in its raw form.
When it comes to fresh frozen algae products, the nutrition profile of AFA stays raw and intact. Nevertheless, the problem with fresh frozen is that these products contain ~95% water, so the microalgae’s beneficial concentration has been significantly lowered compared to powder, capsules, or tablets.
You wouldn’t want any other product in your life to be watered down, so why water down health supplements? Instead, choose the AFA product that maintains the highest concentration of the good stuff. In this case, the good stuff includes amino acids, essential fatty acids, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, micronutrients and PEA.
How do we do this? By keeping the algae raw and in powder form!
At New Earth, we’ve developed a fast track harvesting process that focuses on preserving the nutrient content, utilizing different techniques such as chilling on the harvester, quick freezing, and a low-temperature spray-drying process called Bioactive Dehydration™.
Once the microalgae is gathered from the lake and chilled to maintain sensitive pigments, such as chlorophyll, and other essential components, we quickly transfer it from the boat to test it, clean it, and dewater it. Once this is complete, the algae is transported by insulated tankers to the production facility where it is screened and frozen. From there, it undergoes third-party testing to ensure the utmost quality.
The testing of our product has indicated that this drying system is superior to any other kind of drying, especially when it comes to microalgae’s heat-sensitive components such as vitamins, chlorophyll, and enzymes. Because the algae is dried at temperatures below 40C, it qualifies as raw food. Due to AFA’s delicate nature, we have worked to maintain the nutrient profile all while providing you with the most concentrated sources of health benefits on the market.
Certifications You Can Trust
We brought AFA to consumers back in the early 1980s and pioneered the technique of harvesting through our state of the art boats and preservation processes. We have also always emphasized the importance of working with scientists and third-party certification companies to bring you the highest quality blue-green algae product you can find.
Although the benefits of AFA are exciting, it is crucial to source algae supplements from a trusted company in order to enjoy the health benefits while also ensuring the highest quality ingredients.
It’s not enough to claim a product is safe and of the highest quality, anyone can make claims. When it comes down to it, a company must prove the safety, quality, and efficacy of their products. That’s where certifications come in.
At New Earth, we invest in certifications and are serious about our product quality and safety. Many of the certifications we hold, including USDA Organic and NSF International to FDA’s Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), require yearly audits where manufacturing processes and products are tested and verified. With certifications like GMP, NSF, USDA Organic, Kosher, Halal, and Non-GMO, you can trust that our products are of the highest quality.
In life, there are items you can settle for or get at bargain prices. Supplements are not one of those items. Afterall, these are the nutrients that are feeding your body so you can be your best day in and out. And, AFA is no different. When it comes time to choose your AFA go with the option that offers you the highest quality and nutrient content. Choose New Earth.
You can put our AFA to the test risk-free with our 90-day empty bottle guarantee.
At New Earth we are on a mission to positively impact the health of every body and soul we come in contact with. We specialize in producing third-party certified, organic whole food supplements including a variety of probiotics, and digestive support. Our supplements feature a rare, yet highly, nutritious superfood, Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (AFA). Also known as organic Wild Microalgae®, AFA is a unique type of blue-green algae that is available in many forms including algae tablets, algae pills, and algae powders all designed to help you on your journey to holistic wellness. The best part? We offer a 90-day money-back risk-free guarantee on all of our products. Visit our website to learn more.
