Tufts University Diet & Nutrition Letter, in quoting the above, says none of this could possibly be true. "The cardinal sin of nutritional quackery is the promise that a single product of line of products can cure or treat a host of conditions. In this particular case, such a claim could not be further from the truth. Super Blue Green Algae, put out by a company called Cell Tech, is basically pond scum that floats on brackish waters. Its only benefit is the income it earns the independent distributors who sell it".

The suggested retail price for 2 ounces of Super Blue Green Algae's "Omega Sun" powder, for instance, is $68. But according to Ira Milner, RD, a board member of the National Council against Health Fraud, recommended dosages contain fewer vitamins and minerals than a serving of broccoli.

Unfortunately it doesn't look like marketing hype for the bogus product is going to disappear any time soon. Currently, some 200,000 independent distributors sell Blue Green Algae nationwide, according to Ira Milner, up from 26,000 just three years ago. There are 127 computer web pages devoted to the aggressive marketing of these useless supplements, he adds.

Stephen Barrett, MD, who received the FDA Commissioner's Special Citation Award for fighting nutritional quackery, advises consumers to stay away from ALL supplements sold by independent distributors -- that is, people who market pills and capsules person-to-person. After examining the offerings of more than 50 companies whose nutritional products are peddled that way, Dr. Barrett has concluded that they are "always overpriced and frequently marketed with false or illegal claims." (Tufts University Diet & Nutrition Letter Vol. 14, No.5 July 1996 303-447-9330 for subscriptions) =============================================================

WOW! I guess that is the last word on that!..................

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Now in deference to the many good people who sell supplements person to person, here is how I look at such an article:

The word Quack means an untrained person who practices medicine fraudulently, characterized by pretentious claims with little or no foundation. The use of this word indicates to me that I am listening to a proponent of conventional medicine. See Doctors.

Now the first paragraph above references many claims. The author says NONE of these claims could possibly be true. I suggest that any time someone uses an absolute; "NEVER, ALWAYS, ALL, etc." he has got to be wrong. (except perhaps in mathematics, we don't know everything, and like those who KNOW that the world is flat, further study may reveal contrary information.)

I know the title starts with NATIONAL, but just who is the National Council Against Health Fraud. Who funds it, and why? Is it a branch of the AMA which itself is basically a trade union formed to restrain naturalistic practitioners from encroaching on conventional medicine?

What meritorious act in the fight against nutritional quackery got Stephen Barret MD his Special Citation? He says that ALL supplements sold "person-to-person" are ALWAYS overpriced and frequently marketed with false, or illegal claims. Anyone who makes statements like that has to have a big ego. How could that possibly be universally true? Even scientists who "KNEW" what the speed of sound was, were surprised when somebody recently checked it out and found a significant error. Lately, "wise" scientists make statements like "in the light of current knowledge, we believe that ...."

OK, what is my read on all this algae stuff ? I used to take it, it didn't do anything for me, but it did affect a weight lifter I know. Face it, if your diet is lacking and you take anything vegetable, it will probably do you some good. Blue-green algae, an important part of the food chain, are microscopic plants with characteristics of both bacteria and algae (such as seaweed), but are more akin to bacteria. All of the millions of consumers out there spending billions on their supplements and believing that they are doing them some good can't all be wrong. If you took away their supplements they would feel worse both mentally, and (probably) physically, because I understand some of those supplements do have a 3% up to a 30% absorbsion factor. I am a proponent of fresh fruits and vegetables. ANYTHING you can do to increase your intake of those is good. The blanket statement that PRODUCT XXX will not do what it claims for anybody is readydiculous.

Blue-green algae is not medicine. It's a negligible protein source when taken as a tablet or capsule. Anyway, protein is available in the American diet, in much less expensive forms. Blue-green algae is inferior to most vegetables as a source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber.. Dr. Varro Tyler, Professor of Pharmacognosy (that's the scientific study of herbs) at Purdue University, has this to say about Blue-green algae: " it contains minimal amounts of protein, and its not a particularly good source of nutrients. It doesn't even taste good. It has never been proven useful. I'd rather eat a carrot." (From UC Berkeley Wellness Letter, Jan. 1997)

I do not recommend Blue Green Algae on a regular basis because there is too much protein in it, 65%, I don't believe in a high protein diet, and I don't eat pond scum. But if it makes you feel better, Cortez found a whole city subsisting on it where there wasn't anything else to eat..

Here is a quote: "Dr. Richard Meyers, at the University of Arkansas, a world renowned expert on algae, advised against ingesting the algae, he has visited Klamath Lake several times and says that Cell Tech should be put out of business. The lake contains 35-40 feet of water fowl fecal mater and that is the reason the algae is so prolific. Additionally, I felt great on the algae and I lost 30 lbs. My problem is that it is possible that the endo toxins contained in the algae are probably doing long term damage to my liver and everyone who is taking SBGA. Additionally, there is no indication of the testing laboratory name other than "independent laboratory" no indication of testing for endotoxins, and sadly I believe that you, I, and everyone who is involved have been led to believe in something that can be very detrimental to our health and according to Dr. Meyers can carry a endotoxin that will cause death in 20 seconds. Dr. Meyers says that the reason no previous deaths have been tied to the algae is probably they were attributed to heart attacks and liver failure."

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