Blue Green Algae & Probiotics

Probiotics are strains of bacteria that act in a beneficial way in the digestive tract. A healthy intestinal lining will have billions of beneficial bacteria that help to digest food and discourage illness, according to Pennington Biomedical Research Center. Blue green algae is a descriptive term for photosynthetic cyanobacteria. A form of blue green algae commonly found in health stores is spirulina, which helps digestion and immune system function, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Probiotic and Blue Green Algae Production

• Probiotics are produced during culturing processes. Dairy products like yogurt and cheese are cultured and, therefore, contain cultured bacteria. Supplemental probiotics that are bought in capsule or powder form have been cultured in a lab and often use dairy as a culturing base. Blue green algae grow in warm waters that are alkaline, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Digestive Health

• Probiotics help to break food down in the digestive tract, especially in the intestines. They also help patients with digestive illnesses like Crohns's disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome and constipation. Blue green algae are beneficial for digestion because they encourage the growth of probiotics, like Lactobacillus acidophilus.

Probiotics and Immune Function

• Probiotics have been found to help a variety of illnesses, according to Pennington Biomedical Research Center. Conditions like candida, urinary tract infections and some types of eczema have improved due to the use of probiotics. Some forms of intestinal cancer may be prevented, in part, by taking probiotics. Although they have enormous benefits to maintaining health, pobiotics are easily killed by taking antibiotics.

Blue Green Algae and Immune Function

• Blue green algae help to increase cells that fight infection and degenerative disease. Spirulina has also been used to reduce allergic reactions by inhibiting histamine release. Blue green algae may aid in increasing the survival of ebola and HIV patients, according to Davidson College. A protein found in blue green algae, called cyanovirin-N, helps to slow the spread of the viruses throughout the body. Injections of cyanovirin-N may lengthen the life of infected patients.

Taking Blue Green Algae and Probiotics

• The most common form of blue green algae available is spirulina. The recommended dosage varies per product but is often in the daily range of 500 mg. Probiotics can be taken as a supplement and come in a variety of strengths ranging from a few million up to 100 billion bacteria cells per capsule. Additionally, probiotics can be found in smaller quantities in yogurt, kefir, a dairy product, sauerkraut, miso and kimchi, a pickled vegetable dish.