COMMONLY REPORTED BENEFITS:
AFA has been used as a dietary supplement for more than two decades. The benefits most commonly reported by consumers include:
^. Alleviation of conditions related to inflammation
^. Immune enhancement (reduction in cold frequency)
^. Increase in concentration and attention
^. Mood elevation
^. General sense of energy (chronic fatigue) *

ACTIVE COMPONENTS:
Scientific studies have documented these benefits and identified the active components responsible for them. These components include:

Phycocyanin:
The anti-inflammatory properties of AFA are in great part due to AFA's content in phycocyanin, the blue pigment present in the cyanophyta Aphanizomenon flos-aquae. Phycocyanin has strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The main mechanism of action is phycocyanin's ability to specifically inhibit the enzyme cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is involved in the very process of inflammation.

Chlorophyll:
Chlorophyll, a green pigment found in plants responsible for the transformation of light energy into chemical energy, is exceptionally abundant in AFA.1 Scientific research as well as popular medicine has evidenced the healing, cleansing and energizing properties of chlorophyll.

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFAs):
Nearly 50% of the lipid content of dried AFA is composed of omega-3 PUFAs (approximately 40 mg/g). Recent research has shown that the average North American diet is highly deficient in omega- 3 PUFAs. Dietary omega-3 PUFAs are beneficial to the immune, cardiovascular and nervous systems. Omega-3 PUFAs also have anti-inflammatory properties and help maintain a healthy cholesterol level.

Carotenoids:
AFA is one of the richest sources of carotenoids, providing a unique mixture of natural carotenoids not found in the synthetic products, including alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, licopene, cryptoxanthin and aphanin- a carotenoid unique to AFA. Research has found that a diverse selection of natural carotenoids works synergistically and offers greater antioxidant protection than large amounts of a single antioxidant.

Phenylethylamine (PEA):
PEA is a compound naturally produced by the brain. It is responsible for the mediation of experiences associated with pleasure and elevated mood. For example, PEA is released in the brain when one experiences a feeling of love and joy, and for this reason it has been coined "the molecule of love." In the brain PEA acts by enhancing dopamine and norepinephrine transmission. When taken orally, PEA was shown to increase concentration and attention, provide a feeling of mental energy, elevate mood, and in some cases decrease the symptoms of depression.

Polysaccharides: AFA contains unique polysaccharides that were shown to stimulate the activity of macrophages, the front line of the immune system, and to trigger the mobilization and migration of immune cells throughout the body.