Are You Absorbing Your Minerals? Two Case Studies with Wild Blue-Green Algae Successfully Restoring Mineral Absorption

“You are what you eat” is only half the story. In Miracle Superfood: Wild Blue-Green Algae, clinical nutritionist Gillian McKeith, Ph.D., puts it differently: “In reality, you are really what you digest and absorb” (McKeith, 1997, p. 24). This post looks at the part of her book that deals with poor nutrient absorption, and at two case studies from her London clinic in which wild blue-green algae (Aphanizomenon flos-aquae, or AFA, from Klamath Lake in Oregon) was used to bring low mineral levels back to normal.

When good food is not enough

McKeith points out that you can eat high-quality food and take the best supplements, and still not benefit from them if your body does not digest and absorb what you take in. She lists bloating, flatulence, indigestion, hair loss, diarrhea, constipation, muscle fatigue, allergies and even mood swings as possible signs of poor absorption (McKeith, 1997, p. 24).

Tests at her clinic, the McKeith Health Clinic of London, often showed deficiencies in important minerals. After a program of AFA algae, she reports, most if not all of those minerals rose significantly, usually into the normal range, something she says she had been unable to achieve with isolated mineral supplement pills. Where patients had too much of a mineral, the algae often corrected that imbalance as well (McKeith, 1997, p. 24).

Case study 1: Mrs. Simmons, 62

Mrs. Simmons came to the clinic with low energy, splitting nails, indigestion and hair loss, and she was worried about osteoporosis. She could not exercise because she simply had “no energy” (McKeith, 1997, p. 24). The clinic's tests tracked her mineral levels over eight months (McKeith, 1997, p. 25):

Five of the seven low minerals (chromium, zinc, selenium, iron and vanadium) were already back in the normal range after four months. Calcium and magnesium took longer, improving at four months and reaching normal by eight. Her high lead level came down gradually and was also normal by the eight-month test.

Her algae program

Mrs. Simmons started at 1 gram of algae a day, built up to 10 grams, then reduced to 2 grams. She now maintains her mineral levels with 4 drops of liquid algae daily (McKeith, 1997, p. 25).

The first change she noticed was more energy: she says she “never knew what energy was until using blue-green algae.” She also says she “thinks more clearly and remembers detail better” (McKeith, 1997, p. 25).

McKeith's comment focuses on calcium, which she calls the most needed mineral in our bodies. It is required for nerve and muscle action, vitamin D metabolism and healthy bones and teeth, yet it is hard to absorb: most people take up no more than 20 to 30 percent of ordinary calcium supplements. In her view, the calcium in wild blue-green algae is fully absorbable (McKeith, 1997, p. 25).

Case study 2: Dorothy, 35

Since a bout of glandular fever at 17, Dorothy's fingernails had been brittle, chipped easily and were covered in white spots, a condition often linked to zinc deficiency and poor absorption. By 35 the problem had worsened and she was also losing a lot of hair. Blood tests and a hair mineral analysis showed low B12, folate and zinc (McKeith, 1997, p. 25).

Over the years Dorothy had tried multimineral complexes, B vitamins and four different forms of zinc: liquid, capsule, tablet and lozenge. She was still zinc deficient. As McKeith puts it, “She simply was not absorbing zinc and other nutrients and minerals,” noting that only about 20 to 40 percent of ingested zinc may be absorbed (McKeith, 1997, pp. 25–26).

Dorothy's algae program

Dorothy's dose was raised step by step, peaked at 8 grams a day and was then reduced to a small daily maintenance amount (McKeith, 1997, p. 26). The week ranges are as printed in the book:

Results: after six weeks the white spots on her fingernails had started to fade. After 16 weeks they had disappeared completely and her hair was no longer falling out. She also reported having more energy (McKeith, 1997, p. 26).

McKeith's comment: although Dorothy had taken different forms of zinc for years, she was not absorbing it. Zinc is involved in maintaining body tissues, sexual and reproductive function, immunity and detoxification, and is probably involved in more body functions than any other mineral. “Although the dosages of the various nutrients in the algae are relatively low,” she writes, “the absorption rate and the body's ability to metabolize it are outstanding” (McKeith, 1997, p. 26).

What the two cases have in common

• Absorption came first. Both women had low minerals that ordinary supplements had not corrected. The author's explanation is that the minerals in whole-food algae are easier for the body to take up.
• Slow start, gradual build-up. Both programs began with a small amount (½ to 1 gram), increased over weeks to a peak (8 to 10 grams), then came back down to a low maintenance dose.
• Change took months, not days. Some markers moved within six weeks to four months, while others, such as Mrs. Simmons's calcium and magnesium, needed about eight months.
• Testing guided the program. In both cases, blood tests and mineral analysis were done before and during the program to see what was actually changing.

These are the author's own clinical case reports rather than controlled studies. They show how she uses wild blue-green algae in practice: as everyday nutritional support, taken consistently and adjusted over time.

For more whole-food nutrition, browse our Nutrition section.

This article summarizes a book for informational and educational purposes only. It is not medical advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The programs above were supervised by a clinical nutritionist with regular testing; please consult a qualified health professional before starting any new supplement, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or have a medical condition.

References

McKeith, G. (1997). Miracle superfood: Wild blue-green algae: The nutrient powerhouse that stimulates the immune system, boosts brain power and guards against disease. Keats Publishing.