How Algae Can Save Your Life

In case of a post-apocalyptic scenario, be it for an enemy invasion, energy shortage or economic collapse, the need for “unorthodox” resources will arise. Everything we’ve grown accustomed to, everything we’re used to taking for granted now will slowly but surely disappear. No more abundant food rich in protein and vitamins, no more drinking water at the simple turn of a tap. But there’s a simple solutions to all of our problems: algae. It serves many purposes in nature and its versatility can be easily harnessed and put to use to benefit mankind. They’re easy to come by and are easily sustainable in pretty much every environment that’s moist and sunny enough. Where ther0’s water and sunlight, there’s algae. And there’s just so much that they can do.

Algae as food

Algae have high nutritional value if included in the human diet. They are full of protein which can provide all the amino acids necessary for the human body to produce enzymes and energy. Not only that, but it’s also a provider of carbs (both simple and complex), which the body stores and then uses as a source of instant energy. It also comes packed of other natural goods like: calcium (way more than a regular cup of milk studies suggest), iron, potassium, vitamin E, Vitamin K, riboflavin, thiamine, niacin, magnesium, zinc, vitamin B-12 (very rare in plants) and essential and beneficial fatty acids (omega 3 and omega 6). Even if eaten on their own, algae are more than nutritious enough to make for a complete meal on their own. If you don’t want to eat algae, know that there are other uses for it, like fertilizing the soil, because of the high amount of nutrients it posses. You can also check out this break thru in long time food storage.

Algae are not completely innovative to human diets, as many oriental dishes seem to include the “wonder-weed”. In sushi, for example, the fish filet is cover in algae, called Nori.

Algae used for maintaining bowel bacteria

Algae like the choleralla algae are considered green algae, rich in chlorophyll. It goes through a process which uses carbon dioxide, converting it into oxygen. This oxygen packed algae fights off the potentially bad bacteria in your digestive system and encourages the growth of probiotic bacteria (healthy and beneficial bacteria). It also helps peristalsis, the contractions done by your tract in order to push and eliminate food. Regular contractions mean a healthy and disease-free gut. They would be very useful in a survival scenario, in case you swallowed something potentially harmful. If you really want to go deeper with medical preparedness in survival situations, just visit this link.

Algae used as water / air purifier

In industrial settings, algae are already being used for water purification reasons. It’s a clean and “green” method, just as efficient but less harmful then purifying water with chemicals. So using it to purify drinking water is a no-brainer. In chemical reactors, it’s used for air purification purposes, in order to reduce CO2 emissions. So come the need of clean air, algae should be looked passed. Maybe there’s a way in which they could make the air breathable again if SHTF.

Algae as biofuel / biomass converter

Algae are more than easy to grow and harvest. They could easily be grown in swamps and other watery places, which have no other utility. They do well enough on their own, and they don’t mix or afflict the ecosystems they’re in. These algae, under normal conditions, produce far more natural oil than land plants. After harvesting the oil, the algae leftovers could easily be used as fuel for heating and even electricity. The biodiesel fuel resulted from algae is a far less expensive and Eco-friendlier source of fuel than petrol, and will be largely available once the industry takes off.

Algae as medicinal stabilizer

In a survival scenario, you’re going to need a lot of the modern day commodities in order to make it. And algae will come very in handy in this situation. The Irish moss (Chondrus crispus), is highly reactive with ceasin (a protein) that’s found in milk. It’s excellent for thickening ice-creams or cream-based soups. The alginates in algae (thickening agents) area absorbed easily absorbed through the skin, making them perfect for lotions or skin treatments. Soap and ointments are also easily made with algae, based on the same principle of skin absorption.

Algae as protection against radiation

In the past, certain scientific tests have been conducted, in which certain algae (chlorella and spirulina) have successfully removed radioactive agents and particles from human tissue. After the Chernobyl catastrophe, radiation victims were in fact treated with spirulina, and the effects were obvious, as their condition improved little by little. After further testing, spirulina has proved to be the most efficient in radiation poisoning. Other algae (like Closterium moniliferum), are successfully used in cleaning water sources of nuclear residue, especially strontium 90, which is very dangerous and can last for long periods of time in water.

It seems to be very little algae can’t do. They’ll keep you fed, radiation-free and who knows what other secrets are waiting to be uncovered. Learn your algae and be very aware of how and when they might benefit you.

by My Family Survival Plan