Southampton - The Naughty Nutritionist Inc. whose brand makes nutrition fun and easy for active consumers and athletes, announced the national launch of their algae tabs: ENERGYbits, RECOVERYbits and VITALITYbits, collectively known as Naughtybits.

It's only appropriate that a Boston company is putting algae back in the spotlight, for Boston is where the story of algae first grabbed national attention 60 years ago.

In 1951, algae was touted as being the answer to America's escalating nutritional needs. Earlier research funded by The Carnegie Institute had confirmed that algae's protein and nutritional profile was unmatched by anything else in the world. It was time to put algae to the test and into production. Boston was selected as the site and America's first commercial algae facility was off and running. It was a world first.

VITALITYbits algae tabs are a 50/50 mix of both algae and provide an effective but less concentrated blend of all benefits. (Courtesy Photo: Naughtybits)

That all took place 60 years ago when algae was expected to provide the solution for the country's escalating nutritional needs. The intense focus on algae had resulted from its successful use as a protein source in both Germany and Japan, when starvation had been rampant after WW I and WW II.

With two successful deployments of algae as food during both wars, algae looked like it could be the perfect solution for America's escalating protein needs as large numbers of soldiers returned home to start families.

Research into algae as a food source had been funded by the Rockefeller and Carnegie Institutes (1947-1950) and the promising results had led to the decision in 1951 to fund the first commercial algae plant. It was a pilot plant but it was still the world's first. Arthur D. Little built the plant in their Boston (Cambridge) MA facility amid enthusiastic projections and high expectations, which ultimately couldn't be met. A year later, algae proved too challenging to grow in a cost effective manner. The pilot plant was shuttered and so were Boston's dreams of being the city to bring algae to mainstream America and solve the country's nutrition crisis.

But the story doesn't end there. While Boston's chance to introduce algae to America did not transpire as hoped in 1951, 60 years later another Boston company, The Naughty Nutritionist Inc., may finally make the dream come true in 2011. How this came about is a testament to the miracle of algae. After the Cambridge pilot plant closed, the Japanese took a stab at growing algae. They seemed more determined to get it right, possibly because chlorella algae had not only saved them from starvation but had also healed them from Hiroshima's radiation poisoning. It took 10 years and countless attempts but by the early 1960s, the Japanese were growing chlorella algae on a large
scale and had even patented some of the production techniques. Algae is now a multi billion dollar industry in Japan. Most Japanese don't leave home in the morning without first taking their chlorella algae, similar to how many Americans take Vitamin C. However, algae's nutritional profile is a hundred times greater than that of Vitamin C. In fact, algae has been heralded by The World Bank, The United Nations and many other world authorities as being the most nutritionally dense food in the world. Even NASA says "1 kg of algae has the nutritional value of 1,000 kg of fruits and vegetables."


With 50 years of use in Asia confirming its safety and over 100,000 scientific studies confirming its nutritional profile (unmatched by anything in the world), the Founder of The Naughty Nutritionist felt it was time that mainstream Americans were told about this remarkable super food. Ironically, the endless amounts of data and research documenting the benefits of algae resulted in it taking over two years for the company to sift through the data to select a handful of talking points that could make algae fun and easy for mainstream Americans to understand. The stakes are high. Something needs
to be done to end America's health and nutrition crisis. The debate is no longer whether good nutrition is the answer. It is. The larger question is how to encourage more Americans, especially young consumers to take a bigger interest in it. Algae could be the solution. And why not? It is a nutritional gold mine and now that it's successfully grown for large scale consumption, production is no longer the challenge. Figuring out how to encourage Americans to take it, is.

The products and branding introduced today by the Naughty Nutritionist may provide the answer. They make algae easy to understand, hip and even stylish. It's certainly a new approach. Some even might say, revolutionary. But it's hard not to smile at the brand or company name. And that's the whole point. The Naughty Nutritionist's primary goal is to make nutrition and algae fun. And why not?


The Naughty Nutritionist Inc. has three algae products: ENERGYbits, RECOVERYbits and VITALITYbits algae tabs. Collectively they are referred to as Naughtybits algae tabs. Algae provides three times more protein than steak (12 times the amount of bio-available protein), 50 times more iron than spinach, four times more chlorophyll than wheat grass, most B Vitamins, all of the electrolytes and 40 other nutrients. All for just one calorie per tab. Algae has 18 of the 20 two amino acids including all eight essential amino acids that the body cannot make itself, making algae a "complete protein."

Not only does algae have the highest concentration of protein found in any food (over 60 percent protein) it is the most nutritionally dense food in the world, which may explain why Olympic athletes and astronauts have eaten it for decades.

Algae provides physical and mental energy, absorbs toxins, strengthens the immune system, prevents colds, stops fatigue or hunger, builds muscle, aids weight loss and even seems to prevent hangovers. Swallow or chew a handful (12-30) of Naughtybits algae tabs, like a handful of nuts to see energy return, hunger disappear, immune system strengthen and one's nutritional needs for the day be met.

The health benefits from each of the Naughtybits products are extraordinary but different. ENERGYbits are a nitrogen based algae. They release nitric oxide into the body which opens up blood vessels, allowing oxygen and nutrients to rapidly and easily reach the muscles and brain. This, combined with the highest concentration of protein and second highest concentration of Essential Fatty Acid, GLA (second only to mothers' milk) provides a mental "wake up," renewed physical energy and a sense of fullness. As a result, ENERGYbits are the best selection when looking for a healthy, high protein snack, help with weight loss, a more natural way to fight fatigue, recharge one's energy, eliminate brain fog or feel refreshed. In contrast, RECOVERYbits algae tabs are an oxygen based algae. They release oxygen at the cellular level to help fight viruses, bacteria and other organisms that challenge the immune system. They also have the highest concentration of chlorophyll in the world. Chlorophyll is a powerful antioxidant that fights free radicals. RECOVERYbits also absorb and remove any toxin from the body. They are the best choice for detoxing, preventing a cold or recovering from stress, illness or alcohol. VITALITYbits algae tabs are a 50/50 mix of both algae and provide an effective but less concentrated blend of all benefits.