Algae and gut basics: guide hub
A green powder, a fish-oil alternative and a pigment that seems to be everywhere: the algae shelf has plenty to be curious about, and the gut-health shelf has its three "biotics" next door.
The guides cover omega-3 from fish and from algae, the two algae staples that tend to get compared, astaxanthin and the biotics. Short, clear introductions rather than a deep dive into everything.
The guides in this group
- Omega-3: EPA, DHA, fish and algae: How to read EPA and DHA on a label, what trials show outcome by outcome, and who should ask a professional first.
- Spirulina and chlorella: what is the difference?: One is a cyanobacterium, the other a green alga: composition, human evidence, safety and EU status.
- Astaxanthin: what the research shows and what it doesn't: Outcome by outcome: modest skin findings, early results elsewhere, and how to read a label.
- Probiotics, prebiotics and postbiotics: what each term means: The consensus definitions, where evidence exists and how to read a pack.
Where to start
The probiotics, prebiotics and postbiotics guide is the best place for gut basics. For algae, start with spirulina versus chlorella or omega-3, depending on what you've seen on a shelf.
Related guides
- How to read a supplement label (and a lab certificate): Portion first, then the nutrient amount, then the claims.
- Supplements, herbs and medication: how to check a combination: Why "natural" is not a safety category, and what to bring to a pharmacist.
Where to shop
PLNKTN is relevant to the algae half of this hub, where algae-derived oils and nutrient products raise the questions the omega-3 and spirulina guides answer: EPA and DHA per serving, which species, and what form.
Last updated: 12 October 2026