Question

Which is taken as protein supplement in diet?
A. Chlorella
B. Spirulina
C. Both A and B
D. None of the above

Answer 1

Some algae types are used by us as food. They are used as protein supplements also. They can also be used for making several products such as ice creams and jellies.

Step by step answer: There are several algae as food supplements. Most of them are red algae or Rhodophyceae. But we also use green and brown algae for food. Chlorella and spirulina are the unicellular algae that are used as food supplements. They are also used by space travelers for food.
Chlorella is a freshwater alga that comes under the family Chlorophyceae. They are rich in minerals like iron, proteins and also contain several vitamins. Spirulina is another blue green algae and is rich in vitamins and minerals. They have certain properties that help to fight drug addiction and also to treat several diseases like Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes. Sea lettuce is another green algae that is used as food. Ulva is the algae which are commonly called sea lettuce. There are several red algae that are also used as food. Porphyra is an example of edible red alga. Red algae produce food by photosynthesis and store their food in the form of floridian starch. It is similar to amylopectin and glycogen. Several brown algae are also used as food like sargassum. Brown algae stores their food after photosynthesis as laminarin and mannitol that are a kind of polysaccharides.
Hence the correct option is C

Note: Other than the food, algae also have other uses. Certain hydrocolloids produced by algae are used commercially as water-holding substances. Algin from brown algae and carrageenan from red algae are examples.