According to "Chlorella: The Sun-Powered Supernutrient and its Beneficial Properties," chlorella is one of the oldest life forms on Earth at an age of roughly two billion years. It is a microscopic, single-celled type of algae that happens to be the richest-known source of chlorophyll, giving fresh-water algae its often striking green hue. It is widely sold as a powder, capsule or tablet and marketed for use as a dietary supplement. Though many of its purported benefits have not been clinically proven, it is among the most popular dietary supplements in Japan.
Nutritional Density
Chlorella contains all eight essential amino acids, so-called because they must come from food and cannot be produced naturally within the body, according to "Chlorella: The Ultimate Green Food" by Beth M. Ley, Ph.D. In total, chlorella boasts 19 amino acids out of the 22 known to science, and it is roughly 60% protein by weight. It is also rich in important vitamins and minerals including calcium, magnesium and potassium. 100 grams of chlorella even contains 2,200 mg of chlorophyll, more than any other natural source. Because of these nutritional attributes, particularly its status as a "complete protein" because it contains all eight essential amino acids, chlorella is often taken as a nutritional supplement. You can purchase over-the-counter tablets or capsules containing chlorella or buy it in a powder form, which can be sprinkled over food, stirred into drinks or even baked into cookies and muffins. Consult a physician for personalized suggestions regarding dosing.
Heavy Metal Detoxification
Another intriguing trait of chlorella is its extremely tough, indigestible cell wall. According to "Healing with Whole Foods: Asian Traditions and Modern Nutrition" by Paul Pitchford, this was initially a major roadblock to the successful cultivation and marketing of chlorella as a nutritional or medicinal supplement. Once an efficient system for cracking the cell walls of chlorella was created and its great nutritional content could be easily digested, another benefit was discovered: chlorella's tough cell walls can bind with toxins, particularly heavy metals, to help excrete them safely from the body. The NaturalNews article "Spirulina and Chlorella Aid Heavy Metal Detox" states that chlorella's protein, peptide and chlorophyll content also contribute to this detoxification process. The article also suggests 20 to 30 grams of chlorella as an appropriate daily dose when using it to detox, but as with any new supplement or detox program, it is important to consult your physician about dosing and safety.
Blood Pressure Treatment
Though clinical evidence regarding chlorella's efficacy as a blood pressure treatment is not comprehensive or conclusive, clinical trials have suggested that there may be such a link. A study conducted at the Medical College of Virginia and published by Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine in 2001 investigated the use of chlorella as an herbal treatment for a variety of conditions, including hypertension. In the study, 33 hypertensive participants took chlorella tablets and diluted chlorella extracts daily for two or three months. Some of the patients exhibited a measurable decrease in blood pressure over the course of the trial, and the study's authors concluded that chlorella exhibited potential to lower blood pressure warrants more comprehensive clinical trials. While no evidence exists to suggest that chlorella may be an adequate blood pressure treatment on its own, it is among the herbal treatments that you may want to discuss with your doctor as a way to supplement your other efforts at blood pressure control.
References
- "Chlorella: The Sun-Powered Supernutrient and its Beneficial Properties"; William H. Lee, Michael Rosenbaum; 1987
- "Chlorella: The Ultimate Green Food"; Beth M. Ley Ph.D.; 2003
- "Healing with Whole Foods: Asian Traditions and Modern Nutrition"; Paul Pitchford; 1993
- NaturalNews: Spirulina and Chlorella Aid Heavy Metal Detox
- National Institutes of Health: A review of recent clinical trials of the nutritional supplement Chlorella pyrenoidosa in the treatment of fibromyalgia, hypertension, and ulcerative colitis
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