Chlorella is marketed as the new "wonder supplement"; high language for a simple single-cell organism. It's widely available in health food or natural supplement stores in tablet, capsule and powder form, and is marketed as a remedy for specific ailments as well as a general tonic and nutrient-rich food source. Because chlorella contains iron, an accidental overdose may cause harm or fatality in young children; store it well out of children's reach.
Definition
Chlorella is a single-cell green algae that, much like spirulina, is cultivated in fresh water ponds as a nutritional supplement or food source. The chlorella cell wall is so strong that it must be either ruptured or crushed by manufacturers to make the bulk of its nutrients available for digestion.
Warning
Not all forms of algae are nutritious or even beneficial; there are more than 70,000 species and some may be very toxic. Chlorella's quality also depends on the conditions under which it was cultivated. Because the FDA classes chlorella as a dietary supplement, responsibility with ensuring the safe production and distribution of chlorella rests purely with the manufacturer; the FDA takes action against supplements found to be unsafe through voluntary reports of adverse events.
Chlorophyll
Author Phyllis A. Balch reports in "Prescription for Dietary Wellness" that chlorella contains the most chlorophyll per ounce of any plant. While the University of Michigan notes that chlorophyll is not a nutrient required by our bodies to survive and as such there is no such thing as a literal deficiency of chlorophyll in humans, "Prescription for Dietary Wellness" notes that chlorophyll is reputed to have many health benefits such as fighting infection, eliminating internal (mouth or body) odors, improving wound healing and liver function.
Nutrients
Chlorella is made up of nearly 58 percent protein, making it one of the richest plant sources possible. It contains all of the B-vitamins (including more B-12 than is found in liver), is rich in RNA, DNA, iron and all nine essential amino acids (essential means that your body cannot produce them and thus they must be taken in through the diet). Chlorella contains vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, trace minerals and enzymes.
Benefits
Some of chlorella's many reputed benefits include promoting bowel health, detoxifying the body, relieving ulcers, fighting infection, and even helping to reduce the fatigue and mood swings that one may experience due to perimenopause or premenstrual syndrome. None of these benefits have been scientifically proven, but they are widely accepted within the disciplines of herbal and alternative medicine. Chlorella may also have some benefit in protecting against ultraviolet radiation and chemotherapy side effects; this is supported by some preliminary research but has not yet been scientifically proven.
References
- University of Michigan - Chlorophyll
- FDA Supplements
- Prescription for Dietary Wellness; Phyllis A. Balch, CNC; 2003.
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