Chlorella Supplements

When shopping for supplements, you may stumble upon chlorella and quickly dismiss it due to a lack of information regarding its benefits. Natural physician Dr. Linda Page highly recommends this species of blue-green algae for its ability to restore the immune system and enhance levels of energy. Still, clinical trials from the mainstream scientific community remain scant. Therefore, if you're currently being treated for a medical concern, please consult with your physician before using chlorella.

Nutritional Profile

Chlorella is a microscopic plant no bigger than a human blood cell. Commercial processors cultivate it in huge fresh water ponds and harvest it with special centrifuge equipment. Despite its size, this superfood bursts with a vast spectrum of nutritious phytochemicals. Its brilliant emerald color gives evidence of abundant chlorophyll, the pigment chlorella uses to convert sunlight to plant energy. This "blood" of plants is nearly identical in composition to human hemoglobin, except that it carries magnesium in the center of the molecule instead of iron. According to Page, chlorophyll can help build your own oxygen-carrying red blood cells, plus it helps to remove toxic heavy metals from the blood. At the heart of chlorella's nutritional makeup is a unique combination of molecules called the Chlorella Growth Factor, or CGF. Isolated in the 1950s, CGF consists of nucleic acids that promote the growth and repair of all tissues in the body. Chlorella also contains all the known B vitamins, including vitamin B-12, which is rarely found in plants; vitamins C and E, calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc, numerous trace minerals, essential fatty acids, mucopolysaccharides, beta-carotene and complete, digestible protein.

Health Benefits

An insufficient amount of the nucleic acids RNA and DNA contributes to weakened immunity and premature aging in humans, says nutritional researcher Paul Pitchford in his reference work, "Healing with Whole Foods." Since chlorella is one of the few plants teeming with these two compounds, replenishing your body with supplements may lead to a strengthened defense against viruses and other pathogens. While CGF promotes normal growth of tissues, it does not stimulate the growth of disease processes such as tumors. Further, in addition to chlorophyll's purification properties, it acts as an anti-inflammatory, so individuals suffering from arthritis or fibromyalgia might find relief after using chlorella.

Supplemental Forms

Chlorella is available in numerous forms, but the most common is a tiny, pressed tablet that provides approximately 200 mg. Other forms include encapsulated powders, blendable bulk powders and chlorella extract, generally suspended in a sweetened liquid. Always choose chlorella supplements that have been processed to break the cell wall, since this tough membrane is indigestible when left intact. Contrary to earlier belief, the cell wall provides considerable value as it helps to remove metals and pesticides from the body, cleanse the colon and colonize friendly bacteria in the intestinal tract.

Dosing Instructions

Take between 3 g to 5 g of chlorella per day to help maintain good health. Larger doses are required for therapeutic benefits. WholeHealthMD suggests 11 g to 14 g daily to strengthen the immune system and 20 g to 30 g for heavy metal detoxification. Although chlorella is an ideal source of dense and digestible protein, you'll have to swallow 100 tiny tablets to obtain 20 g of it. Therefore, if chlorella is your primary source of protein, opt for bulk powders to blend with water or shakes.