Chlorella, a fresh water algae, is sold for human consumption as powder, tablets and liquid extracts. Proponents say this algae effectively protects against a variety of diseases, although scientific studies do not back up this claim. Despite this, chlorella does provide a variety of vitamins and minerals that contribute to your health.
Vitamin A
A 100 g portion of chlorella provides you with 51,300 IU of vitamin A. Adult women and men require 5,000 IU of this vitamin each day for eyesight and bone growth. Sometimes, too much of a good thing can trigger problems, and such is the case with the routine mega-doses of vitamin A supplied by chlorella -- regularly taking more than 25,000 IU per day make you sick, and it may also cause birth defects.
Phosphorus
Consume 100 g of chlorella, and you take in 895 mg of phosphorus. Adults require 700 mg of phosphorus each day. This mineral is critical for the strength of your bones and teeth; it is also involved in kidney function and the way your body stores energy. You use phosphorus to help you use a variety of other vitamins and minerals, so including chlorella in your diet is beneficial for your nutrition.
Vitamin B-12
One portion of chlorella contains 4 mcg of vitamin B-12. Your body needs 2.4 mcg per day, so chlorella is a good source of this important vitamin, especially for older adults. The University of Maryland Medical Center website notes that a significant portion of people do not absorb vitamin B-12 efficiently as they age and suggests getting vitamin B-12 from supplements such as chlorella.
Zinc
Chlorella provides you with a large quantity of zinc -- 71 mg per 100 g. The daily recommended intake of zinc stands at 8 mg to 11 mg daily. The zinc in chlorella contributes to your sense of smell and taste, and it also influences your immune system and wound healing. If you take in too much zinc for your system -- an amount that varies from person to person -- you may experience diarrhea, vomiting and stomach cramps.
References
- American Cancer Society; Chlorella; November 2008
- Natural Ways to Health: Chlorella's Nutritional Analysis
- Office of Dietary Supplements; Vitamin A and Carotenoids; April 2006
- MedlinePlus; Vitamin A; February 2011
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Phosphorus; June 2009
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Vitamin B-12 (Cobalamin); June 2009
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