Overview

Chlorella is a type of algae that grows in fresh water. The whole plant is used to make nutritional supplements and medicine.

Most of the chlorella that is available in the U.S. is grown in Japan or Taiwan. It is processed and made into tablets and liquid extracts. These extracts contain "chlorella growth factor," which is described as a water-soluble extract of chlorella containing chemicals including amino acids, peptides, proteins, vitamins, sugars, and nucleic acids.

Be aware that chlorella products can vary significantly depending on the way "the crop" used to make them was cultivated, harvested, and processed. Investigators have found that dried preparation of chlorella can contain from 7% to 88% protein, 6% to 38% carbohydrate, and 7% to 75% fat.

Chlorella is used to prevent low levels of iron in women who are pregnant. It is also used for depression, menstrual cramps, fibromyalgia, high cholesterol, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

Classification

Is a Form of:

Algae

Primary Functions:

Prevent low levels of iron in women

Also Known As:

Algue Verte d'Eau Douce, Bulgarian Chlorella, Bulgarian Green Algae

How Does It Work?

Chlorella is a good source of protein, fats, carbohydrates, fiber, chlorophyll, vitamins, and minerals. It may act as an antioxidant and help to decrease cholesterol, but more research is still needed.

Uses

• Low levels of iron in women who are pregnant.Early research shows that taking chlorella might reduce the risk of anemia caused by too little iron in the body when taken by women who are pregnant.
• High blood pressure during pregnancy.Early research shows that taking chlorella during pregnancy does not reduce the risk of high blood pressure.

Recommended Dosing

The following doses have been studied in scientific research:

ADULTS

BY MOUTH:

• For low iron levels in women who are pregnant: 2 grams three times daily has been taken from the 12-18th week of gestation, until delivery.

Chlorella Supplements Frequently Asked Questions

What are the side effects of taking Chlorella?

The most common side effects include diarrhea, nausea, gas (flatulence), green discoloration of the stools, and stomach cramping, especially in the two weeks of use. Chlorella can cause skin to become extra sensitive to the sun.

How Much Chlorella Should you take a day?

Consumer experiences have shown that a daily dose of 2-5 grams of chlorella (or 10-15 300 mg chlorella tablets) has significant positive effects on quality of life. Doctors and nutritionists also suggest taking 3-5 grams or 10-15 tablets every day to prevent health complications and illnesses.

Which is better chlorella or spirulina?

Chlorella is higher in fat and calories

Chlorella and spirulina deliver a number of nutrients. Chlorella is higher in calories, as well as omega-3 fatty acids, provitamin A, riboflavin, magnesium, iron, and zinc. Spirulina is lower in calories but still contains a high amount of riboflavin, thiamine, iron, and copper.

What is the best form of chlorella?

Chlorella pyrenoidosa also has a higher concentration of the unique chlorella growth factor (CGF). Many health experts from the late Bernard Jensen to Dr. Mark Drucker consider CGF to be the most phenomenal aspect of chlorella. It provides powerful support for tissue renewal and immune health.

Who should not take Chlorella?

Chlorella may make it harder for warfarin and other blood-thinning drugs to work. Some chlorella supplements may contain iodine, so people with an allergy to iodine should avoid them. Always tell your doctor about any supplements you are taking, including natural ones and those bought without a prescription.

Can you take chlorella everyday?

Consumer experiences have shown that a daily dose of 2-5 grams of chlorella (or 10-15 300 mg chlorella tablets) has significant positive effects on quality of life. Doctors and nutritionists also suggest taking 3-5 grams or 10-15 tablets every day to prevent health complications and illnesses.

Is Chlorella worth taking?

In fact, emerging research shows that it could help shuttle toxins out of your body and improve cholesterol and blood sugar levels, among other health benefits. For now, there doesn't seem to be any harm in taking chlorella supplements, and they could support your health.

When should I take chlorella morning or night?

Ideally, take chlorella in the morning and other pills at night. If it is more convenient, chlorella can be taken in two or three doses throughout the day rather than all at once. Take chlorella before meals and with a large glass of water.

Can Spirulina and Chlorella be taken together?

Spirulina & Chlorella, when taken together as a supplement, provide a unique balance of green superfoods, as the combination boasts complete protein and a wide array of vitamins and minerals, some of which you can't get easily from a plant-based diet.

Is Chlorella good for hair growth?

You guessed it, chlorella! Organic chlorella is a must-have every single day in my diet. Chlorella benefits your skin, your hair and even promotes natural weight loss.

What is chlorella supplement used for?

Chlorella suggested uses include for cancer prevention, hyperlipidemia, drug/toxin detoxification, fibromyalgia, reducing radiation treatment side effects, stimulating the immune system, improving response to flu vaccine, preventing colds, protecting the body against toxic metals, and slowing the aging process.

How long does it take for chlorella to work?

It is best to begin by taking 1-2 chlorella tablets per day. Progressively increase the dose until reaching the desired dosage. The average recommended dose of 10-15 tablets per day (2-5g) can be reached in 10 days.

Does Chlorella help you lose weight?

Chlorella has also successfully shown reductions in body fat percentage, total cholesterol, and fasting blood glucose levels. It is beneficial in helping to regulate hormones, improving metabolism, blood circulation, and boosting energy. It also helps to reduce weight and body fat.

Is Chlorella good for skin?

"Chlorella was originally used to supplement foods, but it's increasingly being used in skin-care products for its antioxidant benefits," says dermatologist Dr. Joshua Zeichner. Chlorella is loaded with B vitamins, magnesium and zinc, which help calm skin inflammation and promote healthy functioning."

Is Chlorella bad for kidneys?

In animals, algae, including chlorella, has been found to weaken the heavy metal toxicity of the liver, brain and kidneys. Furthermore, chlorella has been shown to help lower the amount of other harmful chemicals that are sometimes found in food.

Can I take chlorella at night?

Ideally, take chlorella in the morning and other pills at night. If it is more convenient, chlorella can be taken in two or three doses throughout the day rather than all at once. Take chlorella before meals and with a large glass of water.

Is Chlorella antiviral?

Chlorella is a genus of single-cell algae that's widely known for it's antiviral and toxin binding capabilities. A chlorella mercury detox aims to get rid of harmful neurotoxins inside your nervous system.

Is Chlorella good for the liver?

In animals, algae, including chlorella, has been found to weaken the heavy metal toxicity of the liver, brain and kidneys. Summary: Chlorella may help the body detox by binding to heavy metals and other toxins.

Is Chlorella powder better than tablets?

Chlorella powder is easy to digest and its nutrients are easily absorbed in the body, meaning that it can offer benefits almost immediately. It is absorbed by the body immediately, whereas the human body takes more time to absorb the nutrients from Chlorella pills.

Can you take chlorella with vitamin C?

Take on an empty stomach, 30 minutes before eating and NOT with vitamin C, as vitamin C can loosen heavy metals bound to chlorella and thereby get reabsorbed into the system instead of being eliminated. Avoid taking any form of vitamin C for three hours post chlorella dose.

Why is Chlorella bad for you?

While it's rare for people to have dangerous levels of heavy metals in their system, people can get exposed to heavy metals through pollution or certain jobs such as mining. In animals, algae, including chlorella, has been found to weaken the heavy metal toxicity of the liver, brain and kidneys.

Why does Chlorella make me sick?

Side effects of chlorella

Chlorella is a kind of health food, and side effects, but do not say because it is not a drug, you may get some symptoms in the body by ingestion of chlorella. Hypersensitivity to light is a type of skin disease, can cause symptoms such as burns by exposure to sunlight.

Clinical Studies

• ^ Combined extractives of red yeast rice, bitter gourd, chlorella, soy protein, and licorice improve total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride in subjects with metabolic syndrome.
• ^ Watanabe F, et al. Characterization of a vitamin B12 compound in the edible purple laver, Porphyra yezoensis. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. (2000)
• ^ Takenaka S, et al. Feeding dried purple laver (nori) to vitamin B12-deficient rats significantly improves vitamin B12 status. Br J Nutr. (2001)
• ^ Miyamoto E, et al. Characterization of a vitamin B12 compound from unicellular coccolithophorid alga (Pleurochrysis carterae). J Agric Food Chem. (2001)
• ^ Rauma Al, et al. Vitamin B-12 status of long-term adherents of a strict uncooked vegan diet ("living food diet") is compromised.. J Nutr. (1995)
• ^ Biodiesel from microalgae.
• ^ Wawrik B, Harriman BH. Rapid, colorimetric quantification of lipid from algal cultures. J Microbiol Methods. (2010)
• ^ a b Park JY1, et al. Changes in fatty acid composition of Chlorella vulgaris by hypochlorous acid. Bioresour Technol. (2014)
• ^ a b Mišurcová L1, et al. Amino acid composition of algal products and its contribution to RDI. Food Chem. (2014)
• ^ Kittaka-Katsura H, et al. Purification and characterization of a corrinoid compound from Chlorella tablets as an algal health food. J Agric Food Chem. (2002)
• ^ Watanabe F, et al. Characterization and bioavailability of vitamin B12-compounds from edible algae. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). (2002)
• ^ a b Uchikawa T, et al. Chlorella suppresses methylmercury transfer to the fetus in pregnant mice. J Toxicol Sci. (2011)
• ^ Tamaki H, et al. Inhibitory effects of herbal extracts on breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) and structure-inhibitory potency relationship of isoflavonoids. Drug Metab Pharmacokinet. (2010)
• ^ a b Rai UN1, et al. Chromate tolerance and accumulation in Chlorella vulgaris L.: role of antioxidant enzymes and biochemical changes in detoxification of metals. Bioresour Technol. (2013)
• ^ Algal Biomass: An Economical Method for Removal of Chromium from Tannery Effluent.
• ^ Jiang Y1, et al. Effects of arsenate (AS5+) on growth and production of glutathione (GSH) and phytochelatins (PCS) in Chlorella vulgaris. Int J Phytoremediation. (2011)
• ^ Karadjova IB1, Slaveykova VI, Tsalev DL. The biouptake and toxicity of arsenic species on the green microalga Chlorella salina in seawater. Aquat Toxicol. (2008)
• ^ Wu Y1, Wang WX. Accumulation, subcellular distribution and toxicity of inorganic mercury and methylmercury in marine phytoplankton. Environ Pollut. (2011)
• ^ Uchikawa T, et al. Enhanced elimination of tissue methylmercury in Parachlorella beijerinckii-fed mice. J Toxicol Sci. (2011)
• ^ Uchikawa T, et al. The influence of Parachlorella beyerinckii CK-5 on the absorption and excretion of methylmercury (MeHg) in mice. J Toxicol Sci. (2010)
• ^ The Prevalence of Anemia in Women.
• ^ Kusumi E, et al. Prevalence of anemia among healthy women in 2 metropolitan areas of Japan. Int J Hematol. (2006)
• ^ Matsuura E, et al. Effect of chlorella on rats with iron deficient anemia. Kitasato Arch Exp Med. (1991)
• ^ a b c d e f g Nakano S, Takekoshi H, Nakano M. Chlorella pyrenoidosa supplementation reduces the risk of anemia, proteinuria and edema in pregnant women. Plant Foods Hum Nutr. (2010)
• ^ a b c d Shimada M, et al. Anti-hypertensive effect of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-rich Chlorella on high-normal blood pressure and borderline hypertension in placebo-controlled double blind study. Clin Exp Hypertens. (2009)
• ^ a b c Lee SH, et al. Six-week supplementation with Chlorella has favorable impact on antioxidant status in Korean male smokers. Nutrition. (2010)
• ^ a b Nakashima Y, et al. Preventive effects of Chlorella on cognitive decline in age-dependent dementia model mice. Neurosci Lett. (2009)
• ^ a b c Mizoguchi T, et al. Nutrigenomic studies of effects of Chlorella on subjects with high-risk factors for lifestyle-related disease. J Med Food. (2008)
• ^ a b Merchant RE, Carmack CA, Wise CM. Nutritional supplementation with Chlorella pyrenoidosa for patients with fibromyalgia syndrome: a pilot study. Phytother Res. (2000)
• ^ Merchant RE, Andre CA. A review of recent clinical trials of the nutritional supplement Chlorella pyrenoidosa in the treatment of fibromyalgia, hypertension, and ulcerative colitis. Altern Ther Health Med. (2001)
• ^ a b Otsuki T, et al. Salivary secretory immunoglobulin A secretion increases after 4-weeks ingestion of chlorella-derived multicomponent supplement in humans: a randomized cross over study. Nutr J. (2011)
• ^ Lamm ME, et al. IgA and mucosal defense. APMIS. (1995)
• ^ Klentrou P, et al. Effect of moderate exercise on salivary immunoglobulin A and infection risk in humans. Eur J Appl Physiol. (2002)
• ^ Gleeson M, et al. Salivary IgA levels and infection risk in elite swimmers. Med Sci Sports Exerc. (1999)
• ^ a b Nakano S, Takekoshi H, Nakano M. Chlorella (Chlorella pyrenoidosa) supplementation decreases dioxin and increases immunoglobulin a concentrations in breast milk. J Med Food. (2007)
• ^ Halperin SA, et al. Safety and immunoenhancing effect of a Chlorella-derived dietary supplement in healthy adults undergoing influenza vaccination: randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. CMAJ. (2003)
• ^ Lai KM, Scrimshaw MD, Lester JN. Biotransformation and bioconcentration of steroid estrogens by Chlorella vulgaris. Appl Environ Microbiol. (2002)
• ^ Ge L, et al. Photodegradation of 17beta-estradiol induced by Chlorella vulgaris. Ying Yong Sheng Tai Xue Bao. (2004)
• ^ Hirooka T, et al. Biodegradation of bisphenol A and disappearance of its estrogenic activity by the green alga Chlorella fusca var. vacuolata. Environ Toxicol Chem. (2005)