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Chlorella Health Benefits
Chlorella health benefits are associated with its ability to help eliminate toxins from the body and boost the immune system. Although it is often confused with spirulina, chlorella is a one-celled green algae while spirulina is a blue-green algae.
One of the main differences between chlorella and spirulina is that the former has a hard cell wall, which makes it more like a plant than an alga. This indigestible cell wall is attracted to heavy metals. This is why among chlorella health benefits is its ability to help remove toxins from the body, such as mercury.
Chlorella also contains significant amounts of protein and 20 vitamins and minerals, along with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Some research has shown it to have a modest effect against cancer in animals, and it also appears to protect against the negative effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy in cancer patients.
Studies of Chlorella Health Benefits
The results of several studies suggest that chlorella may be effective in cancer patients. No studies of prostate cancer in particular, however, have been published. One study in patients with advanced, incurable brain cancer found that after two years of the trial, 7 out of 20 patients who were taking chlorella were still alive and had no sign of reappearance of their tumors. (Merchant 1990)
Chlorella health benefits also have been demonstrated on blood pressure in animals. Researchers provided chlorella to stroke-prone hypertensive rats and compared them with control rats fed a regular commercial diet. After 21 weeks, total cholesterol was significantly lower in the rats fed chlorella when compared with controls, as was elevation of blood pressure. Rats that received chlorella also had a significantly longer average life-span than did control rats. (Sansawa 2006)
Patients with fibromyalgia, hypertension, and ulcerative colitis also experienced some chlorella health benefits. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study examined the effects of chlorella supplementation on 55 patients with fibromyalgia, 33 with hypertension, and 9 with ulcerative colitis. The daily dose included one 10-gram tablet of chlorella and 100 mL of a liquid containing an extract of chlorella taken for 2 or 3 months. Overall, the study’s authors concluded that “the potential of chlorella to relieve symptoms, improve quality of life, and normalize body functions in patients with fibromyalgia, hypertension, or ulcerative colitis suggests that larger, more comprehensive clinical trials of chlorella are warranted.” (Merchant 2001)
How to Take Chlorella
Chlorella is available in tablets, powder, and granules. For general overall health, a suggested dose of chlorella is 3 grams daily. To experience chlorella health benefits regarding toxin removal, increased energy, and better digestion, the suggested dose is 5 to 7 grams daily. If you have never taken chlorella before, you should start with a low dose, perhaps 500 mg, and increase your dose gradually, because it can cause mild diarrhea in some people. (Consumer Wellness Research Center)
View video on Chlorella Vulgaris & The Benefits of Chlorella
References
Consumer Wellness Research Center, for information on chlorella health benefits: http://www.chlorellafactor.com/chlorella-spirulina-30.html
Merchant RE et al. Phytotherapy Research 1990; 4:220-31.
Merchant RE, Andre CA. A review of recent clinical trials of the nutritional supplement Chlorella pyrenoiidosa in the treatment of fibromyalgia, hypertension, and ulcerative colitis. Altern Ther Health Med 2001 May-Jun; 7(3): 79-91
Sansawa H et al. Effect of chlorella and its fractions on blood pressure, cerebral stroke lesions, and life-span in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo) 2006 Dec; 52(6): 457-66
