Loading ...
Chlorella Health Benefits
Chlorella is a one-celled green algae that is not to be confused with spirulina, which is 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. Chlorella is high in protein and also contains significant amounts of 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 help boost the immune system as well as protect against the negative effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy in cancer patients. One of the benefits of chlorella is that its indigestible cell walls are attracted to heavy metals, and so these algae can detoxify the body and help remove these toxins, such as mercury from fish, certain cooking utensils, vaccines, and dental fillings.
Studies of Chlorella
The results of several studies suggest that chlorella may be effective in cancer patients, although we could not find any studies of prostate cancer in particular. One study conducted at the Medical College of Virginia in patients with advanced, incurable brain cancer found that after two years in the study, 7 out of 20 patients who were taking chlorella were still alive and had no sign of reappearance of their tumors. (Merchant 1990)
Chlorella has also demonstrated a positive impact on blood pressure in an animal study. Researchers provided chlorella as a dietary supplement to stroke-prone hypertensive rats and compared them with a group of 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)
A study from the Medical College of Virginia examined the effects of chlorella supplementation on patients with fibromyalgia, hypertension, and ulcerative colitis. Fifty-five individuals with fibromyalgia, 33 with hypertension, and 9 with ulcerative colitis participated in the double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial. The daily chlorella 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. A more therapeutic dose, which can help eliminate toxins, increase energy levels, and improve digestion, 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: 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
