Chlorella, Purifying Beneficial Algae

Discover our complete file on chlorella: its advantages and disadvantages,chlorella tips for using our dietician, and some tips!

Algae and micro-algae are still relatively unknown foods in Europe.
Yet they are amazing and deserve our attention. Like spirulina, chlorella - or chlorella - is an alga with exceptional nutritional qualities.

Summary of the Chlorella dossier

The virtues of chlorella

• Pure chlorella, rich in nutrients
• Vitamins and minerals in amazing concentration
• The nutrition factsheet of chlorella
• Chlorella regeneration factor
• Chlorella against heavy metals

How to consume chlorella?

• Can we give chlorella to children?
• Chlorella or spirulina, which one to choose and for what?
• Oxygenate your skin with chlorella

Questions & Answers on Chlorella?

• How does a detoxifying mask with chlorella?
• Is chlorella suitable for vegetarians?
• Is chlorelle suitable for salt-free diets?
• Is chlorelle suitable for athletes?
• Algae, microalgae, what differences?
• Where to buy chlorella?

Microalgae and chlorella

Already known to the Aztecs and some African tribes of the Great Lakes, always used in Asia, micro-algae are known only in Europe. Their tremendous nutritional properties are one of the reasons they have been successful in Asian countries for more than sixty years, and in the United States recently.

Like spirulina, chlorella is a micro-algae. It was the Dutch biologist Martin Beyerink who "discovered" it in 1890 and named it Chlorella vulgaris - from the Greek "chloros", for green, and from the Latin "ella", for small. Chlorella is classified as Chlorellaceae.

For the little story…

Chlorella appeared on Earth 1.5 to 2 billion years ago. It is a unicellular algae of freshwater found in the wild in lakes and ponds all over the world. Chlorella is between 2 and 10 microns (smaller than a red blood cell) and it is possible to see its green color and almost spherical shape under the microscope.

There are about twenty species of chlorella. Chlorella vulgaris is the most nutritionally interesting seaweed.

Europe is just starting to look at these micro-plants and discover their virtues. What exactly are they? How to best use them and for what? How to regulate them? How to market them?

Large industrial research and nutrition companies are working on the subject, as well as a handful of artisan producers who advocate a greener and more humane approach to products.

Chlorella: rich in nutrients

Contrary to a commonly accepted idea, she is not a close cousin of spirulina. Spirulina belongs to the family of Cyanobacteria and is therefore a microbial organism, prokaryotic, that is to say whose nucleus is not individualized by a nuclear membrane. Chlorella is a microscopic alga in its own right, a eukaryotic organism with a nucleus clearly distinguished by a membrane, rich in chlorophyll and cellulose.

Pure chlorella is naturally rich in nutrients

• Protein and fiber: proteins make up more than 50% of the chlorella composition.
• The pigments among which chlorophyll and lutein are in exceptional concentration. Thus, chlorella can be considered a super vegetable.
• Its lipids are especially omega-3 polyunsaturated essential fatty acids, as in flaxseed or lambs lettuce.

Chlorella: vitamins and minerals in amazing concentration

Chlorella contains most of the important vitamins including B1 B6 B12 vitamins that are usually found in meat and dairy products.

• Vitamin B12: 80 to 180 micrograms / 100g
• Vitamin E: 8 to 11 mg / 100g

As for the mineral elements, potassium, calcium, magnesium, trace elements such as iron (100 mg / g), zinc, selenium, they are present in chlorella.

To remember: Chlorella has a very low iodine content, which allows to consume it in case of thyroid problems.

Chlorella against heavy metals

She is an anti-metal weapon. It is indeed very useful for the chelation of heavy metals: in fact, the cell membrane of chlorella is capable of capturing, then storing heavy metals as well as the chemicals that are in the body. This quality allows their natural elimination by strengthening the vigor of the intestine.

This makes chlorella a valuable ally against the pollution of our body with mercury, cadmium, lead and arsenic.

Studies on humans have shown that Chlorella is able to fix toxic pollutants such as certain health-damaging chemicals, such as dioxin and organochlorine aromatics, including PCBs. Chlorella contains sporopoline, a substance that binds heavy metals in its path and toxins and evacuates them to the intestines.

Chelation

Chelation is the process by which heavy metals are removed from a living organism.

In case of intoxication (for example), chelation is the only way to eliminate toxic substances and hope to survive and possibly live without sequelae.

The use of chelation is not always well regarded in France by the official medicine. Yet effective chelation techniques exist for many diseases.

Chlorella is naturally rich in nutrients, vitamins and minerals. It has the advantage of not being too rich in nucleic acids, which can cause gout attacks, as is the case with yeasts. Thus, chlorella can be consumed without fear.

Besides, did you know? NASA has tested chlorella for feeding astronauts on a space station.

Chlorella regeneration factor

Chlorella contains C.G.F. - in English Chlorella Growth Factor, for growth factor of chlorella - to which it owes its capacity of cellular regeneration.

One cell gives birth to four new cells every 20 hours. The rapidity of this reproduction of chlorella cells is explained by its particular composition of vitamins, amino acids and natural sugars.

So consuming it promotes our own cellular regeneration. The beneficial effects are, for example, a faster healing, a better assimilation of proteins, and more generally a good functioning of our organism.

Chlorella, a precious dietary supplement

Chlorella is even richer in protein (with a rate of 58%) than soy (35%).

In France, it is sold as a dietary supplement with valuable qualities for health.

It is grown in glass tubes in a closed environment and in 100% natural light. Traditionally, it was harvested in open ponds in Asia and South America.

It is naturally quite indigestible but we now know how to make it assimilable. More than 4 million Japanese people consume chlorella daily. Thus chlorella would be the first dietary supplement in Japan.

Chlorella, a source of protein

Proteins constitute more than 50% of the composition of chlorella. They are digestible and are the source of 19 different amino acids including the 8 essential amino acids, and they are of high biological value, much higher than the biological value of cereals. Thus, chlorella is a protein intake necessarily very attractive to vegetarians.

Chlorella and chlorophyll

It has a very high content of chlorophyll, hence its beautiful green color, but most importantly because it is very beneficial for the intestinal flora it helps to regenerate. This chlorophyll also has the virtue of carrying oxygen while cleaning the body:

The pigments are in exceptional concentration in chlorella (especially chlorophyll and lutein) in much higher proportions than in spinach, which is nevertheless a reference in terms of pigments. Chlorella is the plant that contains the most chlorophyll on Earth! Thus, chlorella can be considered as a kind of super vegetable. .

Chlorella has many nutritional virtues

• It is not only a source of protein thanks to its amino acids, but it also contains vitamins (A, B, C or E and B12), minerals (iron, calcium, magnesium, zinc, potassium, sulfur, and manganese) .
• It also contains fibers like those found in vegetables, promoting intestinal well-being. But in addition the fibers of chlorella have detoxifying properties described above
• The lipids of chlorella are in particular omega 3 polyunsaturated essential fatty acids as found in flaxseed or lambs lettuce.
• The acidity of the stomach releases the beneficent components of chlorella which then diffuses into the body.

No chlorella with the BIO label

For regulatory reasons, you will not find chlorella with the organic label.

This label can not be attributed to the food class to which Chlorella belongs. (1)

How to consume chlorella?

How much does it consume? As part of a small cure, it is generally recommended 2 to 4 grams per day.

Chlorella for pregnant women

Studies show that a diet high in fiber and chlorophyll is very favorable to future mothers (2).

Pollutants such as PCBs or metals crossing the placental barrier, breast milk can be contaminated.

Chlorella consumption of 6 grams per day during pregnancy would reduce the concentration of dioxins in breast milk by approximately 30%.

There is no known risk in taking stronger doses.

Is chlorella suitable for vegetarians?

Yes, it is very suitable for vegetarians. Rich in fiber and protein (+50%), its action is effective on three levels:

• Detox action: if you want to start a slimming diet, chlorella helps you cleanse the body. The scheme will be more effective.
• Poisoning: if you are affected by pollutants, chlorella helps to eliminate them naturally. It helps eliminate heavy metals.
• Digestion: Chlorella regulates the acid-base pH and, smoothly, accelerates the transit, it helps to reduce bloating.

Is chlorelle suitable for salt-free diets?

Yes: Chlorella has a very low iodine content, which allows it to be consumed in case of thyroid problems, while containing trace elements and minerals essential to the body: iron, zinc, potassium, magnesium, calcium, manganese, phosphorus, selenium ...

The micro-alga is quite appreciated, especially for its richness in iron, better assimilated than that contained in the plants. It is because it is grown in freshwater ponds that chlorella does not contain iodine and its sodium content is low, making it an accepted food for diets controlled salt.

Chlorella as a biofuel?

This is quite serious: the CNRS, American and Japanese laboratories, behind the decoding of the genome of chlorella, think that it is a good candidate for the production of fuel: an "algo-fuel" therefore ( 3).