Spirulina is being seriously considered as a sustainable food source with the potential to end world hunger, due to its nutritional profile and unique ability to withstand extreme temperature variations and neglect, as previously mentioned.  Here Dr. Joseph Mercola, Mercola.com, reflects on the benefits and uses of chlorella:

 “When you hear the word “algae,” you’ll likely think of seaweed. However, this designation generally refers to organisms that can produce oxygen via photosynthesis.¹ The term chlorella is a combination of two Greek words: “chloros” (green) and “ella” (small),² and refers to one of the many types of algae known today. Keep reading this page to learn more about what chlorella is, how you can use it to your advantage and the side effects to watch out for.

What Is Chlorella in a Supplement Form?

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Chlorella is sourced  from a single-celled freshwater algae called Chlorella vulgaris  that’s processed to break down the plant’s cell walls. The water-soluble chlorella extract features a combination of substances dubbed the “chlorella growth factor” – it includes amino acids, peptides, proteins, vitamins, minerals, sugars and nucleic acids, all of which may have various benefits for your health.³

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Chlorella is available as a powder that is added to tablets, granules and soft gelatin capsules.^4,5 This algae is commonly grown in farms in Japan or Taiwan.⁶ Take note that chlorella should not be confused with spirulina. While chlorella and spirulina are both algae, the former is usually green in color while the latter is blue-green.⁷ To know how chlorella stacks up versus spirulina,  take a look at this table:⁸

 

Chlorella	Spirulina
Has almost twice as many nucleic acids which help with DNA and RNA9 Has around 10 times more chlorophyll compared to spirulina Can bind to heavy metals and detox the body	Is a complete protein that contains minerals like iron, calcium, magnesium and potassium,10 and high amounts of gamma-linolenic acid11 Often utilized to fight allergies12 and boost immunity13

Health Benefits of Chlorella

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Chlorella is labeled a “superfood,” as it actually provides beneficial nutrients that may potentially boost your health. Here are some of the nutritional components in chlorella:

One of chlorella’s most positive impacts comes from its ability to work as a detoxifier, especially against heavy metals, chemicals and pesticides in the digestive tract, which is considered your body's pathway to the bloodstream. When these harmful toxins enter your digestive tract, they may make their way into your body’s cells.^21,22,23

Furthermore, chlorella has a unique ability to identify the substances that your body requires and those that must be eliminated – hence, it does not bind to essential minerals like calcium, magnesium or zinc. Apart from detoxification, chlorella can be beneficial for:

 

Boosting the immune system24,25 — A 2017 Nutrients study highlighted that chlorella supplements were linked to improved immune system function.26	Raising energy levels27 — According to results from a 2014 Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine study, enhanced quality of life was recorded among breast cancer patients who took chlorella and chlorella extract.28
Assisting with normalizing blood sugar levels29,30 — Animal studies, such as this 2011 Phytotherapy research article, showed that chlorella may aid in boosting insulin resistance, which may benefit  your blood sugar levels.31	Helping regulate blood pressure levels32,33 — A 2009 Clinical and Experimental Hypertension article revealed that oral administration of chlorella promoted an anti-hypertensive effect in people with high to normal blood pressure levels.34
Helping reduce cholesterol levels35 — Researchers of this 2014 Nutrition Journal article study discovered that chlorella can be beneficial for decreasing the triglyceride and total cholesterol levels among mildly hypercholesterolemic subjects.36	Counteracting the negative effects of oxidative stress37,38 — A 2009 study published in the journal In Vivo revealed that chlorella extracts helped protect rats’ bodies against oxidative stress.39
Contributing to healthy brain function40,41 (because of vitamin B12,42,43 amino acids and magnesium) — Because chlorella can combat oxidative stress in your body, this may eventually result in improved brain function and decreased risk for cognitive decline, as seen in this 2009 Neuroscience Letters study.44	Promoting better metabolism45,46 — According to this 2008 Journal of Medicinal Food study, chlorella prompted changes to certain genes “related to signal transduction molecules, metabolic enzymes, receptors, transporters and cytokines.”47

The book “The Brain Wash” also highlights two other known chlorella benefits, namely improving digestion, especially among people suffering from constipation, and promoting improved focus and concentration.^48″

What Is Chlorella Used For?

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Chlorella is mainly used as a powerful detoxifier, as  it's rich in chlorophyll, which is known to:

Help you process more oxygen	Purge key elimination systems like the bowel, liver and blood
Assist with blood purification and toxin clean-up	Help promote optimal blood pressure levels
Assist with eliminating molds from the body	Aid in neutralizing bad air you might breathe in
Boost tissue growth and repair

Chlorella can also be used to increase good bacteria in your gut,  and eventually help improve digestion and assist with addressing ulcers, colitis, Crohn’s disease and diverticulosis. According to WebMD, topical application of chlorella was said to be useful for addressing skin ulcers, rashes caused by radiation treatment and trichomoniasis, a sexually transmitted disease.”

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Just staying healthy, involves specific steps to follow that’ll increase life expectancy and improve other health concerns. Chlorella has many benefits to improve your health as mentioned here. Keep reading to learn additional information and examine Body Reboot's green Chlorella.

 

Read More … Article Source: https://articles.mercola.com/vitamins-supplements/chlorella.aspx

 

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