Benefits of Chlorella

What is Chlorella?

Having been around for 2 billion years, chlorella is one of nature's best known secrets. Packed with protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals such as iron, vitamin B12 and E, chlorella contributes to the normal transportation of oxygen around the body (iron) and aids with the growth and maintenance of muscle mass (protein).

Our chlorella is organically grown and harvested on a small island in the South China Sea. The freshwater ponds are filled with water extracted from deep below the ground, which is then carefully filtered before use to ensure that it is completely pure. No chemical pesticides or herbicides are used in the growth of our organic chlorella and it is allowed to grow outside under natural sunlight. The climate in this area is ideal for cultivating chlorella, with upwards of 2200 hours of sunshine each year and consistently high temperatures. The surrounding area is made up of natural forest with no risk of contamination from alternative agriculture. Our Chlorella is routinely tested for the presence of contaminants to ensure that the finished product you receive is always completely pure and organic.

How Can I Take Chlorella?

Like other super food green powders, chlorella can be taken in a variety of ways. Organic chlorella powder can be mixed in a smoothie with other organic greens such as kale, spinach, cucumber and lime to make a refreshing juice drink (if you like the taste!). For a simpler concoction, try drinking chlorella with orange juice, it’s pretty tasty and is packed with goodness!

For some people, the knowledge that they are drinking something really good is enough to fit it into their daily routine; for others, the taste can be quite unusual and difficult to stomach. If this is the case, taking chlorella tablets as opposed to chlorella powder may be a better option. Just because the chlorella is taken in tablet form, it does not mean that it is not equally as beneficial to your health. Both the powder and tablets are 100% organic and the compressing process is always done without the use of chemicals. Chlorella powder can also be taken on its own, mixed into a glass with water or sprinkled over salads and soups to add a powerful dose of protein, vitamins and minerals to your daily diet.

Health Benefits of Organic Chlorella Powder and Organic Chlorella Tablets

In addition to being packed full of amino acids, chlorella has many other health benefits. It is high in protein, chlorophyll, potassium, fibre and iron and is a great source of vitamins including vitamin B12 and vitamin E. Chlorella also has lots of antioxidant properties to remove free radicals from the bloodstream.

Protein - contributes to the growth and maintenance of muscle mass.

Vitamin B12 - boosts energy, maintains proper function of critical bodily processes and helps to keep nerves and red blood cells healthy.

Iron - an important component of haemoglobin, the substance in red blood cells which carries oxygen throughout your body. Also helps reduce feelings of fatigue.

Potassium - strengthens bones, maintains better brain function and lowers blood pressure.

Fibre - lowers cholesterol levels, normalises bowel movements and aids in achieving healthy weight.

Chlorophyll - is a super food which is packed with a range of powerful nutrients and aids with wound healing, hormonal balance, deodorising and detoxification of the body and promotes digestive health.

Antioxidants - benefit the body by neutralising and removing free radicals from the bloodstream.

Chlorella is also said to help lower blood pressure, reduce cholesterol and naturally boost the body's energy!

Chlorella Vs. Spirulina - What is the Difference?

Chlorella and Spirulina are both unicellular freshwater algae and offer a wide range of health benefits when added to your diet. So, what are the differences?

Nutrition

Both chlorella and spirulina are super foods and exceptionally potent superfoods at that. We know that they are both powerhouses in the vitamin and nutrient department. The taste similar, they look similar but, really, what is the difference between the two?

The honest answer as far as nutrition goes is not really too much as they share a lot of similar properties. However, these properties are not identical so we’ll outline some of the differences:

• Chlorella contains more vitamin B12
• Chlorella contains more iron than spirulina
• Chlorella is a green algae, which means that it has considerably more chlorophyll than spirulina - great if you want a detox!
• Spirulina contains more essential amino acids
• Spirulina contains more protein
• Spirulina is a better source of GLA (gamma-linoleic acid), a ‘good’ fat that is essential for healthy brain and heart function

As you can see, the benefits for each superfood are significant and it is for this reason that people often take them together. Tablets are a great way to supplement both, alternating the intake of tablets throughout the day, i.e. 1-2 spirulina tablets in the morning, 1-2 chlorella tablets mid-morning, 1-2 spirulina tablets in the afternoon and 1-2 chlorella tablets in the evening.

Digestion and Preparation

Chlorella and spirulina differ in the way they are broken down by the body. Our milling process produces the broken cell wall variant of chlorella, which makes the nutrients found inside the chlorella cell more accessible for digestion while locking in all of the nutritional benefits. This process is slightly more laborious than that of spirulina which is one of the reasons why chlorella is slightly more expensive. That being said, we think it’s well worth it for the fantastic benefits that chlorella provides.

Appearance

Chlorella and spirulina are similar in the fact that they are both types of micro-algae. However, spirulina is a spiral-shaped, multi-celled plant and has no true nucleus. Conversely, chlorella is a spherical-shaped single-celled micro-organism with a nucleus. Although chlorella algae can grow faster than spirulina, spirulina algae is much bigger and can sometimes be up to 100-times the size of chlorella.

Furthermore, while spirulina is a blue-green form of algae, chlorella is solid green.

How They’re Grown

Another way in which these super foods are different is due to the conditions in which they are grown. Spirulina is best cultivated in low-alkaline water and requires long hours of sunshine.

Chlorella prefers to grow best in fresh water conditions and grows much faster than spirulina.

Where Can I Buy Chlorella Online?

Organic Chlorella Tablets are available to buy from our UK superfood store. You can also buy this and other organic green powders from our Amazon UK storefront. Just enter 'TheHealthyTree Company' into the Amazon search bar.