The vibrant color and nutritional clout of Chlorella make it a great addition to your morning green smoothie. But have you ever stopped to consider why this superfood powder is so good for you? Here's the lowdown on the fantastic health benefits of Chlorella.
What is Chlorella?
Chlorella shares a lot in common with its superfood cousin, Spirulina. Both are types of algae, grow naturally in freshwater, and have fantastic nutritional value.
But unlike Spirulina, Chlorella is a spherical shaped, single-celled microorganism. It’s this simple structure that makes Chlorella one of the most sustainable foods known to man, with cell reproduction occurring around eight times a day.
But Chlorella can’t be enjoyed straight from the source. To make it digestible for humans, the algae undergoes special processing to make it edible, while preserving its nutritional benefits. The result is a vibrant green powder that’s great for adding to smoothies, juices or protein shakes.
Chlorella may be small, but it certainly packs a nutritional punch. Thanks to an abundance of chlorophyll, this powerful Superfood can speed up wound healing, improve digestion and boost liver detoxification. But it doesn’t stop there.
Just 100grams of Chlorella offers:
• Vitamin A - 1026 per cent RDA.
• Zinc – 473 per cent RDA.
• Vitamin B6 – 70 per cent RDA.
• Protein – 58.4 grams 117 per cent RDA.
Where did Chlorella come from?
Emerging over two billion years ago, Chlorella was one of the first plants to have a well-defined nucleus. But although Chlorella has been found naturally in freshwater lakes for millions of years, it wasn’t until the late 1940s that it become recognized for its many health benefits. As a nutritionally complete plant, Chlorella was seen as a potential solution to the world hunger crisis caused by the war and food shortages.
It’s full potential has never truly been realized, but its popularity as a powerful supplement shows no signs of decline. Chlorella is now a popular health food across the world, where it’s prized for its detoxifying and re-energizing effects. Read on for more details about how this incredible natural supplement can help support your health.
Detoxification
Heavy metals are found everywhere in our diet. Although the liver is largely sufficient in detoxing these potentially dangerous toxins from the body, sometimes it needs a helping hand.
That’s where Chlorella comes in handy. Research suggests that a regular dose of this superfood powder can potentially stop heavy metals from collecting in soft tissue and organs, while also helping the body filter them out.
Chlorella’s detoxifying effect also makes it a potentially supportive supplement for those undergoing cancer treatment. Both chemotherapy and radiotherapy can take a toll on the liver, but research suggests that Chlorella may improve side effects by detoxifying the body and boosting the immune system.
Improved immunity
Weakened immunity can leave you more susceptible to picking up infections from bacteria and viruses. To give your immune system a boost, try adding Chlorella to your diet. A recent double-blind placebo study found that a daily intake of Chlorella can increase natural killer cell activity and early inflammatory response, helping your body defend itself against invaders.
Boosts weight loss
A daily green juice may well help you shift those pounds with the support of Chlorella. A study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food found that the superfood contributed to reductions in body fat and fasting glucose levels for 17 participants with high-risk factors for lifestyle-related diseases.
The potency of Chlorella means that so long as you’re using a high quality supplement then you don’t need to add too much to your diet to feel the effects.
Smoothies and shakes are the obvious options, but take a look at some of these quick and easy recipes for more inspiration on how to incorporate Chlorella into your diet.
