Chlorella is a green unicellular microalgae and is a cousin of spirulina, with many health benefits.
There are over 30 different species, but two types are commonly used, Chlorella vulgaris and Chlorella pyrenoidosa.
It was discovered by a Dutch microbiologist, Dr. Beijerinck in 1890 – he observed the cells under his microscope.
It is deriving name from the Greek ‘’chloros’’ meaning green and Latin diminutive suffix ‘’ela’’ meaning small.
Until so far chlorella contains the highest amount of chlorophyll of any known plant.
In the wild, chlorella is able to reproduce rapidly through the process known as photosynthesis.
All it needs to grow and multiply is water, sunlight, carbon dioxide and a small quantity of minerals.
However, chlorella has been around for aeons – for billions of years since the beginning of planet Earth.
What are the ingredients found in Chlorella?
It provides an amazing amount of essential nutrients such as high level of chlorophyll, nucleic acids (RNA and DNA), beta-carotene, vitamins, minerals including iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, pro-vitamin A, vitamin C, E and K, B vitamins, biotin, inositol and folic acid.
Actually, scientists have not yet named all the nutrients found in chlorella.
What are the health benefits?
Studies suggested that chlorella benefits the entire body by:
- supporting healthy hormonal function
- promoting cardiovascular health
- helping to negate the effects of chemotherapy and radiation
- lowering blood pressure and cholesterol
- detoxifying our body
Chlorella can wraps itself around even stubborn toxins residing in our bodies, such as lead, cadmium, mercury and uranium and keeps them from being reabsorbed.
In one randomized, double blinded, placebo-controlled trial study, published in 2012 in the Nutrition Journal,
researchers found that chlorella supports a healthy immune system response and helps Natural Killer cell activity.
Another study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food, researchers found that doses of 8,000 mg per day helps lower cholesterol and blood glucose levels.
Heavy Detox Metals
Detoxifying from Heavy metals are very important for our overall health and wellness,
because every day we are bombarded with chemicals in pesticides and fungicides from the vegetables that we eat,
heavy metals such as mercury from amalgam fillings and fish products, cadmium from smoking, lead and arsenic from pollution,
plastics containing Bisphenol A, paints, fuels, rubber, hair restorers, arsenic is given to chickens as a growth promoter and the list continues.
Chlorella is well known for its ability to “detox.”
Animal studies indicate that it’s effective at helping remove toxic or heavy metals and other harmful compounds from the body.
In animals, algae, including chlorella, has been found to weaken the heavy metal toxicity of the liver, brain and kidneys.
Furthermore, chlorella has been shown to help lower the amount of other harmful chemicals that are sometimes found in food.
One of these is dioxin, a hormone disruptor that can contaminate animals in the food supply.
How to choose a good chlorella supplement
There are many concerns about finding good quality, clean chlorella that is void of heavy metals and xenobiotics.
When purchasing a chlorella supplement, you need to make sure to but ‘’cracked cell wall chlorella’’ because they are completely absorbable. You also want to look for a brand that is organic.
We have searched and travelled far and wide and found an excellent source that is provided with a certificate of Analysis with each pot.
This chlorella comes from the western coast of Hai-Nan Island, China’s southernmost island. Hai-Nan Island is a tropical island with an excellent climate and lies on the same latitude as Hawaii.
The non-industrialized, pollution-free, tropical island offers favourable growth conditions for chlorella, including intense sunlight, pure water, and clean air.
Scientists in the 1960’s realised that it was literally impossible for humans to digest chlorella in its natural state due to its tough cell walls that encapsulate its beneficial nutrients.
The cells in HMD™ ORGANIC CHLORELLA are therefore cracked to open up the cell and make it digestible.
Read also: Mediterranean diet and health benefits
