Chlorella - A Highly Beneficial "Superfood"

Chlorella is a green freshwater algae. It has been used in Japan since its culture became technically and commercially feasible in the 1960s. Today it is Japan's most popular food supplement.

A Treasure Trove of Nutrients

Chlorella has several interesting nutritional properties. It contains more chlorophyll per gram than any other plant. By way of comparison, Spirulina contains 7.6 grams of chlorophyll per kg, compared with Chlorella's 22.5 grams per kg. Dehydrated Chlorella is 50 percent to 60 percent protein. It is also a significant source of beta-carotene, RNA, vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin B1, biotin, folic acid, vitamin B2, vitamin B3, vitamin B5 and vitamin B6.

However the main benefit of chlorella doesn't come from the fact that it is a novel source of traditional nutrients such as protein and “B” vitamins. Chlorella contains a unique growth factor named chlorella growth factor (or CGF), and several polysaccharides that appear to account for many of the unique therapeutic uses of this food.

Immune System Enhancement

Chlorella's polysaccharides have been shown to increase the body's production of interferons, compounds that enhance immunity. This increased production of interferons accounts for Chlorella's demonstrated ability to help protect against infection from influenza viruses. In a 1966 Japanese study, Chlorella was found to reduce the frequency of the common cold by 26.5 percent. This effect is also likely to occur from increased interferons production stimulated by Chlorella's polysachharides.

Cancer

Both chlorella growth factor (CGF) and polysaccharides in Chlorella exert anti-cancer effects. Chlorella's unique polysaccharides stimulate interferons production, which results in reduced reproduction of cancer cells. In addition, CGF helps to repair damaged DNA, one of the central mechanisms of cancer initiation. Chlorella may also stimulate immune system cells named macrophages to “engulf” and “destroy” cancer cell. One species of Chlorella has been found to contain a specific glycoprotein that inhibits the metastasis of cancer cells (ie. it inhibits the spread of cancer cells from their primary site to distant unrelated sites of the body). Wound Healing

Chlorophyll, well-known form its function in photosynthesis in plants, also exerts healing properties in humans. Chlorella and its chlorophyll content are able to stimulate the regeneration of tissues. This aspect of Chlorella can be put to work for treating a variety of wounds and ulcerative conditions. Chlorella (applied topically or consumed orally) is useful for the treatment of diabetic skin ulcers, periodontal disease, cervicitis, radiation burns, pancreatitis and other wounds. It is hypothesised that polysaccharides from Chlorella's cell walls stimulate interferons production, which in turn activates fibroblasts (connective tissue cells involved in the healing process).

Detoxification

Chlorella has a good reputation as a detoxicification agent. Chlorella's detoxification capabilities have been studied extensively in Japan where it has been found to increase the excretion of cadmium from people who have been poisoned by this type of toxic heavy metal. It also increases the excretion of accumulated lead and uranium from the body. Material in the cell walls of Chlorella has been found to substantially reduce the half-life of some environmental toxins such as synthetically produced hydrocarbons (eg. the polychlorinated biphenyls and chlordecone (a pesticide) in human studies.

Using Chlorella

The minimum effective dosage of Chlorella is 2 grams per day. For serious conditions such as cancer higher doses of 8 to 12 grams are needed.