HLife | Healthy Living Redefined

Chlorella, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways.  Seriously… totally in love, with this green algae.  Chlorella is a truly amazing natural superfood – whole, pure, and complete. I have to say it again and shout out to the world: I AM IN LOVE, IN LOVE, IN LOVE…”Chlorella, you had me at richest-source-of-chlorophyll-of-any-other-plant-on-the-planet-and-available-for-human-consumption.”

History: In an amazing feat of order and organization, chlorella was the first form of life with a true nucleus. Its name comes from the Greek words chloros meaning “green” and ella meaning “small”. With plenty of sunlight and fertile growing conditions, chlorella reproduces itself by cell division at the rate of four new cells every 17-24 hours. During approximately the first billion years of the Earth’s existence, its atmosphere was heavy with deadly gases, such as ammonia, methane, and carbon dioxide. It became the role of green plant life like chlorella to filter these deadly elements and slowly change the Earth’s inhabitable environment to one capable of supporting flora (plants) and fauna (animals). It was discovered in the late 19th century, but chlorella has been on this planet since the Precambrian period (over 2.5 billion years). It was not until the 1890s, however, that chlorella cells were identified by human eyes under a microscope. It was first grown in Holland in pure form in the late 1800s. Due to its high protein concentration in amino acid form (best source of absorbable protein) and rapid growth rate, chlorella was investigated after World War II as a possible commercial food source. In 1948, a pilot study at Stanford Research Institute succeeded in growing chlorella; unfortunately, it was interrupted due to financial problems. In the 1950s, the Carnegie Institute took over the study and scientists there concluded two things: That chlorella could be grown on a commercial scale, and that it could be a solution to help world hunger.

Description/Flavor: Chlorella is a single-celled freshwater algae. These algae are the richest source of chlorophyll of any other plant on the planet available for humans to consume. Chlorophyll, the chemical that gives plants their green color and is an essential compound for photosynthesis, the process by which plants convert light into chemical energy. Because it comes from fresh water, its taste is mild and pleasing. It’s like momma bear’s soup: not sour, not sweet, not cold, not hot – just right! So, just drink it.

Nutritional info: Where do we even begin?  This fresh water algae provides complete protein in amino acid form (ready to be absorbed by the body,) carbohydrates, essential fatty acids, active enzymes, fiber, natural key vitamins and antioxidants, including Vitamin C, pro-Vitamin A (beta-carotene), chlorophyll, lutein, thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), pyridoxine (B6), niacin, pantothenic acid, folic acid, Vitamin B12, biotin, choline, lipoic acid, and inositol; minerals/trace minerals, including phosphorus, calcium, zinc, magnesium, and iron; and polysaccharides and other phytonutrients to optimize health and well-being.  Do we need to continue? No, but we will. Chlorella contains more “feel-good” Vitamin B12 than beef liver, has 50-60% absorbable protein in amino acid form, all the essential amino acids (including a high content of hard-to-find lysine,) and all the complex chemical compounds necessary for the protoplasm of life! It also contains the Chlorella Growth Factor (CGF), a nucleotide-peptide complex of substances found only in chlorella and produced by the plant during the intense photosynthesis that enables chlorella to grow so quickly.  CGF actually gives the chlorella cell the ability to quadruple itself every 20 to 24 hours, which explains why this amazing algae has been on planet Earth for over 540 million years. IT’S A SUPERFOOD!!!!!!!!

What does chlorella mean for my health?

• ✶ Highest content of high quality protein (58%) already in amino acid form. Twice as much protein then beef (25%)!  Hello!!!

• ✶ The powerful CGF may help to enhance your body’s natural defense system activity and to remove the multitude of impurities in your body, as well as renew cellular strength and integrity.

• ✶ Multiplies the T-cells (your internal micro army) in your immune system, due to the amazing CGF.

• ✶ Chlorella makes friendly bacteria grow 4 times faster than any other food (see our post Probiotics: Good Bacteria We Want To Have.)

• ✶ The cell wall material of chlorella is beneficial for intestinal and bowel health, detoxifying the colon and promoting friendly bacteria.

• ✶ Eliminates heavy metals like lead, mercury, copper, and cadmium. Some studies show that chlorella binds to harmful pesticides and insecticides like PCBs and DDT (linked to breast cancer,) and carries them out of the body.

• ✶ Strengthens the liver, your body’s mayor detoxifying organ, to rid you of infective agents.

• ✶ Reduces arthritis stiffness,

• ✶ Relieves indigestion, hiatal hernia, gastritis, ulcers, and improves digestion.

• ✶ Decreases menopausal complaints by assisting with estrogen production in the body.

• ✶ Effective in weight-loss programs with its cleansing ability and rich nutrition that keeps the energy up and maintains muscle mass.

• ✶ Test published in the journal Ethnopharmacology showed chlorella preventing cancer in 80% of lab animals tested.

• ✶ In test at the Medical College of Virginia, chlorella was given to twenty human patients with advanced form of conventionally incurable brain cancer.  Two years after the treatment, seven of the patients were still alive, with no traces of cancer in their body.

• ✶ Chlorella can promote cell reproduction, reduce cholesterol and increase hemoglobin levels.

Application: We’ve been using it in granules for a long time, from the brand Sun Chlorella. We like this brand because its chlorella is already pulverized, with the cell wall broken, for easy digestion and absorbability. Sun Chlorella’s cell wall pulverization technology is an ideal physical method in accordance with natural law, not using any chemicals, enzymes, or heat.  The digestibility of the chlorella in Sun Chlorella improves dramatically, reaching over 80% absorption and achieving 95%-99% pulverized cell wall, allowing maximum digestibility of its exceptional nutrients and its purifying cell wall.  We put one pack (3 grams of chlorella) in a 8 oz glass of water 30 minutes before breakfast in the morning.  Or we will drink it 30 minutes before going to bed.  When we sleep, our body regenerates its cells, so it’s a perfect time for chlorella to come in and work its magic.

Fall in love with chlorella… obviously, we have.

Sources: American Cancer Society , chlorella-europe.com, Healthy Healing by Linda Page, http://tuberose.com/Chlorella.html, sunchlorellausa.com