You can’t go wrong with adding chlorella to your regular diet – going green, after all, is in.
Chlorella is a potent superfood made from two species of freshwater algae native to Taiwan and Japan. First discovered by Dutch microbiologist Martinus Willem Beijerinck in 1890, chlorella is known not just for its distinctive earthy taste and aroma, but also – and perhaps more importantly – for its incredible nutritional value and immunity-boosting content.
Incredibly nutrient-dense, chlorella is rich in protein, vitamins, minerals and amino acids, as well as healthy fats, fiber, antioxidants and enzymes, including Chlorella Growth Factor (CGF), a nucleotide-peptide complex not found in any other superfood.
Dubbed the “King of Superfoods” by its growing legion of advocates around the world, this humble algae derivative has even been tapped by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as a potential food source for astronauts during long interplanetary missions, mainly because of its impressive nature as a full-spectrum cocktail of nutrients.
And it’s big business as well: Chlorella sales are growing, with total sales of the food supplement expected to reach US $164 million by 2021, according to a forecast by Market Research Future.(1)
Discoveries regarding chlorella and its arsenal of medicinal properties aren’t new: Its use has long been advocated in the ancient teachings of Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
According to Ayurvedic philosophy, chlorella supplies ojas, or life force – the primordial energy that keeps us alive and healthy. TCM, on the other hand, notes that chlorella supplies yin energy, which means it has powerful properties, not to mention calming, rejuvenating and nourishing abilities – a clear indication of its capacity to support overall health and healthy immunity.
Chlorella: A mean, green, health-boosting machine
Chlorella’s impressive slate of health benefits stems from its unusually high concentration of nutrients, which has led many to dub it as “nature’s perfect food.”
According to a study conducted by researchers from the Université de Toulouse in France, chlorella is 60% protein, which means that it has five times more protein than eggs when compared on a gram-per-gram basis. That’s not all – chlorella is also rich in phytonutrients, such as lutein, inositol, chlorophyll and choline, as well as both alpha and beta carotenes – all noted for their health-boosting properties. (2)
Every bit a nutrient powerhouse, chlorella is also rich in vitamins, such as vitamins A, C, E and D, as well as folic acid, pantothenic acid, biotin and other B vitamins. Minerals too, form a huge chunk of chlorella’s nutritional content, with the supplement a veritable cornucopia of essential minerals such as potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron and calcium, as well as manganese, zinc, sodium, iodine and copper – all of which are known to support a healthy immune system.
With that, here are some ways that regular chlorella intake can help support your immune system:
Chlorella helps protect the body against free radicals and oxidative stress
Chlorella, due to its rich phytonutrient content, is nothing short of an antioxidant powerhouse.
According to a study published in the journal Marine Drugs, phytonutrients such as the ones present in chlorella, like lutein, lycopene, carotenoids and chlorophyll, are powerful antioxidants. This means they can help stop oxidative stress and damage caused by free radicals. (3)
Additional research also shows that chlorella’s antioxidants can support healthy cells. (4)
Chlorella supports your body’s natural ability to remove toxins
Aside from being a source of antioxidants and vitamins, chlorella is also known for its ability to bind with heavy metals.
According to medical experts and healthcare providers, while some metals such as iron and copper are essential to the human body, heavy metals like cadmium and lead are toxic when allowed to accumulate at high levels. These heavy metals are known to cause health problems and diseases such as anemia, problems in the nervous system and kidney damage, and in extreme cases, even death.
This is where chlorella comes into play.
According to the Holistic Integrative Medicine and Dental Center, chlorella has been observed to support your body’s natural ability to remove toxins. (5)
Chlorella smoothies, anyone?
Chlorella supports a healthy immune system
While research on the subject remains scant, present studies show that chlorella might just have another ace up its sleeve: the ability to support the body’s immune response.
Studies from Ryutsu Keizai University in Japan and Yonsei University in South Korea confirmed that Chlorella can support a healthy immune system. (6) (7)
How to add chlorella to your diet
Given chlorella’s potency as a superfood and the amount of nutrients it has, experts say it is best if you ease it into your diet slowly. Start with a small dose of two Chlorella tablets, or, if you’re taking it in powdered form, about a teaspoon’s worth of Chlorella powder, and observe your body’s reaction. If all goes well, you can continue with the dosage and increase the amount gradually.
Grown indoors in South Korea under tightly controlled and monitored conditions, Health Ranger Select Clean Chlorella is the cleanest commercially grown chlorella on the planet.
Health Ranger Select Organic Clean Chlorella™ SL is certified organic and grown in sunlight, hydrated from mountain spring water in Taiwan.
Both of these choices are “cracked” and rendered highly digestible using state-of-the-art technology, which means your body will have an easier time absorbing its numerous health benefits.
Don’t like chlorella’s smell and taste? Don’t worry, you can add it to your favorite drink recipe, such as the one we have below, as adapted from MindBodyGreen:
Recipe: Blue Ginger Smoothie
Ingredients:
- 50 g spinach
- 1 cup frozen organic blueberries
- ¼ cup Health Ranger Store Select Organic Brown Flax Seeds
- 1 cup filtered water
- 2 tsps. Health Ranger Select Clean Chlorella Powder
- 1 tbsp. Health Ranger Select Organic Coconut Milk Powder
- 1 tsp. grated organic ginger
Directions:
- Combine all ingredients in a high-speed blender, then blend until smooth.
- Serve immediately.
Do you know any other ways to add chlorella into your daily diet? Let us know in the comments below!
Share this article with your friends and tell us about your experience with this superfood and the impact it has had on your overall health and wellness!
