WHAT EXACTLY IS CHLORELLA?

Chlorella algae, unlike spirulina and AFA algae, have a cell nucleus, making chlorella algae a microalgae. Spirulina and AFA, on the other hand, are just bacteria (so-called Cyanobacteria), although they are often referred to as "microalgae".

Although the chlorella algae is tiny, it is one of the most highly developed creatures and has managed to survive for more than two million years despite all changes in its living conditions. This is probably the reason why science is so interested in this type of algae and why there are now numerous scientific studies on its health effects.

Another special feature of the chlorella algae is its high chlorophyll content, which is reflected in its deep green color and which has not yet been measured in this concentration in any other plant. The chemical structure of chlorophyll is almost identical to the human blood pigment hemoglobin.

 

NUTRIENTS IN CHLORELLA ALGAE

Vitamin B12 in chlorella algae

Chlorella algae is a plant-based alternative to supplying vegans and vegetarians with vitamin B12: 100 g of dried algae contains around 25-100 μg of vitamin B12. In contrast to spirulina, chlorella predominantly contains real vitamin B12 and not so-called vitamin B12 analogues. These are chemically similar to vitamin B12 and bind to the same transport molecules in the body, but have no effect. Chlorella is therefore the only algae that is suitable for substituting vitamin B12.

Other vitamins, trace elements and minerals in chlorella

Chlorella contains all water-soluble (B vitamins and vitamin C) and fat-soluble vitamins (vitamins A, D, E and K) in a natural combination. The minerals calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium as well as the trace elements iron, zinc, manganese, copper and selenium are also contained in the chlorella algae. Important for Graves' disease and Hashimoto's patients with iodine sensitivity: since chlorella is a freshwater alga, it is almost iodine-free.

A study from 2010, for example, was able to Due to the iron, vitamin B12 and folic acid it contains, the risk of anemia (anemia) in pregnant women can be significantly reduced by taking 6 g of chlorella per day.

Chlorella as a protein source

Microalgae are among the most important plant sources of protein. The protein content of dried Chlorella vulgaris is over 50 and therefore higher than that of fish, chicken or beef.

In addition, there is biological value, i.e.H the proportion of the ingested protein that can be converted into the body's own protein and thus made available to the body, the protein from the chlorella algae is 88.

Since Chlorella i.dR Of course, if only taken in small quantities, little protein is absorbed in absolute terms. Nevertheless, chlorella can help cover protein needs: with a daily dose of 7 g of chlorella, there are at least 4 g of protein. For a person weighing 60 kg who wants to consume the officially recommended 0.8 g protein/kg body weight, this would already be a good 8% of the protein requirement.

Chlorella regulates carbohydrate metabolism

Chlorella accelerates the transport of glucose into the liver and muscle cells, so that the energy obtained from it is available noticeably faster. This fact is u.a particularly interesting for athletes. Chlorella supplementation has also proven effective for diabetes mellitus for these reasons.

Chlorella is rich in detoxifying fiber

The cell wall of Chlorella contains an abundance of fiber, which enters the intestine undigested and stimulates intestinal activity. Toxins and other harmful substances that are in the intestinal fluid are bound by the fiber and excreted in the stool.

Fatty acids in Chlorella

The fat content of the dried algae is 12%, but depending on cultivation and processing it can also be more than 30%.

Chlorella provides more than 30 fatty acids, one third of which consists of saturated, unsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Together they help ensure that every cell in the body remains stable, yet flexible and therefore healthy. Among the saturated fatty acids, capric and lauric acid are worth mentioning because they can kill bacteria, viruses and intestinal parasites. Oleic acid (unsaturated fatty acid), which is contained in high quantities, has a preventative effect on various types of cancer and can also prevent strokes and heart attacks.

Chlorophyll in the microalga Chlorella

The high chlorophyll content of the microalgae is responsible for its green color and has anti-carcinogenic effects in humans. Chlorophyll is also known for its detoxifying properties.

 

 

CURRENT STUDY SITUATION ON POSSIBLE USES OF CHLORELLA ALGAE

Detoxification

• Chlorella is characterized by a variety of detoxifying ingredients. In addition to the already o.G Chlorophyll, the algae contains a unique mix of cell-protecting and detoxifying carotenoids (e.g.b Lycopene), glycoproteins (see CGF and CVE) and sporopollein (a powerful detoxifying component of the Chlorella cell wall). Chlorella also contains protectonia and de-noxilipidnin:
• Protectonia are storage proteins among the phyto-chelatins that are produced by Chlorella itself. On the one hand, they have a strong antioxidant effect, and on the other hand, they form an insoluble compound with heavy metals (chelate formation), which are ultimately easily excreted as a complex via the intestine. The substance de-noxilipidnin has a similar detoxifying effect. In addition to heavy metals, it also binds organic toxins and neutralizes them.
• For ethical reasons, there are almost exclusively animal-based studies on the connection between heavy metal poisoning and chlorella. In one of these studies, chlorella showed a kidney-protective effect in rats with cadmium poisoning. Blood kidney counts improved and urinary protein excretion, a marker of kidney health, decreased.⁠
• Chlorella can be used to support detoxification due to its heavy metal binding properties (chelation formation). In animal experiments, the microalgae also proved to be beneficial in cases of mercury poisoning in the mother during pregnancy. Chlorella prevented the transport of methylmercury to the fetus and thus protected the unborn child from poisoning. In addition, less mercury was deposited in the brains of the mothers in the chlorella group than in the animals in the placebo group.
• In the human body, dioxin accumulates in fatty tissue and is only broken down very slowly. Since breast milk is particularly high in fat, it is considered a good marker for the mother's total dioxin exposure. Women who take chlorella during pregnancy have lower levels of dioxins in their breast milk. It can therefore be assumed that chlorella ensures that less dioxin reaches the unborn child via the umbilical cord.
• Animal experiments also showed that chlorella increases dioxin excretion in the urine. Experimental animals that received an oil containing dioxin and chlorella at the same time excreted more dioxin in their urine than the control animals. This result suggests that chlorella reduces the absorption of dioxin in the intestine and can thus protect against (chronic) dioxin poisoning.

 

Immune system

• Taking 6 g of chlorella daily for a month results in a significant increase in immunoglobulin A in saliva.
• Elevated IgA levels can also be found in breast milk if the mother took chlorella during pregnancy. Immunoglobulins A in breast milk offer the breastfed child protection against infections.

Pain

• In a study from 2000, the pain of fibromyalgia patients was significantly reduced by taking chlorella. Patients reported an improvement in symptoms of 20-50% after taking chlorella.

Stomach & intestines

• An increase in lactobacilli has been shown in animal experiments when taking Chlorella vulgaris. These regulate the pH value in the intestine through the production of lactic acid, thus promoting digestion and also protecting against potential pathogens. Salmonella and pathologically elevated E. Coli, on the other hand, decreases when taking chlorella.
• Taking chlorella can reduce oxidative stress in the intestines and strengthen microflora. This has a positive effect on the intestinal mucosa and its barrier function. This prevents bacteria, bacterial toxins or other harmful substances from entering the bloodstream.
• In a placebo-controlled double-blind study, Merchant et al. the influence of chlorella on ulcerative colitis. They found that chlorella promotes wound healing and also improves immune function. As a result, the symptoms of the colitis patients improved significantly.
• Tamaka et al. found that taking Chlorella vulgaris can counteract the development of stress-related stomach ulcers. This preventive effect is probably based on the positive influence on the gut-brain axis and the protection of the gastric mucosa.

Obesity

• In two studies, scientists administered 4 tablets of 300 mg chlorella per day to subjects with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. After taking it for 8 weeks, positive results were seen: the study participants who took chlorella lost more weight than the participants in the placebo group. In addition, insulin sensitivity improved in the chlorella group, which can reduce the risk of diabetes, a possible secondary disease of obesity.

Liver

• Aliashrafi et al. In your 2014 study, patients with fatty liver disease caused by increased calorie intake were given 300 mg of chlorella per day. After 8 weeks, liver alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) values ​​in the blood improved significantly.
• Chlorella can be compared to the study by Noguchi et al. can also be used to prevent non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. In animal studies, chlorella inhibited the activity of the MCP-1 protein in rats fed a high-fat diet. The algae also inhibited the growth of fat cells in the liver.
• Byun et al. showed that a Chlorella vulgaris extract prevented alcohol-related damage to the liver, etc.a could be reduced by a decrease in γ-glutamyltransferase and glutamic pyruvic transaminase in the blood.
• Responsible for the liver-protective effect is, among other things,a a so-called “Lutein protein complex” (LPC), which was described in 2015 by Cai et al. could be extracted from chlorella for the first time. In animal models, LPC showed a positive effect on liver cells.
• Chlorella can be used to support the treatment of people with hepatitis C. In a 2013 study, patients with chronic liver inflammation received Chlorella vulgaris for 3 months. This not only improved their liver values ​​in the blood, but more than 70% of the study participants also reported an improved general well-being (especiallya The fatigue typical of the disease improved in 60% of the participants).

Cardiovascular system

• Various studies have shown a positive influence of Chlorella vulgaris on blood pressure. There was an improvement in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure values.
• People with elevated blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels may benefit from taking chlorella, according to studies. The microalgae can significantly reduce the level of fats in the blood. In a 2014 study, scientists were able to reduce their subjects' cholesterol levels by an average of 1.6%. The triglyceride content even fell by almost 12%. Chlorella also had a positive effect on the ratio of “bad” LDL cholesterol and “good” HDL cholesterol. While LDL cholesterol levels decreased, HDL cholesterol levels increased by 4%.

 

Acid-base balance

• The ideal pH value of the blood, at which metabolic processes can run optimally, is 7.4 and therefore in the slightly alkaline range. Through diet (e.g. a lot of meat), stress, etc., the pH value can shift into the acidic range. In order for the body to buffer acidic end products, it primarily needs:a basic minerals such as iron, calcium, magnesium or zinc. Since chlorella contains all of these minerals, it can help regulate the acid-base balance.

Skin appearance

• Chlorella has shown positive effects in studies on dry skin or skin prone to inflammation (acne, neurodermatitis).
• Participants in a Polish study from 2017 not only reported a reduced susceptibility to infections after taking chlorella, but their hair quality and skin condition also noticeably improved.

 

 

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