Chlorella is actually a kind of pervasive single-celled green alga, it is green because it is rich in chlorophyll（100 time the content of ordinary vegetables）.[1] There are over 30 different species, but two types-Chlorella vulgaris and Chlorella pyrenoidosa are most commonly used in research.[2] Due to the thicker cell wall of green algae cells, we always thought that its absorption and digestibility were low. With the development of technology, we can now break the wall to increase the overall absorption rate.[3] So now we can see all kinds of different forms of Chlorella（capsules, tablets, powders, extracts, etc.）Interestingly, studies indicate it can have many health benefits. Here are 8 of them.[2]
First is the Hight nutritional vale. Studies have shown that Chlorella itself is rich in many beneficial nutrients, [4] such as protein, vitamins, trace elements, dietary fiber, and omega-3（only 3g can provide 100mg of omega-3）. The reason for being rich in protein is that 40-60% of chlorella itself is composed of protein. Eating chlorella is also a good source of iron in our trace elements, depending on the content of chlorella in different products we can meet 6-40% of the daily iron requirement of the human body. Vitamin C in the same period of time can also help us the body absorbs iron. Although chlorella can be good source of fiber in large quantities. However, most supplements cannot even provide 1g of fiber per dose.[2]
The second benefit is to combine with heavy metals for detoxification. In addition to the trace elements required by the human body, such as iron and copper, the intake of other metals（such as cadmium and lead）in the heavy metals can have serious effects on the body. Although few people now consume excessive amounts of heavy metals, some people who work in environments where heavy metals are exposed（mining farms or paint）are still at considerable risk. In some animal experiments,[5] it has been found that chlorella pellets can effectively help the body to remove heavy metals and other harmful compounds from the body, and can also reduce the damage of heavy metal to the liver, brain, and kidneys. According to these animal experiments, it seems that chlorella could help enhance your body’s natural ability to clear toxins.[2]
The third point is to help strengthen your own immune system. The immune system is the most important part of the body system. It can fight infection foreign substances form entering the body. It plays the most important role in protecting the health of the health. Although the current literature evidence is limited, both animal and human studies have shown that chlorella does have the ability to enhance immunity by enhancing the activity of various parts of the immune system.[2] What’s interesting is that in another study, it was found that the participants who took chlorella supplements to get an enhanced immune response were all between 50-55 years old, but it had no effect on participants over 55 years old.[6] This is also a phenomenon that may not be aimed at the situation where all people have increased immunity.
The fourth point is that it may help improve high chlorella. Our chlorella also contains several nutrients that can help improve cholesterol, such as niacin, which is a vitamin B compound that is known to lower cholesterol, fiber can lower cholesterol, and carotenoids are also proven to lower cholesterol. Finally, there are also some of our antioxidants that can prevent the oxidation of LDL cholesterol [2]. In general, several studies have shown that taking 5-10g of chlorella a day can reduce the TC（total cholesterol）, LDL（low-density lipoprotein）, and TG（triglycerides）in patients with mild hyperlipidemia.[7]
The fifth point is that it can be used as an antioxidant because there are several compounds considered to be antioxidants in chlorella, including our chlorophyll, vitamin C, β-carotene, lycopene, and lutein, these antioxidants Oxidants help to improve certain chronic diseases. For example, for the oxidative damage caused by smoking [3], a study showed that for smokers, eating chlorella can increase the activity of antioxidants in the blood and have a protective effect on smokers.[8]
The sixth point is that it can help control high blood pressure. Hypertension is one of the most common diseases of the elderly, and it is now becoming younger. Chlorella supplements have the effect of promoting heart and kidney health, which has a great influence on blood pressure. After some different experiments and studies have shown that some moderate to mild hypertension patients have reduced and stabilized diastolic blood pressure after taking chlorella supplements [9]. And some of the nutrients（potassium, calcium, omega-3s）have also been proven to protect arteries from hardening. But the current research is not too much and may need to be confirmed by follow-up research.[2][3]
The seventh point is that it can help improve high blood sugar. Some existing studies have shown that chlorella supplements can help lower blood sugar levels and can be used to reduce fasting blood sugar and improve blood sugar control. But it is worth nothing that there is not enough data to show that patients should use chlorella to control blood sugar.
The last point is that it may help to manage respiratory diseases. We all know that the treatment of respiratory diseases such as asthma or COPD（chronic obstructive pulmonary disease）usually requires anti-inflammatory. The antioxidants in the components of chlorella have the effect of reducing inflammation. In a study, it was found that chlorella supplements can improve the condition of patients with COPD, but they cannot improve the function of the respiratory system.[2]
The above are the benefits of chlorella shown by research. Of course, it should be noted that although the FDA considers chlorella “usually safe”, we still need to pay attention to something. The first is that it still has side effects, nausea, and abdominal discomfort after taking it. The second thing is that due to processing, extraction, and algae selection issues, the nutritional content of different chlorella supplements may vary. The third thing is that because it affects the immune system, it is not suitable for people who have immunodeficiency or are using immune system drugs. The most important thing is that it cannot completely replace drugs for treatment and may not suitable for everyone.
1. Baike.baidu.com. n.d. 蛋白核小球藻_百度百科. [online] Available at: <https://baike.baidu.com/item/蛋白核小球藻>.
2. Kerri-Ann, J., 2017. 9 Impressive Health Benefits Of Chlorella. [online] Healthline. Available at: <https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/benefits-of-chlorella#TOC_TITLE_HDR_2>.
3. Sun, O., n.d. 綠藻(小球藻)的5種功效及副作用 (第1種最多人想問) - 營養新知. [online] 營養新知. Available at: <https://formulawave.com/chlorella-benefits-side-effects/>.
4. 孔维宝, 李龙囡, 张继, & 夏春谷. (2010). 小球藻的营养保健功能及其在食品工业中的应用. 食品科学, (9), 323-328.
5. Queiroz, M. L., Rodrigues, A. P., Bincoletto, C., Figueirêdo, C. A., & Malacrida, S. (2003). Protective effects of Chlorella vulgaris in lead-exposed mice infected with Listeria monocytogenes. International immunopharmacology, 3(6), 889–900. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1567-5769(03)00082-1
6. Halperin, S. A., Smith, B., Nolan, C., Shay, J., & Kralovec, J. (2003). Safety and immunoenhancing effect of a Chlorella-derived dietary supplement in healthy adults undergoing influenza vaccination: randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l'Association medicale canadienne, 169(2), 111–117.
7. Ryu, N. H., Lim, Y., Park, J. E., Kim, J., Kim, J. Y., Kwon, S. W., & Kwon, O. (2014). Impact of daily Chlorella consumption on serum lipid and carotenoid profiles in mildly hypercholesterolemic adults: a double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Nutrition journal, 13, 57. https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2891-13-57
8. Lee, S. H., Kang, H. J., Lee, H. J., Kang, M. H., & Park, Y. K. (2010). Six-week supplementation with Chlorella has favorable impact on antioxidant status in Korean male smokers. Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.), 26(2), 175–183. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2009.03.010
9. Shimada, M., Hasegawa, T., Nishimura, C., Kan, H., Kanno, T., Nakamura, T., & Matsubayashi, T. (2009). Anti-hypertensive effect of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-rich Chlorella on high-normal blood pressure and borderline hypertension in placebo-controlled double blind study. Clinical and experimental hypertension (New York, N.Y.: 1993), 31(4), 342–354. https://doi.org/10.1080/10641960902977908
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