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About Chlorella

According to healthline.com, chlorella is a fresh-water green algae and a substantial source of chlorophyll, high-grade protein and B-complex vitamins. Chlorella is a common food supplement in Japan and is used in other countries for nutrition, such as the United States and Canada.

  1. History

    • Chlorella was discovered by Dr. M. W. Beyernick of Holland in 1890. After the bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima during World War II, food became scarce. Dr. Hiroshi Tamiya studied how to mass produce chlorella as a food and established the Tokugawa Biological Institute, reports the National Academy of Sciences.

    Cancer Research

    • Chlorella may also be valuable for the prevention of cancers. According to a 1982 study at the Kitasato Institute in Japan, "A new acidic polysaccharide is isolated from a culture of cells of the algae Chlorella pyrenoidosa ... This substance exhibits antitumor activity and antiviral activity and induces the production of interferon." The American Cancer Society, however, does not recognize chlorella to be effective against cancer, although it has supported much research of this algae.

    Food Value

    • Besides chlorophyll, chlorella contains vitamin B-12, protein, beta-carotene, iron, vitamin C and 19 amino acids, according to healthline.com, NASA studied chlorella as a food source for astronauts as well as humans on Earth. In a 1971 NASA study, R.W. Krauss wrote: "The food value of the algae product is also potentially ideal for human consumption. They currently form a major part of the life support system on Earth so that research directed at the understanding of their metabolism is of value for terrestrial life as well."

    Oxygen Research

    • In a 1960s paper on "Capsule Climates," the former director of the U.S. Navy Radiation Defense Laboratory, Capt. Albert Behnke, discussed how chlorella might be the answer for limited oxygen in submarines and spaceships. Krauss also wrote about oxygen and chlorella in his NASA study, saying "These organisms are the most likely to provide a source of biological oxygen for man venturing for long periods in space," noting how chlorella absorbs carbon dioxide and releases oxygen.

    Tips and Warnings

    • Chlorella can be found at health food stores, but consult with your doctor before taking chlorella if you take the blood thinning medication, warns healthline.com. Chlorella is high in vitamin K, affecting the effectiveness of such medications. Also talk to your doctor if you're pregnant or nursing, as the effects of chlorella on the fetus and young children are unknown.

      Dr. Andrew Weil says, "Chlorella will probably not hurt you (unless you're allergic to it), but we have no studies on the effects of long-term use. More importantly, we have no strong evidence to show that it will do you any good."

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