I'm going to start with one premise: Food is medicine. Everything we put into our bodies has an effect, and we can either support our health or diminish it. There are a number of superfoods out there that have awesome health benefits, like avocados for cancer prevention and blueberries for antioxidants, but what about super supplements?
While there are many to choose from, Chlorella in particular is an absolute powerhouse. All natural and completely safe for consumption, it is a freshwater blue-green algae which boosts energy, supports fat loss, improves skin, and helps detox heavy metals like lead and mercury from the body. Chlorella gets it rich green colour because of the high concentration of chlorophyll, and it comes in both powder and pill form, making it easy to include into your routine.
I've been taking 4-5 of these little green guys every day since mid-January and I can honestly see and feel a major difference in my health.
Chlorella is similar to spirulina but even more beneficial because it has shown to be an immune booster and it increases good bacteria in the GI tract, which helps treat ailments such as ulcers, colitis, and Crohn's disease. It has even proven to help treat constipation, fibromyalgia, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.
In Japan, Chlorella has been used to treat cancer and help protect the body from the effects of radiation treatment.
It supports the entire body's hormonal function and aids in detoxification by surrounding heavy metals and preventing them from absorbing into the body. I wasn't kidding when I said it's probably the only supplement you need to take.
Eating enough nutritionally dense foods, like leafy greens, to meet your recommended daily intake of vegetables ( 5-7 servings a day) can be tough sometimes, and juicing them can be pretty time consuming. Taking Chlorella definitely helps support a healthy diet, filling in the gaps on those days when eating all the right things just isn't feasible.
1 ounce or 3g of it contains: 16g protein, 287% Vitamin A RDA, 71% Vitamin B2 RDA, 33% Vitamin B3 RDA, 202% Iron RDA, 22% Magnesium RDA, and 133% Zinc RDA. Chlorella contains 18 amino acids (including all the essential ones) and various other minerals. It's no wonder it is ranked as one of the top 10 nutritious foods on the planet; per gram, it actually blows kale, spinach, and broccoli out of the water.
5 Benefits of Chlorella1. Heavy Metal DetoxWe all have metals in our bodies. From the foods we eat (especially fish) to the fillings in our teeth, vaccines, and deodorants, numerous foods and products contain metals that go into our bodies. Regular consumption of Chlorella helps to keep heavy metals from accumulating in our body's soft tissues and organs in the first place.
(1,2)2. Immune System SupportA study conducted in 2012 in the
Nutrition Journal saw that after 8 weeks of Chlorella intake, 'natural killer' cell activity improved. Healthy individuals saw their immune systems respond well to Chlorella supplements.
(3)3. Look YoungerA study published in the journal
Clinical Laboratory revealed that Chlorella greatly reduces oxidative stress. Caused by pollution, stress, and poor diet, it is this phenomenon which causes our skin to age prematurely. More research still needs to be done on the effects of Chlorella in this regard, but preliminary results suggest it can actually slow down the aging process. Because it naturally increases levels of vitamin A, vitamin C, and glutathione in our bodies, which help eliminate free-radicals and protect cells, it makes our skin look younger.
(4)4. Weight LossAt some point in our lives we will or have tried to lose some weight, and I think we all know how challenging it can be. In a study published in the
Journal of Medicinal Food, researchers note that "Chlorella intake resulted in noticeable reductions in body fat percentage, serum total cholesterol, and fasting blood glucose levels." It does this by helping to regulate hormones, improve circulation, and steady metabolism. In general, when we lose weight we also lose toxins, but the problem is we then reabsorb them. Chlorella's ability to surround the toxins and heavy metals that are in our bodies helps facilitate their elimination and also prevents their reabsorption.
(5)5. Blood Sugar and CholesterolType 2 Diabetes and high cholesterol are two issues which affect millions of people around the world, and can often be attributed to lifestyle โ poor diet, chronic stress, or lack of sleep are all major culprits here. A study conducted on people with high risk factors found that doses of 8,000 mg of Chlorella per day (divided into 2 doses) helped lower cholesterol and blood glucose levels. Researchers observed first a decline in cholesterol levels, and then the improvement in blood glucose, and concluded that Chlorella activates a number of genes at the cellular level that improve insulin sensitivity, encouraging a healthy balance.
(6,7)ConsumptionChlorella's tough exterior cellular walls are difficult to digest, and a significant amount of research has gone into optimizing our ability to digest it effectively. When purchasing a Chlorella supplement, be sure to buy "cracked cell wall Chlorella," which can actually be absorbed by the body properly.
Side EffectsThere can be some side effects to taking chlorella but are mainly due to detoxification. Some of the symptoms include swelling of the face or tongue sensitivity to sunlight, digestive upset, acne, fatigue, lethargy, headaches, vertigo, and shaking.
Studies1.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/200166972.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/127817053.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3511195/4.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/238653575.
http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/jmf.2006.01806.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/188008847.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24331771SourcesWebmd - CHLORELLA7 Proven Chlorella Benefits
"The reported severe effects (except for manic / psychotic episodes) were exactly the symptoms that I felt after using a couple of chlorella pills for two weeks. I went to the emergency one night and nothing apart from very fast heartbeat and anxiety was found. I must be really mercury toxic. The mess hasn't completely cleared after a year and a half. I still crash from time to time, I lost mental clarity, my vision is still blurry specially at night and on cloudy days. It was hard on my thyroid and my adrenals. I'll never get close to chlorella ever again.
I was doing great after adapting to the ketogenic diet. I had lots of joy and energy and the chlorella ruined it all for me. But it also helped me remember that I wasn't done, that the mercury from 20 years ago was still in my system and that I need to get it out the right way this time."
"I got the last of my amalgams moved on 6th May last year. I didn't start chelating using ACC [Andrew Cutler Chelation] until 29th June. This was because I joined a Mercury support group that advocated chlorella. I took it. Never again!!!! Luckily I only took it for 6 days, but the consequences lasted weeks. I thought I was going mad. I was absolutely terrified. Sheer abject terror. Thankfully, I discovered via that group. Thank goodness!!!"
"i also made a similar experience with chlorella only there are 2 products: one with cilantro (biologo detox), one without (biologo-balance). i took the one without, so only chlorella with a "big surface" (similar to the nano zeolites nowadays, which advertise with smaller particles and bigger surface). took that for a week in the recommended dosage and since then my tinnitus/brain symptoms got worse and didnt get better since (i still dont take ALA yet)."
"Well to put a long story short I was an aspiring musician and had a pretty good life until one day I took a chlorella/cilantro supplement because I heard that it was "cleansing" and I was having strange bouts of tachychardia well, needless to say I still had fillings in my mouth, almost immediately I was incapacitated. I had a creepy crawly feeling in my scalp and forehead, eyes felt swollen and since then have been steadily declining cognition. Especially after having the amalgams removed which caused more problems. I no longer can take in the environment, struggle with maintaining a conversation and have extreme light sensitivity and sound sensitivity. I have gaps of really brain fog so severe that my mind goes utterly blank. Im starting my third round of DMSA and was taking Gabapentin to control tics suggested by Dr. Cutler and it made my toungue swell up. I've ordered an Adrenal Cortex and my body temp at night stays at about 96.8 and my bp stays low as well. By all accounts I feel the way autistic children are described. I have tolerable days but most days my body malfunctions on so many levels it is hard to stick with a chelation regimen. I am taking the vitamin C and Zinc and Magnesium as well as vitamin b12 and D but if there are any changes they are so minor I can't really contend that they are an improvement. I have random pains in my scalp and forehead as well as the pins and needles and they found a 1.7 mm cyst on my brain that wasn't there a month ago. I'm not sure if it's related but it sure is oddly coincidental. Anyways I hope as I recover through chelation which I'm really banking on since doctors have ruled out anything diagnostically serious. (...) I have days where I stare at the wall because my mind ceases to function. I get racing thoughts, ocd and moments of blank thoughtless voids. I've really considered Alzheimers or some degenerative disease but I'm reminded this was all brought on after taking chlorella and I'm only 27. I was functional before this happened and now my brain continues to decline in scary ways. "
"I have charcoal, Clay, chlorella caps my old NP gave me to help with Lyme herx. In the beginning I had no issues and they actually helped. Now though they make me worse and increase my neurological symptoms. For me, I'd rather stick with chelators that have a stronger bond i.e. Safer."
"I had a manic/psychotic episode from chlorella. Not something you want to wake up to in the middle of the night. Or ever!"
"I took chlorella on and off for six months, while I still had amalgams, before I understood that my problem was mercury. I actually felt pretty good on it at first, which is why it took me so long to understand that it was making me worse. I can see its appeal as a remedy, and when I was not yet so sick that I woke up and researched my condition more seriously, it sounded like a good idea, just throw an herb at it. I used herbs anyway, so great.
I have been chelating for a year and have just about reached the level of health I had before chlorella. I'm in nutrition therapy school now, and I really want to get the word out about ALA in particular. To its credit, most of the folks at my school already know about the dangers of chlorella."
"I used NDF plus [a product containing chlorella and cilantro]. When I went from 6 to 8 drops I completely lost control of my mind. I had to stop driving (for 3 weeks) and I could barely function. It's not something that should ever be given to a child because they are not able to describe how horrible it is. I was following the instructions of a doctor, a dentist, and the company.
I suspect that it is the cilantro in the NDF that causes the sudden mobilization of metals. Anyone who uses this product is taking the risk that the cilantro will move metals INTO the brain. In fact it is most likely that the metals will go into the brain. The consequences can be sudden and dramatic like I have experienced personally - or develop slowly over time. Any amount of lies and hype from the company does not change the fact that the ingredients have not been researched properly and the product is not safe for human consumption. It really bothers me when I see people promoting this product for use with children."
"I stumbled across this group ['Andy Cutler Chelation Think Tank' on Facebook] in April of last year. I had been suffering debilitating anxiety, insomnia, muscle pain, rashes, and social withdrawel. A biochemist had given me the diagnosis a couple years earlier of mercury poisoning after I developed a gut candida, but his treatment plan included chlorella and I got worse. My reaction to chlorella was severe anxiety, excruciating burning nerve pain, and also rage, anger, and irritability. I started chelation in June 2015 with 25 mg ALA and 6.25 DMSA. The improvements were almost immediate. Less anxiety, better sleep, nowhere near the agony and itchiness, and I started going out again. I am now at 200mg ALA 25mg DMSA. The transition is remarkable. I am 8 months in and feel fantastic after being nearly bedridden. After 14 years of "options" and 17 practitioners later, years of needless suffering and loss, I did several months of chelation and have my life back. Stick with people in the know, who are focused and care about your well being, and you will have a much better chance of recovering."
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