Chlorella is a one-celled marine vegetable (algae) that is often found `blooming’ on the surface of freshwater ponds in spring. To its detractors, Chlorella is merely overpriced “pond scum.” But, upon closer examination, Chlorella shows great promise as a source of essential nutrients, a means of detoxification, and a stimulator of the often flagging immune systems of cancer patients.
It is a genus of single-celled green algae, belonging to the phylum Chlorophyta. It is spherical in shape, about 2 to 10 µm in diameter, and is without flagella. Chlorella contains the green photosynthetic pigments chlorophyll-a and -b in its chloroplast. It depends on photosynthesis for growth and multiplies rapidly, requiring only carbon dioxide, water, sunlight, and a small amount of minerals.
It is not to be confused with Spirulina, or blue-green algae, the focus of FDA prosecution in the 1980s. (See FDA Consumer 3/85 and 7-8/86.) In its nutritional composition, Chlorella rivals beefsteak, with 60 percent protein; it includes all the essential amino acids, as well as liberal amounts of 20 vitamins and minerals and Omega-3 and -6 fatty acids. Some would say it’s too bad it doesn’t taste like steak, or the world would have adopted it years ago.
The cell walls of Chlorella are made of cellulose and are very strong and so they are normally pulverized to improve digestibility. But these indigestible cell walls have a special affinity for heavy metals, such as mercury. Thus, Chlorella offers a unique means of `chelating’ or removing such harmful minerals, which some scientists believe play a role in promoting chronic degenerative diseases, such as cancer.

History

Following global fears of an uncontrollable population boom in the 1940’s, chlorella became a possible answer to the tremendous food shortages the world would face in light of the speedy, post-war growth. Because meat was costly and so engergy intensive to produce, protein shortages were also an issue. Increasing harvest area alone would only go so far in providing adequate nutrition to the population. Chlorella was a seemingly viable option becuase of the technological advances in agriculture at the time, and the widespread acclaim it got from experts and scientists who studied it. Unfortunately, the hype far surpassed the productivity of the plant and early estimates of its success were proven to be exaggerated optimism. The plant could only reach its nutritional potential in highly modified artificial situations, that made little economic sense.
The name Chlorella is taken from the Greek word chloros meaning green and the Latin diminutive suffix ella meaning small and was named by a Dutch biologist. The German biochemist Otto Heinrich Warburg received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1931 for his study on photosynthesis in Chlorella. In 1961 Melvin Calvin of the University of California received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his research on the pathways of carbon dioxide assimilation in plants using Chlorella. In recent years researchers have made less use of Chlorella as an experimental organism because it lacks a sexual cycle and, therefore, the research advantages of genetics are unavailable.

Health Benefits

Research into the health effects of Chlorella began in the 1950s. There were reports on its successful use in Hansen’s disease and in preventing the development of liver necrosis in mice. Most algae research has been done in Japan, where Chlorella is the top-selling supplement.

Anti cancer effect

In the 1960s, it was found that Chlorella decreased the side effects of chemotherapy—there was far less damage to the immune system. Chlorella also counteracts well-known carcinogens. At Japan’s Kanazawa Medical College, scientists gave Chlorella to mice, either before or after the implantation of breast, ascites, or leukemic cancer cells. While all the control mice died within 20 days of the implantation, animals receiving Chlorella lived three times as long.
The main effect was seen when the supplement was given before the implantation of the cancer cells—a good argument for its preventive use. Surviving mice were then injected with implants of either the same tumor cells they have previously received, or a different type. They resisted the re-implantation of the same type of tumor, but not the new types. This strongly suggested that Chlorella, which has no cancer-killing effects in the test-tube, exerts its effects by enhancing the cellular immunity of the host animal.

Bloodstream cleaner

A clean bloodstream, with an abundance of red blood cells to carry oxygen, is necessary to a strong natural defense system. Chlorella’s cleansing action on the bowel and other elimination channels, as well as its protection of the liver, helps keep the blood clean.
Clean blood assures that metabolic wastes are efficiently carried away from the tissues. My experience has shown that the buildup of metabolic wastes in the body is probably as serious a problem as the accumulation of toxic materials from undesirable foods, pollution and exposure to chemicals on the job.

Blood Sugar Balance

Experiments have shown that chlorella tends to normalize blood sugar in cases of hypoglycemia while numerous personal testimonies show that it also helps take care of diabetes. In hypoglycemia, blood sugar is too low, while in diabetes, blood sugar is too high. Proper levels of blood sugar are necessary for normal brain function, heart function and energy metabolism, all of which are crucial in sustaining good health and preventing disease. The liver and pancreas are involved in the regulation of blood sugar, particularly the Islands of Langerhans in the pancreas. So, we find that chlorella supports and balances pancreatic functions as well as the other organs we have discussed.

Blood presure

For many years now, chlorella has been known to normalize blood pressure in many documented cases, High blood pressure is one of the major risk factors in heart attack and stroke, which account for more fatalities in the US than any other disease.
Laboratory experiments have shown that regular use of chlorella reduces high blood pressure and prevents strokes in rats. Cases of low blood pressure are not as numerous, but when chlorella has been used consistently over a period of months, the low blood pressure often increases to normal.

Immune System

Science considers the trillions of white blood cells (leukocytes) and antibodies that circulate in the blood and lymph as the body’s main defense system against disease. A protein called interferon protects cells against harmful viruses. Leukocytes of various types not only circulate, but cluster together in lymph nodes and in lymphatic tissue such as the tonsils, spleen and appendix. They line the walls of liver passages, where they are known as Kupffer cells, and portions of the small intestine where they are called Peyer’s patches.
These “soldiers” of the immune system are said to patrol the blood and lymph, or stand on guard in the lymph nodes, liver, spleen, small intestine and so forth, destroying harmful bacteria, removing foreign matter and taking old blood cells out of circulation. The great scientist Metchnikoff won a Nobel prize for his discoveries about the immune system in 1908.
Cells and antibodies of the immune system can be destroyed by radiation and chemotherapy. Research has shown a significant loss of white blood cells from sunburn alone, since the white blood cells moving through the skin capillaries are destroyed by the ultraviolet light in sunlight. White blood cells (leukocytes) and antibodies both require a balance of nutrients and high-quality proteins. If we are not eating properly, the immune system is harmed along with other parts of the body.

Distribution

You can find it widely spread on the internet, offered as a nutrition supplement in the form of pills or powder.
Sources: wikipedia, ralphmoss.com, naturalways.com

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