I've already discussed a certain
blue-green algae called spirulina in a previous post – now I think
it's time to talk about her cousin, chlorella. The two are sometimes
confused and if you look in any health food store, you can often buy
supplements containing both of them. So what is chlorella?
Chlorella is a single-celled, green
freshwater algae which grows in lakes and ponds (please don't confuse
it with the disease, cholera!). As I mentioned in What's the Deal with Spirulina? the main difference between the two is the fact
that chlorella possesses a hard cell wall which, scientifically,
makes it closer to being a plant than an algae and also makes it
harder to digest. When buying chlorella, make sure it's labelled as
'cracked cell wall' as this makes it more accessible to the human
body.
Chlorella is so-called because of the
high amount of chlorophyll it contains – almost ten times that of
similar greens such as barley, alfalfa and wheatgrass. When
dried, chlorella contains almost 58% protein, 23% carbohydrate, 9%
fat (omega-3 and -6 essential fatty acids) and 10% vitamins, minerals
and fibre.
Like spirulina, chlorella is a wonderful source of protein for vegetarians and vegans. It's a 'complete' protein as it contains all the essential amino acids (and other non-essential) and has a very high protein content – more than most foods. Beef, for example, is approximately 22% protein while chlorella contains 58%. Chlorella also contains vitamins A, B1, (thiamin), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B7 (biotin), B9 (folic acid), B12 (cobalamin), C, E and K, and the minerals calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium, iodine, phosphorus and zinc.
Chlorella has a strengthening effect on the immune system - it's known to increase production of antibodies which fight infection. It also promotes a good balance of beneficial bacteria in the intestines, which may help soothe ulcers, constipation and other intestinal issues. Chlorophyll, which is abundant in chlorella, is an important nutrient for detoxifying your body. It helps you process more oxygen, cleanses your blood and promotes growth and repair of tissues.
Fans of chlorella claim it gives them increased energy, improved mood and digestion and can aid in reversing a number of health conditions including cancers, type 2 diabetes, arthritis, depression, liver disorders, asthma, high blood pressure, inflammation and degenerative diseases like dementia. None of this has been conclusively proved by science, although chlorella has been shown in some studies to help tumour shrinkage and reduce hypertension and cholesterol.
Fans of chlorella claim it gives them increased energy, improved mood and digestion and can aid in reversing a number of health conditions including cancers, type 2 diabetes, arthritis, depression, liver disorders, asthma, high blood pressure, inflammation and degenerative diseases like dementia. None of this has been conclusively proved by science, although chlorella has been shown in some studies to help tumour shrinkage and reduce hypertension and cholesterol.
You can buy chlorella from any
health food shop as a powder or in tablet or capsule form. Pregnant and
breastfeeding women should consult their doctor before beginning to
take any supplements, and people with a seafood allergy should steer
clear.
Chlorella is a great addition to any
smoothie, such as the green smoothie in my spirulina blog post. If
you Google chlorella recipes most of them will be for
smoothies. However, I wanted to offer you something a bit different
so I scoured the web and eventually found a few recipes for chlorella
pesto, which I thought was a great idea. Here's my version; I've left
out the parmesan which is traditional in pesto for any
vegetarians/vegans.
Vegan
Chlorella Pesto
You
will need:
1 tablespoon chlorella powder¼ cup pine nuts
2 cups fresh basil
½ garlic clove
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
½ tablespoon lemon juice
1 pinch sea salt
Method:
Lightly toast the pine nuts then put
all the ingredients into a blender or food processor and blitz until
you achieve your desired consistency. Simple as that!
Have you ever tried chlorella? Let me know in the comments!
Also in this series:
What's the Deal with Spirulina?