What is Chlorella and Why Should You Take it?
Chlorella is a superfood that you've probably never heard of, but there are many reasons that you should add it to your diet. It offers so many incredible benefits.
What is it?
Chlorella is a single-celled, green freshwater algae which is native to Japan and Taiwan. The most common form used for nutrition purposes is Chlorella vulgaris. It was discovered in 1890 by Martinus Willem Beijerinck as the first microalgae with a well-defined nucleus but didn't really noticed until the 1990's when German scientists noticed its high protein content.
Chlorella is a Superfood
Superfoods are foods — mostly plant-based but also some fish and dairy — that are thought to be nutritionally dense and thus good for one's health. Chlorella is packed with nutrients. It's a great source of plant based protein (B Maximum Chlorella is 63% protein). It's full of vitamins and minerals, including B12. It's one of the few plant-based sources of B12 - which makes it perfect for vegans who usually have to supplement with B12 since most sources are from animals. It's also a great source of iron and vitamin and omega 3's (another nutrient that often comes from animals). It also includes a number of antioxidants which help the immune system, which is something we all need to be concerned with these days. Chlorella has been found to enhance the immune response in both animal and human studies.
Other Benefits
There are a lot of other benefits that Chlorella offers when added to the diet. One of the most researched of these is Chlorella's ability to help detox the body from heavy metals and harmful chemicals. It can also help regulate blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels.
How Chlorella Can Benefit Athletes
For athletes, besides the health benefits already listed, Chlorella has been shown to help increase endurance levels, help with increasing strength as well as help with losing fat.