Chlorella & Spirulina: Picking The Right Superfood

Chlorella and spirulina are micro-algae. Both grow in freshwater and offer a great deal of health benefits. Both are considered to be potential food sources; spirulina actually was used as a food source for Mesoamericans until they advanced in the 1500s.

Spirulina is a blue-green form of algae; it is multi-celled and spiral-shaped. Chlorella is a green form of algae; it is single-celled and spherical-shaped. Spirulina is much easier to harvest and digest than chlorella; however with additional steps, chlorella can still be processed and digested. Now that you have a basic idea of what they are, you may be wondering what chlorella and spirulina can do for you and what the differences are.

Nutritional Benefits

Chlorella and spirulina are great for those who do not consume enough fruits and vegetables. Just a single gram of algae contains the equivalent of 1,000 grams of fruits and vegetables. Chlorella and spirulina both contain more protein per ounce than steak, which makes them a great source of protein for vegetarians.They are also a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, which promote brain and heart health, reduce inflammation, and help maintain healthy skin.

Chlorella and spirulina are also rich in chlorophyll. Chlorophyll flushes out toxins and replenishes our bodies with vitamins, minerals, and proteins. It produces melanin in hair follicles, which can prolong the development of gray hair. Chlorophyll also promotes healthy skin and healing, improves digestive health, and may even help with weight loss!

Potential Risks And Side Effects

It is important that you speak to your doctor before trying chlorella or spirulina, as interactions with other medications are possible, and you might not be able to consume chlorella or spirulina if you have certain health conditions.

It is also important that you purchase chlorella and spirulina from a reputable company because if they are not correctly processed, they could contain harmful toxins. Healthforce SuperFoods is a reputable company with heavy standards.

The side effects of chlorella and spirulina are not severe; however, the most common side effect of them both is gastrointestinal complications.

What Are The Differences?

Spirulina and chlorella are both extremely beneficial; however, they do have differences. Here are a few of them:

Chlorella Contains More Chlorophyll

The green color of chlorella makes this difference easy to tell. When compared to other known plants, chlorella has the highest concentration of chlorophyll on the planet!

Spirulina Can Be 100x Larger Than Chlorophyll

Chlorophyll is a single-celled organism and is therefor, microscopic. Spirulina is multi-celled and grows in spirals. Because of this difference, spirulina is not only larger, but it's much easier to harvest.

Spirulina Contains More Protein And Iron

Chlorella and spirulina both contain nutrients; however, spirulina has greater concentrations of protein and iron, as well as greater amounts of all nine essential amino acids.

Chlorella Is More Difficult To Digest

The cellular wall of chlorella is indigestible; it must be processed and broken down prior to human consumption. The cellular wall of spirulina is completely digestible and can be absorbed without a problem.

Chlorella Contains B12

For a while, people believed that spirulina was a great source of vitamin B12. This is not true; chlorella contains B12, spirulina does not. Vitamin B12 is essential, and vegans have the most difficult time obtaining B12 naturally.

Chlorella Growth Factor

Because of chlorella’s high nucleic acid content, it can grow extremely fast. This suggests that chlorella could aid in repairing nerve damage. Chlorella contains 17 times more nucleic acid than sardines; the nucleic acid in sardines was studied heavily by a PhD molecular biologist and licensed physician named Dr. Benjamin S Frank. He found the nucleic acid to have anti-aging effects in his patients, and many of their health problems improved. Chlorella’s high levels of nucleic acid give it longevity factors.

Which One Is Right For You?

Chlorella and spirulina both offer worthwhile benefits, but after reading the differences, you might be asking yourself which one should you try. The answer depends on what you want more of. Chlorella is better to take for detoxifying. Because of its higher concentration of chlorophyll, chlorella is the better option if you’re looking to flush out toxins and repair cells. It is also better for those who are B12 deficient. Because spirulina is richer in nutrients, it is better to take for promoting immunity.

Although there are differences between chlorella and spirulina, you can’t go wrong with either one; you could even take both, as they are safe to take together! When taking them together, your body will have all of the natural nutrients it needs.