Sun Chlorella is a freshwater alga native to Japan and Taiwan. It has a rich history as it was discovered after World War II. People looking for other food products realized that this single-celled alga was not only a wholesome food; it also had many health benefits.
This was when the commercial production of Chlorella started, and people could buy Chlorella in the form of tablets, powders, and supplements.
Today, Chlorella is categorized as a superfood.
Before we jump into the benefits, let’s talk about the nutrition facts of sun chlorella. It is a nutrient-dense food that contains an overabundance of vitamins and minerals. The Sun Chlorella ingredients (and quantity) in a single ounce serving include:
- Iron—202% RDA
- Magnesium—22% RDA
- Protein—16 g
- Vitamin A—287% RDA
- Vitamin B2—71% RDA
- Vitamin B3—33% RDA
- Zinc—133% RDA
Apart from the above mentioned ingredients, Chlorella contains a healthy amount of phosphorous, as well as vitamins B1 and B6, making it more nutrient-dense than other greens like spinach, kale, and broccoli!
Let’s have a look at the many benefits of this nutrition-packed alga.
The Health Benefits of Sun Chlorella
1. Chlorella Is an Amazing Antioxidant
Chlorella has an arsenal of antioxidants which, once consumed, are ready to fight off free radicals in the body.
Free radicals are unstable, highly
reactive molecules. They have a great potential to wreak havoc in the normal processes of the body by pairing with other molecules in the body and causing a chain reaction of damage. If they attach themselves to the vital components of cells like the DNA or the cell membrane, they can lead to several defects and deformations. The cells may either die or not be able to carry out their functions properly.
Radicals form during:
- Normal metabolic processes of the body, and
- From outside sources like ultraviolet rays and other environmental pollutants
Antioxidants mop up these radicals and prevent them from bonding to vital cells.
While the body manufactures certain antioxidant enzymes, it receives most of its antioxidant resources from the foods we eat. And with the increase in air pollutants, our bodies’ demand for antioxidants has increased.
Chlorella not only supplies the body with polyphenolic acids and glutathione, it also activates the glutathione in the body.
2. Chlorella Boosts Immune Function
Chlorella has the ability to
improve the processes in the immune system. A clinical trial proved that taking Sun Chlorella supplements increases the strength of immune system.
Our body has natural killer (NK) cells which hold back tissue damage and the spread of tumors. Chlorella enhances the activity of these cells, improving the overall resistance against infections.
3. Chlorella Aids Healthy Digestion
When people search for sun Chlorella benefits and side effects, they don’t expect the superfood to have benefits other than helping the immune system. And its ability to act as a digestive aid may come as a surprise to them.
Chlorella boosts the peristaltic function of the gut so that the food can move through the digestive tract quickly, without being deposited and causing problems like re-absorption of toxic substances and inflammation of the intestinal lining.
Because Chlorella has probiotic properties, regular usage provides a constant supply of nutrients to helpful microorganisms in the intestines, which break down tough fibers into essential minerals and vitamins.
4. Chlorella Detoxifies Radiation and Chemotherapy
The most common cancer treatments today include chemotherapy and radiation, which, while strong enough to attack cancerous cells, can also adversely affect the body.
A study was conducted on patients with malignant glioma (brain tumour). They ate Chlorella regularly, and the two-year observation showed that the immune processes of these patients remained near normal levels.
The high levels of chlorophyll were able to remove radioactive particles from the body and protect it from harmful UV rays!
5. Chlorella Promotes Weight Loss
A study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food reveals that the consumption of Chlorella contributed to the decrease in body fat percentage.
Chlorella is packed with beneficial nutrients that boost metabolism, reduce weight and flush out toxins on the way.
6. Chlorella Lowers Blood Sugar and Cholesterol
Chlorella also lowers blood sugar and cholesterol levels, which in turn boosts healthy weight maintenance of the body.
It is a natural aid to patients of diabetes II, as this alga activates several genes at the cellular level that improve insulin sensitivity, encouraging a healthy balance.
7. Chlorella Improves Cognitive Functions
Cobalamin (vitamin B12) is the water soluble vitamin that plays a vital role in the optimal functioning of the brain and nervous system. It is also responsible for the formation of red blood cells.
Our body doesn’t produce vitamin B12 naturally, so it must be absorbed from the foods or supplements we consume. Chlorella is a rich source of vitamin B12. This is good news for vegans, as most of the foods usually rich in vitamin B12 are animal-based.
Packed with vitamin B12 and magnesium (another important mineral for the brain), Chlorella helps increase memory retention and other cognitive functions.
8. Chlorella Helps Gain and Maintain Healthy, Glowing Skin
Chlorella has the unique ability to reproduce at least eight times in a single day, making it a sustainable nutrient source. This helps when there is a risk of telomeres shortening during cell division in skin cells.
The cells in our skin constantly age and are replaced by new cells. This is a skin cycle which takes about 28 days. This process consumes a lot of the body’s resources like lipids, amino acids, and other minerals. Chlorella, being the most densely-packed food source, can help in the skin regeneration process.
Our body comes in contact with environmental pollutants on a regular basis and makes our skin prone to free radical damage and holds back the skin recycle process.
The antioxidant property of Chlorella helps here by sweeping off these free radicals and allowing the natural process of skin regeneration to continue uninterrupted.
A study published in Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Allergy Agents in Medicinal Chemistry revealed that external application of Chlorella aids in the healing of skin inflammation as well.
For an example, Chlorella was used to treat rashes caused by the radiation from the Chernobyl disaster (1986) in Ukraine.
9. Chlorella Is Good For Eyesight
Beta-carotene and lutein, the pigments ![By BruceBlaus (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Macular_Degeneration.png)
for eye health, can be found in abundance in sun chlorella.
Beta carotene, on its own, is not an essential nutrient but is the forerunner to Vitamin A. When ingested, beta carotene is converted into retinol (Vitamin A) and is used to maintain normal vision.
Lutein is also dubbed as the “eye vitamin” due to its major role in maintaining eye health. It is deposited in huge amounts on the macular region of the eye and protects it from ultraviolet radiation.
Lutein is considered a natural treatment for macular degeneration of the eyes, which is the leading cause of vision loss globally.
Carrots and sweet potatoes are rich sources of beta-carotene, and lutein can be found abundantly in kale and broccoli. But if you want both these vision-boosting nutrients in one go, Chlorella is your best option.
10. Chlorella Prevents the Formation of Cancerous Cells
The benefits of taking Chlorella exceed expectations. The best part about this superfood is that it can be ingested by both children and adults.
Chlorella protects the body from cancer by inhibiting the activity of free radicals and flushing out toxins and heavy metals.
It also enhances the action of the T-lymphocyte cells, which makes the body more capable of identifying and destroying damaged cells.
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I do hope you have found reading this article beneficial, as I have done my best to bring you the most accurate and up-to-date information available today.
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