Topic: Chlorella

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Chlorella is a single-celled algae originally produced as a source of protein for populations that could not afford animal protein foods. Yet chlorella offers more than protein. Miraculous stories have surfaced of people getting noticeable improvement in health and well being when consuming chlorella. When you realize that chlorella contains carotenoids, magnesium, and the super detoxifier chlorophyll-the health benefits of which have been well documented-we begin to understand chlorella's healing power. Americans are chronically low in magnesium and in great need of detoxifying. Chlorella may be the perfect antidote to our refined foods, nutrient-poor diets and toxic environment.

Chlorophyll is a remarkably protective and cleansing compound. It can inhibit cancer in all human organs. Chlorophyll is a vital part of all detoxification and health-building programs. The National Cancer Institute has begun to take notice of its ability to prevent cancer.



Detoxifying is essential for optimal health. When toxins are in our liver, brain, or other tissues and organs of the body, we age faster and have less health and vitality. Getting rid of toxins with powerful cleansers like chlorella helps us live longer, for toxins are a potent source of the free radicals which age us and cause disease. Chlorella appears particularly helpful at eliminating toxic metals like cadmium and uranium from the body.

Chlorella contains a range of carotenoids that is superior merely to taking a supplement of synthetic beta carotene. When you take a supplement that contains beta carotene, and it does not specify that it is derived from algae such as chlorella or d. salina, then you are only getting some of the benefits of carotenoids. There are many carotenoids- well over 600-and using chlorella as your source of carotenoids gives you much more benefit. While beta carotene has protective power, chlorella has much more. A recent study from China showed that when people with precancerous cells in their stomach were given synthetic beta carotene, there was no benefit. Yet when they were given natural carotenoids like those in chlorella, the precancerous cells turned back to normal. Chlorella has also been found to have powerful anti-cancer activity in animal studies when used orally.

Carotenoids protect against heart disease. Cholesterol cannot clog arteries until it oxidizes, and many studies have shown carotenoids can prevent this dangerous reaction from occurring. Although vitamin C appears to be the first line of defense in protecting cholesterol from going bad, carotenoids are also very important. A study of 333 patients showed that taking a carotenoid supplement reduced major cardiovascular events by half.

Chlorella is also a rich source of the remarkable mineral magnesium. Magnesium performs no less than 300 different tasks in the body. It is essential for heart function, immune function, blood pressure regulation, blood sugar balance, stroke prevention, and for both muscle strength and muscle relaxation. It is critical for energy production. It promotes mental health, relieves PMS, and reduces asthma attacks. No cell in the body can function without this mineral.

According to the USDA, 80 percent of Americans fail to get enough magnesium. Refined white flour contains only 20 percent of its original magnesium content. Sugar, sodas and junk foods, which make up a large part of the American diet, contain virtually none. Our crops are grown in soils with increasingly lower levels of magnesium. On top of this, our toxic environment depletes us of it.

The great American magnesium shortage may be one of the main causes of our epidemic of heart disease. Magnesium is extraordinarily important for heart health. Magnesium also helps mitral valve prolapse, fibromyalgia, and fatigue. Emotional or physical stress depletes magnesium. Magnesium also significantly enhances muscle growth that occurs in response to sustained weight lifting programs. It also plays an important role in bone health. In some studies, magnesium intake was a stronger predictor of bone density than calcium intake.

Chlorella gives you all the benefit of magnesium, carotenoids, chlorophyll and more. People with high cholesterol levels who were put on 5 grams per day of chlorella for three months saw their cholesterol levels decline significantly. There were no side effects, unlike cholesterol medications, which can actually shorten life span, according to recent studies. Cholesterol medications have been found to cause impotence in men-another reason to use natural alternatives like chlorella.



Chlorella is also an immune booster. It contains a compound known as chlorellan that stimulates the body to make more interferon. Chlorella helps protector cells, called macrophages, function more effectively.

Strict vegetarians-those who eat no animal products-often rely on seaweeds and algae such as chlorella for their B12 needs. While chlorella appears to contain B 12-like molecules, and has raised B 12 levels in adults who consume it, it is probably best to make sure B12 levels are optimal by taking extra B12 as a supplement. A B12 deficiency can cause neurological damage and it is best to be on the safe side. Vegetarians should take an inexpensive B12 supplement of 1,000 mcg at least once per week. The cost is a few dollars per year and well worth it.

Chlorella can help heal the GI tract. Ulcers, colitis, Crohn's disease and diverticulosis all seem to do better when chlorella is part of the diet. Animal studies have shown that chlorella is effective at healing ulcers. Chlorella has also been found to stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria which are essential for intestinal health.

How should one use chlorella? Add a few tablets or a half teaspoon of powder to your everyday diet or your green drinks. Because it is nearly 50 percent protein you can use it to curb appetite during weight loss. It can be used topically in wound healing and as an excellent facial ingredient. In degenerative conditions, large doses may be needed. For detoxification, it may be best on an empty stomach. Introduce it to your diet slowly. See if you notice the increase in energy and well being that so many report after making chlorella a regular habit.

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Heavy metal removal using chlorella
Chlorella is a powerful detoxification aid for heavy metals and other pesticides. Numerous research projects in the U.S. and Europe indicate that chlorella can also aid the body in breaking down persistent hydrocarbon and metallic toxins such as mercury, cadmium and lead, DDT and PCB while strengthening the immune system response. In Japan, interest in chlorella has focused largely on its detoxifying properties - its ability to remove or neutralize poisonous substances from the body.

This detoxification of heavy metals and other chemical toxins in the blood will take 3 to 6 months to build up enough to begin this process depending on how much chlorella a person is taking. Chlorella is a food. As such, it is almost impossible to take too much chlorella. It is also this fibrous material which greatly augments healthy digestion and overall digestive track health.


Chlorella Powder

How Does Chlorella Detoxify Your Body?
Chlorella is comprised of a fibrous, indigestible outer shell (20%) and its inner nutrients (80%). It is the fibrous material which has been proven to actually bind with the heavy metals and pesticides - such as PCBs - which can accumulate in our bodies.

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 insures that metabolic wastes are efficiently carried away from the tissues.

Chlorella gets its name from the high amount of chlorophyl it possesses. Chlorella contains more chlorophyl per gram than any other plant. Chlorophyl is one of the greatest food substances for cleansing the bowel and other elimination systems, such as the liver and the blood.

Green algae are the highest sources of chlorophyl in the plant world. And of all the green algae studied so far, chlorella has the highest, often ranging from 3 to 5% pure natural chlorophyll.

Chlorella is a key detoxification tool 
Hemoglobin is the protein in our red blood cells which binds with oxygen and gives blood its bright red color. Chlorophyll cells are nearly identical to hemoglobin, with one exception: Chlorophyll has a magnesium molecule at its center while hemoglobin has an iron molecule at the center of it.
This is important because magnesium is essential for the heart to function properly. Every time our heart beats, it is utilizing magnesium to do so.
Chlorophyll is effective against anemia and stimulates the production of red blood cells in the body. It also helps carry oxygen around the body and to the brain. This is why chlorella is often called a 'Brain Food'.
Several researchers have suggested the use of chlorophyll as a medical therapy for anemia.


Chlorella Will Improve Your Digestive System
Since chlorella has such a high chlorophyll content, people find chronic bad breath is often eliminated in just a few days on chlorella. Foul smelling stools are also greatly improved and chlorophyll has been attributed to relieving constipation.


Chlorella Shown To Be Helpful in Fighting Cancer
Interferon is one of our body's greatest natural defenses against cancer. One of the ways we fight cancer is to use agents to stimulate macrophage production and activity. Interferon is a natural secretion of the body which is thought to be a stimulator of macrophages and tumor necrosis factor.

Chlorella stimulates the activity of macrophages and T-cells by increasing interferon levels thus enhancing the immune system's ability to combat foreign invaders whether they are viruses, bacteria, chemicals or foreign proteins.

 


Chlorella Contains Natural Digestive and other Enzymes
Chlorella contains enzymes such as chlorophyllase and pepsin, which are two digestive enzymes. Enzymes perform a number of important functions in the body. Chlorella has many different types of enzymes that our bodies need.

It is essential that any chlorella you take is NOT freeze dried or pasteurized. If it is, then you have lost the crucial benefit of enzymes such as these.

 

Chlorella is Alkaline and Helps Balance Your Body's pH
It's important that we maintain a balance body pH of ideally about 7.2-7.4, which is about neutral. However, because of our poor diet of junk food, overcooked, processed foods, fast food, which include soft drinks which have a pH of 2.7, most of us are not balanced.

This is important because most diseases start, live and thrive in an acidic environment and do not live well in an alkaline environment.