by Bob McCauley, ND
Chlorella is being consumed by more people all the time. It has become recognized for what it is, the world’s most nutritious food. Recently, the source of the chlorella, where it is grown, has become a more important issue. I have been to several chlorella and spirulina production plants throughout China and Taiwan.
While it is possible to find good quality Chlorella in China it is considerably more difficult than it is to find good quality Chlorella that is grown in Taiwan. With its pervasive pollution and high amounts of heavy metals throughout the country finding both Spirulina and Chlorella in China that is not contaminated can be difficult, but you need to know your source well, having visited the company’s plant and inspected their cleanliness and procedures firsthand. If you have been in the algae business, selling spirulina and chlorella for more than 5 years, you need to have visited the production plant of what you are selling. If you don’t, you will have no idea what you are selling and whether it is any good or not. I have personally visited 6 spirulina and chlorella factories, 2 in China, 4 in Taiwan. I consume the chlorella from Taiwan, and not from China because after seeing the conditions of each plant I knew what I would be willing to consume myself.
As of 2012, the only Chlorella produced in Korea is fermented inside the tank and it never sees the light of day, which is a product I would not consume. At that time of this writing, 2012, Chlorella is not grown in the United States nor has it ever been to my knowledge. However, the US has many ideal locations to grow chlorella such as Texas, which is not too hot, yet has nice whether year around.
Japanese companies have been growing Chlorella perhaps longer than any other country. Knowledge about how to grow Chlorella is taught in the universities in Japan and it is where many of the people who grow in Taiwan learn to produce consumable Chlorella. Many of the chlorella seed cultures that are used by various manufacturers come from Japan. Although it may seem quite easy to grow algae that has consistent quality from batch to batch, and year to year. But in fact, it is extremely difficult to do. Growing algae is a complicated science
There are several companies that grow Chlorella in Taiwan as of 2012. Chlorella grown in
Taiwan is by far the world’s best quality. Taiwan is a pristine country, mostly free of pollution in the countryside were Chlorella is cultivated. Taiwan Chlorella producers offer the highest quality Chlorella available on the market, both certified and non-certified organic. To open the Chlorella cell, producers use both pressure-release and Dyno®-Mill methods. We currently sell chlorella that has been opened with pressure-release, and we will be selling chlorella opened using the Dyno®-Mill method starting in June. This unique process of small glass beads that crack the cell wall of the chlorella as it tumbles inside a drum crushes the chlorella cell for better absorption by the body
Currently the Watershed WellnessCenter sells Taiwan Chlorella only, including Certified Organic and non-certified organic chlorella and spirulina. We are the only company to sell chlorella and spirulina combined with herbal extracts in tablet form.
You’ve mentioned here that “We are the only company to sell chlorella and spirulina combined with herbal extracts in tablet form.” Are you in a way related or in partnership with Dr. Mercola? Because they also provide this chlorella supplement: http://products.mercola.com/chlorella/ and I’ve known this since my doctor recommended it to me. And it is also in tablet form. So are you in a way related to them?
It is very good article. I am trying to find a spirulina nutritional supplement for my daughter 12 years old, she is under weight 30kg, and 4ft 9 inches height. My childs doctor did some tests and everything is normal. I am very confused to pick a product as there are so many available and very much tensed to pick a product since it might have contaminations and might effect my child. I live in India and hence my childs doctor cannot suggest a company. as i understand you were saying Spirulina from Thaiwan is good. Can you suggest me a good spirulina for my child? Thanks is advance.
Omega-3 EPA and DHA Lower Triglycerides 18 – 22%
A study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition concluded that the American Heart Association’s recommended cardioprotective dose of omega-3 fatty acids can lower triglycerides in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) – whether the lipids come in the form of DHA combined with EPA or just DHA alone.
The study, conducted through Kaiser Permanente Colorado, involved 116 patients with coronary artery disease and triglycerides greater than 200 mg/dL, approximately 90 percent of whom were on statin drugs. The groups of participants were supplemented with DHA alone, or DHA combined with EPA. The aim of the prospective, randomized, double-blind study was to compare DHA to DHA + EPA in patients with CAD and triglycerides greater than 200 mg/dL.
Subjects were randomized to receive either 1000 mg of DHA or 1252 mg of DHA + EPA for eight weeks. A total of 116 subjects were enrolled; 57 in the DHA group and 59 in the DHA + EPA group. Baseline characteristics were similar between groups. The mean age was 69.4 years and 70.7 percent were male.
Hypertriglyceridemia is a risk factor for CAD and the American Heart Association recommends 1000 mg of omega-3’s DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) daily for cardioprotection and higher doses for triglyceride-lowering in patients with CAD.
In the study, triglycerides were lowered an average of 21.8 percent in the DHA group and 18.3 percent in the DHA + EPA group. The difference between groups was not significant, according to the study, and a higher proportion of subjects in the DHA group achieved their triglyceride goal (less than 150 mg/dL) compared to the DHA + EPA group (24.6 percent versus 10.2 percent).
The study compared Martek’s life’s DHA branded microalgae ingredient with a fish oil that provided a combination of DHA and EPA. Martek said it did not fund or sponsor the study. DHA from microalgae is regarded as an important development in this area, as traditional vegetarian sources of omega-3 such as flaxseed yield shorter chain fatty acids, which lose a portion of their health benefits for humans when they are converted into DHA and EPA by the body.
DHA and EPA are omega-3 fatty acids commonly found in fish and fish oil. Krill oil is another important source of DHA and EPA.
Source
Schwellenbach, Lisa J. “The Triglyceride-Lowering Effects of a Modest Dose of Docosahexaenoic Acid Alone Versus in Combination with Low Dose Eicosapentaenoic Acid in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease and Elevated Triglycerides.” Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 2006 Dec; Vol. 25, No. 6, 480-485.
Chlorella supr detox. Thank you. Ota Czech Republick.