What is Chlorella?

Chlorella is a green algae. The name Chlorella derives from two Latin words meaning ‘leaf’ (green) and ‘small’, referring to the unusually high content of chlorophyll (the highest of any known plant) which gives Chlorella its characteristic deep emerald-green color. Algae are a group of one-celled plants, containing no true root, stem or leaf. This particular fresh-water, single celled microscopic plant contains a host of health building nutrients. In addition to chlorophyll it contains vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, nucleic acids, amino acids, enzymes, CGF (Chlorella Growth Factor) and other substances. Under the favorable growth conditions of strong sunlight, pure water and clean air, Chlorella multiplies at an incredible rate, the complete reproduction cycle taking less than 24 hours.  Our Chlorella is produced in Taiwan by The Taiwan Chlorella Manufacturing Co., Ltd., the world’s largest producer of Chlorella Pyrenoidosa.

Chlorella has been more thoroughly researched than perhaps any other food in history. There are thousands of research papers on Chlorella from medical institutions, scientific journals and universities. One of the most fascinating aspects of Chlorella is the CGF or Chlorella Growth Factor.

Chlorella has a number of properties which are helpful to organs and tissues that have been injured by a variety of causes. It has been demonstrated to promote liver health. It has been called the “great normalizer” putting body functions that are out of balance back in harmony. Although some positive effects of taking Chlorella may be felt immediately, such as correcting constipation and bad breath, Chlorella’s full nutritive and detoxifying prowess will take 3-6 months to be fully appreciated. Chlorella belongs to a very small, yet powerful group of foods known as Nutraceuticals. Spirulina is also known as a Nutraceutical.

Both Watershed Chlorella and Watershed spirulina are very particular strains of algae. Watershed Chlorella is a strain of algae known as Chlorella Pyrensoida. From a single pure source, this algae has been reproduced for thousands of generations. This insures the integrity of the strain’s purity will stay intact without degenerating. Many other producers of Chlorella and Spirulina do not pay close enough attention to their strains and experience “drift” in the purity of their algae. This problem is very much overlooked by many algae producers worldwide. Watershed Chlorella assures the absolute strain purity of our algae.

Chlorella promotes growth in young people, which is believed to be related to Chlorella’s capacity to stimulate the healing process in the body and stifle many diseases. This is most likely related to its nucleic acid content because substances in Chlorella that accelerate growth in young people promote repair of damaged tissue in mature animals and humans.

Chlorella contains growth-promoting substances, making it valuable as an ingredient in breads and fermented drinks. If Chlorella extract is added to the dough before yeast fermentation, the visual appearance and flavor of the loaf is enhanced while keeping the bread fresher for a longer period. Chlorella can also be added to wine, cakes, cookies, cheese, ice cream, mayonnaise, pasta and rice to enhance flavor and nutritive value. Chlorella has a strengthening effect on body cells by strengthening our metabolic pathways. Chlorella has an abundance of RNA & DNA that are associated with anti-aging.

Mice that were injected with cancer cells showed a higher resistance to this challenge if they had been fed Chlorella. Other tests showed that the Chlorella growth factor improves resistance to abdominal tumors while increasing the number of immune cells in the abdominal cavity. Chlorella promotes cell reproduction, balances cholesterol and increases hemoglobin levels. Because of its broad nutritional and detoxifying profile, Chlorella promotes the repair of bodily organs and tissues that have been injured or otherwise damaged.

Numerous research projects in the USA and Europe indicate that Chlorella can also aid the body in the breakdown of persistent hydrocarbon and metallic toxins such as DDT, PCB, mercury, cadmium and lead, while strengthening the immune system response. In Japan, interest in Chlorella has focused largely on its detoxifying properties–its ability to neutralize or remove poisonous substances from the body. The fibrous materials in Chlorella will also improve digestion and promote the growth of beneficial aerobic bacteria in the stomach.

Other research programs have indicated that regular use of Chlorella helps guard against heart disease, reduce high blood pressure and lower serum cholesterol levels. There is no other green plant on earth that is more beneficial to the human body and mind than Chlorella. As a perfect food, Chlorella has no peers.

Analysis shows that Chlorella Pyrensoidosa contains a comparable variety of minerals, vitamins and amino acids to other algae:

Chlorella is a plant with 5 to 10 times the chlorophyll content of any other algae.

Chlorella has a tough indigestible cell wall, which detoxifies the body by binding with heavy metals as it passes through. We now have tests kits available for heavy metal testing. Sporopollenin, which is only present in Chlorella Pyrensoida, acts in the same detoxifying way. Chlorella Growth Factor (CGF), unique to Chlorella, causes the benign lactobacillus, which is crucial to digestion to multiply at four times the normal rate and also accelerates the regrowth of damaged tissue. This promotes rapid growth in children and builds our immune system perhaps better than any whole-food single nutritional product.