Chlorella and Spirulina are the most popular algae supplements on the market.
What is Chlorella?
Chlorella is a single-celled green freshwater algae. There are more than 30 different species, with two types, Chlorella vulgaris and Chlorella pyrenoidosa, being the most commonly used. Since Chlorella has a hard cell wall that people can not digest, you should take it as a supplement to get its benefits. It is available in capsule, tablet, powder and extract form.
What is Spirulina?
Spirulina is one of the most popular nutritional supplements in the world. It is loaded with various nutrients and antioxidants that can benefit your body and brain. Spirulina is an organism that grows in both freshwater and saltwater. It is a type of cyanobacteria, a family of unicellular microbes, often referred to as blue-green algae. The quality of the protein in spirulina is considered excellent, comparable to eggs. It gives you all the essential amino acids you need.
A 1-ounce (28-gram) serving of these algae contains the following:
| Chlorella | Spirulina | |
| Calories | 115 calories | 81 calories |
| Protein | 16 grams | 16 grams |
| Carbs | 7 grams | 7 grams |
| Fat | 3 grams | 2 grams |
| Vitamin A | 287% of the Daily Value (DV) | 3% of the DV |
| Riboflavin (B2) | 71% of the DV | 60% of the DV |
| Thiamine (B1) | 32% of the DV | 44% of the DV |
| Folate | 7% of the DV | 7% of the DV |
| Magnesium | 22% of the DV | 14% of the DV |
| Iron | 202% of the DV | 44% of the DV |
| Phosphorus | 25% of the DV | 3% of the DV |
| Zinc | 133% of the DV | 4% of the DV |
| Copper | 0% of the DV | 85% of the DV |
Both forms of algae contain high amounts of nutrients. Chlorella, however, contains more omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin A, riboflavin, iron, magnesium and zinc.
Benefits of Spirulina
Heart disease is the world’s leading cause of death. Many risk factors are associated with an increased risk of heart disease. As a result, spirulina has a positive effect on many of these factors. For example, they can lower total cholesterol, “bad” LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides while increasing “good” HDL cholesterol.
Some evidence suggests that Spirulina has anti-cancer properties. Studies on animals show that it can reduce the incidence of cancer and the size of the tumor. The effects of spirulina on oral cancer have been particularly well studied.
Oxidative damage can damage your DNA and your cells. This damage can cause chronic inflammation that leads to cancer and other diseases. Spirulina is a fantastic source of antioxidants that can protect against oxidative damage.
Benefits of Chlorella
Your immune system helps you stay healthy by fighting infections. It’s a complex system that consists of multiple mechanisms and cells that start when an intruder enters your body. Chlorella has been found to improve the immune response in both animal and human studies, although evidence is limited so far.
Chlorella consists several compounds that are considered antioxidants, such as chlorophyll, vitamin C, beta-carotene, lycopene and lutein (reliable source). These antioxidants can help fight many chronic diseases. Some of these antioxidants appear to reduce the production of advanced glycated end products (AGEs) that cause many of the complications of diabetes.
Chlorella supplements can boost heart and kidney health, which is essential for normal blood pressure.
Which one is healthier?
The high content of polyunsaturated fats, antioxidants and other vitamins in Chlorella gives him a slight nutritional advantage over spirulina. The research on Chlorella is more extensive. It includes animal and human studies that make information about Chlorella more reliable and more relevant to humans.
As with other dietary supplements, it is best to consult your doctor before taking Spirulina or Chlorella, especially in high doses.
In conclusion, chlorella and spirulina are forms of algae that are very nutritious and safe to most people. They have many health benefits, including reduced risk factors for heart disease and improved glycemic control. Although Chlorella is slightly higher in some nutrients, you can not go wrong with both.
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