Chlorella
Chlorella (Chlorella Vulgaris) is a high-protein freshwater micro-alga that was one of the first lifeforms on earth.
It has the highest chlorophyll content amongst all plants known and is a genus of single-cell green algae, belonging to the phylum Chlorophyta. The name Chlorella is taken from the Greek word "chloros", meaning green, and the Latin diminutive suffix "ella", meaning small.
Chlorella is spherical in shape, about 2 to 10 microns in diameter, and is without flagella. It contains both of the green photosynthetic pigments chlorophyll-a and chlorophyll--b in its chloroplast. Through photosynthesis, it multiplies rapidly, requiring only carbon dioxide, water, sunlight, and a small amount of minerals to reproduce.
Chlorella is considered a superfood, because it is high in protein and other essential nutrients. When dried, it is about 45% protein, 20% fat, 20% carbohydrate, 5% fibre, and 10% minerals and vitamins. It is also abundant in calories and vitamins.
Chlorella also supports healthy detoxification. Due to it's small size, unique molecular structure and being rich in chlorophyll, ingested chlorella bonds to metals, chemicals and some pesticides and in doing so helps support our body in eliminating these unwanted metals and toxins.
Moroever, Chlorella is uniquely designed to NOT bind to the minerals our body needs to function optimally. It does not bind to beneficial minerals like calcium, magnesium, or zinc. It's almost as if chlorella knows which metals belong in our body and which chemicals need to be removed.
Chlorella is one of the most widely studied food supplements in the world. Aside from being the subject of medical research in the USA, USSR, Germany, Japan, France, England and Israel, chlorella has been extensively studied as a food source since it is made up of a whopping 50 percent protein and is considered a complete amino acid-based food.
Even NASA has studied using chlorella as the one of first whole foods in space on the international space station!
Under certain growing conditions, Chlorella yields oils that are high in polyunsaturated fats. Chlorella minutissima has yielded EPA at 39.9% of total lipids.
Not All Chlorella is Created Equal
Unlike many food supplements, chlorella has one unique feature that makes the manufacturing process one of the primary concerns when considering a source. Chlorella is completely indigestible by humans. We simply do not have the enzymes to break down its cell wall.
Simply chewing and digesting chlorella, will not release the powerful health benefits it offers. This is because chlorella's tough outer cell wall, which is also chemically responsible for binding with the toxins inside our bodies, cannot be broken down by humans.
It is therefore, imperative that the manufacturing process break down the tough outer cell wall for us (resulting in "Broken Cell Chlorella"), as this is the only way to make the chlorella biologically available to our bodies.
Another concern when choosing which chlorella to use is the source water where it is grown and harvested.
Since chlorella is a natural green food, it will be affected by polluted water and will retain environmental toxins if it's grown in contaminated waters.
The chlorella contained in Sea Of Greens™uses a broken cell technology using a milling process that eliminates light and heat to preserve nutrients.