Chlorella is one of the most nutrient dense foods on the planet. As these recent articles in Marie Claire and the Telegraph explain, Chlorella is attracting a lot of attention for its myriad of health benefits. It has been shown to reduce body-fat percentage and blood-glucose levels and help those suffering from Type 2 diabetes, obesity and heart disease. Its benefits include boosting energy, aiding digestion and fighting depression.

Here's an outline of the nutritional profile of Yaeyama Chlorella.

Yaeyama Chlorella Facts

• Approximately 60% protein including 19 amino acids and all eight amino acids considered to be essential for human health
• More than 20 bio-available vitamins and minerals, especially rich in beta-carotene and vitamin B12 (the plant source of B12). Beta-carotene is very easily converted into vitamin A with this being dependent upon the needs of the body. Beta-carotene also acts as a powerful antioxidant without having been converted into vitamin A.
• Highest known source of RNA/DNA Nucleic acids (see C.V.E.)
• Rich in unsaturated fatty acids (around 80% of its total fatty acids content)
• Highest known source of chlorophyll (5 to 10 times greater than any other plant). In modern times dioxin has become a universal poison. Chlorophyll derived from chlorella (and Chlorella itself) inhibits dioxin absorption emanating from the gastrointestinal tract and accelerates dioxin excretion. It also plays a significant role in cancer prevention, e.g. environmentally induced. Chlorophyll possesses wound healing and tissue regeneration properties and acts like a natural antibiotic. It also helps to control bad breath and odour from incontinent patients or those with colostomies. Chlorophyll can reduce hypertension and strengthen the hearts of patients suffering from cardiac insufficiency. This is one of the reasons why people taking Chlorella often feel more energetic.
• As with every non-genetically manipulated vegetable which has been cultivated outdoors, each single value of Chlorella's composition varies from season to season by an average of 10% and more.

Numerous other different substances and components produced by Chlorella - a few being unique have been identified:

• Over 50 immunostimulatory polysaccharide with antitumor, antiviral, antifungal and antibiotic functions
• "Chlorellan" is unique in acting as a gentle natural antibiotic devoid of negative side effects to the body-friendly bacteria of human beings
• "Sporopollenin" a carotenoid polymer of limited occurrence amongst plants; part of the strong cell wall of Chlorella, but only of the strain Pyrenoidosa (not Vulgaris), which accelerates the detoxification of different toxic chemicals/pollutants
• With the help of self produced Glutathione (GSH) Chlorella protects itself against oxygen toxicity through destruction of thiol-reactive oxygen by-products during the process of photosynthesis. GSH may also be of help fighting against bacteria, as many bacteria do not produce GSH to protect itself. GSH is the main enzyme for detoxification in human beings.
• Phytosterols isolated from Chlorella showed anti-inflammatory and anti-tumour properties.
• Water-soluble Glycoproteins from Chlorella are potent biological response modifiers and increase host-defence against different harmful bacteria and virus infections in normal and immune compromised hosts.
• Xanthophyll (also known as lutein) has a yellowish colour and is the dominant carotenoid that protects our eyes. Xanthophyll is especially concentrated in the macula, our true centre of sight at the back of the retina. It does, for example, absorb the damaging blue rays from the light spectrum. Xanthophyll serves Chlorella and us in the same way. No plant has a higher content of xanthophylls with even carrots having a lower level. Due to its high content of beta-carotene and cartenoids Chlorella should normally display a colour between yellow, red and orange. But its unique high level of chlorophyll is responsible for its typical deep green colour which covers all other bioactive pigments.

C.V.E. (Chlorella Vulgaris Extract) is an absolutely unique hot water extract of Chlorella. Even today, the full "make-up" hasn't yet been identified but the variety of substances already known proves C.V.E. to be the most important component of Chlorella. C.V.E. is the number one focus of attention to many US and Japanese Chlorella scientists. They work hard to discover the secret of C.V.E. and have found a combination of different substances including amino peptides (like glutathione), acidic glycoproteins, galactose-rich carbohydrate and nucleic acids. The C.V.E. content of raw Chlorella Vulgaris being approx. 3-5%. The hot water extract of Chlorella was named "Growth Factor" because it gives Chlorella its genetic power to quadruple in less than 24 hours. On the other hand, the stimulation of faster and healthier growth amongst young animals and young children shows that this growth boosting effect isn't limited to Chlorella. In adults you won't see any growth stimulation, but however, an acceleration of tissue repair and cell regeneration. Please note that C.V.E. never stimulates pathological growth as for example cancer, but displays anti-tumour and anti-metastasis properties. C.V.E. is the ideal partner for Chlorella in order to achieve the kind of powerful synergistic effect you normally wouldn't get with C.V.E. or Chlorella alone.

During some environmental disasters (e.g. cadmium poisoning "itai-itai" in Japan 30 years ago), Chlorella proved its powers of detoxification very impressively. Research projects carried out mainly in the US and Japan have shown the detoxification properties of Chlorella with relation, for example, to dioxin, PCB, lead, uranium, cadmium, mercury, pesticides and insecticides. Although many questions concerning the detox capabilities of Chlorella still remain unclear and as yet, no double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised clinical trial has been carried out to prove detoxification in humans, many years' positive experience of numerous physicians worldwide already show that Chlorella truly works as a natural vegetarian food for the detoxification of so many patients. In his intention to help chronically contaminated people, Dr. D. Klinghardt, PhD, M.D.(USA) was the pioneer in the field of creating a gentle but powerful detoxification treatment. He started around 1985 and since that time his detox protocol is much changed; but with one exception - Chlorella still remains at the top of the protocol as an absolutely essential tool. Dr. F. Liebke (Germany), who like Dr. Klinghardt is a specialist in detoxification, has more than ten years of experience in detoxification using Chlorella. His work confirms the incredible results Dr. Klinghardt has experienced with his treatment protocol.

• Chlorella's remarkable detoxifying capacity relates to the body's natural toxic by-products as well as environmental toxins, such as heavy metals and pesticides.
• It's very important to know that once a toxin has bound to Chlorella it won't take off any more, under no circumstances. Every time Chlorella chelates toxins in the intestinal tract, the Chlorella/toxin-complex leaves the body unbroken by way of the faeces.
• For detoxification purposes, it is recommended to take Chlorella on an empty stomach