In 2006 there were over 31 million prescriptions written for antidepressants in the UK and with 1 in 4 people likely to experience some kind of mental health problem in the course of a year, the connection between food and mood is becoming more and more important.

There are many factors that affect our mood, such as life events, relationships, success at one thing and failure at another. Fundamental to all of this is the activity of neurotransmitters. These are chemicals in the brain, the most common of which are generally considered to be responsible for our mood. The neurotransmitter dopamine, for example, is thought to be responsible for feelings of pleasure, motivation and confidence while serotonin induces feelings of relaxation and calm.

The building blocks for neurotransmitters are known as amino acids. Some of these are known as essential amino acids, as the body cannot produce them on its own. So, it’s important for us to absorb these from our food. There’s a direct relationship between amino acids and neurotransmitters and therefore a relationship between what we eat and how we feel. The amino acid phenylalanine for example, helps to create tyrosine which helps to create the dopamine that can cause us to feel motivated and happy. Amino acids then could be described as the units of mood. Chlorella contains all 8 of the essential amino acids.
Supplementing with phenylalanine has been cited by some as a suitable and effective treatment for depression, although most authorities agree that more extensive research is needed. It is thought however, that phenylalanine may help alleviate depression due to how the body metabolises it into tyrosine and then into dopamine, norepinephrine (noradrenaline), and epinephrine. Levels of norepinephrine are often raised by anti-depressant drugs, relieving feelings of depression which is why phenylalanine is thought by some to have an anti-depressant effect.

The naturally occurring form of phenylalanine is L-Phenylalanine, which is found in foods that are rich in protein such as meat, fish, poultry, eggs, dairy products, and beans. It’s also present in chlorella, along with all the other essential amino acids. Nutritional supplementation of phenylalanine is given in the form of DL-Phenylalanine which combines the natural form (L) with a laboratory synthesised form (D). The recommended daily dose for treating depression is 100 – 200mg of DL-Phenylalanine.

A daily serving of 5g of chlorella would provide 150mg of phenylalanine along with all of the other essential amino acids, not to mention the vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients it provides.
Chlorella has survived on the planet for 540 million years. Let’s face it; you’d have to have happiness hard wired for that.

Important Note

People with the genetic disorder Phenylketonuria (PKU) need to regulate their intake of phenylalanine as they are unable to metabolise it. Therefore if you or anyone you know has this disorder, exercise caution in using supplements that contain phenylalanine.