The following is an excerpt from "Confessions of a Body Builder" by Bob McCauley
Chlorella: All Purpose Health Enhancer
In Japan, cracked cell chlorella supplements are wildly popular, and they are making headway here in the US as this plant food's health benefits become clearer, especially with the recent radiation scare-chlorella is the world's best metal/radiation detox.
Spirulina and chlorella are similar in that they both are chlorophyll-rich algaes. They are both rich in essential amino acids, low in fat, and high in fiber and minerals. Remember chlorophyll is a natural anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and wound healer which has been found to aid in normalizing the blood counts of anemic individuals and it has shown promise as a neutralizer of toxins.
Chlorella has existed on the earth since the pre-Cambrian period which means it has been on the planet for over 2 billion years. It was the first form of life with a true nucleus.
The species includes any spherical, single-cell, green fresh water alga of the genus Chlorella. Each individual chlorella cell-a complete unicellular organism-measures 3 to 10 micrometers across. During the growth of chlorella, each of the cells can divide 4 times every 24 hours. Chlorella is 50% protein, 20% fat and 20% carbohydrate;it also contains many minerals, vitamins, and a unique array of phytocomplexes. Science is still figuring out what exactly is in this stuff!
Along with the usual vitamin and mineral suspects found in deep green plant foods-B vitamins, carotenoids, vitamin C, magnesium-chlorella contains some potent flavonoid nutrients, including an appreciable amount of lutein, which is important for the health of the eyes. Flavonoids are plant pigments that have powerful antioxidant effects and help strengthen the walls of the blood vessels. Chlorella has a rare xanthophyll-a type of carotenoid that, like beta-carotene, has viatmin A activity in the body called echinenone.
Chlorella: One Answer to Pesticide and
Heavy Metal Toxicity
Each chlorella cell-its own microorganism, about the size of a human red blood cell-is encased in a tough cell wall made of hemicellulose, alphacellulose, protein, lipid, and an antioxidant, liver supportive substance called glutathione. Glutathione is critical for cellular detoxification! This cell wall has a layer of cellulose and an outer layer made up of a unique, polymerized carotenoid, and it's believed that this layer plays the greatest role in detoxification, binding to toxins and carrying them out of the body.
Compounds found in the cell walls of chlorella adhere to heavy metal in the body, including cadmium, lead and mercury. Several research studies have shown that chlorella, when taken in proper form, reduces the body's burden of these toxic heavy metals-all of which have damaging effects on the health of the nervous and cardiovascular systems.
Unique fibers and polysaccharides in the chlorella cell wall have also been found to speed up the removal of chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides from body tissues. If you aren't eating organic vegetables this may help you detoxify. One study of rats poisoned with the insecticide chlordecone found the half-life of the toxin (the measurement of the amount of time it takes for the toxin to be eliminated from the body) was reduced from 40 days to 19 days in chlorella-supplemented animals. Another animal study, performed in Japan, examined the effects of chlorella on polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) a type of dioxin that is a known carcinogen. Dioxins are what's known as persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which means they are stored in fats in the body and are notoriously hard to eliminate. POPs bioaccumulate, increasing in concentration from the lowest elements of the food chain to the highest. In this experiment, rats were fed PCBs as part of one of two diets:a control diet or a 10% chlorella diet. The amount of dioxins excreted by the rats were measured, and-not surprisingly-the rats given chlorella excreted significantly more than the control animals.
Chlorella for Nursing Mothers One of the most frightening aspects of POPs is their concentrations are highest in the food at the very pinnacle of the human food chain:human breast milk. In their book The New Breastfeeding Diet (McGraw Hill 2006), Robert Rountree, M.D. and Melissa Lynn Block recommend nursing mothers use chlorella to gently detoxify, sending toxins out through routes other than their breast milk. How does this work? It appears the fibrous cell wall of chlorella interferes with enterohepatic recirculation, where toxic substances are processed by the liver and sent into the GI tract fir elimination-and then are reabsorbed through the walls of the large intestine to make another damaging round through the body. In some instances, the toxin has been altered into even more toxic forms through processing in the liver or by bacteria in the large intestine. Chlorella binds these toxins in the large intestine preventing reabsorbtion and moving them out of the body instead. Liver health is essential for detoxification of toxic chemicals and drugs. An older series of studies, published in the 1970s, found chlorella could protect the livers of rats given a potent poison called ethionine or who had sustained liver damage caused by malnutrition. The 5% chlorella diet also helped the rats heal more rapidly from the poisoning. The animals fed chlorella had lower levels of liver fats and cholesterol accumulation in that organ. Fat and cholesterol accumulation in the liver indicate liver damage. The oxidative burst which happens when a lot of toxins come into the liver at once can cause damage to the liver, the body's most important cleansing organ, and explains the fatal nature of many types of poisonings; as the liver detox system's enzymes work to neutralize the poison in question, oxidation-a natural part of the process-escalates beyond the body's antioxidant protection mechanisms. Chlorella's extremely high concentration of chlorophyll-higher than in any other known plant-also aids in detoxification, enhancing the operations of detox systems in the liver. To yield the benefits of chlorella as a food, the tough cell wall must be cracked or pulverized. Consuming chlorella without a broken or cracked cell can cause digestive discomfort and won't yield the same benefits to the body. Some experts recommend individuals with heavy metal poisoning use 15 to 20 grams of chlorella per day. This is many times the recommended dose for general good health and prevention of disease (2-3 grams/day) but no ill effects have been reported with this regimen.
Chlorella Growth Factor: Key to Stop Aging? Another special aspect of chlorella is the aptly named Chlorella Growth Factor (CGF). CGF was first isolated by a Japanese researcher from a hot water extract of chlorella, using a porcess called electrophoresis. He found this extract promoted healthy growth in young humans and animals. The substance was later found to have immune-enhancing effects, and to promote faster tissue healing. Found in the nucleus of each algae cell, CGF is made up of nucleic acids (RNA and DNA), amino acids (protein building blocks), carbohydrates, and vitamins. CGF also contains glutathione, an antioxidant substance which plays a crucial role in detoxification, buffering the storm of free radicals formed during the second phase of liver detoxification. According to the research and writings of researcher Benjamin Frank, M.D., the physical deterioration that accompanies the aging process is associated with an acceleration in the breakdown of DNA and RNA within individual body cells. Dr. Frank recommends foods especially rich in nucleic acids to help rejuvenate the body's supply. High on Dr. Frank's list of DNA/RNA-rich foods is sardines. Fortunately chlorella contains 17 times more RNA than these little fish! Other Chlorella Benefits Chlorella's affinity for heavy metals has inspired some research into its potential as an environmental-cleaner-upper- a substance which could be used to clean up heavy metals which are created as industrial wastes. In the human body, chlorella is proving useful for re-establishing balance in many of the body's systems, including the immune system, the digestive tract, the endocrine (hormonal) system and the cardiovascualr system. Phytochemicals in chlorella stimulate interferon production in the body, Interferon is an immune factor which has cancer-fighting qualities. It increases the activity of macrophages and T-cells, both of which are important frontline defenses against cancer and infection. A glycoprotein component of chlorella showed anti-tumor effects in test tube studies.
Green Chemotherapy? While chlorella is more than likely to have significant protective effects against cancer-due to its detoxification and immune-system boosting effects-it also is proving useful as an adjunct cancer therapy, used as a complement to conventional medical cancer therapies. Studies of mice given chemotherapy drugs (including 5-fluorouracil and cyclophosphamide) have showed adding chlorella to their regimens helps to reduce secondary infections and extend life span compared with mice given chem drugs without chlorella. One animal study found mice inoculated with tumors and fed a 10% chlorella diet were more resistant to the subsequent growth of those tumors. In a study at the Medical College of Virginia, patients with malignant brain tumors were given 20 grams of chlorella daily through the course of their treatment. These were patients with one of the most aggressive and deadly types of brain cancer called malignant glioma. Although there were only minor improvements in survival time-and these were seen only in younger patients who had smaller cancers to begin with-the investigators found the chlorella improved the patient's immune function significantly. The action of immune cells which are normally suppressed by the cancer or its treatment was normalized in a significant percentage of the patients in this small study. Patients reported feeling stronger and having fewer respiratory infections and flu-like illnesses. This is especially impressive considering the fact these patients were taking medications which greatly increase risk of opportunistic infections. Cancer patients may take up to 20-30 grams of chlorella a day as part of their treatment but should make sure their medical team knows they are doing so. The Block Center for Integrative Cancer Treatment uses green foods as a critical aspect of cancer patients' nutritional therapy. Dr. Block says, "For many years I've given my patients green foods while they are receiving chemotherapy. This led to a reduction in both their toxicity and the need to reduce the chemotherapy dosing. Reducing dosing is a big problem in cancer treatment since it can lead to a decline in treatment benefits." Dr. Block also believes patients would get through treatment more easily if they were given natural medicines. "Green foods are among the best kept secrets in integrative cancer treatment!" he shared with Bob McCauley.
Chlorella and cardiovascular disease Animals studies involving rabbits and mice fed high-cholesterol diets found chlorella supplements could delay or prevent formation of artery lesions-the blockages that lead to heart attacks and occlusive strokes. Other research suggests chlorella supplementation could reduce or eliminate the need for medications to control mild to moderate hypertension.
Chlorella and diabetes Antioxidant-rich green foods are a virtual must for people with diabetes. This condition-whether type 1, the insulin-dependent variety usually sets in during childhood, or type 2, the non-insulin-dependent version linked to obesity and lack of exercise-drastically increases oxidation, inflammation, and risk of heart disease. According to animal studies, chlorella may have specific effects helpful to those with type 2 diabetes. Taiwanese researchers found giving chorella to mice with type 2 diabetes-that's the version where insulin stops being able to do the work of moving sugars into the cells leading to rising blood sugars and ever-increasing insulin production as the body attempts to overcome the cell's resistance to this hormone-brought blood sugars down. Lowering blood sugar is the first step to controlling type 2 diabetes and its devastating consequences. Further investigation revealed this effect was due to enhanced uptake of blood sugars into the liver and muscle.
Chlorella and Digestive Health Supplementing with chlorella was strongly protective against stomach ulcers given to rats by various methods. The research team concluded chlorella most likely worked through complex effects on the interaction of the nervous system, digesticve system and immune system, fortifying the natural protective systems of the lining of the stomach. Ulcerative colitis affects half a million Americans. The mucous lining of the colon becomes inflamed. Bloody diarrhea, pus or mucous in the stool and abdominal cramps are the most common symptoms. UC is a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) abd bith causes and cures are unknown at this writing. Powerful anti-inflammatory drugs sometimes can help control UC, but they don't always work, and they carry a substantial burden of side effects. Astoundingly, medical gastroenterology states "in mild to moderate ulcerative colitis, there is no need to impose general dietary restrictions." Gatroenterologist Ronald Hoffman, M.D., writes on this at www.consciouschoice.com: This might sound, at the very least, counterintuitive to an informed layperson, who would question the dissociation between what a person eats and the condition of the selfsame alimentary canal through which the food passes. The situation is analogous to that of a hydraulic engineer who makes no allowance for pipe corrosion susceptibility based on the acidity or chemical characteristics of the fluid the pipe conducts. He goes on to point out the many successes he has seen in UC patients and patients with other forms of IBD who made drastic dietary changes-usually involving the elimination of grains, lactose and sugars supplementing with good things like ginkgo biloba, licorice root, quercetin, anti-inflammatory Chinese herbs, aloe vera, vitamins, minerals, and friendly probiotics (bacteria). A study presented by Medical College of Virginia anatomy professor Randall E. Merchant, Ph.D., involved supplementing nine ulcerative colitis patients with 10 grams of chlorella in tablet form and 100 milliliters (mL) of liquid chlorella each day for two months.The results of teh study were promising, with improvements in symptoms and clinical tests used to measure the severity of the disease. Sigmoidoscopy showed decreased inflammation in the colon; patients reported fewer episodes of rectal bleeding and stool frequency decreased. With the typical Western diet, constipation and sluggish elimination are extremely common. Adding chlorella as a supplement normalizes an under-active intestinal tract in three ways; by enhancing the natural contractions of the intestinal walls; by supplying cellulose, a form of indigestible fiber; and by promoting rapid growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut. CGF from chlorella helps to mend inflamed or damaged intestinal lining. Through its enhancement of cleansing and detoxification through the bowel, chlorella has been found to improve a number of seemingly unrelated conditions, including lung and bronchial issues, kidney problems and skin conditions. When elimination is improved, fewer toxins are allowed to recirculate from the bowel back into the body. Fewer pathogenic yeasts and bacteria take root in the bowel when eliminative function is running smoothly. Chlorella and Fibromyalgia This disease involves pain in the muscles, ligaments, and tendons. The pain is chronic and comes and goes without any well-understood causes, and is usually accompanied by crushing fatigue. Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) has the mainstream medical community stumped. Dr. Merchant has also researched the use of chlorella for the treatment FMS. He and his team of researchers followed the course of 18 fibromyalgia patients over a two month period, giving them 10 grams plus 100mL liquid chlorella therapy described above. Overall, the patients reported a 22 percent reduction in the intensity of their pain. A 35 year old mother of three tried chlorella after her diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia. She took 20 tablets of chlorella a day and within a few months she felt significantly better, with more energy, less pain, and greater resistance to infection.
Chlorella and Colds and Flu About half the crew of a cruise ship-almost 1000 sailors-were given two grams of chlorella per day for the duration of a training course from Japan to Australia and back. The other half did not take chlorella during the 95 day voyage. Sailors who used chlorella had about 30% fewer cases of cold and flu compared to control subjects. Chlon A, a substance which has been isolated from the nucleic material of chlorella, was probably to thank for the infection-fighting benefit; it stimulates the production of interferon, an immune factor that promotes an overall boost in immune activity.
Chlorella and Autism Autism rates have risen dramatically in recent years. Diagnosis of this developmental disorder is particularly high in children born between the years of 1987 and 1992, according to an ABC news report on a study published in the academic journal Pediatrics. This disorder is characterized by inability to socialize and communicate, along with repetitive, obsessive, or self-abusive behaviors. Usually, it strikes by the age of 3 and in most cases hangs on for life. Other milder autism-related disorders, such as Asperger's syndrome-which fell into public eye upon publication of the best selling novel, the Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, in 2004-are also on the rise.
Autism, Mercury and the Politics of Science For years, a handfall of thoughtful scientists and physicians have been researching potential links of autism to two factors that can be affected by the use of chlorella: nutritional imbalances and mercury poisoning, most likely from mercury-based preservatives in childhood vaccinations. In testimony on a possible mercury-autism link before the U.S. House of Representatives in July 2000 one of the researchers testified that "the symptoms which are diagnostic of or strongly associated with autism itself are found to arise after from mercury exposure...[These symptoms] include traits which are strongly associated with autism and found in nearly all cases of the disorder-sensory disturbances such as numbness in the extremities and mouth, aversion to touch, and unusual response to noise; movement disorders like toe walking, hand flapping, clumsiness, and choreiform movements (quick, jerky, purposeless movements); and cognitive impairments in specific domains like short-term, verbal and auditory memory and in undertaking abstract ideas" Immune dysfunction and abnormalities in the structure of certain parts of the brain have also been seen in both autism and mercury poisoning. Autism's huge rise in prevalence in the U.S. is closely aligned with the introduction of thimerosal-containing vaccines (thimerosal is a mercury-containing preservative) and the rapid increase in the number of vaccinations given in the early months of life, when the nervous system is highly vulnerable. The amount of mercury injected into children who received the required number of vaccinations soon after birth far exceed the safe limits for mercury exposure by body weight. The fact that symptoms of autism tend to emerge soon after the round of vaccinations given at the 18th month lends support to the theory of the vaccine-autism link. Why doesn't every child who gets these shots have autism? It appears some of the children are genetically predisposed to being damaged by this influx of mercury-they have a decreased ability to detoxify it from their bodies. This, and the fact children have been known to develop autism without having had vaccinations, could help to explain the genetic factors which predispose certain children to autism spectrum disorders. Autism and related disorders are also known to run in families. It is well established in scientific literature certain individuals can be harmed by relatively low doses of mercury. Mercury is more toxic to males than to females because of certain differences in their ability to detoxify themselves of this metal, and it seems beyond coincidence the ratio of autism in males to females is about 4 to 1. Thimerosal has been phased out of vaccines, despite the protestations of most of the medical mainstream that the autism-thimerosal theory is pure bunk. Perhaps once a few decades have passed, and if it's found autism rates fall concurrently with the phasing out of thimerosal, the world of medicine will be convinced mercury-cased preservatives were the wrong choice for vaccines injected into newborns and toddlers. At a meeting called on this subject in 2000, physician Stephanie Cave of Baton Rouge, Louisiana spoke about her experiences treating autistic children-over 400 of them. No therapy worked as well for as many children, she told the group, as mercury detoxification. Parents of autistic kids at that meeting, and other physicians, seconded Dr. Cave's remarks. Other theories about autism have to do with poor intestinal absorption of nutrients or food sensitivities; it's widely agreed these must be dealt with through dietary changes-changes which just happen to be similar to those I recommend in my Plant Based Nutrition Programs. Another theory speculates antioxidant deficiencies play a role in the disorder. Lab tests found deficiencies of important antioxidants in autistic children at the cellular level. Some agents used to help detoxify mercury also happen to be powerful antioxidants-including a chelating agent (a synthetic amino acid that "grabs" metals and helps move them out of the body) called DMSA. Chlorella is also a chelator and it also happens to contain dozens of antioxidant plant chemicals. Autistic children often will only eat a very limited number of foods and their overall nutritional intake can suffer and potentially their problems can worsen as a result. It's hard enough to get a child without autism to eat healthfully in today's refined-carbohydrate-junk-food-saturated environment- with an autistic child it can be an unwinnable battle. Supplementing the child's diet with a safe, mercury-detoxifying, anti-oxidant rich food like chlorella can make a big difference in that child's nutritional intake. In some cases it can bring about significant improvements in their symptoms. Bianca's three year old son had been diagnosed with regressive autism and with a restricted diet (no gluten-the protein in many grains; and no casein-milk protein), cod liver oil, probiotics and some other supplements, her son got worse, then better, slowly. But until she added chlorella to his supplement plan she didn't see any dramatic improvement. Once beginning on chlorella in only a few months, her son went from speaking only 3 words to speaking more than 70 words and began speaking in sentences for the first time. Social skills, imaginary play and potty training all began to majorly improve. She reports he no longer seems to be autistic. Another parent reported her son's autistic symptoms were reversed with a combination of low-grain, organic, fresh food diet and daily chlorella. The child became more adept at interacting with peers; his physical skills improved; and school staff members were completely blown away by his progress predicting the child would no longer need special educational services. Some of these professionals had been working with autistic children for decades. Considering the combination of factors which appear to contribute to autism, the helpful effects of chlorella for autistic children are unsurprising. It aids in mercury detoxification; it contains high concentrations of antioxidants and is packed with vitamins and minerals in highly bioavailable forms making it ideal for filling nutrtional gaps in the diets of autistic children. For more detailed information on mercury detoxification and nutritional protocols for autistic children go to the web site of the Autism Research Institute, home of Deaf Autism Now! at http://www.autismwebsite.com/ARI/dan/dan.html.
Hangovers Japanese researchers gave study subjects 4-5 grams of chlorella before having them drink varying amounts of alcohol. The chlorella reduced hangovers by 96% most likely through enhancing the liver's ability to detoxify the alcohol.
How Chlorella is Cultivated and Processed This plant, whose name is derived from the Greek chloros (green) and ella (small) is usually cultivated in large freshwater pools containing mineral rich water, in places where sunlight exposure is optimal. A strict schedule of inspections and steps for maintaining a monoculture-an alga growth which contains no potentially toxic strains of algae-is followed. No pesticides or chemical additives are used. After harvesting, the chlorella requires processing to break down its cell wall. A patented process has been developed to break down the cell walls without heat or chemicals-protecting its enzyme content and nutritional value.
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