Both chlorella and spirulina are known as healthy superfoods and nutrient-dense algae that provide a variety of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. But what really is the difference between the two?
Differences Between Chlorella and Spirulina
Spirulina is a type of cyanobacteria which belongs to the blue-green algae family. It has long been consumed in health foods and smoothies as a dietary supplement. Listed as Spirulina maxima and Spirulina platensis on supplements, it usually comes in a powdered form or tablets for easy consumption. Spirulina grows in both freshwater and saltwater areas, such as Africa, Asia, South America, and Hawaii.
On the other hand, chlorella is part of the green algae family that grows in freshwater locations in Asia like Taiwan, Japan and Korea. It has a hard cell wall and high fibre content, making it harder to be ingested and broken down. It is usually sold in the form of powder and tablet supplements.Â
Both chlorella and spirulina provide many health benefits such as fighting infections and improving white blood cell count, calming inflammation, and also are an important vegetable source of iron, magnesium, potassium, and omega 3s.Â
However, one difference between the two is that chlorella contains Chlorella Growth Factor (CGF), which helps with cells to multiply and repair, which is not found in other microalgae like spirulina. Due to the presence of CGF, chlorella cells have the ability to multiply 4 times every 20-24 hours, and have been shown to possibly repair damage to nerve tissues and aid in cell production.CGF provides genetic material for DNA and RNA repair to support cell repair in our bodies. It is especially good for treating quick recovery from illness, increasing blood count and faster wound healing after surgery.
Another key distinctive function of CGF is immunity. CGF prevents virus from growing, increases the body's resistance against infection of diseases and also controls the cancer cells in our body. CGF stimulates T cells against viruses and cancer, and interferon production, which protects our body from infections of influenza and viruses.How to Supplement With ChlorellaÂ
Yaeyama chlorella is especially unique in terms of its purity, area of harvest in the outdoors. It is harvested in the second largest coral reef island in Ishigaki, off Okinawa, Japan, known for its clean and unpolluted coral reef waters, excellent weather of sub-tropics and unspoiled nature, under strict quality inspection and based on ISO9001-HACCP standards.Â
Yaeyama chlorella is harvested outdoors with the highest nutrient levels in CGF of up to 24%, and 1.4 times higher chlorophyll levels than those of indoor-cultivated ones. It has the highest digestibility, 100 percent purity (contains no impurities mixed with other algae and no binders) and an exceptionally fragrant taste.Â
At Nature’s Glory, we sell 3 types of chlorella items to choose from - tablets, powder and CGF liquid extract:
Chlorella Tablets - takes a few hours to digest, up to 24% CGF
Manufactured in 50g tablet form, our tablets are made from green single cell algae with over 80% digestibility and easy for consumption. Take 1-15 tablets daily or more after meals.
Chlorella Powder - contains up to 24% CGF, you can sprinkle it over salads, smoothies, juices or dishes. Use ½ tablespoon daily per person.Â
Liquid extract CGF - immediate absorption, made from hot water extracted from Chlorella. Take CGF Chlorella Liquid Extract half an hour before meal or 2 hours after meal for maximum and speedy absorption.Â
For daily maintenance, we recommend that you drink CGF liquid extract in addition to chlorella tablets for the full benefits and maximum absorption levels of all nutrients into the body.