Chlorella

Story

Connected to · 2

contrast · 2

Spirulina
The two are often sold together as the "algae twins", but they do not even belong to the same kingdom: chlorella is a eukaryotic green alga, and spirulina is a cyanobacterium. Chlorella has a higher share of genuine B12 and far more chlorophyll. What they truly share is superfood marketing and uneven product quality: in one analysis, microcystin toxins were found in algae supplements only when they contained another cyanobacterium, AFA.
Vitamin B12
Chlorella is often sold to vegans as a source of B12. Testing shows that the cobalamin in most chlorella tablets is mainly genuine B12, but the amount varies enormously between products, from almost none to a great deal, and some also contain inactive look-alikes. So it cannot replace a B12 supplement: people eating mostly plants are safer with a B12 supplement that states its dose, or with fortified foods.

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Stop 1/5

Chlorella is not spirulina

EVIDENCEREVIEW 1

READ THE ORIGINAL

Chlorella is a single-celled green alga, dried and ground into a powder that is sold as a supplement. Thinking of it as a concentrated vegetable powder is roughly right. Marketing hangs three claims on it, and it cannot carry any of them. It is not a vegan B12 source you can rely on, because the label cannot tell you how much real B12 the jar in your hand contains. The claim that it clears heavy metals from your body comes from mouse experiments, with no solid human evidence. And because it grows in water, it can itself soak up heavy metals from that water, so product quality depends on the water source and on testing.

It is a eukaryotic green alga only a few micrometers across, wrapped in a cellulose cell wall that people cannot digest, so commercial products are mechanically cracked first. Do not confuse it with spirulina: spirulina is actually a cyanobacterium (once called blue-green algae).

More than half of the dry powder is protein (50–60%), and it also carries chlorophyll, carotenes, iron and B vitamins. Most of what it offers, dark leafy greens offer too, for far less money.

Educational content, not medical advice — consult a clinician.

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Chlorella

Story

Connected to · 2

contrast · 2

Spirulina
The two are often sold together as the "algae twins", but they do not even belong to the same kingdom: chlorella is a eukaryotic green alga, and spirulina is a cyanobacterium. Chlorella has a higher share of genuine B12 and far more chlorophyll. What they truly share is superfood marketing and uneven product quality: in one analysis, microcystin toxins were found in algae supplements only when they contained another cyanobacterium, AFA.
Vitamin B12
Chlorella is often sold to vegans as a source of B12. Testing shows that the cobalamin in most chlorella tablets is mainly genuine B12, but the amount varies enormously between products, from almost none to a great deal, and some also contain inactive look-alikes. So it cannot replace a B12 supplement: people eating mostly plants are safer with a B12 supplement that states its dose, or with fortified foods.

Read full story

Stop 1/5

Chlorella is not spirulina

EVIDENCEREVIEW 1

READ THE ORIGINAL

Chlorella is a single-celled green alga, dried and ground into a powder that is sold as a supplement. Thinking of it as a concentrated vegetable powder is roughly right. Marketing hangs three claims on it, and it cannot carry any of them. It is not a vegan B12 source you can rely on, because the label cannot tell you how much real B12 the jar in your hand contains. The claim that it clears heavy metals from your body comes from mouse experiments, with no solid human evidence. And because it grows in water, it can itself soak up heavy metals from that water, so product quality depends on the water source and on testing.

It is a eukaryotic green alga only a few micrometers across, wrapped in a cellulose cell wall that people cannot digest, so commercial products are mechanically cracked first. Do not confuse it with spirulina: spirulina is actually a cyanobacterium (once called blue-green algae).

More than half of the dry powder is protein (50–60%), and it also carries chlorophyll, carotenes, iron and B vitamins. Most of what it offers, dark leafy greens offer too, for far less money.

Educational content, not medical advice — consult a clinician.