Healthy shopping: High-quality chlorella supplements

Shopping for a quality chlorella supplement? Joanna Evans shares what to look for plus four top products to try

Chlorella is a type of green algae often recommended by functional medicine practitioners to support the body’s natural detoxification processes. Widely available as a supplement in powder, tablet or capsule form, chlorella is one of the supplements suggested by Dr Leigh Erin Connealy to help the body get rid of toxic heavy metals.

Although clinical trials are lacking, animal studies show that chlorella may help with the elimination of certain heavy metals, including cadmium, lead and mercury, by increasing their excretion.¹ Rich in vitamins and minerals like vitamins D and B12, folate, and iron, the single-celled algae also appears to have antioxidant, blood sugar-lowering, immune-regulating and cardiovascular benefits.²

There is a potential downside, though: Chlorella can absorb substances from its growing environment, meaning some products may contain unwanted contaminants, including heavy metals. This makes choosing a quality supplement especially important. Here are a few tips on what to look for.

Testing. Choose a product that is third-party tested for contaminants like heavy metals, ideally with batch-specific testing and certificates of analysis (COAs) available to view.

Growing conditions. Look for details about where and how the chlorella is grown. Controlled cultivation can help to minimize exposure to environmental contaminants.

Species. Check whether the species of chlorella is clearly stated, such as Chlorella vulgaris, which is one of the most extensively studied species.

Cell-wall processing. Chlorella has a tough outer cell wall, so look for products that state the cell wall has been “broken,” “cracked” or processed somehow to improve digestibility.

Dose and form. Clinical trials often use doses of 1–3 g daily, but there is no established optimal dose for detox or general health. If you’ve been advised to take a high amount by a practitioner, consider a powder supplement, as this will allow for more flexible dosing and prevent you from having to swallow multiple tablets or capsules a day.

Excipients. These are the inactive ingredients in a supplement, and the fewer, the better. Check the ingredients list on the label or website to make sure you’re not getting any unnecessary extras, like sugars, sweeteners, fillers, artificial colorings and preservatives. Also watch out for allergens if you have any allergies or intolerances.

Organic certification. This means the product has been produced and processed according to recognized organic standards.

Products to try

US

Triquetra
Organic BioChlorella Powder, $37.92 (225 g)
triquetrahealth.com

Sun-grown in South India, Triquetra’s broken-cell-wall chlorella (Chlorella vulgaris) has three organic certifications and is third-party tested for over 130 possible contaminants including heavy metals, yeast, mold and E. coli (COAs are available on request). A single scoop provides 3 g chlorella.

US and UK

Organic Burst
Chlorella Tablets, $26.99/£19.99 (250 tablets)
organicburst.com
International shipping available

Said to be safety tested for over 739 contaminants, including heavy metals and radiation, this chlorella is grown outdoors in pure mineral-rich spring water in southern Taiwan and processed using a low-pressure cell-wall-breaking process. Each tablet provides 400 mg chlorella with no other added ingredients.

UK

Alpha01
Organic Chlorella Powder, £17.99 (500 g)
alpha01.co.uk

Also available as 500 mg tablets, Alpha01’s chlorella powder contains just one ingredient: certified organic, broken-cell-wall Chlorella vulgaris and nothing else. The products are independently tested for heavy metals and microbial contaminants, and testing reports are available to download via the website.

Phytality
Fermented Chlorella Tablets, £28.35 (240 tablets)
phytality.co.uk

Phytality’s chlorella (also available as a powder) is sustainably cultivated in a fully controlled, pollution-free environment, then carefully fermented to soften the cell wall and improve digestibility. Each tablet provides 250 mg Chlorella vulgaris and nothing else, and every batch is independently tested for purity and potency.

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