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Frequently asked questions about chlorella

Below are the questions we are asked most often: what chlorella is, how our chlorella is grown and processed, and how you use it. Not seeing your question? Just ask, we are happy to think along with you.

The information on this page is general in nature. Do you use medication, are you pregnant or are you undergoing treatment? Then consult your doctor or pharmacist first.
About chlorellaQuality, cultivation and processingUse and dosageOrdering and shipping

About chlorella

Chlorella is a single-celled green freshwater alga. The nutritional part consists of roughly 60% protein, 20% carbohydrates and 11% fats; the rest is water, fibre and minerals. Chlorella also contains all essential amino acids, saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and trace elements, and a component found only in chlorella: the Chlorella Growth Factor (CGF).

Chlorella comes from Latin and means 'small leaf green'. The name refers to the unusually high chlorophyll content, which gives chlorella its characteristic deep emerald green colour.
There are about ten species of chlorella. The best known is Chlorella Pyrenoidosa; Chlorella Sorokiniana is a branch of it and is also called 'the king of chlorellas'. It is the only species that contains a substantial amount of CGF. A chlorella cell is barely larger than a human blood cell.
CGF stands for Chlorella Growth Factor: the core material of the chlorella cell, in concentrated form. That core is about 25 times smaller than the cell itself, so a lot of chlorella is needed to produce a limited amount of CGF. That is where the price comes from. CGF is usually taken alongside regular chlorella, not instead of it.

Quality, cultivation and processing

In two places in Taiwan, in the north and the south of the island. Both are mountain areas with very clean air, which makes airborne pollution negligible. Cultivation has been running there since 1964.

In the growing conditions and in what happens afterwards. Plenty of sunlight, clean air and clean water, careful cell wall breaking and a strict selection of strains together determine the quality. You can grow a lot of chlorella in a short time, but then of weak quality. Watch out for dilutions as well: '100% chlorella' can mean that 100% chlorella was used for a dilution down to 10%. Chlorella grown in closed tubes is very pure, but the lack of sunlight costs it exactly the chlorophyll and the sturdy cell wall. We grow with selected strains under controlled conditions, and our end product contains nothing but chlorella. All our test reports are online.
The cell wall of natural chlorella is three layers thick and is not digested by the body. Without breaking that wall, the contents of the cell remain largely out of reach, so breaking it is essential. We no longer use a dyno mill for this, but our own pressure release method: it releases the cell contents without heat and without damaging them.
With enhanced sun drying: the chlorella dries quickly below 30 °C with high air movement. Because the temperature stays low, none of the contents is lost.
We no longer produce organic chlorella. With chlorella, the 'organic' label says little about quality: organically grown chlorella can never be as pure as chlorella from a fully controlled cultivation. Our product is still 100% pure chlorella, but the nutrients come from already purified sources, and then it may no longer be called organic. We choose purity.
No. Chlorella is a freshwater alga and therefore contains no iodine, unlike seaweeds. You can see this in our test reports.

Use and dosage

In terms of content there is no difference; it comes down to the digestive route. Tablets follow the most natural one: protein digestion already starts in the stomach. Powder taken with water passes the stomach almost immediately. For anyone whose stomach is easily upset, powder can therefore be more comfortable. In all other cases tablets are an equally good choice, and it is mainly a matter of convenience and taste.

Build up gently in four steps. Start with a quarter of the daily dose for three days: for an adult woman that is 3 tablets (750 mg), for an adult man 4 tablets (1 gram) per day. If that feels good, move to half, again for three days, then three quarters, and finally the full recommended dose. If you notice discomfort along the way, such as a headache or a change in bowel movements, step back until it fades, stay on that lower dose for a week and then continue building up.
The daily dose on the packaging and on the product page applies to an average adult: 16 tablets for a man of about 185 cm and 80 kg, 12 tablets for a woman of about 170 cm and 60 kg. If you weigh clearly less or more, the dose shifts proportionally. Keep to the maximum dose stated on the packaging.
A level teaspoon comes down to just over 1 gram. Not every teaspoon is the same size, so it stays an approximation, but as a rule of thumb it works fine.
Most people notice nothing unusual. Anyone with a sensitive stomach may experience heartburn because of the high amino acid content; a lower dose or switching to powder usually resolves that. A temporary change in bowel movements or some flatulence in the first weeks also occurs. If the complaints persist, stop and contact your doctor.
No. Chlorella is a food and you can keep taking it, just as you do not have to stop eating vegetables. No tolerance builds up: that only happens with products that have a hormonal feedback loop or a stimulating effect on the nervous system, such as coffee or nicotine.
Chlorella is a complete food supplement, so much additional supplementation is usually unnecessary. If you take several products at once it becomes hard to see what contributes what; building up one thing at a time keeps it clear. If you use blood thinners, are pregnant or are breastfeeding, consult your doctor or pharmacist first: chlorella naturally contains vitamin K, which can affect how some medication works.

Ordering and shipping

We ship worldwide. Our European warehouse is in Belgium, so shipping costs are calculated from there. You see the exact amount at checkout, before you confirm your order. Orders above 125 euro ship free.

All analyses are online, per batch. If you cannot find the report for your package, send us the batch number via the contact page and we will get it to you.