Difference between Chlorella and Spirulina
Mankind has put forward the slogan of demanding food and medicine from microalgae in the 21st century. For this reason, microalgae is recognized as the most ideal health food in the 21st century. The most important reason why people pay more and more attention to microalgae is that they are rich in natural functional ingredients. Dr. TGRandolph of the United States said: “Although synthetic products and natural substances have the same chemical structure, they can never replace natural substances, and even get the opposite effect.” The physiologically active substances of microalgae are used in the development of health products, medicines, and functional foods. Playing an extremely important role.
In addition to chlorella (green algae), there are also spirulina (cyanobacteria) that are consumed in large quantities by humans. At present, the edible microalgae products sold in large quantities on the market are mainly Chlorella in the world and Spirulina in China.
Characteristics of Spirulina
Spirulina is a multicellular organism. Although it is a microalgae, it can be seen by the naked eye. Spirulina grows in freshwater ponds, rivers and even oceans with high alkalinity. Through observation, Spirulina can be subdivided into many types of algae, each of which has its own characteristics. Spirulina will mutate during the growth process, that is to say, it will mutate from one algae type gene to another algae type; even some algae types have toxins. That is why spirulina is easy to cultivate, but difficult to purify and ensure its edible safety. Since 1985, Chinese biological experts discovered naturally-growing spirulina (cyanobacteria) in Chenghai Lake in Yunnan. Since then, extensive outdoor aquaculture has begun in many parts of China, which has led to rapid development and utilization of spirulina. But what is not optimistic is that due to improper management, water quality in some areas has deteriorated and cyanobacteria flooded.
Characteristics of Chlorella
Chlorella is a single-celled organism with a spherical shape of 3 to 8 microns and cannot be seen with the naked eye. Chlorella must grow in a freshwater environment that is fully exposed to sunlight. In the early days, there were two major difficulties in the cultivation of chlorella: on the one hand, the problem of algae species, whether the cultivated algae species was a high-quality species - Pyrenoidosa, was difficult to identify at the time; on the other hand, there was no good technology to break the cell wall of chlorella. The outer layer of chlorella is very tough due to the three layers of cell walls. Without breaking the wall, its internal nutrients are difficult to digest and absorb. It was not until Japan's Sun Chlorella Corp. developed the patented DYNO®-Mill wall-breaking technology and preserved Chlorella Pyrenoidosa as a breeding mother species, and the high-quality chlorella with a wall-breaking rate of more than 90% was officially launched. Due to the use of pure mountain spring water for cultivation, Sun Chlorella is also known as the cleanest chlorella*.
*Killing Cancer - Not People by Robert G. Wright
Chlorella and Spirulina
Both Chlorella and Spirulina are classified as super foods, and they are both one of the richest sources of nutrients on the planet. The investment in chlorella cultivation equipment is large and the cultivation environment is demanding. It can only be cultivated in fresh water. The chance of contamination is low, and technical support such as wall-breaking treatment techniques is required. However, spirulina does not have too many environmental restrictions due to cultivation, and it can be cultivated in fresh water or salt water. The species is more complicated and the production cost is relatively low. Both Chlorella and Spirulina are rich in protein and carotene, which can prevent serious diseases. The content of vitamins and minerals in chlorella is not much different from spirulina; the content of protein in chlorella is slightly lower than that in spirulina. However, some functional components in Chlorella, such as biotin, chlorophyll, folic acid, etc., are much higher than spirulina. The chlorophyll content in Chlorella is 5 times that of Spirulina, which can be said to be the king of green in nature! Chlorella has a tough cell wall protective layer, while the outer layer of spirulina silk is the cell membrane. The broken cell wall of Chlorella is a good dietary fiber. The German medical community found that the cell membrane of Chlorella contains special substances called "Sporopollein", but they only exist in the Chlorella Pyrenoidosa species. This special substance is extremely important to get rid of heavy metals and chronic disease-causing substances in the body! Chlorella contains natural biotin, but it is not detected in Spirulina. The role of biotin has been paid more and more attention by medicine and nutrition. Biotin participates in the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins and fats. It has the functions of preventing gray hair, hair loss, relieving muscle pain, reducing eczema, dermatitis and other symptoms.
In recent years, scientists have discovered a special functional substance that Spirulina does not possess-Chlorella Growth Factor (C.G.F.) when studying chlorella. CGF is an active substance with a biological response modification effect. Its physiological function can activate human cell function, activate lymphocytes, enhance delayed hypersensitivity caused by DNFB, enhance the phagocytic function of monocytes and macrophages, and enhance the body's Immune function, resist the invasion of foreign diseases; promote the repair of injured tissues of the human body, reduce the poisoning effect of organic matter, heavy metals, etc. It can also improve gastric ulcer, high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases. CGF can promote the rapid reproduction of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli in the human intestine, and has the effect of regulating the flora in the intestine. In terms of preventing chronic diseases, Agaricus blazei with CGF was used to feed mice injected with chronic disease cells, showing a strong ability to prevent chronic diseases. CGF stimulates macrophages and tumor necrosis factor (TNF): CGF is a safe and effective tumor radiotherapy adjuvant drug, which can reduce radiation damage and protect immunity and bone marrow function, and can reduce the radiation operation of bone marrow cells and immune function of the body , And can indirectly restrain the proliferation of cells.
The content of chlorophyll in Chlorella is 2000-7000 mg, much higher than the 800-1200 mg of Spirulina. Natural chlorophyll is known as a scavenger of harmful substances in the kidneys, lungs and blood.
There are active and inactive vitamin B12. B12 usually derived from meat, milk, eggs and fish foods are all active and physiologically functional B12 vitamins. Studies have shown that Japan Sun Chlorella contains active B12 vitamins with physiological functions. Therefore, chlorella is an ideal source of vitamin B12 for vegetarians. The vitamin B12 found in Spirulina is inactive and therefore does not have the function of active B12.
Resources：《養生保健的全營養素-小球藻》- Organized and compiled by the Science Education Branch of China Health Care Association, published and distributed by China Social Publishing House, our company is only for quotation and reference