What Is Chlorella?
Chlorella is a single-celled freshwater green alga, cultivated as a food since the 1950s and sold today as a powder, tablet or capsule. Remedy's Chlorella delivers 1000 mg of whole cracked-cell chlorella per vegan capsule, with 60 capsules per bottle, so 1 capsule is exactly 1 gram of the amounts used in research.
Supplement Facts
Serving size: 1 Vegan Capsule. Servings per container: 60.
| Amount Per Serving |
Amount |
% Daily Value |
| Chlorella (Chlorella pyrenoidosa) |
1000 mg |
* |
* Daily Value not established.
Other ingredients: Cellulose, Glycerin, Water (vegan capsule)
Directions: One capsule daily.
Non-GMO, vegan, gluten free, no additives, no preservatives. Made in the USA.
Roughly half of its dry weight is protein, and it carries iron, magnesium, carotenoids including lutein, and the chlorophyll that gives it a deep green colour. Two species dominate the literature: Chlorella vulgaris, used in most Western supplements and pooled trials, and Chlorella pyrenoidosa, used in the Japanese dioxin research.
The cell wall is the detail that matters most. Human digestion cannot break intact cellulose, so the cells must be cracked or milled first, which is a processing requirement rather than a premium feature. Our full explainer covers what chlorella is and how it works.
Chlorella Benefits: What the Research Shows
The honest version of this section separates pooled randomized evidence from single trials, because chlorella has both and most product pages blur them together. Cardiovascular markers carry the strongest support.
| Use |
Pooled or trial finding |
Evidence tier |
| Total cholesterol |
-9.09 mg/dL |
19 randomized trials, 797 people |
| LDL cholesterol |
-8.32 mg/dL |
Same 19-trial analysis |
| Systolic blood pressure |
-4.51 mmHg |
Same 19-trial analysis |
| Fasting blood glucose |
-4.23 mg/dL |
Same 19-trial analysis |
| Immune markers |
Higher natural killer activity at 5 g/day |
1 trial, 51 adults, 8 weeks |
| Triglycerides, HDL, BMI |
No significant change |
Reported as null |
Those figures come from a meta-analysis of 19 randomized controlled trials covering 797 subjects.[1]Effect of Chlorella supplementation on cardiovascular risk factors: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials — Clinical Nutrition (2018) View source A second analysis of 10 trials in 539 adults found total cholesterol down 7.47 mg/dL and LDL down 7.71 mg/dL, with no effect on triglycerides or HDL.[2]Effect of supplementation with Chlorella vulgaris on lipid profile in adults: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials — Complementary Therapies in Medicine (2022) View source
Each claim is graded separately in our review of what the chlorella benefit research actually found.
Chlorella and the Immune System
One well-designed trial sits behind the immune claim. Over 8 weeks, 23 healthy adults took 5 grams of chlorella daily and 28 took placebo, and natural killer cell activity rose significantly in the chlorella group along with interferon-gamma and interleukin-1 beta.[3]Beneficial immunostimulatory effect of short-term Chlorella supplementation: enhancement of natural killer cell activity and early inflammatory response — Nutrition Journal (2012) View source
-
What it showed: Marker changes in healthy adults over 8 weeks.
-
What it did not show: Fewer colds or infections, which were not measured.
-
Who should pause: Anyone with autoimmune disease or on immunosuppressants.
Being Straight About Detox and Heavy Metals
Chlorella is sold almost everywhere as a heavy-metal detox, and we will not repeat that claim. A search of the human trial literature for chlorella and heavy-metal excretion returns nothing usable.
| Question |
What exists |
Status |
| Does it lower blood lead in people? |
No trial located |
Unproven |
| Does it increase metal excretion? |
No trial located |
Unproven |
| Does it affect mercury? |
1 mouse study, a related alga |
Animal only |
| Does it affect dioxins? |
2 Japanese human papers |
Different compound class |
Dioxins are persistent organic pollutants, not metals, and the mouse mercury work used Parachlorella beyerinckii rather than chlorella itself.[4]The influence of Parachlorella beyerinckii CK-5 on the absorption and excretion of methylmercury in mice — The Journal of Toxicological Sciences (2010) View source Anyone with a suspected exposure needs blood testing and clinical care, not a capsule. The full evidence review is on our page about chlorella, detox, and heavy metals.
Chlorella vs Spirulina
These are 2 different organisms, not 2 brands of the same thing. Chlorella is a eukaryotic green alga with a tough cellulose wall; spirulina is a cyanobacterium with a soft envelope and no cracking required.
|
Chlorella |
Spirulina |
| Organism |
Green alga |
Cyanobacterium |
| Cell wall |
Cellulose, must be cracked |
None to break |
| Protein share |
About 50 percent |
About 55 to 70 percent |
| Pooled cardiovascular data |
19 trials |
Studied, smaller body |
| Heavy-metal evidence in humans |
None |
None |
The practical comparison, including taste and tolerance, is in chlorella vs spirulina.
Why Choose Remedy's Chlorella
A supplement dosed in grams needs a label you can do arithmetic with. That is the main design decision here: 1 capsule equals 1 gram, so the trial doses translate directly instead of hiding inside a proprietary green blend.
| What you get |
Why it matters |
| 1000 mg per vegan capsule |
1 capsule is exactly 1 gram of the studied range |
| Cracked cell wall |
Intact cells pass through undigested |
| Single ingredient |
No blend hiding how much chlorella is inside |
| 60 capsules per bottle |
60 days at 1 gram, 20 days at 3 grams |
| Whole algae, not an extract |
Matches what the trials actually used |
Blends are where money quietly disappears, because a proprietary mix cannot be matched against the 1 to 5 gram doses in the research. Formats are compared in powder vs tablets and cracked cell wall.
How to Take Chlorella
Start at 1 capsule daily with a meal and build over 1 to 2 weeks. Most people who abandon chlorella do so in the first fortnight because they began at 3 to 5 grams and met a wall of gas and bloating.
| Week |
Daily amount |
Notes |
| Week 1 |
1 capsule (1 g) |
With food, same time each day |
| Week 2 |
2 capsules (2 g) |
Only if week 1 was comfortable |
| Week 3 onward |
3 capsules (3 g) |
The common everyday amount |
| Cardiovascular goal |
4 to 5 capsules |
Where the 19-trial effects appeared |
-
With food: Better tolerated, and the fat in a meal suits the carotenoids.
-
Timing: No trial compared morning with evening, so consistency wins.
-
Green stools: Chlorophyll passing through, within 1 to 2 days, and harmless.
-
Trial length: Allow 8 to 12 weeks before judging results.
Dose arithmetic, including teaspoon and tablet conversions, is set out in our chlorella dosage guide.
Safety and Who Should Avoid It
Chlorella is a food with a good safety record at 1 to 5 grams daily in trials of 8 to 12 weeks. The cautions that matter are specific rather than general, and 2 of the 3 concern medication.
| Situation |
What to do |
| On warfarin |
Speak to the clinician managing your INR; chlorella supplies vitamin K |
| Autoimmune disease |
Discuss first; 1 trial showed increased natural killer activity |
| On immunosuppressants or biologics |
Clinician conversation before starting |
| Known algae or mould allergy |
Introduce cautiously, or not at all |
| Pregnant or breastfeeding |
A decision for your obstetric team |
| First 2 weeks |
Expect gas, bloating and green stools; ramp slowly |
Side effects and the sourcing question are covered in full on our page about chlorella side effects and who should avoid it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chlorella do for your body? +
It supplies concentrated nutrients and, across 19 pooled randomized trials in 797 people, lowers total cholesterol by about 9.09 mg/dL, LDL by 8.32 mg/dL and systolic blood pressure by 4.51 mmHg. An 8-week trial in 51 adults also found increased natural killer cell activity.
How many capsules should I take a day? +
Start with 1 capsule daily with food, which is 1 gram, then build to 3 capsules over 2 weeks. Trials used 1 to 5 grams daily, with cardiovascular effects appearing mainly above 4 grams for 8 weeks or more.
Does chlorella remove heavy metals? +
No human trial shows that it does. The 1 mercury-related study located used mice and a related alga, and the 2 Japanese human papers concerned dioxins in breast milk, which are a different class of compound. Suspected exposure needs a blood test, not a supplement.
How long does chlorella take to work? +
Allow 8 to 12 weeks. The immune and fatty liver trials both ran 8 weeks, and pooled cardiovascular effects appeared mainly at 8 weeks or longer. Digestive adjustment happens far sooner, usually within the first 2 weeks.
Why does chlorella turn stool green? +
Chlorophyll, the pigment that colours the alga, passes through the digestive tract. It happens at any dose from 1 gram upward, usually within 1 to 2 days of starting, and it is cosmetic rather than a sign of detoxification.
Is chlorella safe to take every day? +
For most adults, yes, at 1 to 5 grams daily, which is what trials of 8 to 12 weeks used. The 3 groups needing clinician input first are people on warfarin, people with autoimmune disease, and anyone on immunosuppressant therapy.
What does cracked cell wall mean? +
It means the tough cellulose wall has been mechanically broken so digestion can reach the contents. Without that 1 step the cells largely pass through intact, which is why cracking is a processing requirement rather than a premium upgrade.
Can I take chlorella with warfarin? +
Only with the agreement of the clinician managing your INR, because chlorella is a green plant food and supplies vitamin K. Consistency matters as much as amount, so starting and stopping every 2 or 3 weeks is worse than a stable routine.
Is chlorella a good source of vitamin B12? +
Not a dependable one. Algae contain a mixture of active B12 and inactive corrinoid analogues, so anyone eating no animal foods should use a tested B12 supplement and check levels rather than relying on 3 grams of algae.
How long does 1 bottle last? +
A 60-capsule bottle lasts 60 days at 1 gram daily, 30 days at 2 grams and 20 days at 3 grams. A full 12-week trial at 3 grams needs about 4 bottles, which is worth planning before starting.
Should I take chlorella or spirulina? +
Chlorella has the stronger trial record for cholesterol and blood pressure, with 19 pooled trials behind it. Spirulina carries a higher protein share, roughly 55 to 70 percent. Neither has human evidence for removing heavy metals.
Does chlorella help with weight loss? +
Not measurably. The 19-trial pooled analysis found a BMI change of 0.23 kg/m2 that was not statistically significant. Weight changes people report usually come from the diet adjustments made alongside a new supplement.
Does it need refrigerating? +
No. Keep it sealed in a cool, dry cupboard away from light, since the 3 things that degrade any dried whole food are heat, light and moisture. Discard a batch that smells fishy or rancid rather than grassy.
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