We are in the post-holiday stage and the body is asking for a general reset and what better than to start with a liver detox.
In another post on our blog we talked about the effects of the detox processes of our body -more specifically the liver-.
And that is why today we will investigate a little more about one of the natural tools that we have at our disposal to achieve our purpose.
Today we talk about chlorella and its detoxifying functions.

Without further ado, join us to discover its benefits.

An algae with a lot of potential

To put ourselves in context, the name chlorella comes from the Greek word chloro, which means green, and the Latin suffix ella , which refers to its microscopic size.
It is a single-celled microalgae that grows in fresh water and has been present on earth since the Precambrian period 2.5 billion years ago and since then its genetic integrity has remained constant.

Although this algae has been recognized since time immemorial, it was not until the beginning of the twentieth century that the nutrient content of chlorella began to be studied.
The plant provides between 42% and 58% protein, 5% to 40% lipids, and 12% to 55% carbohydrates by dry weight, which attracted the attention of scientists.

In addition, it is among the few microalgae recognized as safe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and is approved by the European Food Safety Authority. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biotechadv.2020.107536

In the mid-20th century, scientists saw the algae’s potential as an unconventional food source with functional capabilities.
Large-scale cultivation of microalgae began in the 1960s in Japan, where chlorella was used as a food additive.
In the 1970s and 1980s, industrial microalgae production expanded to the U.S., China, Taiwan, Australia, India, Israel, and Germany, with an emphasis on Spirulina sp.
and Chlorella sp .
en años más recientes.
La producción combinada actual asciende a 5000 y 2500 toneladas de biomasa seca, respectivamente, y ha contribuido a abordar la llamada “brecha proteica”.
DOI: 10.15406/mojfpt.2018.06.00144

In addition, among its many properties, chlorella contains Chlorella Grow Factor (CGF) and is the only plant in the world with growth factor, a substance that contains DNA and RNA and promotes a good immune system and helps repair the body’s tissues.
This growth factor promotes normal tissue development, but does not stimulate the abnormal development of disease processes such as tumors.

Its detox properties

While the researched properties for human health involve many benefits, in this article we will focus only on the detoxifying capabilities of chlorella.

One study investigated the potential protective effects of Chlorella vulgaris extract on acute carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury in mice and the mechanism underlying these effects.
Administration of the toxic agent resulted in a marked increase in serum aminotransferase levels, lipid peroxidation, and cytochrome P450-2E1 (CYP450) expression.
In addition, a decrease in glutathione (GSH) content and the activities of cellular antioxidant defense enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase, and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) were found after exposure to carbon tetrachloride.

All of these phenotypes were markedly reversed by pre-administration of Chlorella vulgaris to mice.
Taken together, these results suggest that chlorella produced a protective action on acute liver injury induced by the toxicant in question in mice, presumably by blocking CYP-mediated carbon tetrachloride bioactivation, inducing GSH levels, antioxidant enzyme activities, and free radical scavenging effect.
Therefore, chlorella may be an effective hepatoprotective agent and a viable candidate for the treatment of liver disorders and other diseases related to oxidative stress. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.etp.2011.06.003

Dioxins are a group of compounds related to dibenzofurans that are ubiquitous industrial and environmental pollutants.
These compounds are readily absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract of mammals and are stored in the liver, adipose tissue, and breast milk due to their lipophilic properties.
To prevent toxicity in humans, it is important to inhibit the absorption of dioxin in the gut and excrete the dioxin stored in the body in the feces.

To investigate the effects of chlorella supplementation on fecal dioxin excretion, a group of rats was administered dioxin-contaminated rice oil.
In turn, the animals were fed 4 grams of 10% chlorella (C. vulgaris) and a control diet.
During the five-day experimental period, fecal dioxin amounts were measured and the result was that fecal dioxin levels were significantly higher in the chlorella-supplemented group than in the control group.
In addition, supplementation with the algae significantly inhibited gastrointestinal absorption of dioxins (a decrease of approximately 2 to 53%).
These results indicate that chlorella supplementation may be useful in promoting dioxin excretion. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/129.9.1731

Active Detox

Active Detox by Salengei is a dietary supplement that comes in the form of capsules that are administered according to the different phases of detoxification, namely.
In the first week, 1 capsule should be taken on an empty stomach.
During the second week, 1 capsule should be used on an empty stomach and 1 capsule before dinner.
And finally, during the third week, 1 capsule should be taken on an empty stomach, 1 capsule before lunch and 1 capsule before dinner.

Active Detox contributes to the detoxification of the liver and protection of cells against oxidative damage and in addition to containing chlorella as a fundamental ingredient, it contains various substances, amino acids and trace elements that act synergistically to achieve complete detoxification.

Cysteine is an amino acid with a thiol group, which is easily oxidizable due to its ability to undergo redox reactions.
This chemical function gives cysteine antioxidant properties.
In addition, it is a chelator of toxic elements.
Together with glycine and glutamic acid, it is essential for the synthesis of glutathione (GSH), particularly in the presence of vitamins C and E

Taurine is an amino acid that contains sulfur.
Among its valuable properties, we can cite one that decreases markers of oxidative stress and that result from exposure to heavy metals.
It is the most abundant free amino acid in the human body and plays an important role in several essential biological processes such as the conjugation of bile acids, the stimulation of glycolysis and glycogenesis, the maintenance of calcium homeostasis, and the osmoregulation and stabilization of the cell membrane.

Alpha lipoic acid is a powerful antioxidant that regenerates other antioxidants (e.g., vitamins E and C, and reduced glutathione) and has metal-chelating activity.
Being hydro- and fat-soluble, it is easily absorbed in the intestine and crosses the barriers of the cell and blood-brain membrane.

Selenomethionine is an important essential element, which is present in a wide range of levels in all populations.
Selenium can be incorporated into organic molecules and the selenium/mercury organic complexes that can be transported across membranes.
The detox process can deplete enzymes that are selenium-dependent such as glutathione peroxidase.
On the other hand, selenium depletion from mercury exposure also depletes selenoenzymes, making supplementation very valuable.

Conclusion

More and more there is a look at natural elements that, until some time ago, were not given due attention.
In order to seek sustainable alternatives to various problems such as the supply of quality proteins in human and animal feed, or the generation of biofuels, microalgae have deployed a wide range of possibilities.

The market for functional foods and food supplements is evolving rapidly, with a current emphasis on the use of natural sources.
With algae at the forefront, there is indescribable potential, as they are rich sources of nutrients and bioactive compounds with positive effects on human health.

The list of health benefits derived from consuming supplements containing microalgae has been steadily increasing.
The apparently contradictory nature of some of the results reported in the literature may be the result of differences in geographical origin, harvesting period, environmental characteristics, harvesting conditions, and method of extracting their properties.

For our part, we support the thought that the beneficial effects of chlorella could imply synergism between multiple nutrient and antioxidant compounds, so necessary for the proper functioning of our body.

As we always say, organic functions are complex and should not be altered in a specific way, but taking into account a broad knowledge of the patient, their specific needs, underlying diseases, ongoing medications and all the epigenetics that this entails.