Chlorella and spirulina are different species of algae that you can find in a number of dietary supplements. In Japan, chlorella, a single-celled phytoplankton, is also used as a food source. Although not backed by scientific evidence, chlorella and spirulina have several purported health benefits, including being an immune system stimulant and aid to digestion, as well as having some cancer-fighting properties. Chlorella and spirulina are also loaded with nutrients, such as vitamins C, B-12, beta-carotene, iron and zinc. But despite the possible benefits, these supplements do come with some potential harmful side effects. As algae, chlorella and spirulina are part of the plant kingdom, so it is possible to have an allergy to either one or both of them. An allergic reaction can manifest as redness, itching, hives, a skin rash and swelling of the face and mouth. It's also possible to suffer a more serious allergic reaction called anaphylaxis if you are highly allergic to chlorella or spirulina.
Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency requiring immediate medical attention. Symptoms include wheezing, difficulty breathing and swallowing, confusion, fainting, loss of consciousness and even death in severe cases. Call your physician at the first sign of an allergy to chlorella or spirulina. It's essential to buy spirulina, and any other dietary supplements including chlorella, from a reputable manufacturer. If not processed correctly, spirulina can contain a high concentration of toxic substances called microcystins and anatoxin, according to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. The maximum safe intake for these toxins have not been determined. These toxins may build up in your system and affect your liver and nervous system, especially if you are taking spirulina for an extended period of time. This is of particular concern for children, as spirulina is sometimes used as an alternative treatment for attention deficit disorder. Spirulina can also be contaminated with heavy metal toxins or with bacteria from animal fertilizer runoff.
Chlorella and spirulina can interact negatively with certain medications. Because it contains vitamin K, chlorella supplements can interfere with the effectiveness of blood thinner medications. If you have an allergy to iodine, you may also be allergic to chlorella. Because of their immune-stimulating properties, do not take chlorella or spirulina with immune suppressing medications. If you have phenylketonuria, a genetic disorder in which your body cannot metabolize the amino acid phenylalanine, or an autoimmune disease, such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, you shouldn't use supplements containing spirulina. The supplements can worsen your symptoms associated with these conditions. Only use these dietary supplements under the supervision of your doctor, particularly if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Although most side effects associated with spirulina and chlorella are not particularly harmful, they should still be taken into consideration. Chlorella can cause you to be over-sensitive to sunlight;
it can also cause bloating, cramping and diarrhea. Spirulina can also produce some uncomfortable gastrointestinal effects, including diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, as well as insomnia and anxiety. Consult your doctor first if you decide to take these over-the-counter supplements, just to be safe. Side Effects of Chlorella Supplements Can Children Take Chlorella? Wheatgrass Vs. Chlorella Vs. Spirulina Vs. Barley Grass Chlorella Spirulina Detox Symptoms Benefits & Uses for Chlorella Powder Benefits of Spirulina & Chlorella What Are the Benefits and Side Effects of Spirulina? Chlorella and Hair Loss How to Take Chlorella Powder What Are the Dangers of Chlorella? Does Taking Chlorella Make You Feel Tired? Spirulina & the Thyroid Dangers of Phytoplankton Supplements Blue Green Algae for Weight Loss & Detox Chlorella Supplements When Pregnant What Is Chlorella Pyrenoidosa?Note, I have been taking many of the supplements you see here for a year or more.
in most cases I started with smaller quantities and worked my way up. It’s especially important to do that with chelators and methylation supplements. Never make decisions about dosing based on what’s easiest – either split capsules or tablets or order the right dose. You can get small increment doses of chelators from Livingnetwork. which I’ve been very happy with and if you use the links below you will get a $10 discount on your first order. Update: I’m trying to reduce the number of supplements I take and anything I’m no longer taking you’ll see in strike-through format. IP6 – Phytic acid—also called inositol hexaphosphate, or IP6—is comprised of six phosphorus molecules and one molecule of inositol. In foods, phytic acid binds to iron and other minerals in the digestive tract and may interfere with mineral absorption. As a purified extract of rice bran, taken between meals so it will not bind to minerals in the digestive tract, phytic acid is readily absorbed into the bloodstream, where it acts as a potent mineral chelator.
Phytic acid binds to any free iron or other minerals (even heavy metals such as mercury, lead and cadmium) in the blood, which are then eliminated through the kidneys. Phytic acid removes only excess or unbound minerals, not mineral ions already attached to proteins. Phytic acid is such a potent—but safe—iron and mineral chelator that it may someday replace intravenous chelation therapy such as the mineral-chelator EDTA or iron-binding drugs such as desferrioxamine (Desferal). Because of its ability to bind to iron and block iron-driven hydroxyl radical generation (water-based) as well as suppress lipid peroxidation (fat-based), phytic acid has been used successfully as an antioxidant food preservative. Lactoferrin – Lactoferrin’s primary role is to sequester free iron, and in doing so remove essential substrate required for bacterial growth. Antibacterial action of lactoferrin is also explained by the presence of specific receptors on the cell surface of microorganisms. Lactoferrin binds to lipopolysaccharide of bacterial walls, and the oxidized iron part of the lactoferrin oxidizes bacteria via formation of peroxides.
This affects the membrane permeability and results in the cell breakdown (lysis).An iron-binding protein analogous to the iron transporter transferrin; it binds and sequesters iron in areas outside of the bloodstream such as the mucous membranes, gastrointestinal tract, and reproductive tissues (Jiang 2011). It is present at high concentrations in milk, and is secreted by immune cells (neutrophils) as an antibacterial compound at sites of infection or inflammation (Paesano 2009; Each lactoferrin molecule can reversibly bind two ions of iron, zinc, copper or other metals. It is demonstrated that lactoferrin is involved not only in the transport of iron, zinc and copper, but also in the regulation of their intake. Presence of loose ions of zinc and copper does not affect the iron binding ability of lactoferrin, and might even increase it. Rutin – Polyphenols such as chlorogenic acid (Kono 1998), quercetin, rutin, chrysin (Guo 2007), punicalagins (from pomegranate) (Kulkarni 2007), and proanthocyanidins (from cranberry) have been shown to bind iron in vitro (Lin 2011).
In an in vitro binding study of 26 flavonoids (a type of polyphenol) isolated from a variety of sources (including tea catechins, hesperidin, naringenin, and diosmin), several were nearly as effective as desferoxamine at chelating ferrous iron when supplied at a 10:1 flavonoid/iron ratio. charcoal – I use activated charcoal to diminish detox symptoms. Activated charcoal has an advantage over other gut decontamination methods because it can “catch up” to substances that have moved beyond the pylorus into the small intestine. It can bind up to 60% of a toxin when given within 30 to 60 minutes after the ingestion. Even when certain toxins have been absorbed into the bloodstream, multiple doses of activated charcoal, sometimes called “gut dialysis,” can help increase their elimination. An adult may receive 12.5 grams/hour of activated charcoal until his drug levels reach nontoxic levels, typically within 24 hours. The drug is eliminated through a process of back diffusion from the mesenteric capillaries across the GI epithelium into the GI tract, where it’s adsorbed to the charcoal.
Activated charcoal has the ability to attach (adsorb) cholesterol and bile acids present in the intestine, preventing their absorption. Many people use bentonite clay for this purpose, but I’ve always been hesitant to take clay because of its aluminum content and tendency to constipate. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) – 1,500 mg – recommended by Dr. Cutler in the 500 to 4,000 mg range for raising blood glutathione. He says that people who are sensitive to paint fumes exhaust or the preservatives BHT, BHA, and TBHQ and other hydrocarbons are most likely to benefit. NAC is a slightly modified version of the sulfur-containing amino acid cysteine. When taken internally, NAC replenishes intracellular levels of the natural antioxidant glutathione (GSH, often deficient with advancing age and in chronic illness), helping to restore cells’ ability to fight damage from reactive oxygen species (ROS). NAC also regulates expression of scores of genes in the pathways that link oxidative stress to inflammation.
These dual effects give NAC a unique role in the prevention and treatment of many common diseases, both acute and chronic. NAC can protect against avian influenza and more common seasonal flu symptoms. NAC protects tissues from the effects of exercise-induced oxidative stress, adding value and safety to your workout. NAC improves insulin sensitivity in people with some of the most difficult-to-treat metabolic disorders. NAC blocks cancer development at virtually every step in the process, and through multiple mechanisms, making it an important cancer chemopreventive agent. One of those mechanisms involves copper and may explain why NAC may help reduce copper toxicity. s acetyl glutathione – 150 mg – this form is as effective or more so than liposomal glutathione – the most important molecule you need to stay healthy and prevent aging, cancer, heart disease, dementia and more, and necessary to treat everything from autism to Alzheimer’s disease. Called the mother of all antioxidants.
The good news is that your body produces its own glutathione. The bad news is that toxins from poor diet, pollution, toxins, medications, stress, trauma, aging, infections and radiation all deplete your glutathione. If you’re like me, you’ll need to work up to this amount slowly. ALA (alpha lipoic acid) – binds mercury like DMSA but also has the advantage of crossing the blood brain barrier to chelate mercury from your brain (and internal organs). According to Dr. Cutler, the effectiveness of ALA with lead is unknown but may possibly remove it from the brain along with mercury. Increases liver secretion of bile, darkening and loosening stools. Like DMSA, it must be taken every 3 to 4 hours (including night doses ) for minimum of three days at a time. Apart from its properties as a chelator, Alpha-lipoic acid is an antioxidant that is made by the body and is found in every cell, where it helps turn glucose into energy (reactions involving two key enzyme complexes of the Krebs Cycle require ALA as a cofactor).
Other antioxidants work only in water (such as vitamin C) or fatty tissues (such as vitamin E), but alpha-lipoic acid is both fat- and water-soluble. That means it can work throughout the body. You can expect Lipoic Acid to exacerbate the following symptoms: increased urine volume, obsessive thinking, emotional volatility, difficulty relating to people, and apathy. ALA is listed on Freddd’s methylation protocol as a possibly critical show-stopper cofactor. May deplete vitamin B-1 (see B-1 above). DMPS – 3.125 mg x 3 – dimercapto-1-propanesulfonic acid is an extracellular chelating agent that cannot enter cells but binds with heavy metals in fluids surrounding cells and in the blood. It also can’t cross the blood brain barrier. Its primary use seems to be in mopping up the mercury that is freed by the use of ALA. Dr. Cutler says it suppresses symptoms very well and recommends using on an eight hour schedule which makes it much easier to use than DMSA. According to Dr. Cutler, orally administered DMPS relieves symptoms more promptly and completely than DMSA and is often tolerated better.