Chlorella

Chlorella is a genus of green algae. Due to the fact that Chlorella is high in protein, calories, fat, and other nutrients, there was once a great deal of interest in the possibility of developing Chlorella-based substitutes for certain foods. This would, in theory, be a simple way of delivering food with high caloric content to the Third World.[1] Today, it is more popular as a staple of health food quackery and often marketed as a "superfood".

Potentially edible! Food woo

Fabulous food!

Anti-oxidants Breatharianism David Wolfe French paradox Green tea

Delectable diets!

High-fructose corn syrup Jesus diet Sweeteners Vitamin and mineral supplements

Bodacious bods!

Anti-Gym Ephedrine Fad diet v - t - e

Not to be confused with cholera.

Hardcore woo-meisters will hawk it as part of detox diets or chelation regimens as it allegedly flushes "toxins" and heavy metals out of the body.[2] Unsurprisingly, like many organisms, Chlorella produces its own toxins: lipopolysaccharides that can cause inflammation.[3]

Like most food woo, Chlorella is advertised on any and every diet page that will take their advertising money. With no evidence whatsoever, it is sold as a supplement that makes weight loss easier, in that vague, non-committal, not testable way that is so popular with food wooists.

References

1. Warren Belasco. Algae Burgers for a Hungry World? The Rise and Fall of Chlorella Cuisine. Technology and Culture, Vol. 38, No. 3, Jul. 1997
2. Quick, purchase your Mercola Brand^TM Chlorella here!
3. Systemic LPS Causes Chronic Neuroinflammation and Progressive Neurodegeneration by Liya Qin et al. (2007) Glia 55(5): 453–462. doi:10.1002/glia.20467.

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