There are now over 84,000 chemicals being used in daily foods and products annually - we are overloading our bodies with more synthetics and toxins than ever before.
Ever found yourself wondering if you may be one of the millions suffering from the build-up of toxins in the body?
So we thought we’d let you know about our favourite superfood for helping you detoxify safely to feel your very best.
Read this article to discover:
- Do you really need to detox and what are the symptoms of toxin build-up in the body?
- What is Chlorella and why is it so effective for detoxification?
- Hidden toxins you encounter in everyday life.
- 5 top tips to take Chlorella throughout your day – including some delicious recipe ideas and a pampering treat too!
Why Do We Need To Detox?
Chemicals are being pumped into every aspect of our daily lives, delivering over $763 billion in profits for the chemical industry each year. No wonder over 84,000 of them are making their way into our food and products! We are now overloaded with more chemicals and toxins than ever before [i].
According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG) the average US woman uses 12 personal care products and/or cosmetics a day, containing 168 different chemicals. This is particularly shocking when you keep in mind that almost 13,000 chemicals are used in cosmetics alone, and only about 10% have been evaluated for safety [ii]. Eek!
Almost 13,000 chemicals are used in cosmetics and only 10pct have been evaluated for safety! Eek!
Our numerous elimination pathways (kudos to our gut, kidneys, liver and skin) are all designed to remove toxins from the body quickly and effectively, yet they are becoming increasingly compromised and working overtime due to the toxic overload endured in modern life.
Detoxification is not a simple process so it is important to ensure you have a clear understanding of why you need to detox and how to do so safely and effectively. Here are some signs you may be suffering from toxicity:
- Headaches and migraines
- Fatigue
- Joint pain
- Sleep issues
- Bloating
- Sinus congestion
- Water retention
- Digestive issues
- Skin conditions (such as eczema and psoriasis)
- Acne
- Cravings
- Weight gain
- Mood changes
We know it’s impossible to reduce your exposure to chems right down to zero and detoxification is not a quick fix - however, Chlorella has been found to be a highly potent agent for detoxification and it can easily be added into your routine right away!
What Is Chlorella & What Nasties Has It Been Shown To Detox
Chlorella is a powerful detoxifying green algae that’s remained virtually unchanged over 2 billion years! Not only is it one of the oldest life forms on Earth but it’s also bursting with precious beneficial nutrients and contains more chlorophyll than any other plant!
Its special detoxification properties allow it to bind to nasties such as heavy metals, pesticide residues and other harmful chemicals to carry them out of your body. At the same time it does not bind to useful minerals we need such as magnesium, zinc and calcium.
Whilst there are many studies on the numerous toxins Chlorella has been found to effectively remove we have selected a handful of examples here for you to watch out for in particular.
Dioxins in the air we breathe
The World Health Organization (WHO) states, "Dioxins are highly toxic and can cause reproductive and developmental problems, damage the immune system, interfere with hormones and also cause cancer." [xi]
They’re very common & a persistent by-product of chemical and manufacturing processes. We can also be exposed to them through food, pesticides and herbicides and water. Even in small doses, they have been shown to cause a variety of negative health effects.
Dioxins in air pollution even in tiny doses can cause a variety of negative health effects. Detox them!
Numerous studies coordinated by the WHO found dioxins in the breast milk of women across 35 countries that they tested [iii].
A 2007 study in the Journal of Medicinal Food examined the benefits of Chlorella microalgae on breastfeeding women in Japan - with high levels of dioxins in their breast milk. As a result the group of women who took Chlorella had significantly lower levels of toxins in the breast milk than the control group (that didn’t take Chlorella).
Chlorella lowers levels of toxins in breast milk!
The study concluded: “The present results suggest that Chlorella supplementation not only reduces dioxin levels in breast milk, but may also have beneficial effects on nursing infants by increasing IgA levels in breast milk” [Immunoglobulin A is substance made by your immune system in response to bacteria, viruses, fungus etc]. [iv]
Carcinogens From Cooking Food
HCAs and PAHs are carcinogenic chemicals that are created from heating and frying various meat and fish. These chemicals produce free radicals, which then go on to wreak havoc in the body causing widespread inflammation which can result in a host of degenerative diseases.
A randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study, published in the Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology Journal in 2015 [v], found that Chlorella supplementation for just 2 weeks showed a significant reduction of HCAs and PAHs. Woohoo!
Chlorella has been found to significantly reduce carcinogens in the body!
Heavy Metals In Dental Fillings, Vaccines, Food & Cosmetics
When you think of heavy metals, images of industrial plants and chemical filled labs may spring to mind, but sadly today we are all exposed! Did you know you are exposed to heavy metals daily through food (especially non-organic), water, air, toiletries, cosmetics, amalgam dental fillings and vaccines?
Here are a few examples you may find particularly interesting:
Rice – A common staple across so many diets yet due to the way in which it is grown in groundwater it easily absorbs high quantities of arsenic from contaminated soils. Arsenic has been linked to digestive disorders, skin conditions and cancers [vi].
Dental Fillings – Amalgam dental fillings have been found to contain between 49 to 52% mercury which leaches into our blood stream and can remain there for 15-30 years! Mercury has been found to cause a range of health conditions from headaches to arrhythmias and slowed mental response [vii].
Lipstick – Many common lipstick brands have been found to be contaminated with lead. With lead found to be toxic even in small quantities, licking those lipstick-lined lips could lead to reduced fertility, neurotoxicity and hormonal changes.
Lead contaminated lipsticks could lead to reduced fertility, neurotoxicity and hormonal changes.
Exposure to these toxins over time, even in small amounts, can result in heavy metals accumulating in our tissues, in particular in our fat stores. This build up can be linked to long term degenerative diseases, such as heart disease and Alzheimer’s.
Chlorella has been shown to bind with a variety of heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, mercury and aluminium and supports liver detoxification.
A three-year double-blind metal detoxification study with over 350 participants was undertaken at a Russian metal foundry (where heavy metal exposure was exceedingly high!). Out of the 20 natural compounds tested, Chlorella combined with cilantro was the only combination to remove ALL heavy metals, including mercury with no reported side-effects [viii]. Incredible!
Eating out and pesticides in everyday foods
Did you know that the food and drinks you consume may contain a host of pesticide residues, some of which were actually created along the same processes as those intended for chemical warfare?!
In particular organophosphate compounds were designed by the Nazis during World War II and today we find they’ve been further developed to target the nervous systems of insects. Consumption of these pesticides has been linked to issues with fertility and brain development.
Over time a long period of low-level exposure to pesticides can result in their accumulation in our tissues (mainly in our fat stores), which can be linked to many health concerns from headaches to degenerative diseases.
Pesticides have the ability to remain in your body and can even be passed from a mother to her unborn baby while in the uterus.[ix] Nearly everyone in the US between the 1940s and early 1970s was exposed to DDT, a harsh pesticide, which was used over a large variety of crops. DDT has been found to mimic oestrogen and has subsequently been linked to breast cancers and tumours. It was finally banned in the United States in 1972!
A study published in Environmental Health Perspectives in 2007 found DDT to be present in breast tissue of women born after 1972 (after DDT was banned) meaning their moms had been exposed and passed it onto them.
With so many studies confirming Chlorella’s ability to bind to and remove toxins, it has never been more important to include this powerful food in your diet to help protect you and your little ones!
Enjoying A Cheeky Cocktail Or Kicking Back With A Beer?
It goes without saying that alcohol consumption puts a heavy load on your body to metabolize.
However, you can show your liver some love with Chlorella as a study conducted by Dr. Fukui of Sapporo Medical University (Japan) found 96% of participants avoided a hangover by consuming 4-6 grams of Chlorella before drinking alcohol.
Chlorella was shown to help avoid hangovers in 96pct of study participants.
Whilst being amazing for helping support your liver in metabolizing alcohol, Chlorella also contains an array of bioavailable nutrients such as B vitamins, zinc and magnesium which are depleted when drinking alcohol (explaining why you feel edgy, anxious and exhausted the day after a night out). Chlorella really is the perfect party partner!
Exposure To Cigarette Smoke
Even if you’ve never touched a cigarette in your life, if you live in a city or have family or friends that smoke you could be exposing yourself to a range of chemicals that can have life altering effects on your health.
There are over 70 carcinogens present in just one cigarette - even just having one every now and then can cause irreversible cell damage! Here are just a few of these harmful chems:
Formaldehyde - carcinogenic toxin causing cancer in both humans and animals.
Carbon monoxide - dangerous gas that even at small levels can cause heart disease. Carbon monoxide from one cigarette can almost instantly cause a shortness of breath and an increased heart rate.
Arsenic - heavy metal that is used in rat poison and is linked to various types of cancer.
Numerous studies show that Chlorella helps to remove heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium and lead found in cigarette smoke from the body.
A 2009 study supplementing smokers with just 6.3g (around 2 servings) of Chlorella daily also found it to help improve antioxidant enzyme activities in the participants [x] – great news for helping combat smoking induced inflammation!
Not All Chlorella Is Created Equal!
Organic Burst Chlorella is of the Pyrenoidosa variety that has been recognized for being particularly powerful for detoxification. It contains a tough cell wall that is important in the toxin binding process. However, if this cell wall is not “pre-broken” for you, your body cannot utilise the amazing detoxing benefits of the Chlorella!
We use a special patented cell wall cracking process that makes our Chlorella 2x as digestible - so you get the detoxification benefits as well as absorbing all its powerful nutrients!
Whilst Chlorella is so good at absorbing toxins in the body, this also means it can absorb toxins from its environment. Many of the Chlorella products on the market today are either grown with chemical fertilisers that pollute the planet (for larger yield) or in areas that may be affected by environmental pollution and radiation.
… And did you know that in order to sell Chlorella to consumers and in stores in the US and Europe companies don’t actually need to present any tests for purity to retailers before they hit the shelf!?
Also - just because Chlorella says it’s “organic” doesn’t means it’s clean - it can still be contaminated with high bacterial counts, mould, yeast, radiation, heavy metals, microcystins and other nasties because of the environmental water and air where it is grown (being organic only means it’s free from chemical fertilizers and herbicides).
At Organic Burst we don’t launch a product until we can find the most powerful, cleanest and ethical source (that’s why we only have so few Bursts in our range!). Our Chlorella is precisely that! It comes from a small organic farm surrounded by a rainforest in Southern Taiwan (Taiwan is considered the highest quality source of microalgae in the world - ranking as the purest source by independent studies) and is tested at our farm’s in-house laboratory at every stage of productions for purity.
Our Chlorella is a pure strain cultivated in strictly controlled man-made ponds, using underground mineral water (drinking quality water) in a totally unpolluted environment.
We do not use surface water or water from lakes or the ocean and these conditions mean that our Chlorella is 100% pure and does not contain any contaminants, which means:
- NO Microcystins – These are produced by certain algae grown in polluted waters contaminated by strains of live algae such as microcystis aeruginosa and planktothrix grow which can produce these toxins. They have been found to be particularly damaging to our liver.
- NO Anatoxin-A – A toxin found in algae grown in contaminated conditions which has been linked to nervous system damage and has been found to cause death in pets within minutes!
- NO BMAA - A toxin found in some species of algae and are linked to neurodegenerative disease. Again it is important to ensure your Chlorella is a single strain but also that is has been properly dried and processed to inhibit the production of any BMAA. Our Chlorella is flash dried to ensure no toxins can develop.
Top 5 Tips To Detox With Chlorella During Your Day
If you are new to Chlorella and/or suspect your body may have been exposed to toxins we would recommend starting with 1 serving per day with your breakfast or lunch and ensure that you drink more water, at least 2-3 litres per day.
You can slowly over the next few weeks build up to 2-3 servings a day should you wish to increase the detoxification process.
Ultimately it is key to find your own ideal serving since we all have different starting points, toxicity, lifestyle, environments and diets.
- Detox first thing in the morning. According the Chinese medicine, your liver’s optimal working hours are between 1am - 3am. So be sure to help it flush out any toxins it’s released with 1 serving of Chlorella in water. We love adding a squeeze of lemon to taste too! Check out this Chlorella Lemon Water.
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Super-boost your smoothie, juice or even guacamole, pesto or salad dressing with precious nutrients! Mix in 1 serving (1 teaspoon) of Chlorella powder. We also have lots of recipe inspiration for you to check out here too:
Chlorella Mashed Avocado - The perfect brekkie or snack.
Chlorella Avocado Soup - Super nourishing and comforting lunch or dinner.
Chlorella Coconut Mounds - For satisfying those sweet cravings.
Chlorella Pistachio Ice Cream - If you’re entertaining why not whip up a batch of this to impress your family and friends.
- Been out for drinks or dinner? As discussed earlier Chlorella has been found to help prevent those pesky hangovers. We recommend having 1 serving before and after going out.
- Before bed. Our kidneys are said to operate best between 5pm - 7pm so enhance their efforts and continue detoxing overnight by having a serving of Chlorella before bed to help you wake up feeling radiant and refreshed.
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In a purifying skin mask! Chlorella is also great for detoxing and purifying our skin as we absorb hundreds of toxins through the cosmetics we use. Why not try our teams’ favourite detoxifying facemask! All you will need:
¼ cup natural yoghurt (we love coconut yoghurt)
1 tsp Organic Burst Chlorella powder
Simply mix the two, lather it on, leave for 20 mins then rinse off!
Detoxing does not have to be hard! Simply adding in your Chlorella every day is a great way to help combat any nasties life throws your way!
References
[i] http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/06/06/chemical-exposure.aspx
[ii] http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/2004/06/15/exposures-add-up-survey-results/#.WYgr6TOZOV4
[iii] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2569122/
[iv] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17472477
[v] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25590673
[vi] http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs372/en/
[vii] http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/09/04/mercury-poisoning-from-silver-fillings.aspx
[viii] http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/02/01/is-this-one-of-natures-most-powerful-detoxification-tools.aspx
[ix] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4524999/
[x] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19660910
[xi] http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs225/en/
