It's already over a decade ago that I first came across these 2 algae as a possible way of becoming more healthy. Low calories and many healthy nutrients and vitamins. And in the case of Chlorella, also easy to grow. It seemed strange to me that these weren't consumed all over the world and it's only recently that I see a big spike in popularity.
Chlorella is a type of algae that grows in fresh water. It's sometimes called seaweed. It's used for nutrition and as medicine. Chlorella is a good source of protein, fats, carbohydrates, fiber, chlorophyll, vitamins, and minerals.
Spirulina is a blue-green algae, and is believed to be one of the oldest life forms on Earth. First used by the Aztecs as an endurance-booster, spirulina is considered a superfood. It's an all-in-one source of nutrients including protein levels comparable to eggs. Spirulina is a biomass of cyanobacteria that can be consumed by humans and animals. The three species are Arthrospira platensis, A. fusiformis, and A. maxima.
Comparison between the 2 different algae below.
Source for comparison table:
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/chlorella-spirulina#differences
Summary:
Chlorella is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin A, riboflavin, iron, and zinc. Spirulina contains more thiamine, copper, and possibly more protein.
Recent discovery:
Chlorella vulgaris may have anti-cancer effects by inducing apoptosis signaling cascades via an increased expression of P53, Bax and caspase-3 proteins and through a reduction of Bcl-2 protein, which subsequently lead to increased DNA damage and apoptosis.
I would like to make this a collaborative thread. Please list your experiences with either Chlorella or Spirulina, or both.