What Is Chlorella?

Chlorella is freshwater algae that is used in medicine and nutritional supplements. According to WebMD, most of the chlorella we have access to in the United States is grown in Japan or Taiwan, and it's then made into liquid extracts and tablets that are used in conjunction with cancer prevention, immune system stimulation, white blood cell count increase, cold prevention, and deceleration of the aging process. However, there is insufficient evidence to definitively suggest a correlation between these benefits and chlorella.

Still, people are consuming it. The algae is inherently vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and soy-free. Green smoothies with chlorella included in the ingredients are relatively popular, like these recipes, one of which uses apple juice and lemon juice along with chlorella powder.