Considered one of the world's most nutrient-dense superfoods, chlorella is a unicellular microalga that is a close cousin to the multicellular spirulina. With approximately ten times more chlorophyll than alfalfa, chlorella is one of best sources of chlorophyll among plants. This nutrient-dense superfood is composed of 1-4% chlorophyll, 9-18% dietary fiber and 55-60% protein.
Aside from chlorophyll, chlorella also contains high levels of antioxidants, such as lutein, lycopene and alpha- and beta-carotene. Additionally, chlorella is packed with a variety of nutrients, such as protein, iron, fiber, magnesium, zinc, calcium, potassium, copper, phosphorus, omega-3 fatty acids, inositol, choline, biotin, folate, pantothenic acid and other B vitamins, as well as vitamins A, C, E and D. Furthermore, chlorella is naturally loaded with both essential and nonessential amino acids.
Chlorella easily beats out other superfoods when it comes to nutrient content. Gram for gram, chlorella contains: