NOW Foods Chlorella Pure Powder (4 oz / 113 g) – Certified Organic Broken Cell Wall Microalgae
Pure Green Superfood Rich in Natural Chlorophyll, Whole-Food Phytonutrients, and Plant Protein
Looking to supercharge your daily nutrition with one of the most nutrient-dense greens on Earth? NOW® Chlorella Pure Powder delivers 100% pure, certified organic Chlorella vulgaris in its most bioavailable form. Chlorella is a single-celled freshwater green microalgae famous for packing a massive spectrum of natural vitamins, plant proteins, essential minerals, and vital pigments into every microscopic cell.
In its raw state in nature, chlorella protects its nutrients behind a tough, fibrous armor that human digestive systems cannot break down. To solve this, NOW® utilizes an advanced mechanical milling process to crack this outer shell. This mechanically broken cell wall ensures your digestive system can absorb the rich stores of chlorophyll, carotenoids, and amino acids inside without exposing delicate nutrients to high heat or harsh chemical solvents.
✓100% Certified Organic & Non-GMO: Free from binders, artificial excipients, and fillers.
✓Mechanically Broken Cell Wall: Maximizes nutrient absorption and easy digestion.
✓Complete Vegan Nutrition: Naturally provides bioavailable iron, plant protein, and active carotenoids.
What Makes Chlorella a True Superfood?
Think of chlorella as miniature cellular power plants. Unlike standard leafy greens, chlorella reproduces at a rapid rate under clean sunlight, concentrating sun energy into beneficial plant compounds:
Nature’s Richest Chlorophyll
Chlorophyll is the pigment that gives plants their deep emerald color. It shares a nearly identical molecular structure to human hemoglobin (the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells), making it a favored choice for cellular freshness and natural internal cleansing.
Chlorella Growth Factor (CGF)
Unique exclusively to chlorella, CGF is a natural complex of nucleic acids (RNA and DNA), amino acids, peptides, and polysaccharides created during photosynthesis that supports normal cellular renewal, tissue repair, and vitality.
Plant-Based Bioavailable Iron
Essential for building red blood cells and maintaining daytime stamina, the naturally occurring iron in chlorella is gentle on digestion and paired naturally with trace co-factors that assist everyday uptake.
The Science: Evidence-Based Benefits & Clinical Backing
Dietary supplements must be grounded in solid scientific inquiry. Chlorella microalgae has been evaluated across dozens of peer-reviewed human trials and toxicological investigations:
1. Natural Binding and Detoxification Pathways
Chlorella acts like a microscopic sponge in the digestive tract. The fibrous outer compounds in cracked chlorella walls possess negative electrical charges that allow them to bind tightly to certain unwanted environmental toxins, such as heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants, carrying them through the gut for safe elimination before they can be re-absorbed.
Clinical Citation: In a landmark study published in Chemosphere, maternal chlorella supplementation was shown to significantly decrease dioxin concentrations while simultaneously boosting protective Secretory Immunoglobulin A (sIgA) levels (Nakano, S., et al., Chemosphere, 2007; 68(10): 1944-1949).
Chlorella provides a natural stimulus to the body’s first-line immune defenders. Rather than over-stimulating the system, it helps prime innate immune activity so your defenses respond efficiently when exposed to seasonal stressors.
Clinical Citation: An 8-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial demonstrated that daily chlorella supplementation produced statistically significant elevations in Natural Killer (NK) cell cytotoxic activity and beneficial signaling cytokines like interferon-gamma and interleukin-12 (Kwak, J. H., et al., Nutrition Journal, 2012; 11: 53).
3. Cardiovascular & Lipid Profile Support
The unique combination of water-soluble fibers, carotenoids, and plant sterols in chlorella supports healthy cholesterol metabolism by helping intercept dietary fats in the intestinal lumen and encouraging natural bile acid clearance.
Clinical Citation: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials confirmed that oral chlorella supplementation produces beneficial reductions in total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) levels in adults (Sherafati, N., et al., Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 2022; 66: 102822).
Why Broken Cell Wall Technology Matters
If you swallow whole, unpulverized chlorella, your stomach acids cannot dissolve its shell. Chlorella’s cell wall is made of a complex, tough polymer structure called algaenan (similar to sporopollenin), which nature created to resist extreme weather, drought, and enzyme breakdown.
Processing Method
Digestibility Rate
Nutrient Integrity
Unbroken Raw Chlorella
Under 40% (Passes through undigested)
Nutrients remain trapped inside the cell
Chemical / Heat Cracking
~65% - 75%
High heat oxidizes fragile chlorophyll & enzymes
NOW® Mechanical Milling
Over 80% - 85% Bioavailability
Preserves active enzymes, CGF, and phytonutrients
By using low-temperature, high-precision mechanical soundwave/jet milling, NOW Foods breaks open the tough outer cell wall without damaging the live nutrients inside.
Chlorella vs. Spirulina: Which One Do You Need?
Shoppers often wonder whether they should choose chlorella or spirulina. While both are dark green micro-algae superfoods, they have distinct biological strengths:
The Verdict: If your priority is heavy-metal binding, internal cleansing, liver support, and raw chlorophyll, Chlorella Pure Powder is the preferred choice.
How to Use, Mix, and Taste Optimization
Pure chlorella has a rich, earthy, deeply savory “green tea and sea greens” aroma. Because this product is 100% pure without artificial masking sweeteners, here is how to enjoy it comfortably:
Suggested Use:
Mix 1 rounded teaspoon (~3 grams) daily into at least 8 to 12 ounces of pure water, fresh vegetable juice, or a fruit smoothie.
Pro Blending Tips:
Citrus Masking: Mix with lemonade, fresh orange juice, or water with half a squeezed fresh lemon. The citric acid balances chlorella’s earthy profile.
Smoothie Favorite: Blend with frozen pineapple, green apple, banana, and a handful of spinach. You will taste sweet fruit freshness while getting full superfood nutrition.
Avoid Clumping: Pure powder without flowing agents blends easiest using an electric handheld frother or blender rather than a spoon alone.
Start Slow: If your digestive system is sensitive or new to microalgae, begin with 1/2 teaspoon for the first 3 to 5 days, then progress to the full 1 rounded teaspoon.
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. † Daily Value not established.
Ingredients: Organic Chlorella Powder.
Allergen Specifications: Not manufactured with yeast, wheat, gluten, soy, corn, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, or tree nut ingredients. Produced in a GMP-certified facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens.
Quality & Purity Testing: Tested for heavy metals (lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury) and microcystin bacterial toxins. Packaged and quality-tested in the USA.
Safety & Interaction Warnings
Notice: May cause mild gastrointestinal discomfort in sensitive individuals. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking blood-thinning medications (such as Warfarin, due to natural Vitamin K levels), or have an autoimmune condition, consult your physician prior to use. Accidental overdose of iron-containing products is a leading cause of fatal poisoning in children under 6; keep this container out of reach of children.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is NOW Chlorella Pure Powder?
NOW Chlorella Pure Powder is a 100% certified organic green microalgae supplement. It is mechanically processed to break its tough outer cellular wall, providing bioavailable chlorophyll, iron, vegetable protein, and natural phytonutrients without added chemicals or carriers.
Why does the cell wall need to be broken?
Chlorella’s outer cell wall consists of an indigestible fiber shield made of algaenan. Without mechanical cracking, the human digestive tract cannot break open the wall, and the valuable nutrients inside pass straight through without being absorbed. NOW Foods mechanically fractures this shell to unlock high nutrient bioavailability.
How does chlorella help with natural detoxification?
The microscopic fibers in broken chlorella cell walls carry natural binding sites that adhere to heavy metals, dioxins, and other unwanted metabolic waste products in the digestive tract. Instead of recirculating through the liver, these compounds remain bound to chlorella and are naturally evacuated through bowel movements.
What is the difference between chlorella powder and tablets?
Both deliver the same pure microalgae. However, pure powder contains zero tableting aids or lubricants, absorbs rapidly, and easily mixes into smoothies and juices. It also allows you to adjust your daily serving size to match your personal nutritional goals.
Is NOW Chlorella tested for heavy metals and contamination?
Yes. Because microalgae can absorb environmental elements from water, NOW Foods enforces rigorous testing protocols in their in-house laboratories. Every production run is screened using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) to ensure safety from lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, and harmful algal toxins before packaging.
How should I store this chlorella powder to preserve freshness?
After opening, seal the container tightly and store it in a cool, dry, dark pantry away from heat and direct sunlight. Avoid leaving wet spoons in the container to prevent moisture clumps.
