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9 Best Spirulina & Chlorella Algae Supplements [2023] Review

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byNick

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9 Minutes

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Best Chlorella Spirulina Supplements
Best Chlorella Spirulina Supplements
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This tiny tablet is the world’s most powerful green superfood that you’ve probably never tried. If you hate fruits and vegetables, or don’t have access to clean food, you’ve found your perfect solution.

algae chlorella spirulina size
Spirulina and chlorella tablet size compared to a dime
1 kg of algae (2.2 lbs) has the same nutritional value as 1,000 kgs (2,200 lbs) of fruits and vegetables — NASA Click To Tweet

Each algae tablet contains:

  • 0 sugar
  • 1 calorie
  • 3 times more protein than steak
  • 48 times more iron than spinach
  • 40+ vitamins & minerals
  • 64% amino acids (by weight)
  • 1000 times more chlorophyll than kale
  • Ample B vitamins
  • Plenty of beta carotene
  • Powerful antioxidants
  • Alkalinity
  • Natural DNA and RNA for accelerated recovery

And much more.

Whether you’re a biohacker, health enthusiast, or just looking for convenient on-the-go nutrition, algae is one of the simplest and most effective foods and supplements money can buy.

But it’s not all equal. Many algae supplements contain a plethora of heavy metals, toxins, and worst of all, devoid of nutrients killed by high-heat processing. This post covers the benefits of spirulina and chlorella, and everything you should know before buying an algae product. Read on for my comprehensive spirulina and chlorella review & comparison guide.

Why I Take Algae Daily

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If you love podcasts, in the above episode I talked with the world’s foremost expert on the science of Spirulina and Chlorella.

Backed by over 50 years of science and nearly 100,000 studies, algae is one of Earth’s ultimate superfoods. I’ve consumed algae every single day for years for several reasons:

  • Hypersustainable and low-impact on Earth
  • Incredibly nutrient dense
  • Replacement for snacks and supplements
  • Compatible with keto, paleo, vegan, and virtually every diet
  • Zero impact on blood glucose or ketones
  • Highly bioavailable and absorbable
  • Safe, even for pets
  • Shelf-stable for years

After discovering that algae is the best-kept secret amongst doctors, nutritionists, and health professionals, I began my research. Years later, vital knowledge over this superfood still hasn’t made it into the mainstream.

You can use spirulina and chlorella as a supplement (if you don’t like the taste), or an earthy and crunchy garnish to upgrade the nutritional content of any meal.

Of the many types of algae, only spirulina and chlorella have an impressive track record of benefitting humans.

Supplements Spirulina & Chlorella Replace

These two algae are unparalleled in their nutritional power. Making taking a cupboard full of synthetic supplement isolates redundant and unnecessary.

You’ll get the details below.

Spirulina and chlorella algae can replace the following supplements:
  • Multivitamin
  • Magnesium
  • Potassium
  • Iron
  • Omega-3 fish oil
  • Vitamin B complex
  • Whey protein
  • Chlorophyll powder
  • Antioxidants
  • Boron
  • Pre-workout

In some situations, however, you may just want one of the two. Here’s how to decide.

Battle of the Best Algae: Buying Spirulina or Chlorella?

Visit any health food store around the world, and they’re sure to carry spirulina, chlorella, or most likely, both. The sheer amount of research alone could fill an entire book with the therapeutic and ergogenic effects of these algae.

Use this breakdown to determine which is best for you.

Spirulina Algae

Best For: Performance

Type: Blue-green

Pigments: Phycocyanin & chlorophyll

Age: 4 billion years old

Primary Nutrient: Protein

Absorption Speed: 10 mins

Nutrition Profile: 40+ vitamins & minerals

Endorsements: United Nations

Uses: Energy, focus, hunger, immunity, athletics, injury reduction, nutrient-dense snack

Chlorella Algae

Best For: Recovery

Type: Green

Pigments: Chlorophyll

Age: 3 billion years old

Primary Nutrient: Chlorophyll

Absorption Speed: 60-120 mins

Nutrition Profile: 40+ vitamins & minerals

Endorsements: NASA

Uses: Cellular health, strengthens immunity, removes toxicants, slows aging, accelerates recovery, reduces inflammation

Benefits & Uses of Spirulina

Spirulina Benefits

Spirulina is the answer to world hunger and nutrient deficiency

United Nations

Spirulina is the best algae for enhancing performance. It’s the older of the two, and richer in nutrients. In addition to the 40+ vitamins and minerals, Spirulina is nature’s perfect workout fuel.

The benefits of Spirulina include:
  • Sharpens focus: the only plant-based source of bioavailable Omega-3 and GLA essential fatty acids
  • Prevents fatigue: world’s highest concentration of iron
  • Anti-aging: contains powerful antioxidants
  • Boosts energy: contains natural Nitric Oxide, B vitamins, Polysaccharides, and Ribose which increase cellular energy
  • Complete B vitamin complex
  • Improved blood flow: Nitric Oxide is a vasodialator
  • Supports growth: 64 percent highly bio-available free-form amino acids help the body grow
  • Speeds up recovery: contains ribose which stimulates ATP energy generation
  • Increased energy and focus
  • Quells inflammation: GLA and omega-3 fatty acids help reduce injury

Together, these make spirulina the perfect option for fixing nutrient deficiencies, athletics and physical performance, getting bioavailable plant-based protein and omega-3, and enhancing brain function.

Here’s how many Spirulina tablets you should take for different purposes:
  • Recover from viral illnesses: 50-75
  • Endurance workout: 50-75
  • Strength or other workout: 30
  • Meal replacement: 30
  • Protection against viruses: 20
  • Light workout: 20
  • Energy or focus: 15
  • Reduce hunger: 15
  • Support intermittent fasting: 10
  • Immune support: 10
  • Nutrition support: 5
  • Health support: 5

Chlorella shares some similarities but also has big differences.

Benefits & Uses of Chlorella

Chlorella Benefits

Chlorella is the ideal algae for detoxification, recovery, and supporting overall wellness. It has grown on Earth for over 3 billion years. Many of chlorella’s benefits come from its rich chlorophyll content.Check the nutrition facts ofhigh-quality vitamin, multi-vitamin, mineral, and trace mineral products and you’ll often find chlorella as the first (and primary) ingredient.

In fact, chlorella is the world’s richest source of chlorophyll:

  • 50 times more chlorophyll than wheatgrass juice
  • 1000 times more chlorophyll than kale
Benefits of chlorella:
  • Helps detoxify radiation
  • Supports immune system
  • Speeds up recovery due to high RNA/DNA and “Chlorella Growth Factor”
  • Reduces muscle pain and lactic acid accumulation
  • Promotes weight loss
  • Lowers blood sugar
  • Lowers cholesterol levels
  • Promote healing
  • Can bind to potential carcinogens and interfere with how they’re absorbed
  • reduces constipation
  • Prevent acute toxicity of alcohol
  • Strong antioxidant

Chlorella helps protect the body against the ravages of modern life and supports optimal wellness.

Here’s how many Chlorella tablets you should take for different purposes:
  • Recover from viral illnesses: 50-75
  • Elite sports recovery: 50-75
  • Strength or other workout: 30
  • Hangover prevention: 30
  • Athletic recovery: 30
  • Detox (heavy metals): 20
  • Viral protection: 25
  • Cleansing: 20
  • Digestive support: 15
  • Immune support: 10
  • Health support: 5

How to Choose Algae Supplements & Foods

Now that you have background on the tablets, it’s important to make the right choices when evaluating products. Since the two algae have vastly different properties, high-quality products differ in how they’re produced.

Here is what to look for.

High-quality spirulina & chlorella products
  • Organic
  • 100% Non-GMO
  • Non-Irradiated
  • Unprocessed
  • Chemical-free
  • Grown in pristine filtered water
  • Cold processed (best quality) or at least low-heat processed
  • Grown in Taiwaan
  • Serving size
  • Quantity
  • Price

Chlorella has several unique properties.

Chlorella has the strongest cell wall of any plant. To absorb the nutrients, check that it has a “cracked cell wall”. Most companies accomplish this using glass marbles. Glass marbles, however, often contain lead and other contaminants that leach into the algae. They also generate heat which destroys certain delicate nutrients. Instead, the best brands use ultrasound to crack the cell wall.

Also check if brands mention which strain of chlorella. Look for “100% chlorella pyrenoidosa”, as it is superior to “chlorella vulgaris” (which is cheaper to sell and less beneficial).

Best Spirulina and Chlorella 50-50 Combination Products

Best Overall 50-50 Algae: VITALITYbits

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Overview

Dose: 250 mg per tablet

Contents: 1,000

Serving Size: 33

Grown: Taiwan, China (in freshwater tanks using triple-filtered spring mountain water)

Production: No GMOs, No Impurities, No Heavy Metals, No Preservatives, No Fillers, Sugar-Free, Gluten-Free, Caffeine-Free, Soy-Free

Endorsements: 50 Olympic & Professional Athletes, and Over 1,000 Nutritionists, Chiropractors, and Wellness Professionals

With VITALITYbits you know that you’re getting the highest-quality products in the world. Catherine Arnston, their founder, is the leading authority on algae. Over the last few decades, she has compiled most of the information available. If you found algae via podcast, you assuredly heard her.

Her company does not take any shortcuts. Each of their products uses state-of-the-art manufacturing processes to ensure that you receive algae in its raw, unprocessed state. That’s why it has become the favorite brand of health professionals.

Buy VITALITYbits Chlorella-Spirulina

Use the exclusive coupon code NICKURBAN for 20% off.

Best Value 50-50 Algae Combo: Thor’s Hammer

RawPower Thors Hammer

Overview

Dose: 250mg

Contents: 1000 tablets

Serving Size: 33

Grown: Taiwan

Production: 100% Raw, Unheated, Cold-Processed Tablets, Organically-grown, Non-GMO, Vegan. (No Additives, No Preservatives, No Chemicals, No Fillers, No Binders, No Sweeteners, No Sprays, No Fertilizers)

When the budget’s tight, I recommend Thor’s Hammer as the best chlorella and spirulina all-in-one product for the price. They’re one of the few companies using the ideal strains of each (chlorella pyrenoidosa) and (spirulina platensis). Processing with low-temperature and cold-pressing keeps the potency and nutritional content full intact. Each tablet is 100% raw without any additives.

Thor’s Hammer is my most often gifted supplement. You can purchase any number of tablets (with bulk discounts). They sell quantities ranging from 1,000-12,000 tablets.

Buy Thor’s Hammer

Best Chlorella-Spirulina Combo (Amazon): Sunlit Organics

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Overview

Dose: 250mg

Contents: 1,000

Serving Size: 33

Grown: Taiwan

Production: No Additives, No Fillers, No Preservatives, No Binders, No Coatings, No Artificial Flavors, and No Artificial Colors

A decent option if you prefer to shop on Amazon, Sunlit Organics makes popular spirulina-chlorella tablets. This was the original algae product I purchased, and the fact that they’ve beenbeen selling on Amazon since 2014 (with different packaging) shows that they’re doing something right.

When compared to the previous two brands, I do notice that these taste slightly older and don’t have the same vibrant forest green color. They also claim to test for heavy metals yet contain the infamous California Prop 65 warning (for lead).

Buy Sunlit Organics 50-50 Pack

Best Spirulina Products

Best Spirulina Tablets: ENERGYbits

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Overview

Dose: 250 mg per tablet

Contents: 1,000

Serving Size: 33

Grown: Taiwan, China (in freshwater tanks using triple-filtered spring mountain water)

Production: No GMOs, No Impurities, No Heavy Metals, No Preservatives, No Fillers, Sugar-Free, Gluten-Free, Caffeine-Free, Soy-Free

Endorsements: 50 Olympic & Professional Athletes, and Over 1,000 Nutritionists, Chiropractors, and Wellness Professionals

If the name sounds familiar, it’s because ENERGYbits is the parent company of VITALITYbits (this spirulina-chlorella combination). This product, however, contains 100% spirulina platensis (the best form). No other ingredients, excipients, or fillers.

Over 50 elite athletes and 1,000+ health professionals endorse ENERGYbits due to the strict production quality control.

ENERGYbits grows their algae in accordance with ISO 9000 certification and GMP certification using the best raw materials. You can purchase in 1,000 tablet containers, or get smaller travel packs.

Buy ENERGYbits

Use the exclusive coupon code NICKURBAN for 20% off.

Best Value Spirulina (Tablets & Powder): Raw Power

RawPower Spirulina

Overview

Dose: 250mg – 500mg

Contents: 1,000

Serving Size: 33

Grown: Taiwan

Production:100% Raw, Unheated, Cold-Processed Tablets, Organically-grown, Non-GMO, Vegan. (No Additives, No Preservatives, No Chemicals, No Fillers, No Binders, No Sweeteners, No Sprays, No Fertilizers)

Raw Power is quite possibly the internet’s largest premium superfood store. Their spirulina options are no exception. While the packaging looks bland, it compensates with outstanding contents. Rigorous third-party lab testing backs up their claim of selling the “cleanest spirulina available anywhere”. Spirulina generally tastes gross. I’m currently testing this, and have noticed a milder, fresher taste than any of the products I’ve purchased from Amazon.

As with all their products, Raw Power minimally processes these tablets, so you get the richest array of vitamins, minerals, and other beneficial phytochemicals. I like the tablets for portability and convenience. This is also one of few vendors that sells two sizes: 250mg and 500mg tablets. You can purchase anywhere from 1,000 to five pounds worth of tablets. If you plan on using them for smoothies, you can save 33 percent by purchasing the powder.

Buy Raw Power Spirulina

Best Spirulina (Amazon): Sunlit Organics

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Overview

Dose: 250mg

Contents: 1,000

Serving Size: 33

Grown: Taiwan

Production: No Additives, No Fillers, No Preservatives, No Binders, No Coatings, No Artificial Flavors, and No Artificial Colors

Through you’ll find many spirulina products on Amazon, I am picky about the ones I buy. This is because Amazon does not thoroughly vet each product and the accuracy of its claims. Counterfeit products have become commonplace. Sunlit Organics appears to be one of the few Amazon vendors making decent tablets. Their spirulina is cold-pressed, raw, organic, and tested for purity.

I compared the tablets from ENERGYbits, Raw Organics, and Sunlit Organics side by side. I found that the Sunlit Organics tablets looked the most dull of all three. When they go on sale, however, they become a convenient and decent pick.

Buy Sunlit Organics Spirulina

Best Chlorella Products

Best Chlorella Tablets: RECOVERYbits

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Overview

Dose: 250 mg per tablet

Contents: 1,000

Serving Size: 33

Grown: Taiwan, China (in freshwater tanks using triple-filtered spring mountain water)

Production: No GMOs, No Impurities, No Heavy Metals, No Preservatives, No Fillers, Sugar-Free, Gluten-Free, Caffeine-Free, Soy-Free

Endorsements: 50 Olympic & Professional Athletes, and Over 1,000 Nutritionists, Chiropractors, and Wellness Professionals

RECOVERYbits is the final product produced by the ENERGYbits company. Each tablet contains just one ingredient: organic, Non-GMO chlorella. Unlike many of the options sold on Amazon, they use the best strain (100% chlorella pyrenoidosa), resulting in greater absorption and benefits. This chlorella also has a clean, fresh, and mellow flavor compared to the others that I’ve tried.

After a night of drinking, I switched from taking an activated charcoal supplement to RECOVERYbits. This chlorella scrounges the free radicals and toxins, minimizing the damages of alcohol and helping rapidly sober me up.

Buy RECOVERYbits

Use the exclusive coupon code NICKURBAN for 20% off.

Best Chlorella (Tablets & Powder): Raw Power Chlorella

RawPower Chlorella Tablets

Overview

Dose: 250mg – 500mg

Contents: 1,000

Serving Size: 33

Grown: Taiwan

Production:100% Raw, Unheated, Cold-Processed Tablets, Organically-grown, Non-GMO, Vegan. (No Additives, No Preservatives, No Chemicals, No Fillers, No Binders, No Sweeteners, No Sprays, No Fertilizers)

For the best value chlorella tablets and powder, no brand beats Raw Power. From cultivation to tablet in your hands, Raw Power takes great care to preserve your Chlorella Pyrenoidosa and the broadest array of nutrients that this strain uniquely contains. Where competitors use high-heat or glass beads to make the phytochemicals bioavailable, Raw Power uses the Pressure Release Method to crack the cell wall. This proprietary process opens 99.9% of the chlorella cell wall, the highest rating of any brand on the market. Resulting in pristine, raw, nutritionally intact tablets at a solid price.

As you’d expect from a premium algae brand, all products go through a state-of-the-art chlorella facility before undergoing rigorous third-party laboratory-tested.

You can buy these tablets in quantities ranging from 400 tablets up to 12,000.

Buy Raw Power Chlorella

Best Chlorella (Amazon): Earth Circle Organics

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Overview

Dose: 250mg

Contents: 1,000

Serving Size: 33

Grown: Taiwan

Production: No Additives, No Fillers, No Preservatives, No Binders, No Coatings, No Artificial Flavors, and No Artificial Colors, Non-GMO,  Non-Irradiated

One of the other, newer, interesting algae brands I’ve come across on Amazon is Earth Circle Organics (notice a trend in all the brand names?). Earth Circle Organics has a vast line of quality superfoods, and their chlorella is no exception. They break down the cell wall of their chlorella with a patented process that uses ultra-sound vibration technology instead of milling or crushing. Since the tablets are cold-pressed and raw, the enzymes, cofactors, and other delicate nutrients make it into the final USDA Certified Organic product.

On the other hand, a few things make me hesitate. I couldn’t find information on which strain of Chlorella they use in their product, so I reached out to the company for more information. The listing doesn’t mention it, but they use the ideal Chlorella Pyrenoidosa strain. The company is also newer. Superfood companies come and go (presumably for quality control reasons). Though they’re lab tested, I prefer the above two options.

Buy Earth Circle Organics Chlorella

The Best Spirulina & Chlorella Pills of 2022 Reviewed

Spirulina and Chlorella are two of my must-have supplements. I take them on a daily basis, and always bring them on trips. They earned a spot on my list of the best biohacking supplements that virtually everyone can benefit from.

I usually travel with just a 40 liter backpack. With such limited space, I carefully select everything I bring. These are some of the only supplements that I’m never without.

Many of their benefits overlap. Some of the differences include:

Spirulina is the algae for performance. From supporting optimal brain function, to fitness and athletics. It’s high in the building blocks of protein; stimulates muscle growth; improves skin, hair, and nail; provides antioxidants, healthy omega-3 fats, vitamins & minerals, and phytonutrients for the body to grow strong and resilient. The United Nations endorses Spirulina as the answer to world hunger.

Chlorella is the algae for repair and recovery. It supports optimal wellness, detoxification (whether from booze) or acute exposure, improves immunity, boosts longevity and slows aging, accelerates sports recovery, strengthens the gut, and can replace green veggies. NASA endorses chlorella as the most nutrients dense food in the world.

Combine the two for an ultimate daily superfood.

Sourcing isn’t as easy as it should be. To avoid scams and contaminated products, I like the following algae products:

  • Best Overall Spirulina & Chlorella Combo: ENERGYbits
  • Best Value Spirulina & Chlorella Combo: Thor’s Hammer
  • Best Spirulina: Raw Power Spirulina
  • Best Chlorella: Raw Power Chlorella

Have you tried Spirulina and Chlorella algae? If so, let me know your experience and preferred brand in the comments below.

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