The Difference Between Chlorella and a Synthetic Laboratory-Manufactured Multivitamin
Your body needs a proper and balanced diet to perform its functions. However, your nutritional needs are sometimes not met solely by diet only, and you may choose to take synthetic supplements or multivitamins. Although laboratory-manufactured multivitamins provide you with the needed nutrients, sometimes they may have some side effects. It is preferable to meet your nutritional needs with natural products.
Chlorella, in a nutshell, is a superfood that is found in nature. It contains abundant vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients necessary for achieving peak physical and mental health. This single-celled green alga has gained widespread recognition for its usefulness in everyday life. (Bito, 2020).
Difference Between Synthetic and Natural Multivitamins
Natural multivitamins are obtained from animal or plant sources through a diet rich in whole foods. In contrast, synthetic multivitamins are formulations manufactured in a laboratory or industrial process. The majority of multivitamins available in the market, like vitamins A, B, C, D, and E, antioxidants, amino acids, and minerals, are manufactured in the laboratory.
The production of multivitamins through synthetic methods is significantly different from the processes that plants and animals use to generate nutrients. So, even though synthetic multivitamins have the same structure as natural nutrients, your body may react differently. Unlike natural multivitamins, which are easily absorbed by the body, studies have shown that not all synthetic multivitamins are well tolerated by the human digestive system (Yetley, 2007).
This is because eating whole foods provides a wide variety of vitamins, minerals, co-factors, and enzymes that work together to benefit the body. Synthetic multivitamins may not be used by the body as effectively as their natural counterparts because they lack useful compounds (Liu R, 2003).
Existing Nutrients in Chlorella as Compared to Synthetic Multivitamins
Chlorella is a natural wholefood that contains many vitamins and minerals, In contrast to synthetic multivitamins, it provides a higher quantity and absorption rate of folate, chlorophyll, antioxidants, and vitamins.
Chlorella gives you a Bioavailable form of Folate
Chlorella is rich in folate, which is a common form of vitamin B9 and provides you (2.5 mg/100 g dry weight) of folate (Bito, 2020). It gets readily absorbed by the body and gives you important health benefits, promotes healthy pregnancy (Czeizel, 2013), minimizes the risk of macular degeneration (Christen, 2009), and prevents iron deficiency (Gibson, 2018).
Whereas folic acid is the synthetic form of vitamin B9. Your body does not directly use the laboratory-manufactured form of vitamin B9 and instead converts it into dihydrofolate (DHF) and then tetrahydrofolate (THF) (Greenberg, 2011). Studies show that when a person's folic acid intake exceeds their ability to process it, it can overload the liver and potentially end up in the bloodstream. Having too much folic acid in your bloodstream as it has not been metabolized poses serious health risks (Patanwala, 2014).
Chlorella Provides You with Chlorophyll
Another difference between chlorella and a synthetic multivitamin is that chlorella is nature's biggest source of chlorophyll. Chlorophyll gives green color to plants and helps the process of photosynthesis, wherein the sun's rays are used to synthesize sugars and other nutrients. Chlorophyll is a fat-soluble substance. When you consume chlorophyll, it travels through your system in the form of micelles, which are fat-containing molecular groups (Joe, 2020). The presence of natural chlorophyll in chlorella may improve your immune system (Gao,2005), improves skin texture, visibly reduce acne and signs of aging (Stephens, 2015), promotes weight loss (Montelius, 2014), and boosts your energy (Xu. 2016).
The laboratory-manufactured multivitamins give you a semi-synthetic form of chlorophyll known as chlorophyllin. Synthetic multivitamins, when taken orally, can cause abnormalities in the digestive tract and result in irritable bowel syndrome, bloating, and cramping in the abdomen. You may also notice discoloration of the faeces and urine, as well as discoloration of the tongue. If semi-synthetic chlorophyllin is applied topically to the skin, it has the potential to induce a burning or itching sensation, which is more likely to occur on open wounds or on skin that has been fractured (Li, 2021).
Chlorella Is a Rich Source of Natural Antioxidants
Antioxidants are substances that protect cells from damage due to free radicals. Chlorella is a rich and natural source of antioxidants that may reduce and prevent the risk of certain diseases.
Natural antioxidants, such as chlorella, have been shown to be superior to their synthetic counterparts in a wide range of circumstances due to their capacity to delay the oxidation of fat in addition to the elimination of oxygen, the lessening of free radicals, and the renewal of antioxidants (Mahmoud, 2021).
Natural antioxidants in chlorella are less volatile and more stable at high temperatures than laboratory-manufactured antioxidants because they work better in food production processes like frying, cooking, or baking and protect the final product more effectively. Another advantage of chlorella is that it is frequently more soluble than synthetic antioxidants. Because an antioxidant can only prevent autoxidation, it is critical to ensure that its distribution in the lipid medium is as homogenous as possible (Bito, 2020).
Chlorella Is Best for All Diets
Due to a restricted diet low in animal products, most vegetarians are at increased risk for vitamin and mineral deficiencies, including vitamin B12, calcium, zinc, iron, and vitamin D (Pawlak, 2013). Because chlorella has an abundance of these essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, it is not restricted to a specific age group and it is capable of successfully addressing any nutritional deficiencies you might have.
The Bottom Line
Chlorella is a super food that provides abundant nutrients and significantly has positive effects on one's health. It offers natural folate, chlorophyll, and antioxidants to use in your body. These nutrients are crucial to your body's functioning and have been shown to significantly lower the risk of developing a variety of ailments. There is a great difference between chlorella and laboratory-manufactured multivitamins. Your body easily absorbs natural nutrients in chlorella as compared to synthetic multivitamins. The antioxidants in chlorella are more soluble and less volatile than laboratory-manufactured antioxidants. Chlorella tablets and powder can help you meet all your nutritional requirements naturally without the risk of any adverse effects.
References
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