Green food supplements have become popular for their high nutrient composition and especially for their high chlorophyll content.  Chlorophyll is the substance that makes plants grow, but in the body it detoxifies, deodorizes and soothes inflammation.  Chlorophyll also builds blood supply, activates enzymes and renews tissue.  Besides chlorophyll, most green foods are rich in beta-carotene, protein and neucleic acids (RNA and DNA) for cell renewal.

Among the green food supplements are the microalgae-spirulina, chlorella, wild blue green algae and the cereal grasses, wheatgrass and barley grass.

Microalgae are substances from the sea.  Microalgae were among the first forms on earth.  Spirulina is highly digestible with a mild detoxifying action and contains many essential nutrients.  Chlorella is similar but contains the most chlorophyll of the green foods.  It also contains more nucleic acids and a few less nutrients.  Wild blue green algae is the most detoxifying of the microalgae.

Cereal grasses are also an excellent source of chlorophyll and other nutrients, including many additional enzymes.  Some of these enzymes aid digestion, while others work as antioxidants, protecting the body from free-radical damage.  Wheatgrass and barley grasses are very similar, with barley grass being slightly easier to digest.  People who are allergic to wheat seem to be able to tolerate wheatgrass.

Caution:  Green food supplements may be rich in vitamin K, so caution should be exercised if you are taking anticoagulant medication.

~Lois Dickey
Vitamin Department Manager