Because they are both similar microalgae species, it’s easy to understand how scientists confused spirulina with chlorella back in the 1940s. In spite of their stark differences, people commonly mistake one for the other even today. Here are the four main differences that are important to understand:
1. Shape
Spirulina is a spiral-shaped, multi-celled plant with no true nucleus. It’s blue-green in hue and can grow up to 100 times the size of chlorella. Comparably, chlorella is a spherical-shaped single-celled microorganism with a nucleus and is solid green.
2. How It’s Grown
The growing conditions differ considerably. Spirulina grows best in high-alkaline fresh water alone — requires an abundance of sunshine and warm temperatures, making it easy to harvest.
Chlorella, on the other hand, grows in low-alkaline fresh water typically occupied by other organisms, which makes it more challenging to harvest.
3. Preparation
The ways in which both spirulina and chlorella can be eaten are also very different. Because of its hard, indigestible cellulose wall, for instance, chlorella requires mechanical processing to make it worthwhile for human consumption. Otherwise, the body won’t be able break down and metabolize its nutrients.
The process can be quite costly not to mention very damaging to the fragile nutrients inside which explains why chlorella is usually more expensive than spirulina. On the other hand, spirulina has a completely digestible cell wall and can be immediately consumed and digested with ease with no processing.
4. Nutrition
Although both are considered superfoods, spirulina and chlorella differ in their nutritional content. Arguably the healthier of the two, spirulina contains more essential amino acids, iron, protein, B vitamins, and vitamins C, D and E.
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