What is Chlorophyll? All You Need to Know
If you feel like you’ve been hearing the
term ‘chlorophyll’ more often recently, it is no coincidence.
Chlorophyll supplements have been gaining quite a lot of popularity, and
the health benefits of this substance have been hailed by many all
across the internet. But what exactly is chlorophyll? In the article
below we’ll take a close look at the benefits it offers, according to
health experts, as well as recommend some ways to attain it naturally.
What is Chlorophyll?
One of the most common things people know about chlorophyll is that it’s
what gives plants their green color. That's true. Chlorophyll is a
group of green pigments with a similar chemical structure that plays a
vital role in photosynthesis, allowing plants to absorb energy and
nutrients from sunlight. It contains various vitamins and antioxidants,
which are responsible for its therapeutic properties for the human body.
One of the primary ways to incorporate
chlorophyll into your diet is by eating green vegetables, such as
asparagus, spinach, or broccoli. The reason chlorophyll supplements are
so popular is that naturally obtained chlorophyll may not survive
digestion long enough to be well-absorbed by the body. Most chlorophyll
supplements actually contain chlorophyllin - a water-soluble
semi-synthetic derivative of natural chlorophyll, which contains copper
instead of magnesium. The copper can be detected by the plasma, which
potentially makes chlorophyllin better absorbed by the body. However,
these claims are yet to be officially proven by research.
The Health Benefits of Chlorophyll
1. Boosts skin health -
Research suggests that applying chlorophyll
topically may have skincare benefits such as reducing inflammation,
clearing acne, smoothing wrinkles, and improving signs of sun damage.
One study from 2016 found that women who applied a gel containing
chlorophyllin for 12 days showed reduced signs of photoaging, which is
aging that results from sun exposure. The study found that the effects
of topical chlorophyllin were comparable with those of vitamin A known
as tretinoin (which has been proven to help with anti-aging).
Another study, published in the Journal of
Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, followed 24 women with
mild-to-moderate acne for 8 weeks, as they applied a topical treatment
of acne cream and a rebalancing gel containing chlorophyllin. The
researchers found that this regimen improved pore size, skin smoothness,
clarity, skin tone, and acne lesions.
2. Blood builder -
Chlorophyll may help construct and improve the
quality of red blood cells, which is why some people call it a “blood
builder”. Chlorophyll is chemically similar to hemoglobin, a protein
that is essential in red blood cells as carries the oxygen to the
various body organs.
Research published in the journal Indian Pediatrics found that
chlorophyll behaves similarly to hemoglobin, even though it contains
magnesium while hemoglobin is made with iron. The research team also
noted that wheatgrass juice, which is about 70% chlorophyll, had a
positive effect on patients with hemoglobin deficiency disorders such as
anemia and thalassemia.
3. Natural deodorant -
Chlorophyll has been
used to neutralize certain odors since the 1940s. Today, some popular
deodorants and mouthwashes still contain chlorophyll.
A recent study looked at dietary
supplements for people suffering from trimethylaminuria, a rare
condition where the body is unable to break down the chemical
triethylamine (TMA). Since triethylamine has a strong fish-like smell,
people with trimethylaminuria and TMA build-up give off a strong and
unpleasant body odor.
The study found that the chlorophyllin supplements decreased the number
of TMAS, and therefore neutralized the smell.
4. Promotes weight loss -
It’s no secret that eating your greens aids in
weight loss, and it turns out that chlorophyll may be one of the
reasons why. A 2014 study involving 38 female participants found that
those who took a green plant membrane supplement that included
chlorophyll once a day had greater weight loss than a group who didn’t
take the supplement. The research team also suggested that the
supplements were linked to lower cholesterol levels. The mechanism
behind these findings, however, is currently unknown.
Safety, Risks, and Side Effects
According to Dr. Niket Sonpal, a certified internist, the natural
chlorophyll you get from food has no known side effects. People who take
chlorophyll supplements in amounts similar to those found in food don't
have any risk either. However, taking chlorophyll in excess could lead
to digestive problems, diarrhea, and increased susceptibility to rashes
when applied topically. So please read the instructions carefully and
take no more than the recommended amount.
It’s important to note that the effects of taking chlorophyll
supplements in pregnant or breastfeeding women are yet to be studied. We
strongly advise talking to your doctor if you're interested in taking
chlorophyll, as with any other new supplement. This is especially true
for those who take other medications regularly.
Chlorophyll sources
As we mentioned earlier, chlorophyll can easily be obtained naturally
through green vegetables.
Varieties that are particularly rich in
chlorophyll are:
Collard greens
Spirulina
Parsley
Broccoli
Green cabbage
Spinach
Asparagus
Green beans and peas
Matcha green tea
As to preparation and consumption of
natural chlorophyll, some research in the Journal of Zhejiang University
found that cooking chlorophyll-rich foods by boiling or stir-frying
them lowers their chlorophyll levels. Therefore, it may best to eat them
raw or use light cooking methods like steaming to get the most out of
the vegetables’ chlorophyll content.
You can make your own natural chlorophyll extract by using parsley and
water. The process is quite simple: you will need 80 grams of curly
parsley leaves and 6 cups of water.
1. Wash and dry the parsley leaves.
2. Place the leaves and water into a blender and process for a few
minutes until it forms a bright green liquid.
3. Strain this through a fine sieve and pour into a saucepan. Over low
heat, stir constantly until you see green particles rising to the
surface. It's important that you do this slowly.
4. Pour this into a container along with a handful of ice and place it
in the fridge to cool.
5. When cold, pour through a muslin-lined sieve. Once drained you can
throw away the water.
6. Scrape as much of the green paste that is remaining on the muslin as
possible and store in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 1
week. This should give you about 2 tablespoons of homemade chlorophyll,
which you can add to smoothies or salads.
The bottom line is, chlorophyll has a variety of health benefits, from
skin to nutrition. While some people believe chlorophyllin supplements
to be more effective than chlorophyllin that is naturally obtained from
green vegetables and herbs, the scientific evidence behind this claim is
inconclusive. The majority of health experts agree that the safest way
to obtain it is through veggies - and you'll get a lot of other
nutrients as well that way!