Chlorophyll is the phytochemical responsible for the green color of plants, it makes plants healthy and it contains antioxidants, vitamins, and other therapeutic compounds that are of great benefits to your body.
In elementary school, we were taught photosynthesis, a process in which plant manufacture their foods making use of sunlight and chlorophyll. In this post, we will be looking at the importance of this compound in the body.
One interesting aspect about chlorophyll is that is has a molecular structure similar to that of hemoglobin, a very important component of the red blood cells that is responsible for carrying oxygen all-round the body.
There are many forms of naturally chlorophyll and the main ones are chlorophyll A (bluish-black chlorophyll) and chlorophyll B (dark green chlorophyll). The most common and most important form is chlorophyll A.
Every green vegetable contain chlorophyll and it is also available as supplements but it is best to get your chlorophyll from fresh green vegetables like wheatgrass, spinach, alfalfa, etc.
These supplements are derivatives of chlorophyll and they are obtained by combining copper and sodium salts derived from chlorophyll.
Chlorophyll supplements are available in the form of pills, capsules, or drops. There are a lot of chlorophyll supplements and a lot of them contain chlorophyllin.
Chlorophyllin is water-soluble and it is believed to be better absorbed by the body than the natural forms of chlorophyll which are fat-soluble.
Chlorophyll supplements containing chlorophyllin might name it as “chlorophyllin copper complex” or “sodium copper chlorophyllin”.
Natural chlorophyll is safer and a lot of people have used it as a health supplement for many years to improve and maintain good health.
Most of these chlorophyll supplements are synthetic and they can cause some side effects such as stomach upset and skin rash or irritation.
If you are on medication or you have any condition, speak to your doctor first before trying out this supplement.
Natural chlorophyll is nicknamed “plant blood” and “nature’s green magic” and it is considered as one of the superfoods we have on the planet because of its powerful anticancer and antioxidant activities.
Wonderful Benefits of Chlorophyll
1. Anti-aging remedy
Chlorophyll has strong antioxidant properties and it also has a rich content of magnesium, all these combat aging and help maintain healthy tissues.
It stimulates the activities of anti-aging enzymes, this encourages a youthful and healthy skin.
Creams or gel containing chlorophyll are applied on the skin to fight the signs of photo-aging. This is the aging caused by exposure to sunlight.
In a study, 4 healthy women exposed to sunlight applied a gel containing chlorophyllin on their skin for 12 days and their skin improved in a way similar to the skin treated with tretinoin, a prescription skin cream used in treating aging.
2. Strengthens bones
Chlorophyll helps your body to form and maintain strong bones, it does this by increasing the levels of magnesium in your body. This important mineral plays an important role in bone health.
Magnesium also works along with other essential nutrients for the bones such as vitamin D and calcium. It also help to tone your muscles, and regulate contraction and relaxation.
3. Fights anemia
Chlorophyll fights anemia by increasing the production of red blood cells, it works both at the molecular and cellular levels and it also boosts the functions of hemoglobin in the body.
Red blood cells transport oxygen and nutrients allover your body and they boost the growth and maintenance of tissues in the body.
A shortage in the amount of red blood cells leads to anemia, a condition that can lead to death if not treated promptly.
4. Boosts blood clotting
Chlorophyll is also rich in vitamin K, an important nutrient that is needed for normal blood clotting.
Naturopaths use chlorophyll to treat nose bleeds and it is also used to treat women suffering from heavy menstruation and anemic conditions.
5. Heals the skin
Chlorophyll protects the skin, it heals wounds and prevents the growth of bacteria in wounds and it also fights inflammation in the skin.
It even helps in healing surgical wounds and it prevents wound infections. A recent study suggested the use of medication containing chlorophyllin to treat wounds stating that it hastens healing and reduces odors.
Some doctors have started prescribing this medication.
It is also effective in treating mild to moderate acne, it closes large pores and improves the appearance of your skin.
6. Prevents kidneys stones
Chlorophyll prevents kidney stones due to its rich content of vitamin K. this nutrient forms essential compounds in your urine and this helps reduce the formation and growth of calcium oxalate crystals.
7. A powerful antioxidant
Chlorophyll has powerful antioxidant properties and high amounts of essential vitamins. This gives chlorophyll the ability to fight off and scavenge free radicals in the body.
These harmful molecules are the leading cause of inflammation, chronic disease, and premature aging.
8. Relieves sinusitis
Chlorophyll treats sinusitis and other infections of the respiratory tracks like rhinitis and cold.
9. Treats acne
You can apply chlorophyll topically to treat acne, it reduces breakouts and also large and visible pores. You will see a difference within three weeks of applying chlorophyllin gel.
10. Balance hormones
Chlorophyll balances the levels of hormones in your body thereby fighting against hormonal imbalance, a root cause of several health problems like infertility in both men and women, mood disorders, and menstrual problems in women.
The abundant presence of vitamin E in chlorophyll helps in stimulating the production of the hormone testosterone in both sexes.
11. Treats Arthritis
Chlorophyll relieves the pains and symptoms of arthritis and other inflammatory-related disease.
Chlorophyll obstructs the growth and activities of bacteria that cause inflammation. Due to the protective nature of chlorophyll, scientists are looking for ways to make drugs for arthritis and fibromyalgia from chlorophyll.
12. Relieves the symptoms of pancreatitis
Healthcare professionals administer chlorophyll intravenously when treating chronic pancreatitis. This help to relieve the fever and abdominal discomfort and pain caused by this condition.
It works effectively without causing any side effect.
13. Improves the quality of blood
Chlorophyll improves the quality of your blood by purifying your blood and it also improves the quality of red blood cells produced. This powerful phytonutrient help people with thalassemia, a blood disorder.
It increases the production of blood thereby reducing the number of blood transfusion needed in people with this blood disorder.
14. Boosts oral health
Chlorophyll is an effective natural remedy for dental problems including chronic periodontitis.
It also eliminates the symptoms of oral infections, bleeding and inflamed gum, and it fights against tooth decay.
15. Boosts digestion
Chlorophyll promotes a healthy digestive system, it does this by stimulating healthy bowel movement and also by maintaining healthy levels of intestinal flora.
Diets low in green vegetables lead to digestive problems and even colon disorder. Chlorophyll cleans the colon and treats digestive problems like flatulence and constipation.
16. Chronic headache
Chlorophyll is an effective remedy for cluster headaches also known as condensed migraine. This condition is seasonal and it comes along with excruciating pains that can last for 30 to 45 minutes.
Painkillers don’t work for this type of headache and they are no conventional method to prevent or offer lasting solution to this headache except chlorophyll.
Chlorophyll should be taken along with turmeric and magnesium, you can make use of quality magnesium supplement. When these are taken together, it treats this condition and relieves the symptoms.
The cause of chronic headaches or migraines is that there is an insufficient flow of oxygen and blood to the brain, chlorophyll corrects this problem by increasing the flow of oxygen to the brain and entire body.
Regular consumption of chlorophyll prevents headaches, migraines, and dizziness. The symptoms of cluster headaches would start reducing significantly when you start taking chlorophyll along with turmeric.
Even people who are at risk of altitude sickness can reduce the symptoms by drinking chlorophyll before entering areas of high altitude or climbing.
17. It’s a natural deodorant
For many years, scientists have studied chlorophyll for its potential as a natural deodorant because it has been used to fight different odors since the 1940s.
There are a lot of studies on this and the results show the potential of this phytocompounds in fighting body odors. A recent study shows that chlorophyll can help people with Trimethylaminuria.
A condition characterized by fishy odors in people and the study revealed that chlorophyll significantly reduced the amount of trimethylamines in the body.
There is also evidence that chlorophyll can reduce halitosis (bad breath) and a study showed that it reduced odors in people who have had a colostomy.
Chlorophyll can be used as an effective home remedy for bad breath and for people with stinking injuries.
It is administered orally to patients suffering from various odor-causing conditions and metabolic disorders like colostomies and Trimethylaminuria and it is even used in making mouth washes.
18. Treats insomnia
Chlorophyll is rich in magnesium and other plant nutrients that calm your nerves and relieve the symptoms of insomnia. It also relieves fatigue and nervous irritability.
19. Detoxifies the body
Chlorophyll has cleansing properties, this helps in detoxifying the body. It boosts the amount of oxygen in the body and increases the flow of blood, this, in turn, eliminates toxins and harmful impurities from the body.
Chlorophyll bind to toxins and mutagens, it then expels them from the body, including toxic chemicals and heavy metals like lead and mercury.
It also reduces the dangerous effects of radiations and eliminates the deposits of drugs and pesticides from the body.
A lot of studies have been carried out to look into the effects of chlorophyll on cancer and the results are promising. In one animal study, it was revealed that chlorophyll reduced the risk of stomach tumors by 24 to 54% and that of liver tumors by 29 to 63%.
In recent human trials, it was discovered that chlorophyll reduces ingested aflatoxin, a well-known carcinogen.
Another clinical trial carried out in China on the effects of chlorophyll on liver cancer revealed that the consumption of chlorophyll reduced aflatoxin biomarkers by 55%.
20. Anti-septic properties
Chlorophyll has natural anti-microbial and antiseptic properties, it has an alkaline effect that helps in fighting candida albicans, a leading cause of yeast infection.
A yeast or candida infection occurs when there is candida overgrowth in the body. Chlorophyll also boosts the immune system and enables it fight off candida, pathogens, and diseases.
Disease causing bacteria cannot survive in an alkaline environment, chlorophyll creates this environment in the body and this also strengthens your immune system in turn.
21. Anti-cancer property
Natural chlorophyll from plants fights cancer and even prevents it from and even studies are now confirming it. Diets low in green vegetables has been linked to colon cancer.
In most studies, the anti-cancer effects of chlorophyllin were not seen, only the natural one from plants showed anti-cancer property, although in a study, chlorophyllin slowed the progression of lung cancer in mice.
22. Prevents wound infection
Chlorophyll is used in treating exposed wounds and burns, this hastens the healing of wound and prevents infection of the wound by killing germs that cause infection.
Chlorophyll also reduces local inflammation, it strengthens the tissues of your body and improves your resistance to infections. It disinfects the wound environment thereby preventing the growth of bacteria.
Chlorophyll is hostile to the growth of bad bacteria and it hastens the healing of wounds. It is even used in treating chronic varicose ulcers of the leg.
It is applied topically to wounds, burns, and other skin problems like acne.
23. Weight loss
Chlorophyll reduces excessive body weight and also high levels of bad cholesterol. If you are fighting obesity, then you have to take chlorophyll daily.
Chlorophyll reduces weight by controlling the hormones responsible for appetite, this regulates your food intake and reduces the risks of obesity and it does this without any side effect.
24. Maintains the pH of the body
Chlorophyll helps maintain the acid-alkali balance in the body, this is due to its rich content of magnesium, an important nutrient that is highly alkaline in nature.
Magnesium also has other important functions in the body such as protecting the cardiovascular system, it also treats dyspepsia, constipation, and improves the functions of your vital organs such as the brain, liver, kidneys, and even your muscles.
Foods Very Rich in Chlorophyll
Chlorophyll is found abundantly naturally green vegetables. These include matcha green tea, spinach, green pea and beans, collard greens, asparagus, mustard greens, green cabbage, chlorella, broccoli, spirulina, parsley, and alfalfa.
Natural chlorophyll (those from raw green vegetables and not supplements or other chlorophyll products) has been used for many years and no side effects have been reported so far.
Don’t take it in excess, you can start by taking a glass of green smoothies daily and then you can increase your consumption gradually. If you notice any symptom, you have to go back to your previous dose, don’t take it in excess.
How to Get Chlorophyll from Fresh Green Vegetables
I will be showing you how you can make your own liquid chlorophyll at home making use of any green vegetable and water. If you are using three ounces of parsley, you will get about 2 tablespoons of chlorophyll.
A cup of raw spinach can give you about 24 mg of chlorophyll while a cup of raw parsley gives about 19 mg of chlorophyll. The best sources of chlorophyll in nature are herbs and veggies that are green inside and outside.
Vegetables that are green on the outside but white inward have lower levels of chlorophyll.
What You Need
All you need to get your liquid chlorophyll at home is a blender or food processor. Then, get the green vegetable of your choice, wash and clean properly under running water and set aside.
Then get at least one cup of water and set aside, the quantity of water used depends on the type of green vegetable you are using and other ingredients like herbs and fruits you might be adding.
You would also need healthy oils like extra-virgin coconut oil, extra-virgin olive oil, jojoba oil, almond oil, etc. Just get any healthy oils you have access to.
The reason you need oil is because natural chlorophyll are fat soluble and not water soluble like the supplements, so adding this oil will increase the ability of your body to absorb this powerful nutrient.
This is optional but equally important because it boosts the effectiveness of chlorophyll.
You can add herbs like ginger, garlic, turmeric, cinnamon, cardamom, black pepper, cayenne, etc. these herbs are highly medicinal on their own and it conjunction with chlorophyll, they will do wonders in your body.
These herbs can be used in their fresh forms or in their powder forms.
What Next?
The next thing to do is to put all your ingredients into the blender, for a quick reminder, this includes your green vegetable, some tablespoons of oil, any herb of your choice, and water.
Blend until it is well smooth or according to your desired consistency and pour it into a cup or cups if you are sharing your chlorophyll.
Then you drink it immediately, don’t let it exceed 10 minutes without consuming anything because at this state, the enzymes in the vegetable are still alive and you have to take them while they are still alive.
This in itself offers immense health benefits because enzymes play very many important roles in our bodies. You can do this twice daily and watch your health improve. You can take this on an empty stomach every morning.
Is Natural Chlorophyll Toxic?
Natural chlorophyll is completely harmless, even the supplements chlorophyllin are not known to be toxic though they can cause little side effects. These supplements have been used for over 50 years and they have been no report of toxicity.
Some side effects caused by chlorophyll supplements are temporal discoloration of the tongue, green discoloration of the feces and urine, mild indigestion and diarrhea, etc.
These don’t usually last as they go away quickly and sometimes the green stool can be mistaken to be a digestive problem, so you have to let your doctor know that you are on chlorophyll supplements.
Pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers should avoid chlorophyll supplements even though the effects of chlorophyllin on pregnant women haven’t been researched more.
Another thing to have in mind while taking chlorophyll supplements is that they can interact with photosensitizing drugs (these medications increases one’s sensitivity to sunlight).
This simply means that taking chlorophyll supplements along with these medications can increase your sensitivity to sunlight and this will make you susceptible to sunburns.
You have to use chlorophyll supplements carefully if you are on these medications or you are prone to sunburns, blisters, or rashes when exposed to UV light.
The Highest Source of Chlorophyll in Nature
Wheatgrass has the highest content of chlorophyll when compared with other green vegetables and it is also a good natural remedy for a lot of conditions like anemia, tooth decay, cancer, laxatives, ulcer, and clogged liver.
Wheatgrass is also used in treating scars, blend wheatgrass and water and take this daily to increase the levels of chlorophyll in your body and boost your overall health.
Sources
- Effects of Chlorophyll on Body Functioning and Blood Glucose Levels Science Alert
- Liquid Chlorophyll and it main function to human body Academia
- Chlorophyll and grasses in research Google books
- Therapeutic effect of chlorophyll-a in the treatment of patients with chronic pancreatitis. NCBI, Springer Link,
- Relative delivery efficiency and convenience of spray and ointment formulations of papain/urea/chlorophyllin enzymatic wound therapies. NCBI,
- Chlorophyll and blood building Google books, Google books,
- Chlorophyll and your digestive system Google books, JN
- Chlorophyll and inflammation Springer Link, FAO
- Chlorophyll and odors NCBI, colostomy odors,
- Chlorophyll and your skin Book, acne and large pores, acne, photo-aging, acne
- Chlorophyll and candida ResearchGate,
- Chlorophyll and body weight NCBI,
- Chlorophyll and chronic diseases IJCS, Anemia, cancer, cancer, tumor, cancer, cancer and tumors, cancer, cancer,
- Chlorophyll and your immune system JFS,
