Chlorophyll plays an important role in making plants green and healthy. It also has vitamins, antioxidants, and therapeutic properties that have the potential to benefit your body.
You can get chlorophyll from either plants or supplements, although supplements may be more effective. This is because chlorophyll may not survive digestion long enough for absorption.
Chlorophyll supplements are actually chlorophyllin, which contains copper instead of magnesium. When doses of chlorophyllin are taken, the copper can be detected in plasma, which implies absorption has occurred.
Luckily, chlorophyllin has similar properties to chlorophyll. When you’re shopping for chlorophyll supplements, you may notice that the marketed benefits are:
- Stimulating the immune system
- Eliminating fungus in the body
- Detoxifying the blood
- Clearing the intestines
- Eliminating bad odours
- Energizing the body
- Helping prevent
1. Skin healing
Chlorophyllin has shown possible effects to reduce inflammation and bacterial growth in skin wounds.
A 2008 review of wound care research involved several studies on ointments containing papain-urea-chlorophyllin.
Chlorophyllin may also be effective for other skin conditions, as evidenced by the results of two pilot studies. A pilot study is a small-scale preliminary study that’s performed prior to a larger study or trial.
A 2015 pilot studyTrusted Source of 10 people with acne and large pores saw skin improvement when topical chlorophyllin gel was used for 3 weeks.
Another 2015 pilot studyTrusted Source, also involving 10 people, found that using topical chlorophyllin over 8 weeks improved sun-damaged skin.
2. Blood builder
Some people suggest that liquid chlorophyll can build your blood by improving the quality of Red blood cells.
A 2004 pilot study suggested that wheatgrass, which contains about 70 percent chlorophyll, reduced the number of blood transfusions needed in people with sickle-cell anaemia, a blood disorder.
However, it’s important to note that the study authors didn’t conclude that chlorophyll was the reason for the decreased need for transfusions.
It’s unclear how wheatgrass affects red blood cells. But it’s believed that chlorophyll is destroyed during the production of wheatgrass extract.
3. Detoxification and cancer
Researchers have looked into the effect of chlorophyll and chlorophyllin on cancer.
One animal studyTrusted Source in trout found that, depending on the dose, chlorophyll reduced the incidence of liver tumors by 29 to 63 percent and stomach tumors by 24 to 45 percent.
A 2018 studyTrusted Source assessed the effect of chlorophyll on the growth of pancreatic cancer cells.
Researchers found that taking oral chlorophyll daily significantly reduced tumor size in mice that had been transplanted with human pancreatic cancer cells.
While the results of animal studies are promising, there have only recently been human trials. A small study of four volunteers found that chlorophyll may limit ingested aflatoxin, a compound known to cause cancer.
This is in line with an old studyTrusted Source from China where chlorophyllin consumption at each meal led to a 55 percent decrease in aflatoxin biomarkers compared to placebo.
Accordingly, a clinical trial in China will look at the effects of chlorophyllin on liver cancer over 20 years, per the International Business Times.
Trials are also being planned to examine how a chlorophyll-rich diet could impact colon cancer risk. Such a diet would involve increasing intake of leafy greens like spinach and parsley.
4. Weight loss
One of the most popular claims associated with liquid chlorophyll is weight loss support. However, research into this topic is currently very limited.
A 2014 study involving 38 female participants found that those who took a green plant membrane supplement, which included chlorophyll, once daily had greater weight loss than a group that didn’t take the supplement.
The researchers also suggested that the supplement reduced harmful cholesterol levels. The mechanism behind these findings, and whether it involves chlorophyll, is currently unknown.
5. A natural deodorant
While chlorophyllin has been used since the 1940s to neutralize certain odours, studies are outdated and show mixed results.
The most recent studyTrusted Source of people with trimethylaminuria, a condition that causes a fishy odor, found that chlorophyllin significantly decreased the amount of trimethylamines.
As for claims about chlorophyllin reducing bad breath, there’s little evidence to support it.
Natural chlorophyll
The blog Cook (almost) Anything shows how you can make your own liquid chlorophyll supplement by using parsley and water. Three ounces of parsley makes about 2 tablespoons of chlorophyll. Get the recipe here.
You can then use your homemade chlorophyll for a tasty smoothie recipe, like from the blog The Green Lean Bean.
Plants that are fresh and green are probably a good source of chlorophyll. This means vegetables and herbs such as:
- Wheatgrass
- Green Beans
- Spinach
- Parsley
- Aragula
- Peas
- Leeks
According to Oregon State University, one cup of raw spinach contains about 24 mg of chlorophyll. Parsley has about 19 mg per cup. You can blend parsley with water to create a “liquid chlorophyll” drink.
Other greens will average 4 to 15 mg per cup
