Chlorophyll is an easy little thing many people have used to restore health for years. The liquid supplement, added to a glass of drinking water, gives a great boost of plant-based nutrition. It seems that others have recently jumped on that train as well…in some of the most unexpected ways! The latest social media craze is most definitely driving the market on chlorophyll. In fact, if you walk into your local health food store, you may find it hard to find this wonder of nature. So many people have started using chlorophyll that it’s been increasingly difficult to find! Women of all ages, but especially young women, have been using this product and flooding their social media feeds with videos sharing their results.
So, what is chlorophyll? First, remember back to second grade science. Chlorophyll is what gives plants their green pigment. It plays an important role in photosynthesis, the process in which plants make their own food and energy. The water-soluble supplement form, chlorophyllin, is what this latest health craze trending on social media is raving about.
TikTok has been inundated with people, especially young women, who are adding chlorophyll to their water. After a few days of drinking it, they share their results in a short video. Some of the claims are pretty amazing. Clearer skin, more energy, detoxifying, GI benefits, the list and descriptions of such benefits goes on and on.
Are the Claims True?
Well, there are most certainly benefits to taking in chlorophyll. After all, mothers for generations have been trying to get their children to eat their vegetables! As with every supplement, the exact benefits will vary for each person based upon their own physiology and health needs. We can’t argue with one person’s testimony. Here are some of the benefits someone could see while taking using it as a supplement.
Cancer prevention: This makes sense when we think about what chlorophyll is, where it is found, and what it does. How many times have we heard eating leafy green vegetables will help prevent cancer? There have been some studies that indicate that chlorophyll bonds closely with compounds called aflatoxins, which cause cancer. Studies have been done on several types of cancers: skin, stomach, colon, liver, and pancreatic with promising results.¹
Skin clarifying and wound healing: Chlorophyll helps carry oxygen to the cells. We know that certain bacteria and many types of infections cannot live in oxygen dense environments.
Internal deodorant, detoxifying and GI benefits: Chlorophyll can kill opportunistic bacteria in the GI tract, including strep and staph. It’s these bad bacteria that can cause odor, disease, and general illness.
More energy: Chlorophyll closely resembles hemoglobin, the only difference being that chlorophyll is formed around the element magnesium whereas hemoglobin is formed around iron. Studies have been done that indicate chlorophyll as a possible treatment for people who suffer from low levels of hemoglobin.² This is good news for people who have struggled with low energy due to conditions like anemia.
So is the Craze Worth It?
If people, especially young women, are taking an interest in their health, drinking more water (as they add chlorophyll), and it turns their attention to other foods high in the coveted pigment such as all those leafy greens Mom has been insisting they eat, what’s not to encourage? Remember, nothing will compare to testing to find the root cause of what may be causing health challenges. Chlorophyll may be one more tool in your arsenal to help! The key to living healthier is to use simple adjustments to make big changes. For more of these simple adjustments, check out www.thewellnessway.com/start-somewhere/
¹ https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-chlorophyll#1
