You’ve undoubtedly heard of chlorophyll, and you probably know that plants couldn’t live without it. But what is chlorophyll exactly, and are there chlorophyll benefits for humans?
As we learned back in science class, chlorophyll is a type of plant pigment responsible for the absorption of light in the process of photosynthesis, which creates energy. So why is it important for humans beyond sustaining plant life? Turns out, chlorophyll is linked to natural cancer prevention, blocks carcinogenic effects within the body and protects DNA from damage caused by toxic molds like aflatoxin — very similar to way in which chlorophyll-rich chlorella has anticancer effects.
And that’s just one of the five major chlorophyll benefits for human health, all of which help cleanse the body and allow it to function at an optimal level.
5 Proven Chlorophyll Benefits
1. Helps Fight Cancer
Studies have found that chlorophyll and liquid chlorophyllin —a similar semi-synthetic mixture made in laboratories to be used in supplements, often called liquid chlorophyll — can bind to potential carcinogens and interfere with how they’re absorbed within the human gastrointestinal track. This helps stop them from being circulated throughout the body and reaching susceptible tissues, such as those within the joints or heart.
Studies done by the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University showed that chlorophyllin and chlorophyll were equally effective at blocking uptake of aflatoxin-B1 in humans and decreasing biomarkers of aflatoxin-induced DNA damage. Findings from several other animal and human studies suggest that these effects help lower the risk for certain types of cancers, including liver and colon cancer.
Diets that are high in red meat and low in green vegetables are associated with increased colon cancer risk. This is sometimes blamed on toxins released from cooked meat, including one called haem, which increases colonic cytotoxicity and epithelial cell proliferation. Recently, some research suggests that human colon cancer cells experience “cell arrest” when exposed to chlorophyllin due to inhibition of ribonucleotide reductase activity, which helps protect DNA and boosts synthesis and repair. This is why in recent years ribonucleotide reductase activity has come under investigation for naturally treating cancer and its many side effects.
In 2005, the Wageningen Centre for Food Sciences in the Netherlands studied whether green vegetables could inhibit the unfavorable effects of haem within the colon. Rats were fed either a control diet high in haem or a similar diet supplemented with chlorophyll for 14 days. The results showed that the rats consuming haem experienced about eight times the amount of cytotoxicity of the colon compared to the beginning of the study. The rats given chlorophyll supplements were significantly protected from formation of the cytotoxic haem metabolites, which made the researchers conclude that green vegetables may decrease colon cancer risk because chlorophyll prevents the cytotoxic and hyperproliferative colonic effects of dietary toxins like haem.
2. Improves Liver Detoxification
Another way by which chlorophyll might protect healthy cells and bodily tissue is by increasing phase II biotransformation enzymes. These promote optimal liver health and therefore the body’s natural elimination of potentially harmful toxins. Some early studies involving animals show that chlorophyllin may reduce the risk for aflatoxin-induced liver damage or liver cancer by increasing activity of these phase II enzymes and removing bodily toxins.
Aflatoxin-B1 (AFB1) is associated with increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma and liver cancer because it’s metabolized to a carcinogen that causes cellular mutations. In animal studies, supplementing with chlorophyllin at the same time as consuming high amounts of dietary AFB1 significantly reduced the amount of DNA damage that developed. This is especially important for people who consume high amounts of grains or legumes, such as those living in underdeveloped nations.
In China, a randomized, placebo-controlled intervention trial involving 180 adults with a high risk of hepatocellular carcinoma and chronic hepatitis B infection gave participants either 100 milligrams of chlorophyllin or a placebo before meals three times daily. After 16 weeks of taking chlorophyllin, AFB1 levels dropped an average of 55 percent more in those taking chlorophyllin compared tothose taking the placebo, suggesting chlorophyll benefits liver health in a useful and safe way.
3. Speeds Up Wound Healing
Chlorophyllin seems to slow the rate at which harmful bacteria reproduce, making it beneficial for wound healing and preventing infections. Since about the 1940s, cholorphyllin has been added to certain ointments used to heal persistent open wounds in humans, such as a vascular ulcer and pressure ulcer. It’s been found to help lower inflammation caused by injuries or wounds, promote healing, and even control odors caused by bacteria accumulation.
4. Improves Digestion and Weight Control
Another way that chlorophyll improves detoxification is by speeding up waste elimination, balancing fluid levels and reducing cases of constipation. Additionally, preliminary research shows chlorophyll benefits the metabolism and increases the likelihood of success with weight-loss efforts.
A 2014 study conducted by the Department of Experimental Medical Science at Lund University in Sweden found that chlorophyll supplements taken along with a high-carbohydrate meal decreased feelings of hunger, elevated cholecystokinin levels and helped prevent hypoglycemia in overweight women.
Prior to the study, previous research had shown that chlorophyll taken in the form of thylakoid supplements helped balance the release of hormones that make us feel fuller, including cholecystokinin, ghrelin and insulin. While the studies so far have mostly looked at the weight-loss effects of chlorophyll taken by rodents, results suggest that it might help naturally suppress food intake and prevent body weight gain in humans too.
The small study done by Lund University observed 20 overweight females eating meals on three different occasions. The test meals consisted of a high-carbohydrate Swedish breakfast, taken with or without addition of chlorophyll in the form of thylakoids. Thylakoids helped suppress hunger and increased secretion of satiety hormones following food intake, preventing compensational eating later in the day — which we would expect over time to help with weight loss and appetite control.
5. Protects Skin
There’s some evidence that chlorophyll benefits skin healthy due its antiviral effects, allowing it to help stop the development of cold sores within the mouth or genital area caused by the herpes simplex virus. Some early studies have found that when chlorophyll-containing ointment or cream is applied to skin it helps reduce the number of sores that appear and speeds up healing time, making it a natural herpes treatment.
Chlorophyll might also be able to protect the skin from shingles, reducing symptoms like painful sores, plus lower the risk for skin cancer. Injecting chlorophyll directly into the skin or applying it via lotion has been found to help reduce the recurrence of cancerous cells in people with basal cell carcinoma, a very common type of skin cancer.
How Chlorophyll Works
Chlorophyll can be found in all green plants. This includes leafy greens and other veggies we commonly eat, plus certain types of algae or bacteria. While chlorophyll is totally natural, a similar semi-synthetic mixture called chlorophyllin is made in laboratories to be used in supplements, such as those marketed as “liquid chlorophyll.” These supplements have been in existence for more than 50 years and are commonly used to treat skin wounds, body odor, digestive problems and other health concerns with practically no side effects at all.
You probably know that plants couldn’t live without chlorophyll, but maybe you’re wondering what kind of chlorophyll benefits there are for humans. As mentioned, chlorophyll is linked to natural cancer prevention, blocks carcinogenic effects within the body and protects DNA from damage caused by toxic molds like aflatoxin. Chlorophyllin supplements are believed to help neutralize oxidants, which means they effectively decrease oxidative damage caused by factors like a poor diet, chemical carcinogens, UV light exposure and radiation.
The Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute in India has found that chlorophyll from fresh green leaves has potent anti-inflammatory activities against dangerous bacteria and other environmental toxins. It helps turn off a pro-inflammatory cytokine called lipopolysaccharide-induced TNF-α, making it a promising treatment option for inflammation and related chronic diseases that conventional medicine has failed to control.
Another one of the big chlorophyll benefits might surprise you. It seems to help promote weight loss by controlling appetite hormones and improving obesity-related risk factors, all without the scary side effects of most commercial weight-loss supplements.
The chlorophyll definition is “the green substance in plants that makes it possible for them to make food from carbon dioxide and water.” There are two main forms of chlorophyll found in nature: chlorophyll-a and chlorophyll-b. There is a small difference between the two types, basically that each absorbs light from the sun at slightly different wavelengths. In natural plants containing chlorophyll, there is a ratio of 3:1 cholorophyll-a (a bluish-black solid) to cholorophyll-b (a dark green solid), which both work together to reflect the dark green pigment that’s visible to the human eye.
Plants and algae use chlorophyll to trap light from the sun that’s needed for photosynthesis, which is why chlorophyll is considered a “chelate.” In fact, it’s considered the single most important chelator found in nature, since it gives plants energy, which then give us energy.
Chlorophyll-a and chlorophyll-b are both fat-soluble, meaning they won’t dissolve in water and are absorbed by the digestive system best when they’re consumed with at least a small amount of fat (lipids). Synthetically made chlorophyllin is soluble in water, however, which means you can take a chlorophyllin supplement without needing to eat a source of fat to fully dissolve it.
On a molecular level, the structure of chlorophyll is very similar to heme, which is a part of hemoglobin present in human blood. Heme, which is what makes blood appear bright red once exposed to oxygen, is bound to proteins forming hemoglobin. Hemoglobin carries oxygen to the lungs and other respiratory surfaces to be released into tissues throughout the body.
The primary reason chlorophyll is considered a superfood is because of its strong antioxidant and anticancer effects. Chlorophyll benefits the immune system because it’s able to form tight molecular bonds with certain chemicals that contribute to oxidative damage and diseases like cancer or liver disease. These are called “procarcinogens” substances, and some of the types that chlorophyll can help block include:
- polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons found in tobacco smoke
- heterocyclic amine toxins found in meat cooked at high temperatures
- food-born toxins, including aflatoxin-B1, a type of dietary mold (also called a fungus) found in many grains and legumes, such as corn, peanuts and soybeans. When processed and included in refined foods, I like to call these “metabolism death foods“
- UV light that can cause skin damage in excess
How to Get More Chlorophyll: Top Chlorophyll Food Sources
What’s the best way to detox using chlorophyll? The very best sources of chlorophyll found on the planet are green vegetables and algae. Here are some of the top food sources to incorporate into your diet to experience all of the chlorophyll benefits.
Leafy green vegetables: Green veggies like kale, spinach or Swiss chard get their signature pigment from a high concentration of chlorophyll. Ideally, every day you should consume some variety of leafy greens as part of your recommended five to seven servings of vegetables, but if you find this difficult consider juicing greens instead.
Raw or lightly cooked foods: An interesting finding published by the Institute of Food Technologies is that chlorophyll content is decreased when green veggies are cooked, thawed after being frozen or when they start to spoil. For example, the amount of chlorophyll in spinach was decreased by about 35 percent after it was thawed and another 50 percent after it was boiled or steamed. To consume the most chlorophyll from your diet, try eating more of a raw food diet or lightly cooking your veggies using low temperatures.
According to Oregon State University, here is a list of the chlorophyll content (bound to magnesium) of selected raw vegetables:
- 1 cup spinach: 23.7 milligrams
- 1/2 cup parsley: 19.0 milligrams
- 1 cup watercress: 15.6 milligrams
- 1 cup green beans: 8.3 milligrams
- 1 cup arugula: 8.2 milligrams
- 1 cup leeks: 7.7 milligrams
- 1 cup endive: 5.2 milligrams
- 1 cup sugar snap peas: 4.8 milligrams
- 1 cup Chinese cabbage: 4.1 milligrams
Chlorella: A type of blue-green algae that’s native to parts of Asia, chlorella is packed with chlorophyll in addition to many phytonutrients, amino acids, vitamins and minerals. Just like chlorophyll itself, chlorella is tied to healthy hormonal balance, detoxification, cardiovascular health, and lower levels of inflammation, blood pressure and cholesterol. In addition to consuming the algae, for convenience sake you can also take extracted chlorella supplements in either powder or tablet form.
Chlorophyllin supplements: Green algae like chlorella are often used to make chlorophyllin, which is found in most supplements. That’s because natural chlorophyll is not very shelf-stable and is prone to degradation, making it hard to consume and very expensive. Oral doses of chlorophyllin supplements taken in amounts about 100–300 milligrams per day (usually divided into three doses) have been used to safely treat conditions with almost no side effects for over five decades.
Liquid chlorophyll and other common sources: Supplemental chlorophyll can be found in herbal treatments, including alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and silkworm droppings. If you have access to liquid chlorophyll, try adding a few drops to a glass of water once or twice a day. It will turn your water bright green, although rest assured it doesn’t taste as bad as it might look and might help give you a little boost in energy when sipped throughout the day.
Can Chlorophyll Ever Cause Toxicity?
Because it’s completely natural, chlorophyll and chlorophyllin are not known to be toxic. In fact, over the past 50 years there have been practically no toxic effects attributed to their consumption, even in people with weak immune systems, such as those healing from cancer.
While the risk for toxicity is extremely low, chlorophyllin supplements might cause minor side effects like green discoloration of urine or feces, temporary discoloration of the tongue, or mild indigestion/diarrhea. These usually go away quickly and are only caused by supplemental chlorophyllin use, as opposed to eating foods that naturally contain chlorophyll.
In pregnant women, chlorophyll or chlorophyllin supplements haven’t been researched very much, so at this time it’s not recommended that they be used during pregnancy or when breast-feeding.
One interaction to keep in mind is that certain medications that increase sensitivity to sunlight (photosensitizing drugs) can interact with chlorophyll. This means taking these medications along with chlorophyll can increase sensitivity to sunlight even more and make you susceptible to burns. Use chlorophyll supplements carefully if you take photosensitive drugs or are especially prone to sunburns, blistering or rashes when you’re exposed to UV light.
Final Thoughts on Chlorophyll Benefits
Chlorophyll benefits include helping fight cancer, improving liver detoxification, speeding up wound healing, improving digestion and weight control, and protecting skin health.
The primary reason chlorophyll is considered a superfood is because of its strong antioxidant and anticancer effects. Chlorophyll benefits the immune system because it’s able to form tight molecular bonds with certain chemicals that contribute to oxidative damage and diseases like cancer or liver disease.
The very best sources of chlorophyll found on the planet are green vegetables and algae. Here are some of the top food sources to incorporate into your diet to experience all of the chlorophyll benefits. This includes green leafy veggies like kale, spinach and Swiss chard. Cooking these foods decreases the nutrient content and lowers the chlorophyll benefits you get, so eat them raw or lightly cooked to preserve the nutrients.
Consuming chlorella, chlorophyllin supplements and liquid chlorophyll are also ways to get chlorophyll benefits.
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