Chlorophyll health benefits, uses and side effects

What is chlorophyll?

You probably remember coming across the term chlorophyll in science class at school. For those who need a quick recap, it’s the pigment which gives plants their vibrant green colour. Chlorophyll benefits plants and algae by helping them to photosynthesise. This is the process by which plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to create energy and oxygen. You’ll find chlorophyll inside subcellular structures called chloroplasts, which are where photosynthesis takes place.

So the benefits of chlorophyll for plants are pretty clear. But what does any of this have to do with human health? Well, excitingly, evidence suggests that there are ways in which chlorophyll benefits us too. We’ll talk about these in more detail shortly.

Chlorophyll is present in virtually all green fruits and vegetables (and even some that are not green). This makes it easy to include the pigment in your diet. In all likelihood, you probably already eat plenty of chlorophyll-rich ingredients!

However, it’s also possible to consume chlorophyll in supplement form. For example, you can take it in capsules or use it to make a chlorophyll drink. Natural chlorophyll and chlorophyll supplements are slightly different, as we’ll cover below, but can both boost our wellbeing.

It’s time to dive into the specifics!

Chlorophyll vs chlorophyllin

Before we look at the potential ways in which chlorophyll benefits our health, let’s go over a quick technicality. If you’ve been looking at chlorophyll supplements, you might have noticed that they tend to contain chlorophyllin rather than chlorophyll. So, what’s the difference, and does it matter which one you take?

Essentially, chlorophyll is the natural version of the pigment, while chlorophyllin is a semi-synthetic chemical that’s made from it. Chlorophyll is fat-soluble, whereas chlorophyllin is water-soluble. Another distinction between the two is that chlorophyll contains magnesium, while chlorophyllin usually contains copper or iron.

These differences are relatively minor. However, they do mean that the body might be able to absorb chlorophyllin slightly more effectively than chlorophyll. This is because pure chlorophyll extract tends to break down more easily in the gut. Having said that, evidence suggests that you’ll enjoy the same chlorophyll benefits no matter which version of it you take.

The health benefits of chlorophyll

Research into how chlorophyll benefits our wellbeing is still in its infancy. However, so far there have been several positive findings.

For example, chlorophyll is chemically similar to haemoglobin. This is a protein in red blood cells that helps to transport oxygen from the lungs all around the body. This resemblance means that chlorophyll may be able to support the health of our red blood cells. Indeed, one study found that a supplement containing chlorophyll and chlorophyllin helped to treat patients with iron deficiency anaemia.(1)

Even if you don’t have anaemia, improving the condition and quantity of your red blood cells could be beneficial. For instance, it can increase the amount of oxygen transported in the blood, helping to fight fatigue and boost energy.

Another way in which chlorophyll benefits us is through its antioxidant properties.(2) In case you’re not familiar with the term, antioxidants are molecules which protect our cells against damage from free radicals. This damage is known as oxidative stress, and research links it to numerous health conditions, from diabetes to cancer. Eating plenty of antioxidant-rich foods – like vegetables containing chlorophyll – may therefore decrease the chances of developing such diseases.

Speaking of cancer, evidence indicates that chlorophyll might have a positive effect on the condition. For example, animal studies have found that the compound could reduce the size and incidence of tumours.(3) However, while such results are promising, further research is necessary to clarify how effectively chlorophyll benefits cancer patients.

On an entirely different note, there is even evidence to suggest that chlorophyll benefits us by acting as a natural deodorant.(4) That being said, findings in this area have been mixed, so further investigation is required.

Additional ways chlorophyll benefits wellbeing

One of the most widely discussed benefits of liquid chlorophyll is that it may assist with healthy weight management. Although research into this is still limited, there have been some encouraging results.

For example, one study investigated what happened when overweight women took a green-plant membrane supplement rich in chlorophyll.(5) The researchers found that it helped to reduce their body weight and cholesterol levels. Interestingly, the supplement also reduced the participants’ desire to eat sweet and fatty foods. Such results are in line with the wealth of studies linking a diet high in chlorophyll-rich fruits and vegetables with a lower chance of obesity.

It's additionally possible that chlorophyll benefits our gut health. For instance, animal studies have found that the pigment could have a positive effect on the gut microbiota.(6) This is important because your gut microbiome influences heart health, the immune system, and even the functions of the brain.

What’s more, chlorophyll water benefits us thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties too. Inflammation is part of the normal process by which the body heals itself from things like injury and infection. However, in situations where inflammation becomes chronic, it can do more harm than good. Experts have linked chronic inflammation to a multitude of health conditions, including arthritis, obesity, asthma, heart disease, dementia, and cancer.

Evidence suggests that chlorophyll could inhibit inflammation, further protecting our health and wellbeing.(7) Once again, however, further research is necessary to clarify its effectiveness in this regard.