There are plenty of social media influencers out there talking about how great chlorophyll is for you and your body. Eye-catching visuals and celebrity endorsements (hello, Reese Witherspoon) can create a lot of buzz. Chlorophyll supplements are convenient and offer a concentrated dose of chlorophyll without having to eat all of those veggies. But what do we actually know about chlorophyll? This blog aims to tell you the truth: what we actually know about chlorophyll and what we don't. We're going to give you evidence-based facts to help clarify some common misconceptions and help you feel easy about taking chlorophyll supplements yourself (if you want to of course!). And hey, if you've already made up your mind and would like to give some supplements a try, we recommend our Body Magic Chlorophyll Pill! This all-natural supplement you can take once a day to help target body odor from within!
What is Chlorophyll?
Chlorophyll is a very important part of all plant-life. In fact, it is one of the most important pigments involved in photosynthesis. Chlorophyll captures light and helps convert it to energy. 2
Why are Chlorophyll Supplements Popular?
Chlorophyll supplements are gaining traction in social media. More and more influencers are coming out to promote chlorophyll, especially chlorophyll "water". Chlorophyll water is just liquid chlorophyll mixed with water. Many influencers tout this magic green liquid as something that will help cure many maladies from clearing up your skin to helping fight cancer.
Many people like the convenience of taking chlorophyll supplements. Supplements offer a concentrated dose of chlorophyll, which many people get in their diets just from eating plenty of green veggies. If you struggle to eat green veggies, chlorophyll supplements seem like a safe-alternative to getting that nutrient.
And then, it comes with all of those claims, right? Many marketers promote chlorophyll as a detoxifier that can cleanse the body of harmful substances, however, this is yet to be scientifically proven.
Myth vs. Fact: Detoxification
A common belief is that chlorophyll detoxifies the body. This is only a partial truth. Research has shown promise that chlorophyll has the ability to mitigate the harmful effects of endocrine disruptors. This binding ability, known as chelation, helps to prevent unhealthy chemicals from interacting with hormone receptors, and encourages their removal from the body 3. This is what most influencers call "detoxifying".
Myth vs. Fact: Weight Loss
Some people have been using or saying that chlorophyll aids in significant weight loss. This is yet to be researched thoroughly, so findings are limited. One small study (about 40 women) found that chlorophyll supplements taken in the morning could encourage weight loss by decreasing urges for sweets, chocolates, and other junk food 7. More research is needed to determine its effects on metabolism and other weight loss factors.
Myth vs. Fact: Skin Health
What about skin care? We've all heard people on Tik-Tok claim that chlorophyll has helped clear up their skin conditions right? Well, the truth is that there is very little evidence that supports this claim. There have been two small studies done on topical chlorophyll. One study of 21 women showed improvements in acne and skin aging using a topical chlorophyll, but no studies have been done to show if chlorophyll can help skin health by consuming it 5. Stronger research is needed in this area to confirm chlorophyll's potential role in skin care.
Myth vs. Fact: Boosting Energy Levels
Some people believe that chlorophyll provides a natural energy boost. However, there is no scientific research to support this claim. Research that has been done on chlorophyll has not looked specifically at boosting energy levels, and more research is needed to substantiate this claim 5.
Myth Vs. Fact: Anti-Cancer Properties
Chlorophyll cannot prevent or cure cancer. Please do not use or take chlorophyll as a means for curing cancer. There is promising research that has shown that chlorophyll may help reduce the risk of certain cancers if taken in very specific ways. All research on chlorophyll treating cancer has been on animals or in-vitro (in test tubes) 5. However, research appears promising. A few studies have shown that chlorophyll can help decrease the body's absorption of aflatoxin B - a toxin produced by a fungus linked to an increased risk of developing liver cancer 6. Research is currently being conducted on chlorophyll on bladder and pancreatic cancer cells 4 9
How to Use Chlorophyll Supplements Safely
Chlorophyll is considered safe to use in small and moderate dosages if you are healthy. We offer our own chlorophyll supplements that are 100% all-natural, plant-based, and safe and easy to digest. Our Body Magic Chlorophyll pills also contain parsley and peppermint, which, combined with the chlorophyll helps reduce body odor naturally.
Because the research on chlorophyll, especially in human consumption, is so limited. It is important to talk to your doctor or health-care provider before starting any new supplements. Side-effects are usually mild and the benefits may outweigh the cost. There is no research on taking chlorophyll and its effect on pregnant and lactating women. If you are pregnant or lactating, please consult your doctor before taking chlorophyll.
Real Reviews, Real Customers
Expert Opinions and Recommendations
Most experts are divided on chlorophyll supplements. Most nutritionists and doctors are not opposed to the idea of taking chlorophyll supplements, but aren't sure you are going to see exactly the results you're looking for. "“You get chlorophyll when you eat broccoli, spinach or any other green fruit or vegetable,” says Wohlford. “If you take chlorophyll, it should truly be a supplement,” says Wohlford. “It may provide a little bit of extra benefit, but you still need to eat greens and other vegetables for the fiber and other nutrients that chlorophyll is not going to contain, and you still need to exercise 1 .”
References
- Alexander, Heather, and Lindsey Wohlford. 2021. “What are the benefits of drinking chlorophyll?” MD Anderson Cancer Center. https://www.mdanderson.org/cancerwise/what-are-the-benefits-of-drinking-chlorophyll-6-things-to-know.h00-159460056.html.
- “Chlorophyll | Definition, Function, & Facts.” n.d. Britannica. Accessed July 21, 2024. https://www.britannica.com/science/chlorophyll.
- “Enhancing Health Benefits through Chlorophylls and Chlorophyll-Rich Agro-Food: A Comprehensive Review.” 2023. NCBI. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10384064/.
- Li B, Wu Z, Li W, Jia G, Lu J, Fang J, Chen G. Chlorophyllin e4 is a novel photosensitizer against human bladder cancer cells. Oncol Rep. 2012 May;27(5):1455-60. doi: 10.3892/or.2012.1656. Epub 2012 Jan 26. PMID: 22294235. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22294235/
- Lubeck, Brittany. 2023. “Health Benefits of Chlorophyll - Supplements.” Verywell Health. https://www.verywellhealth.com/chlorophyll-5088796.
- Manaker, Lauren. 2021. “Is TikTok's Liquid Chlorophyll the Health Cure-All? Experts Say Not Likely.” Verywell Health. https://www.verywellhealth.com/tiktok-trend-liquid-chlorophyll-5179942.
- Montelius, Caroline, Daniel Erlandsson, Egzona Vitija, Eva-Lena Stenblom, Emil Egecioglu, and Charlotte Erlanson-Albertsson. 2014. “Body weight loss, reduced urge for palatable food and increased release of GLP-1 through daily supplementation with green-plant membranes for three months in overweight women.” PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24993695/.
- Petruzzello, Melissa. n.d. “Chlorophyll | Definition, Function, & Facts.” Britannica. Accessed July 21, 2024. https://www.britannica.com/science/chlorophyll.
- Vaňková K, Marková I, Jašprová J, Dvořák A, Subhanová I, Zelenka J, Novosádová I, Rasl J, Vomastek T, Sobotka R, Muchová L, Vítek L. Chlorophyll-Mediated Change in the Redox Status of Pancreatic Cancer Cells Are Associated with Its Anticancer Effects.Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2018 Jul 2, 2018: 4069167. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30057678/.
