All the health benefits of chlorophyll
Food supplements are on the rise. It has become very trendy to supplement with micronutrients (vitamins, minerals, trace elements), for health purposes. Among the star ingredients of herbal medicine, chlorophyll. But what is it exactly and above all, would regular intake of chlorophyll make it possible to be in better health ?
What is chlorophyll?
Chlorophyll, from the Greek khloros (light green) and phylon (leaf), is the natural pigment that gives plant leaves and algae their green color. It is this compound that mainly enables the process of photosynthesis in plants – the synthesis of organic matter from carbon, water and light energy.
There are in fact several types of chlorophyll, whose molecular structure differs significantly. Chlorophyllin, a synthetic derivative of chlorophyll, is the one that is generally used in food (green natural dye) and food supplements . We will generalize here by using the term chlorophyll.
What are the health benefits of chlorophyll?
Little is still known about the metabolism of chlorophyll by the human body. For a long time it was also thought that it was hardly absorbed by the body, until certain clinical tests, which confirmed that it was indeed circulating in the blood plasma.
On the various studies carried out in recent years, we are nevertheless able to determine certain benefits of chlorophyll on health. Thereby :
- The chlorophyll molecule would be able to neutralize certain chemicals involved in cancer , such as certain toxic substances in tobacco smoke (1) , heterocyclic amines in grilled meat (2) and aflatoxin-B 1 (3) , a fungus toxic that proliferates in poorly preserved seeds (corn, peanuts, wheat, almonds, cocoa, coffee , etc.). Chlorophyll would inhibit the absorption of its carcinogenic substances by the intestinal wall.
- Some studies confirm the antioxidant power of chlorophyll, which would limit the oxidative stress generated by carcinogens and free radicals (4) .
- Chlorophyll has often been used, and has been for 70 to 80 years, as an internal “deodorant” , especially for patients with a colostomy or ileostomy. It is also still used for this purpose, because it neutralizes bad body odors (bad breath, cases of urinary incontinence, etc.).
- Chlorophyll would also heal certain wounds and wounds . It neutralizes the development of certain bacteria characteristic of wounds that take a long time to heal, such as varicose ulcers. Combined with papain and urea, chlorophyll is an excellent healing agent (5) .
- Finally, due to its molecular structure, chlorophyll is very similar to human hemoglobin. The chemical relationship of the two induces that chlorophyll would stimulate the production of hemoglobin , allow good oxygenation of cells and tissues (thus promoting cell regeneration) and have an anti- anemic action (rich in iron) (6) .
Chlorophyll would therefore have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, digestive, haematological, anti-cancer and cutaneous properties. It would be particularly favorable to the immune system , to the health of the digestive organs such as the intestines or the liver , to the blood and to the skin.
How to consume chlorophyll?
The first (and most obvious) way to consume chlorophyll is still to eat fresh fruits and green vegetables regularly. It is also a question of consuming them raw (salad, green juice ), because the heat and cooking completely destroy the chlorophyll they contain. The foods richest in chlorophyll are aromatic plants (basil, parsley, mint), certain vegetables (cabbage, spinach), edible plants (nettle, watercress, dandelion, alfalfa), algae (spirulina, sea lettuce, glasswort ) and sprouted seeds.
But chlorophyll could also be consumed in the form of a food supplement, in the form of capsules or an oral solution to be diluted in water. In general, it is extracted from plant leaves (mulberry, mint, alfalfa, nettle, fern, etc.). Before starting a cure, however, it is better to notify your doctor, and stick to the recommended dose of 100 mg per day. Finally, taking chlorophyll-based food supplements is not recommended for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Stephen Paul is the lead author and founder of My Health Sponsor. Holder of a diploma in health and well-being coaching with more than 200 articles in the field of health, he makes it a point of honor to offer advice based on reliable information, based on scientific research, and verified by health professionals.