You can’t really say much about the health benefits of chlorophyll without thinking ‘green.’ That’s because chlorophyll is green. It’s the pigment in green plants. It also provides oxygen for all life on Earth including human cells. Which makes it the biggest powerhouse ever.
When I first started drinking and growing wheatgrass decades ago, I wasn’t even aware of what exactly made it so beneficial. And ditto for all the other greens I ate.
I mean, I knew they were healthy. I knew they had lots of vitamins and minerals. And I definitely knew I ate a little ‘outside the box’ — or at least back then it was.
But beyond that I had very little knowledge of the science or nutrition of plants, or why exactly all those deep green salads or spirulina smoothies I drank were beneficial.
Or precisely how a bowl of mixed greens and sprouts were nutritionally superior to a greasy cheeseburger or bucket of fries.
In fact had you asked me back then why I ate that way and wasn’t a fan of the typical American diet that so many of my friends and family consumed — processed foods and the like — I probably would’ve shrugged and said something like this:
I dunno, I just like it.
Hmm . . . it gives me energy.
It makes me feel good.
It’s probably healthier, one would think . . .
It tastes better! Sometimes . . .
Who needs all that grease!?
Stuff like that, right?
And ditto for just about everything else I included in my diet that seemed so odd and out of step with those around me.
That was when I first instinctively went vegan in my teens, though I’d also gone vegetarian in middle school thanks to the influence of some amazing Seventh Day Adventists I’d met and the delicious, aromatic, and bountiful food their mother prepared, which also, I noted, made them radiant.
And nicer.
Kinder-hearted.
More benevolent.
They definitely had a vibe.
Anyway, I just knew it was healthier food, and especially when I saw the results in my own body. So who cared how it worked. It just did, and that was enough.
So moving forward.
It was only later — much later after I finished grad school and became a devoted researcher on all the topics I adored — particularly health, fitness, and natural medicine — that I finally learned the science of vegan food.
And the beauty — essentiality — of living chlorophyll.
And how it uploads into plants.
What Is Chlorophyll?
So if you’re anything like me and forgot just about everything you learned in grade school science short of the exact formations of trees and sunlight and skittering birds outside a bleary window, here’s a refresher on photosynthesis and chlorophyll from National Geographic, which, importantly, concludes like this:
“Chlorophyll can be considered a foundation for all life on Earth.”
Repeat: Chlorophyll can be considered a foundation for all life on Earth.
In other words, without chlorophyll we’d all be dead.
Which is kind of important, right?
Without chlorophyll benefits and the health benefits of raw living plants, we’re done:
“There are many different types of pigments in nature, but chlorophyll is unique in its ability to enable plants to absorb the energy they need to build tissues. Chlorophyll is located in a plant’s chloroplasts, which are tiny structures in a plant’s cells. This is where photosynthesis takes place. . . . [and] because food webs in every type of ecosystem, from terrestrial to marine, begin with photosynthesis, chlorophyll can be considered a foundation for all life on Earth.”
Benefits of Chlorophyll
Chlorophyll is such a phenomenal compound and its benefits are so immense, it’s little wonder it’s accrued so many names:
- Nature’s sunshine.
- Living Battery.
- Energizer Bunny.
- Nature’s greatest healer.
- Condensed solar energy.
- Concentrated sun power.
- Nature’s green magic.
- Light harvester.
It’s also a go-to for green blood of plants with remarkable similarities to hemoglobin.
In wheatgrass it’s described like this:
The chlorophyll molecule in wheatgrass is almost identical to the hemoglobin in human blood. The only difference is that the central element in chlorophyll is magnesium and in hemoglobin it is iron . . . . and because of this wheatgrass is called ‘Green Blood.’
And this:
“Chlorophyll is as close to the molecular structure of human blood as anything on the planet. So you can actively revitalize your blood. From an external source comes a raw material that the body can instantly convert into fresh blood.”
And light energy:
Chlorophyll is condensed sunlight. Since we are light beings, spirit and soul inside solid bodies, the light force vibrates through the physical body. That’s the energy you feel.
Health Benefits of Chlorophyll
Chlorophyll is one of the healthiest compounds on Earth.
It sports about every benefit under the sun.
Chlorophyll Benefits
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Boosts red and white blood cells.
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Oxygenates blood.
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Cleanses and detoxifies.
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Reduces inflammation.
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Fights oxidative stress.
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Boosts metabolism.
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Mitigates disease.
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Improves digestion.
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Supports vascular health.
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Boosts heart-health, gut-health, and brain-health.
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Nourishes the biome.
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Boosts the immune system.
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Supports mental health.
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Curbs insulin resistance.
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Improves sleep.
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Ramps fitness, ATP, and muscle recovery.
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Alkalizes the blood.
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Increases longevity.
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Supports oral and eye health.
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Promotes skin health and wound healing.
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Boosts energy and curbs fatigue.
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Supports reproductive health.
According to this report:
Chlorophyll increases the functions of the heart, affects the vascular system, the intestines, the uterus, and the lungs. It raises the basic nitrogen exchange and is therefore a tonic which, considering its stimulating properties, cannot be compared with any other.
In addition:
Chlorophyll can protect us from carcinogens like no other food or medicine can. It acts to strengthen the cells, detoxify the liver and bloodstream, and chemically neutralize the polluting elements themselves.
Results suggest chlorophyll type molecules modulate mitochondrial ATP by catalyzing the reduction of coenzyme Q, a slow step in mitochondrial ATP synthesis.
Chlorophyll-Rich Foods
The telltale sign that chlorophyll is present in a plant is the color green.
And the deeper and darker the green and sometimes purplish shade, the richer its content.
Foods High in Chlorophyll
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Spirulina.
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Chlorella.
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Spinach.
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Mustard greens.
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Collard greens.
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Alfalfa.
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Sprouts.
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Phytoplankton.
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Blue green algae.
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Microgreens.
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Arugula.
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Parsley.
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Basil.
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Cilantro.
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Broccoli.
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Green cabbage.
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Green tea.
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Asparagus.
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Green beans.
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Green peas.
Generally speaking, most organic green plants and sea organisms such as algae and planktons contain some chlorophyll.
One study found that boiled spinach is a good source.
And it’s huge in grass:
Whenever anyone talks about the healing powers of grass, they mention chlorophyll first. Grasses, along with alfalfa and algaes, are the richest sources of chlorophyll on the planet.
Chlorophyll Benefits In Grass
I personally drink raw organic juices like wheatgrass and barley grass for chlorophyll. According to one source, wheatgrass rocks 70%. It’s been called ‘green blood juice’ for that reason.
And barley’s just as good.
To obtain the full chlorophyll benefits of grasses I suggest growing them yourself, cutting at about 9” tall, and consuming (juicing) within a couple of hours.
You can also chew the grass raw if you don’t have a machine.
Liquid Chlorophyllin & Chlorophyll Water Benefits
So is drinking liquid chlorophyll a good way to tap chlorophyll benefits?
There’s been a lot of buzz lately about chlorophyllin drinks and supplements, so here’s what semi-synthetic chlorophyllin is:
Chlorophyllin is a semi-synthetic mixture of sodium copper salts derived from chlorophyll. During the synthesis of chlorophyllin, the magnesium atom at the center of the ring is replaced with copper and the phytol tail is lost.
Unlike natural chlorophyll, chlorophyllin is water-soluble. Although the content of different chlorophyllin mixtures may vary, two compounds commonly found in commercial chlorophyllin mixtures are trisodium copper chlorin and disodium copper chlorin.
Some reports suggest that semi-synthetic derived chlorophyllin may be effective at reducing liver cancer as well as promoting other health benefits.
According to the Linus Pauling Institute,
Chlorophyllin has been used orally as an internal deodorant and topically in the treatment of slow-healing wounds for more than 50 years without any serious side effects.
Another study reports that sodium copper chlorophyllin tablets are well absorbed.
However an article in the Oxford Journal of Nutrition found that ‘natural’ chlorophyll benefits from plants are more effective than chlorophyllin at fighting colon cancer — a leading cause of death in the United States.
Which is just another reason to rock nutrient-dense plants, blue green algae, and planktons with additional micronutrients and phytochemicals onboard.
Think spirulina, chlorella, sprouts, matcha green tea.
Liquid Chlorophyllin Side Effects
Since chlorophyllin drinks and supplements are usually not regulated, make sure and purchase from a reliable manufacturer to avoid potential contamination.
Always check ingredients and brand authority on chlorophyll water.
In addition you should consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have medical conditions such as cancer, diabetes, weakened immune system, etc., or if you’re pregnant and/or taking medications.
Chlorophyll Side Effects
Tapping chlorophyll from raw living plants and sea organisms is generally safe.
As noted above, use a trustworthy seller for all your nutritional needs.
If you’re taking medications, have medical conditions, or you’re pregnant, consult your physician.
And if you’re able to grow your own food such as wheatgrass, barley grass, and sprouts, that’s ideal.
Or shop locally grown organic.
Read on:
The medical and health topics covered on the Plate of Grass website and blog have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to prevent or cure any disease. This article and its content is presented ‘as is’ for informational purposes only.
