5 Things You Should Know About Chlorophyll Supplements
Recently drinking chlorophyll in the liquid form has been a popular social media trend, circulating on the app Tiktok.
Influencers have raved on how it improves the quality of skin, enhances natural body odours, and fights inflammation. But how effective is this new supplement, and are these health claims true?
In response I have done some of my own research, and came up with a list of 5 things to know before consuming chlorophyll as a supplement.
In simple terms, chlorophyll is the pigment in plants which gives off their green colour and functions by absorbing energy from sunlight and supporting plants in the process of photosynthesis (process of how plants make their own food).
Chlorophyll drops and liquid chlorophyll aren’t just chlorophyll, they contain chlorophyllin, which is a water-soluble version of chlorophyll. Chlorophyllin is made with a combination of sodium and copper salts with chlorophyll, to make it more absorbable in the body. Studies on chlorophyll are very limited. Although there are many health claims out there, most experiments that have been conducted utilize small samples or have only been tested on animals. Therefore it's important before you start adding liquid chlorophyll drops to your water every morning, you do your own research and understand how it can impact your body.
3. Many media consumers follow the liquid chlorophyll trend under the assumption that it works as a substitute for their daily fruit and veggie intake. Yikes! As research shows, liquid chlorophyll does contain many similar vitamins and minerals as whole foods, leading people to believe it is sufficient enough for their diet. However chlorophyll occurs naturally in most of the plants we eat, like spinach, kale and cabbage. So by eliminating whole fruits and veggies, you are missing out on essential nutrients which chlorophyll supplements cannot provide. For example, a serving of spinach contains folic acid, iron, calcium and vitamin K. Nutrients you cannot get from liquid chlorophyll alone.
4. In addition, the current average price for liquid chlorophyll ranges from $13-40 a bottle depending on brand and quality. This is an added cost to your daily lifestyle which should be considered. As a comparison, the price for a box of spinach, whole cabbage or broccoli ranges from $3-6 and can be easily incorporated with different dishes and meals.
5. Lastly, it’s important to remember if you are drinking liquid chlorophyll the results may be due to the increase in water consumption and not the chlorophyll itself. As the method of consumption is adding the drops to tall glasses of water, your hydration is improving. A common occurrence of the placebo effect and marketing trends online can convince you that you need to purchase these supplements to boost immunity, skin and energy. However these health claims are all attainable through natural sources of foods and water accessible right in your home.
Now that you know a little bit more about chlorophyll, what are your thoughts? Will you partake in this buzzing social media trend?