How Chlorophyll Can Help Your Body

You probably remembered those days sitting in Science class, listening to the lecture about chlorophyll. From that lecture, you learned how essential chlorophyll is to the photosynthetic process, and that chlorophyll is responsible for the green colour of plants and their leaves.

If you need a refresher course, chlorophyll is the green pigment in the chloroplasts of plant cells. It can also be found in algae and certain bacteria. Its role is to allow the plant to absorb energy from a light source, typically the sun, by converting light into a form of chemical energy. This energy is stored and later on used by plants for survival.

Health Benefits of Chlorophyll

But chlorophyll is not only fundamental to plants, it has also been found beneficial to human and animal life. Fresh, raw green leafy vegetables have always been recommended to be part of our daily diet because they contain a powerhouse of minerals and nutrients, well as chlorophyll. The greener the vegetables are, the more chlorophyll they have.  

 Prevents anaemia

Haemoglobin, a pigment in the red blood cells that gives our blood its colour, has a similar molecular structure as chlorophyll, except for their central atom – the haemoglobin has iron, whilst chlorophyll has magnesium. The haemoglobin carries the oxygen from our lungs to the other organs of our body.

The consumption of chlorophyll increases the production of haemoglobin in the body which, in turn, prevents anaemia. In a study by Dr. Arthur Patek, it was found that adding chlorophyll to the diet of anaemic patients increased their red blood cell and haemoglobin count faster than with iron supplementation alone.

Cleanses Body Toxins

Chlorophyll has the ability to detoxify the body, including the digestive tract, liver and colon. Plants such as wheatgrass and barley are juiced and consumed for detoxification because of their massive amounts of chlorophyll content. In addition, chlorophyll is also being used in intravenous treatment of chronic relapsing pancreatitis.

Great Against Bacteria and Inflammation

Whilst it is not clear whether chlorophyll can help accelerate the process of healing wounds, it has been found to have antiseptic properties, which can fight against infections. It has been used as a deodorant for foul-smelling wounds, for treating skin diseases, as well as inflammation.

Helps Against Free Radicals

Antioxidants are present in chlorophyll, which aid in fighting against free radicals. Free radicals can be harmful to the DNA structure and cell membranes. Due to free radical damage, cells can die and cause the development of certain diseases.

Sources of Chlorophyll

Plants and algae are the richest sources of chlorophyll. Specifically, plants with greener leaves are higher in chlorophyll content. Chlorophyll intake is possible through fresh juice extraction (as what is done with wheatgrass and barley grass), eating raw green vegetables, and taking chlorophyll supplements. These green leafy sources have also been added in several health supplements.