If you’re on the wellness side of TikTok, you may have heard of chlorophyll supplements. Many users are claiming that liquid chlorophyll clears up their skin and helps with weight loss. However, how reliable are these claims?
What Are Chlorophyll Supplements?
Chlorophyll plays a crucial role in making plants green – a pigment that makes plants green. Plants utilize chlorophyll and sunlight to obtain nutrients. It contains vitamin A, C, E, and K, along with antioxidants with therapeutic elements that have potential benefits to the body.
Consuming green vegetables helps incorporate chlorophyll into your diet. Some obtain chlorophyll through supplements which are accessible in the form of drops, pills, or capsules.
Many chlorophyll supplements include chlorophyllin, which is a synthetic, water-soluble form of chlorophyll. It is known to absorb easily by the body compared to other derivatives of chlorophyll.
What Are the Misconceptions of Chlorophyll Supplements?
Chlorophyll supplements have been said to enhance overall well-being. Patients have reported improved appetites, reduced musculoskeletal pains, and increased energy levels.
Individuals can engage in more physical activity when they have the energy to do so. Being physically active will result in an increased appetite to fuel your body with necessary nutrients.
These nutrients will then transfer to every cell in the body and allow for functional health. In addition, it is said that chlorophyll can help cleanse your body from toxins and can prevent the absorption of harmful pollutants.
The result of this is an improved respiratory system and a decrease in inflammation. Chlorophyll has been said to be a natural form of healing that is commonly being used, according to TikTok.
The impact of chlorophyll is uncertain. However, supplement manufacturers claim many benefits of chlorophyll supplementation, which includes:
- Weight loss
- Boosting red blood cells
- Neutralize toxins
- Fighting cancer
- Better skin
- Reduce body odor
- Regulating menstrual cycles
- Anti-inflammatory & fights oxidative stress
- Improves liver detoxification
While chlorophyll has numerous potential health benefits, only a few of these benefits are supported by scientific evidence and most need further analysis. A few small studies support the claim of better skin after chlorophyll supplementation (when used with a gel) and minimize body odor.
However, they were done with small sample sizes and have not been replicated on larger scales. Overall, there is still almost no research to support most of the claims, and there’s been very little evidence regarding the claim of weight loss.
Overall, most studies were completed on a small scale, and many of these potential health benefits have not been displayed in humans.
However, below are several studies and research completed regarding the potential benefits of chlorophyll supplements.
The Claim of Chlorophyll for Better Skin
One study discovered that a topical gel that contained chlorophyllin helped minimize acne and large pores. This study consisted of 10 subjects with mild to moderate acne and applied the gel for three weeks.
The Claim of Chlorophyll for Fighting Cancer
A 2018 study evaluated the action of chlorophyll on the development of pancreatic cancer cells with mice transplanted with human pancreatic cancer cells. The researchers discovered that daily administration of oral chlorophyll minimized tumor size in mice.
In addition, it was established that chlorophyll could create bonds with aflatoxins (carcinogenic chemicals). When bonded, the chlorophyll prevents the absorption of the aflatoxins in the intestines. However, more research needs to be done on humans to support these discoveries.
The Claim of Chlorophyll for Weight Loss
A popular claim related to chlorophyll supplementation is weight loss, and research into this claim is limited.
However, a 2014 study with 38 female subjects discovered that those administered with a green plant membrane supplement (including chlorophyll) had a more significant weight loss than a group with no chlorophyll administration.
Should You Consider Taking Chlorophyll Supplements?
The placebo effect is likely to play a role in the observed changes. The observed improvement in skin and energy is probably because you’re drinking more water than usual (through chlorophyll drops) and perhaps making lifestyle/dietary modifications with their latest interest in chlorophyll supplements.
You don’t need to consume supplements to incorporate chlorophyll into your diet. To incorporate chlorophyll into your diet, one can simply consume more green fruits and vegetables. Along with that, you can also achieve the claimed potential benefits from consuming vegetables.
There is no risk in consuming chlorophyll supplements, but in truth, it’s probably not doing anything for your body. Some reported side effects include diarrhea, nausea, and discoloration of your stool (often green).
In conclusion, it probably won’t hurt to take chlorophyll supplements and also won’t be beneficial. A healthy diet cannot be replaced with chlorophyll supplementation, and no amount of chlorophyll can fix the damage an unhealthy diet can do.
The best way to decrease your disease risk is to consume a plant-focused diet of vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains, beans, and seeds with some lean or plant proteins.
Furthermore, it’s essential to remain active daily and achieve 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise. Moreover, it’s vital to consult with your healthcare provider before taking any health supplement.
Choosing a healthy plant-based and vegan diet is most beneficial when it comes to:
-
Higher levels of energy;
-
Improved sleep;
-
Aids in energy and overall happiness;
-
Provides a sense of comfort and relief;
-
Could prevent major diseases such as obesity and diabetes;
-
Accomplish weight-loss and management; and
-
Improves mental and cognitive functioning.
There are really no excuses not to try healthier habits in your everyday life. If you are a man or woman looking for specific benefits of adopting healthier habits or just want to know about the general healing properties of herbs. Please remember to comment or post any health questions, or contact us directly!
Also feel free to share any of your favorite recipes to make and share it with the Assuaged community on our ➡️ Share A Recipe ⬅️ page!
