It is generally known that chlorophyll is the green pigment that gives many plants, including grass as well as green fruits and vegetables, their vibrant green color. But what is not so commonly known is that chlorophyll is also a naturally occurring substance that plays a crucial role in powering photosynthesis, an act in which it absorbs sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen.
Chlorophyll’s Role Goes Beyond Color and Photosynthesis
Here’s another thing about chlorophyll, though, that paints a picture that keeps getting better; its benefit to plant life doesn’t end its value to the world in general. There’s more to this substance than just its green hue. Although more research is ongoing to further support and verify chlorophyll’s role in human health, it has shown a knack for providing numerous health benefits to us as a natural remedy available in the form of a supplement. Its bioactive molecules between them carry a variety of health benefits, such as acting as an antioxidant.
5 Potential Health Benefits Associated with Chlorophyll
Chlorophyll’s antioxidant nature positions it well for fending off or treating a variety of health issues, a number of which have a link to the ill effects of inflammation. Chlorophyll is not a cure-all for health issues, but following are five of the health benefits often linked to chlorophyll supplementation:
Alleviate constipation and gas. There is research that has demonstrated that chlorophyll in supplement form can help thwart inflammation associated with inflammatory bowel disease (HBD), which in turn has been shown to be a source of gas and constipation. Along those lines, chlorophyll has been shown to regulate gut microbiota. In that sense, chlorophyll might also work to support proper digestion.
Contribute to weight loss. Research with plant membranes containing chlorophyll, known as thylakoids, have shown some success in suppressing appetite and promoting a feeling of fullness while eating a meal. These are factors that have traditionally been shown to aid in weight loss thanks to curbed eating habits. Additionally, animal tests have indicated chlorophyll-abundant extracts sourced from spinach and spirulina not only reduced body weight gain in test subjects but also cut back on their fat mass and triglycerides while boosting glucose tolerance as well.
Act as a detoxifier. Chalk this up to chlorophyll’s ability to bind to heavy metals and endocrine disruptors that have made their rude and uninvited entry into your body. It works in this regard by assisting with their excretion, in effect helping to cleanse out toxins. In so doing, this chelating-nature of chlorophyll can not only guard against oxidative harm to endocrine organs such as ovaries but also promote brain health by removing neurotoxins believed to be related to cognitive decline.
Promote skin health. Equipped with its antioxidant nature, chlorophyll supplementation has the potential to neutralize free radicals than can cause skin damage. Consumed regularly – check with your personal physician first to make sure that is suitable for you – chlorophyll thus might prevent or at least slow down skin aging while also improving its clarity.
Deodorize your body. In other words, chlorophyll can act as a deodorant. Although more research is needed to confirm the efficacy of chlorophyll in this regard, anecdotal evidence has shown that chlorophyll supplementation has worked as a natural deodorant by neutralizing unwanted odors emanating from your body.
Although chlorophyll is green by nature, it is no novice when it comes to imparting health benefits to people, and in a variety of ways at that. Plant-based natural remedies have been in vogue since ancient times, giving chlorophyll by association centuries of credibility as a natural remedy, As always, be sure to discuss its use with your personal physician or other healthcare professional before adding it to your daily regimen.