Chlorophyll water was a hot trend on TikTok a while ago. It was presented as a miracle drink that can change your life for the better in such a simple way. Green drinks are usually healthy and Instagram-able, so they are pretty much a common appearance.
If you weren’t on board when the trend was high or simply haven’t heard much about this famous liquid, read along for all the chlorophyll water benefits and everything else you need to know about it, including whether it actually helps with weight loss.
Chlorophyll, the Green Blood of Plants
Chlorophyll is the pigment that produces the green color in plants and algae. It has the essential role of helping them absorb sunlight and turn it into the fuel they need through photosynthesis.
So when you’re eating green plants, you’re also taking a dose of chlorophyll.
What happens, then? It goes through your digestive system in micelles – fat-containing molecular groups. It’s still unclear to what extent it is metabolized, more precisely, what the amount of fat necessary for this process is. However, the assumption is that if your meals include some healthy fats, this will aid in metabolizing chlorophyll and taking advantage of its antioxidant properties.
Why is it referred to as green blood?
It turns out that its molecular structure is very similar to that of blood. Hemoglobin and chlorophyll molecules are very alike. The central atom is where they differ. Hemoglobin has a central iron atom, while in the case of chlorophyll, it’s a magnesium atom.
While plants use it to feed and grow, we started to use it as a coloring agent. And, at some point, a new option became available on the market – using a chlorophyll–related drink to improve overall health.
What’s Chlorophyll Water?
The name may lead you to believe that you would be consuming water mixed with chlorophyll from plants. In fact, it’s often advertised as purified water with added chlorophyll. But that’s not entirely correct.
It turns out that what you are consuming when you’re drinking chlorophyll water is actually chlorophyllin. So I read more about this, and this is what I found out.
Chlorophyll and Chlorophyllin are two different things!
As mentioned above, chlorophyll in plants is fat-soluble, meaning it cannot be absorbed without fat. These green drinks need a water-soluble pigment, so instead of actual chlorophyll, you get the next best thing – chlorophyllin.
Chlorophyllin is the liquid version of chlorophyll, made out of sodium copper salts that are derived from chlorophyll. Also called Sodium Copper Chlorophyllin (SCC), it is water-soluble, so it can be added to drinks.
So chlorophyll water, as we know it, is water mixed with chlorophyllin, not the naturally occurring chlorophyll. Even so, the few studies already conducted suggest that the benefits of Sodium Copper Chlorophyllin are similar to that of the ‘green blood of plants.’
Chlorophyll Water Nutrition Facts
You know what nutrients you get when you eat a bowl of spinach.
If you don’t, check out this article: Is Spinach Good for Weight Loss?
But what about this water with supplemental chlorophyllin? What does it bring to the table?
Studies show that you get a high dose of antioxidants. But you need the good old-fashion green salad to get the whole array of vitamins and minerals.
Benefits of Chlorophyll Water
Although the research on this matter is still in its early stage, there are promising results already.
Drinking chlorophyll benefits your body in various ways, and here are the most notable ones:
- Can prevent oxidative cell damage
- Can help reduce pancreatic and liver cancer cells
- A great remedy for acne and other skin conditions
- Is medically used for treating wounds
- Helps with body odor
- Improves your body’s hydration
- Sustains digestion and reduces GI tract inflammation
- Helps you get rid of fungus
- Boosts the immune system
Side Effects
One of the reasons this green beverage became so famous was that it had relatively few and low-intensity side effects. And those few unpleasant experiences happen when you consume a large quantity.
But, just to get the full picture, here is what to expect.
Chlorophyll water negative effects:
- Nausea or even vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Modified stools
Can chlorophyllin cause headaches?
The few studies that have been conducted didn’t present headaches as a side effect; most effects observed were connected to the digestive system. However, it has been suggested that you may experience headaches when drinking chlorophyll water because your body is detoxing.
What happens if you drink too much chlorophyll water?
Going over the recommended dose can lead to digestive issues, especially stomach cramps. Dieticians also warn that if you use it for extended periods, it can cause photosensitization, making you vulnerable to sunlight.
Do Doctors Recommend Chlorophyll?
Some do. However, since so little research is available, it’s unlikely you will hear your doctor recommend the chlorophyll liquid drop.
Who should not drink chlorophyllin?
➡️Pregnant and nursing women, and children should not use this supplement. That’s because its safety for these categories hasn’t been studied yet.
➡️If you’re on medication that causes sun sensitivity, you shouldn’t use this supplement, as it would amplify the side effect even more.
How to Use It
Where does chlorophyll water come from, and how should you include it in your daily routine?
Once you’ve decided this would be a good supplement for you, the rest is simple. You can buy the final drink – purified water mixed with chlorophyllin. Or you can get the drops.
As for where to buy chlorophyll water, stick to well-known websites and stores to ensure you get the real product.
How to make chlorophyll water: add the number of drops mentioned on the label into clean water. You can also make your own chlorophyllin water at home using parsley leaves. But the process is a bit tedious, and it’s unlikely many of us will try it as long as a much easier method is available.
How much chlorophyll water to drink daily?
Is it ok to drink chlorophyll water every day? If you feel better using it, sure. But there is a recommended dose you shouldn’t ignore: no more than 300 mg daily, according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
What Does Chlorophyll Water Taste Like?
You want to test the benefits of drinking chlorophyll water, but what about the taste?
That’s one of the main questions when hearing about a new green drink.
Some of them can be pretty gross – see my experience with the green juice used in the Sirtfood Diet in this post:
Is the Sirtfood Diet Efficient?
Chlorophyll water has a weak plant-like taste. But it seems people perceive it differently. Some have described it as having a minty flavor; others just felt the taste of extra-clean water. If you feel it tastes too leafy, you can improve your chlorophyll water with lemon.
Chlorophyll Water vs. Pill
Once you decide you want to try chlorophyllin, you’ll find that there are multiple options available
- Tablets
- Capsules
- Powders
- Drops
- Ready-to-use chlorophyll water
As long as they are purchased from reliable sources, all these contain the same stuff. But if you use chlorophyll water or drops, it will be absorbed into your organism faster. With tablets, capsules, and even powder, your digestive system will have some breaking down to do.
Each version of chlorophyllin has its advantages:
- Tablets and capsules are easy to carry around in your bag, so you can take them at any time
- The powder can be added to smoothies and various recipes
- Adding chlorophyll to water using drops works faster and increases your water intake
Chlorophyll Water vs. Spirulina
You can get great antioxidant benefits from both, but spirulina is better. The chlorophyll-containing algae have higher protein content and more Omega-3.
With spirulina, you can add more to the benefits of drinking chlorophyll water. It also improves cognitive function and can help combat anemia due to its iron content.
When to Drink Chlorophyll Water
You can consume chlorophyllin whenever you prefer during the day. There isn’t a specific moment when it has a higher impact on your body.
You can drink it in the morning, after a workout, or simply when you feel thirsty throughout the day, before or after meals.
Since it helps you improve your body’s hydration, any time is right. But don’t overdo it, though.
Can Chlorophyll Water Help You Lose Weight?
Ok, so the green plant-flavored liquid can do great things for your health. That’s great, but can it also help with weight loss? When you want your scale to show a more comfortable truth, you want your healthy options also to sculpt your body.
Many voices promote the idea that drinking chlorophyll water helps you drop some weight. But the fact is, at this point, science doesn’t have a definite answer. Few studies have been conducted, so it’s premature to draw a conclusion.
There was a study in 2014 conducted on 38 women that showed that those using a chlorophyll supplement lost more weight than others.
With so little research on the matter, you can only consider personal experiences as indicative of chlorophyllin’s efficiency in boosting your diet.
Bottom Line – Is It Worth Drinking Chlorophyll?
All things considered, chlorophyll water is worth trying, as long as you aren’t in one of the categories that should avoid it. Even if you cannot know for sure if it will get you to the desired weight, it has so many health benefits it’s worth a shot.
Indeed, we don’t have many studies proving its value. But we also don’t have warnings from doctors or scientists; it’s generally considered a safe supplement.
If you want a green drink that provides you with vitamins and antioxidants and may even help prevent cancer, chlorophyll water can be a good option. Can chlorophyll water help you lose weight? Paired with mindful eating, it might.
FAQs
Does chlorophyll stain teeth?
Yes, drinking chlorophyll water can cause green stains on your teeth. But don’t panic; these are surface stains. You can easily remove them by giving yourself a good brush with abrasive toothpaste.
Will chlorophyll water break a fast?
Drinking chlorophyll water means ingesting a few calories as well. Few as they may be, they will make you break the fast.
If you aren’t very strict about your fast, you can use it. It won’t do much damage, and the benefits are not to be ignored.
Should I take chlorophyll on an empty stomach?
Generally speaking, you can consume chlorophyllin at any time. However, if you worry you may be among the few that experience the side effects, it’s better to take it with or after your meals. Taking it on an empty stomach may cause nausea or gastrointestinal cramps.
Written by Mia Davis
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