2 min readTHERE’S THIS TREND in the wellness world where people are taking chlorophyll supplements—either in pill or potion form—in order to better their overall health.
Because if chlorophyll is good for plants, the thinking goes, and plants are good for humans, then surely chlorophyll must be good for humans. Why not cut out the middle-flora because who the hell likes eating kale anyway? You have to admit that it’s a strong argument, but chlorophyll is complicated—and the effects of chlorophyll supplementation on human health is something science doesn’t yet quite understand.
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What Even Is Chlorophyll?
“Chlorophyll is the pigment that gives green plants their color, but it also serves some life-sustaining functions for plants,” says Kim Yawitz, a registered dietitian in St. Louis, Mo. “Specifically, chlorophyll absorbs light from the sun, so it can be stored as energy and eventually turned into food.”
Food for plants, that is. But because plants store chlorophyll, you consume it, too, if you eat leafy greens. Supplement companies advertise that chlorophyll supplements are made from powder-izing greens.
Do Chlorophyll Supplements Work?
Well, we’re not sure.
Social media influencers will throw anecdotal evidence at you all day, but the scientific research on chlorophyll supplements and better health just isn’t there … yet.
“A couple of small studies suggest that chlorophyll can be helpful for reducing pore size, acne flares, and sun damage, but these studies looked at topical chlorophyll gels rather than capsules or liquids,” says Yawtiz.
“Other studies suggest that chlorophyll in supplements could help protect against certain types of cancer (including colorectal, liver, and pancreatic)," says Yawitz, "But there's not nearly enough evidence to know if this is the case.”
A recent study review on chlorophyll-rich microalgae and health put it bluntly: “Microalgae have the potential to be a valuable source of chlorophyll, with its associated antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer properties. However, to harness these medicinal applications fully, additional research is essential to confirm and demonstrate their effectiveness. Only then, can the potential market for microalgal chlorophyll have a broader prospective for commercial growth.”
Should You Take a Chlorophyll Supplement?
“Your best (and most affordable) bet is to increase your intake of leafy greens, which have been linked with lots of health benefits,” she says.
And there are plenty of food sources that are rich in the natural compound: spinach, parsley, watercress, green beans, and arugula. “Generally speaking, the greener the veggie, the more chlorophyll it has,” she says. “Wheatgrass, chlorella, and spirulina are excellent sources of chlorophyll.”
If you’re into those kind of things.
Paul Kita is a Deputy Editor at Men's Health, where he has covered food, cooking, nutrition, supplements, grooming, tech, travel, and fatherhood at the brand for more than 15 years. He is also the author of two Men's Health cookbooks, Guy Gourmet and A Man, A Pan, A Plan, and the winner of a James Beard Award.
Perri is a New York City-born and -based writer; she holds a bachelor’s in psychology from Columbia University and is also a culinary school graduate of the plant-based Natural Gourmet Institute, which is now the Natural Gourmet Center at the Institute of Culinary Education. Her work has appeared in the New York Post, Men's Journal, Rolling Stone, Oprah Daily, Insider.com, Architectural Digest, Southern Living, and more. She's probably seen Dave Matthews Band in your hometown, and she'll never turn down a bloody mary. Learn more at VeganWhenSober.com.
