Chlorophyll water is the latest wellness trend going viral on TikTok. This means that thousands of wellness fanatics are being introduced to the plant-based supplement behind the liquid drink for the first time. Videos on the platform have made some pretty wide-ranging claims for chlorophyll's health benefits.
They share that the vibrant green drink can improve your complexion and deliver clearer skin, energize your immune system, improve your digestion and even work to prevent cancer. On TikTok, videos tagged #chlorophyll have racked up nearly 330 million views, but is there any truth to the health claims about chlorophyll water? Here our dermatologist explains more about this social media wellness trend.
What is Chlorophyll?
Chlorophyll plays an important role in making plants green and healthy. It also has vitamins, antioxidants, and therapeutic properties that have the potential to benefit your body.
You can get chlorophyll from either plants or supplements, although supplements may be more effective. This is because chlorophyll may not survive digestion long enough for absorption. Chlorophyll supplements are actually chlorophyllin, which contains copper instead of magnesium. When doses of chlorophyllin are taken, the copper can be detected in plasma, which implies absorption has occurred.
Luckily, chlorophyllin has similar properties to chlorophyll. When you’re shopping for chlorophyll supplements, you may notice that the marketed benefits are:
- stimulating the immune system
- eliminating fungus in the body
- detoxifying your blood
- cleaning your intestines
- getting rid of bad odours
- energizing the body
- preventing cancer
However, research results are mixed about whether chlorophyll can actually boost your health in these ways. Larger, more rigorous studies are needed to evaluate the potential health benefits of chlorophyll.
Skin healing
Chlorophyllin has shown possible effects to reduce inflammation and bacterial growth in skin wounds. Few studies done in 2008 of wound care research involved ointments containing papain-urea-chlorophyllin.
Chlorophyllin may also be effective for other skin conditions, as evidenced by the results of two pilot studies. A pilot study is a small-scale preliminary study that’s performed prior to a larger study or trial. Meanwhile, a study done in 2015 showed that 10 people with acne and large pores saw skin improvement when topical chlorophyllin gel was used for 3 weeks. Another study in 2015 found that using topical chlorophyllin over 8 weeks improved sun-damaged skin.
Takeaway
Chlorophyll can be found in plants or taken as a supplement. It may have several health benefits, such as reducing cancer risk and helping with skin healing. However, research is currently limited. Additional studies are needed to characterize these potential benefits.
You can include chlorophyll in your diet by increasing your intake of vegetables like spinach, parsley, and arugula. Chlorophyll supplements are also available at health food stores and drug stores. In addition, using topical chlorophyll also may help in your skin condition especially if you are battling with acne and pigmentation.
Would you like to know more about skin health? We are here to help! Skynfyx is run by a group of skin doctors and skincare experts who want everybody to achieve flawless skin at the cheapest possible cost. Skynfyx also can customize a skincare range just for your skin condition.
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