Liquid Chlorophyll: Is There Real Science Behind This Wellness Trend?

Liquid chlorophyll has become a popular health trend. People have been adding the green pigment to their water to help with everything from youthful-looking skin to weight loss. But like many trending healthcare products, the reported benefits might be getting ahead of the scientific evidence. 

So, before you head to your local supplement shop, we’ll review the existing evidence on liquid chlorophyll. This way, you can decide if it’s worth your time and money to start drinking green water. 

What is liquid chlorophyll?

Chlorophyll is the component in plants that gives them their green color. Liquid chlorophyll is a human-made (synthetic) form of chlorophyll called “chlorophyllin.” It’s a compound made in a lab with minor changes to the naturally occuring compound. 

Chlorophyllin is available as a topical gel, tablet, soft gel, and liquid. To keep things simple, we’ll refer to chlorophyllin as “chlorophyll” in this article. 

There are actually two types of naturally occuring chlorophyll: chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b. Both types of chlorophyll help plants convert water and sunlight into energy. Although chlorophyll is essential to plants, there isn’t a lot of research about how (if at all) it can benefit humans. 

All green plants — like broccoli, spinach, kale, green beans, and green onions — contain chlorophyll. So when you eat these foods, you’re also eating their chlorophyll. But this is slightly different from the liquid chlorophyll people are adding to their water. 

How does chlorophyll work?

In plants, chlorophyll works by absorbing different wavelengths of light. In humans, there isn’t a ton of research on exactly how chlorophyll works in the body. 

Some animal studies suggest that only a small amount of chlorophyll is actually absorbed into the body. These studies suggest it’s mostly excreted in feces. Other animal studies found good absorption of chlorophyll into the blood, liver, and kidneys of rats. 

While research in humans is limited, one study found that people taking chlorophyll tablets absorbed enough of it that their blood samples were noticeably greener than people who took placebo pills. And they found traces of chlorophyll breakdown products in their blood, showing that some of it is absorbed.  

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But it’s unclear whether this translates to health benefits. Some emerging research suggests that chlorophyll might have antioxidant and cancer prevention effects in the body. But much more research is needed.

Why do people take liquid chlorophyll?

Some people take supplemental chlorophyll for supposed health benefits. According to the claims on social media, sipping on green chlorophyll water is supposed to:

• Clear your skin, including clearing acne and rosacea

• Promote weight loss

• “Detox” your body

• Help digestion

• Help prevent cancer

• Help with injury and wound healing

• Be a natural deodorizer

• Reduce inflammation

Are there any benefits to drinking liquid chlorophyll?

The reality is that there’s very little research on the benefits of chlorophyll in humans. Most studies are done on animals, and it’s unclear what the findings of these studies mean for humans and human health.  

The studies on humans are often very small, making it hard to draw any meaningful conclusion from the results. This is especially true when the study is done with chlorophyll-rich foods rather than the supplement. Any reported benefits could be from the vegetables — but not necessarily the chlorophyll in them. 

Here’s what the science says about the reported health benefits of liquid chlorophyll.

Skin health and wound healing

You may benefit from chlorophyll when it comes to your skin. But research shows that any improvement comes from using the topical form rather than a pill. 

A small 2014 study of 24 participants suggested that using a topical chlorophyllin may help reduce acne and sebum levels. But the results weren’t conclusive enough to recommend it as a treatment. 

If you’re experiencing acne, it’s best to try treatments that are proven to work, such as benzoyl peroxide and topical retinoids.

Some studies suggest that adding chlorophyll to topical ointments can also help improve wound healing. But once again, there isn’t enough evidence to recommend using it on wounds in general. 

Weight loss

Some people think that chlorophyll might help with weight loss. Mice that were given chlorophyll early in life were less likely to gain weight than mice that didn’t get chlorophyll. 

Another study looked at 38 women in which half of them consumed green-plant membranes — which are rich in chlorophyll — every day for 90 days. The women who took chlorophyll lost more weight and had fewer cravings for sweets and fats. 

The evidence is promising but limited. So you may want to stick with established ways to support weight loss, including following a healthy diet and getting daily physical activity.

Gut health

A healthy mix of bacteria in your gut microbiome helps keep your gut healthy. Some animal studies suggest that chlorophyll ingestion has a positive effect on the gut microbiome. 

Human volunteers saw similar benefits when they ingested green plant thylakoids rich in chlorophylls. People taking the chlorophyll-rich supplement for 3 months developed more variety in their gut bacteria. This doesn’t directly link it to health benefits but shows a potential pathway for improved health. 

Bad breath or body odor

Some people take chlorophyll because they believe it can help get rid of bad breath or body odor thanks to its natural deodorizing effects. Claims about chlorophyll’s ability to get rid of bad breath or body odor go all the way back to the 1950s. There isn’t a lot of evidence to support this benefit though.  

Anti-cancer potential

There’s some animal evidence in trout and mice that chlorophyll may help prevent cancer-causing pathways. And some human studies suggest this protective effect may extend to human cells. But the science in humans is still a long way from being definitive. And there’s nowhere near enough data to recommend using these supplements to prevent or treat cancer for humans.

Are there any risks or side effects of drinking liquid chlorophyll?

Commercial products have contained chlorophyll for over 50 years, and there’s no evidence to show that it’s toxic. Chlorophyll is considered safe when taken at recommended doses of 100 mg to 200 mg per day. 

Possible side effects may include:

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Bloating

• Discolored stools

• Skin irritation if applied on the skin

• Teeth staining

Eating a diet that’s high in green vegetables may change the color of your poop and make it appear more green. But talk with your primary care provider if you have consistent changes in your bowel movements or any other symptoms such as bloating or pain.

If you drink your chlorophyll supplement, you may notice some teeth staining. No one wants green teeth, but these are surface stains. This means you can easily remove them with good oral hygiene. This includes brushing, flossing, and visiting your dentist regularly for checkups. 

Remember that the FDA does not regulate supplements. This can make it hard to know if a manufacturer is accurately reporting the ingredients and concentrations of their products. 

If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, be sure to avoid it altogether, since there isn’t data on whether it can be harmful to unborn babies or infants.

How to take liquid chlorophyll

There are two types of supplemental chlorophyll that people can use. The first type is chlorophyllin — the human-made version of chlorophyll. There are also supplements made from sodium copper chlorophyllin (SCC), which is a mixture of sodium copper salts that are derived from chlorophyll. 

Both of these come in liquid forms. This form of liquid chlorophyll is generally taken orally (by mouth). You can add it to a glass of water or juice. Most chlorophyll supplements come with guidance about how much to take (for example, 1 tsp mixed with 8 oz of fluid). 

Some come in a concentrated version, so you can add just a few drops to your drink. If you’re drinking a natural liquid chlorophyll drink (like from parsley or wheatgrass), you can drink it on its own or mix it with other juices. 

Is it safe to drink chlorophyll every day?

As a supplement to treat odor, the FDA says that adults and children over the age of 12 can safely take 100 mg to 200 mg of oral chlorophyllin every day. They also note that someone can safely take another 100 mg daily if needed, but the daily dose should not be more than 300 mg. Make sure to talk with your primary care provider about chlorophyll for kids under 12. 

Is drinking chlorophyll worth the effort and your money?

Since the research on humans is coming up short, you may not see any benefits from adding the pigment to your water. Due to lacking evidence, you shouldn’t use chlorophyll supplementation to treat any conditions or replace medications. And it’s always a good idea to talk with your healthcare team before adding any supplements to your diet. 

On the plus side, if you want to try this trend, chlorophyll is relatively safe to consume as long as you stick with the FDA-recommended dosage. It may also help to increase water consumption overall, which has credible health benefits.

If you don’t want to pay the high price of supplements, you’re in luck because the best sources of chlorophyll aren’t supplements. They’re fresh green herbs and vegetables. 

Some examples of these chlorophyll-rich foods to add to your diet include:

• Spinach

• Collard greens

• Broccoli

• Parsley

• Arugula

• Green beans

• Chinese cabbage 

These vegetables and herbs taste great and give you additional health-boosting vitamins and minerals beyond chlorophyll. 

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Written by:

Lauren Armstrong, RDN

Lauren Armstrong, RDN, is a registered dietitian and freelance writer who has work published on sites such as Greatist, LIVESTRONG.com, and CNBC.

Edited by:

Sophie Vergnaud, MD

Sophie Vergnaud, MD, is the Senior Medical Director for GoodRx Health. A pulmonologist and hospitalist, she practiced and taught clinical medicine at hospitals in London for a decade before entering a career in health education and technology.

Reviewed by:

Karen Hovav, MD, FAAP

Karen Hovav, MD, FAAP, has more than 15 years of experience as an attending pediatrician. She has worked in a large academic center in an urban city, a small community hospital, a private practice, and an urgent care clinic.

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