Chlorophyll is a green pigment found in all green plants, cyanobacteria, and algae, essential for photosynthesis, the process by which light energy is converted into chemical energy.
It is important for humans beyond sustaining plant life. Historically we have used chlorophyll as a health aid for hundreds of years. The utilization of medicinal green plants has a long history, dating back to ancient times, with its practice spanning across different regions globally.
One of the most practical and simple ways of harvesting chlorophyll for human consumption is by picking leaves from a variety of plants such as mint, parsley, dill, spinach and kale.
Leaves possess two advantages; easy accessibility and therapeutic properties resulting from the accumulation of photosynthates and phytochemicals.
Also harvesting leaves does not pose a threat to the survival of the plant, unlike the harvesting of whole plants or roots, which can endanger the survival of medicinal plant species and contribute to a decline in plant biodiversity within specific regions.
Chlorophylls are highly sensitive to physical and chemical changes and exhibit instability when isolated or consumed outside of their biological context. Therefore, as with most things in nature, it is best to consume them straight from the plant with minimal heat or processing.
The bioactivity of chlorophylls is attributed to their ability to act as antioxidants, antimutagens, and anticarcinogens. The unique chemical structure allows chlorophylls to scavenge harmful free radicals, mitigate DNA damage, and modulate cellular processes involved in disease development.
Due to this anti-oxidant activity, medical studies have validated that chlorophyll may be helpful for a number of health conditions including skin conditions, body odours, blood glucose management and combating certain kinds of cancer.
Take a read of this great pub med article if you wish to further your knowledge on chlorophyll.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10384064/
Green and Minty Juice Recipe for increasing our chlorophyll levels:
Ingredients (organic are best)
· 1 apple, cored
· ½ cucumber
· 5-6 large sprigs of mint
· 3 medium leaves of kale
· 2 inches of fresh ginger root
· 1 handful spinach leaves
· ½ lemon, peeled and juiced
Directions
Wash and prepare ingredients
Add ingredients through juicer — start with the apple and ginger, then add the kale and greens, followed by lemon and finally the cucumber.
Serve and enjoy!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 1 serving (500 mL)