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After one week of drinking chlorophyll in an effort to treat her acne, TikTok user @Ellietaylor929 reported a host of benefits, documenting them in daily videos and garnering a cool 3.3 million likes in the process. She is just one among many users on the platform creating #chlorophyll content—a hashtag that has racked up over 250 million views and counting.
According to the e-commerce site Victoria Health, interest is booming: it reported that sales of the liquid supplement rose by 500% in one week. So, what is chlorophyll, and should we all be drinking it?
TikTok content
What is chlorophyll?
“Chlorophyll is the green pigment that gives leaves, seaweed, algae, and vegetables their green color,” explains Shabir Daya, a pharmacist and the co-founder of Victoria Health. “It absorbs sunlight and changes it into energy via photosynthesis. At a molecular level, it is almost identical to haemoglobin, the oxygen carrier in our blood. Some people refer to it as the ‘blood’ of plants.”
As it turns out, chlorophyll is really nothing new in the health and wellness space. Daya explains that it was actually considered important to remedy a number of different health concerns back in the early 1900s, long before the days of TikTok. Used to treat ulcers, for pain relief and skin disorders, and even as a breath freshener, it was soon replaced by drugs and chemical antiseptics. But its myriad benefits never went away.
What are the benefits of taking chlorophyll?
Chlorophyll truly is a powerhouse ingredient. Here are the chlorophyll benefits you should know about now.
“Chlorophyll neutralizes free radicals (in the body) and enhances their excretion, supporting optimal liver health,” Rhian Stephenson, nutritionist, naturopath, and founder of Artah, explains. “This reduces inflammation and potentially lowers the risk of chronic disease.”
“Chlorophyll accelerates wound repair, reduces acne, and combats signs of aging by promoting collagen and reducing inflammation,” says Stephenson.
A good way to think about chlorophyll, according to functional medicine practitioner, Ayurvedic doctor, and founder of The Murthy Clinic, Dr. Vijay Murthy, is as a gentle internal deodorizer and sponge. “It’s not an essential nutrient, but many people report better digestion, improved body odor, and clearer skin,” he says. “However, more research is needed in humans to confirm these effects long term.”
In our bodies, it works as a great oxygenator, helping our red blood cells take up oxygen, which makes them work more effectively and energetically, for overall good health (and all the good things that come with it, including radiant skin).
Chlorophyll has also been shown to prevent the absorption of dioxins—the pollutants found in many of the foods we eat, thanks to the use of herbicides—while helping the body to get rid of these toxins too. “It promotes the liver’s cleansing and detoxification process by its action on the detoxification enzymes produced by the liver,” says Daya.
“It also appears to stimulate the regeneration of damaged liver cells, and appears to be more potent than traditional herbs, like milk thistle, dandelion, and artichoke.” Worth knowing if you are partial to a couple of cocktails.
So far, so (really) good. But it is also an excellent colon conditioner, helps increase circulation to all the organs in the body, and has powerful antimicrobial properties that help to reduce the number of pathogenic micro-organisms, including yeasts, living in the gut, many of which have been linked to inflammatory bowel disorders. Inflammatory bowel disorders, in turn, are linked to mental health issues and poor skin health.
Are there any risks associated with taking chlorophyll?
As with all dietary supplements, there are considerations that need to be taken into account. “Generally, chlorophyll is considered safe and well-tolerated,” advises Dr. Murthy. “But, because it may affect liver enzymes or bind to nutrients, there’s a theoretical risk it could reduce absorption of certain medications or supplements if taken at the same time.”
He says it’s best to take chlorophyll separately and leave at least an hour or two between it and other supplements or medication. “Anyone on blood thinners should consult their practitioner first, just as a precaution,” he warns.
Is there anyone who shouldn t take chlorophyll?
Yes, if you’re on medications that increase your sensitivity to sunlight (like certain antibiotics or acne treatments). In that case, it’s best to avoid high doses of chlorophyll as it can mildly increase photosensitivity, warns Dr. Murthy. This means the skin can become more prone to sun damage, sunburn, and other UV-related side effects than it might be otherwise. “Also, people with digestive disorders or a tendency to diarrhea should proceed with caution, especially when taking liquid forms of chlorophyll.”
For Stephenson, a similarly cautious attitude is necessary for pregnant or breastfeeding people. “Like most things in pregnancy, there’s insufficient safety data for high doses of chlorophyll,” she says, noting that it’s better to prioritize dietary sources of the nutrient. “That being said, lower doses of chlorophyll are unlikely to cause harm. One study showed chlorella supplementation in pregnant patients with low-grade inflammation was safe and decreased the prevalence of constipation.”
As ever, be diligent about discussing any chlorophyll supplementation with your doctor or healthcare practitioner before proceeding.
How to take chlorophyll safely
Because chlorophyll isn’t an essential nutrient, there’s no official recommended daily allowance. “Most liquid supplements suggest around 100 to 300 mg per day,” says Dr. Murthy. Like with most things, though, more isn’t always better. “If you’re eating a plant-rich diet, you’re likely already getting small amounts from spinach, parsley, wheatgrass, and similar greens,” he explains. It’s best to think of chlorophyll as a beneficial addition to your diet, not a catch-all for replacing nutrient-rich green vegetables and herbs.
Does chlorophyll have a taste?
Yes, though it’s not enough to put the true believers off. “Most people describe its taste as earthy, grassy, or even metallic,” Dr. Murthy describes. If you’ve ever tasted raw spinach juice, he says, you’re bang on the money for knowing what natural chlorophyll tastes like. “Liquid chlorophyll supplements can be strong-tasting, which is why they’re often diluted in water or mixed with mint,” he says.
