The green pigment that gives green plants their color, chlorophyll is a powerful pigment that also serves as an effective health treatment. A dietary additive that can be consumed from fresh foods, powder or capsules, chlorophyll supplements the diet with a variety of powerful health benefits. From cancer prevention to blood regeneration, chlorophyll plays an important role in general health and treatment of illness.
What is Chlorophyll?
A naturally occurring molecule, chlorophyll is the substance that gives plants their color. This molecule is also responsible for one of the most important processes on earth – photosynthesis. Chlorophyll stimulates this process which converts sunlight energy, water and carbon dioxide into the primary fuel source or glucose. All plants and animals derive their life-sustaining energy supply from this process and its product.
Interestingly enough, chlorophyll also supports the human body in another fundamental way. This unique substance closely resembles the red blood cells, or hemoglobin, in the human body. Hemoglobin is what gives blood its red color and supports its oxygen-carrying capacity. Hemoglobin and chlorophyll are essentially identical in molecular structure expect for the center atom. As such, chlorophyll functions in the body in much the same way as hemoglobin.
Health Benefits of “The Green Blood”
As it functions much in the same way as blood, chlorophyll is often given the name “the green blood of plants.” It is also this function that makes chlorophyll such an effective health treatment. Chlorophyll enhances health in a variety of ways and can be used to treat a number of conditions.
Chlorophyll functions as a blood cleanser, blood builder and oxygen booster, which replenishes both blood and energy. As the substance also increases the amount of oxygen in the blood, it fights off disease and bacteria because most infectious agents cannot thrive in the presence of oxygen. The substance is also effective for detoxing the body, improving liver function, reducing inflammation, healing wounds, neutralizing free radicals and promoting healthy intestinal flora. Chlorophyll also helps treat anemia, skin disorders and a variety of other conditions.
Generally speaking, the darker green the plant that is consumed, the higher the level of chlorophyll. And, when it comes to a substance with such definitive health benefits, the more the better.
