Chlorophyll, the phytochemical responsible for the deep, rich color of dark leafy greens, is the lifeblood of plants. This vitally important nutrient is necessary for photosynthesis to occur.
And while plants couldn’t survive without it, more and more evidence suggests that we humans should be consuming more of it. Here are eight reasons you why you should eat your leafy greens today.
Antioxidant powerhouse. Antioxidants are key fighters of oxidative damage. Over time, free radicals wreak havoc on the body and lead to a number of different degenerative diseases. Since we are exposed to millions of free radicals on a daily basis, the only way to combat them is to consume an antioxidant-rich diet.
Research has shown that chlorophyll protects against free radical damage at the cellular level, which in turn can protect the body from developing the degenerative effects of oxidative stress over time.
Blood booster. Chlorophyll closely resembles red blood cells. On a molecular level, red blood cells and chlorophyll are virtually identical except for one atom. Chlorophyll helps to replenish our red blood cell count by providing a continuous boost of energy to the bloodstream. When our red blood cell count is high, more oxygen can circulate throughout the body, which is key for the proper health and function of the bodily systems.
Hunger suppressant. A 2013 study found that meals containing chlorophyll-rich foods may suppress hunger. When 20 moderately overweight women were given test meals, they reported feeling less hungry after consuming the meals containing chlorophyll, as compared to the meals without chlorophyll. Their blood sugar levels were also reported to be more consistent after the chlorophyll-rich meals.
Cleansing capabilities. Our bodies are bombarded with toxins on a regular basis, which over time can lead to numerous diseases and conditions. Chlorophyll has the ability to bind with many of these toxins and dangerous metals and remove them from the body. When volunteers were exposed to the known carcinogen aflatoxin and then fed a meal, the volunteers whose meals included a supplement of chlorophyll exhibited a 95 percent elimination of the carcinogen in 24 hours.
Combats odors. Bad breath and body odor are an embarrassing part of human nature, and are often caused by internal issues rather than what you just had for lunch. Chlorophyll can combat embarrassing odors thanks to antibacterial capabilities that target the internal source of the problem.
Cancer prevention. While more research needs to be done before chlorophyll can be labeled as a cancer cure, a recent study found that men who consumed less dietary chlorophyll had a higher risk for developing colon cancer. And since many cancers are the product of toxin exposure and oxidative damage, the antioxidant capabilities of chlorophyll can protect against numerous types of cancer throughout the body.
Counteracts diet dilemmas. When you just can’t say no to those greasy fried foods, snacking on some chlorophyll-rich leafy greens may just help counteract your poor diet choices. Fried foods contain chemicals that can damage the lining of the colon and up your risk for developing colon cancer. In a recent study, participants who consumed fried foods along with chlorophyll-rich foods exhibited less colon cell damage than those who stuck with just the fried food meal.
A natural healer. Chlorophyll has long been touted for its healing properties, both internal and external. Aside from supplying your body with numerous antioxidants to combat internal stresses, when applied topically to wounds, chlorophyll decreases the healing time and reduces the risk of infection, thanks to its antibacterial and antifungal properties.
While you can get chlorophyll from leafy greens, three of the absolute best sources are chlorella, spirulina and marine phytoplankton.
Chlorella: Chlorella, a common single-celled green algae, is one of the most studied supplements of our day. A powerful detoxifier, chlorella binds to heavy metals in the body but does not bind to essential minerals that the body needs, flushing out the toxins and leaving the nutrients in the body intact. Chlorella will also boost your immune system, balance pH, promote and repair tissues and improve focus and memory.
Spirulina: Spirulina is touted as a perfect food that could feed the world. It is a complete protein that contains approximately 60 percent protein by weight – that is about 3 times as much as ground meat.
Spirulina also contains Vitamin A (as beta-carotene), vitamins C and E, all of the B vitamins, calcium, magnesium, zinc, potassium and omega-3′s. Adding a teaspoon or two to your smoothie is a great way to capitalize on all of these amazing nutritional benefits.
What Does Spirulina Contain?
It is the highest protein containing food over 60% all digestible vegetable protein. Spirulina is located with unique phytonutrients like phycocynanin, polysaccharides and sulfolipids, that enhance the immune system, reducing with good chance risks of infections, cancer and auto immune diseases. Rich in natural carotenoids, antioxidants, that promote cellular health and may reduce the risk of cancer.
It contains chlorophyll, with helps in detoxifying continuously present polluting agents. It also contains iron, trace minerals and the rare essential fatty acid.
Spirulina - The "Superfood"
With the usual three square meals a day, plus the snacks that sometimes go in between, our bodily system is revved up for a whole day of hard work – either in the house, in the office, or at school. The same intake becomes our first line of defense against lifestyle stress, pollution, radiation, or toxic chemicals.
In today's pie graph of food choices, processed foods take a big chunk. Often the "no-choice" option of the busy people, these processed foods only fill the tummy but are nutritionally empty. Bring in the hard work again and you have a system that is left vulnerable to poor health and low energy. That's bad news.
On the good side of the news: We can protect our bodies with a plant that, no matter how small, stores powerful, concentrated nutrients. How powerful? This tiny plant has loads of these essential nutrients:
1. Beta carotene - ten times more than that of carrots.
2. Protein - safe, vegetable protein (It's a plant, remember?); fat and cholesterol - free unlike meat.
3. Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) - a good source of GLA for breastfeeding mothers for developing healthy babies.
4. Iron - builds a stronger immune system with natural iron that’s easier to absorb than iron supplements.
This burst of nutrients is easy-to-digest and is absorbed quickly.
With these credentials, this plant, not surprisingly, was named superfood in the 1990s. This recognition came after soooooooo many years - 3.5 billion years, in fact. Why, that's how long this plant has evolved! And that span of evolution made it nature's longest living food.
Needless to say, spirulina's billion-year existence is proof that this toughie survived even the worst environmental conditions that left other animal and plant species, well, extinct. And this amazing alga's resilience, seemingly, has a noble purpose - to answer for health dilemmas of the modern people.
Spirulina and Anemia
Iron deficiency, the most common nutrient deficiency worldwide, results in condition known as Iron Anemia, prevalent among women, children, older people, or women on weight loss diets. While iron builds healthy red blood cells and strong immune system, over the counter iron supplements are most commonly not well absorbed by the human body.
But spirulina's iron content was proven effective in a 30-day study involving eight young women with hypochronic anemia (blood hemoglobin content is lower than normal). With four grams of spirulina after each meal, the subjects blood hemoglobin content increased by 21% - from 10.9 to 13.2 - a satisfactory level not anymore considered anemic.
Spirulina and Cholesterol
High cholesterol levels, which we get from the food we eat, lead to high risks of strokes and heart attacks. Dietary improvements thus, are common slogans of campaigns promoting fat-reducing practices in meal preparation.
In Japan, thirty male employees diagnosed with high cholesterol, mild hypertension, and hyperlipidemia (abnormally high concentration of fats in the blood) were subjects of a study. These subjects were asked not to change their diet, except adding spirulina. After four weeks, total serum cholesterol dropped from 244 to 233 (4.5%).
Spirulina and Cancer
Several health books agree that foods and herbs that contain high levels of chlorophyll, a pigment that spirulina is rich in, show pharmacological evidence of cancer prevention. An explanation made by "One Earth Herbal Sourcebook" author Allan Keith Tillotston suggests that pigments in such foods "bind and thus stimulate excretion of cancer-causing chemicals." When this happens, naturally occurring cancer cells (yes, they are just there) will be stopped from developing into symptomatic cancer.
For example, laboratory animals used in an Oregon State University were exposed to cancer-causing substance. Results of the study had it that those that were given chlorophyll supplement before the exposure developed far fewer tumors than those that were not given the supplement.
Having read all of these good things about spirulina, we now know that there is more to the enticing blue-green facade of this amazing alga. The favorable nutritional profile of this nature's gift is an inviting entrance to a healthier you.
No matter where you get your chlorophyll from, be sure that it is as pure as possible. Your body will thank you!
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