Green juices, green powders and even green milkshakes have all had their moment in the spotlight. But the latest green-tinted health beverage trend going viral on TikTok, with nearly 550 million views, is chlorophyll water, which — let's face it — looks a bit like something you would scoop out of a long-neglected fish tank.

The plant-based supplement certainly sounds and looks healthy, and TikTok videos, alongside plenty of marketing material, have made some pretty wide-ranging claims for chlorophyll's health benefits. Among the biggest claims are that the vibrant green drink can improve your complexion and deliver clearer skin, energize your immune system, and improve your digestion.

But is there any truth to these claims ? Good Housekeeping asked health experts to explain more about this social media wellness trend.

In its natural form, chlorophyll is a chemical that gives green plants their color. In addition to leafy green plants, you'll also find chlorophyll in some supplements.1

Chlorophyll is sold as a tablet, capsule, or liquid with a dropper for dispensing the green solution. You may see fans of the liquid chlorophyll supplement swirl it into water.

Some evidence suggests that liquid chlorophyll may help with weight loss, prevent some cancers, and treat certain skin concerns. Although, as of 2023, researchers have not fully studied those possible benefits. More research is needed to figure out the efficacy and safety of liquid chlorophyll.

There's a new health obsession taking over your Instagram and/or TikTok feed. It may look kind of gross, but people are buzzing about its body benefits… Introducing: Drinking water that's been doused with chlorophyll drops.

Chlorophyll, if you remember from your high school science class days, is the pigment in plants that makes them green and helps them turn the sun's rays into energy via photosynthesis. Turns out, chlorophyll also has tons of health benefits for humans, which is why it's joining collagen, mushroom powders, and trace mineral drops as the next best thing in the wellness world to upgrade your H2O.

Liquid chlorophyll—made from the molecule inside green plants and vegetables that give them their colour—is actually chlorophyllin, a water-soluble form of chlorophyll that some experts say might be better absorbed in the body than pure chlorophyll which can be found in power or pill form.

According to Dr. Joshua Zeichner, Director of Cosmetic & Clinical Research in Dermatology at New York's Mount Sinai Hospital, there's been some data to suggest that liquid chlorophyll promotes red blood cell production, which means it also may help promote oxygen delivery to your tissues, which probably accounts for why some people notice a healthy glow to their skin after drinking it.