Chlorophyll is a naturally occurring pigment that gives plants their dark green color. Chlorophyll is also necessary for photosynthesis, the process in which plants use sunlight to get nutrients from carbon dioxide and water.

Chlorophyll, the pigment that makes plants green, may have certain health benefits. These benefits may include antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as skin healing. To reap the potential benefits of chlorophyll, you can use chlorophyll supplements or increase your intake of chlorophyll-rich foods, such as green plants and herbs. 

While it is found in leafy green plants and herbs, chlorophyll—and compounds derived from chlorophyll— is also used in dietary supplements as a form of alternative medicine

You might remember chlorophyll from your middle school biology class as the compound that gives plants their distinct green color. But did you know chlorophyll can also be used as a dietary supplement?

When sourced from algae like spirulina or leafy greens, chlorophyll can be a solid source of plant-based protein, according to Emily Clairmont, a registered dietitian at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington, Vermont.

Liquid chlorophyll, on the other hand, works a bit differently. Below, we discuss those differences, learn more about liquid chlorophyll’s purported benefits and determine whether it’s a worthwhile dietary supplement, according to experts.

You know the rich, green pigment that gives plants and algae their color? Yeah, that's chlorophyll. As you may remember from science class, it's essential to photosynthesis, which is the process where plants get energy from light and turn it into oxygen.

"Chlorophyll is a powerful antioxidant with both anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties providing excellent health benefits both internally and when used in topical applications," says Nicholas Perricone, M.D., a dermatologist and founder of Perricone MD.

Have you ever seen someone drinking something that has a dark greenish tint to it and thought to yourself, “ew what is that?” That person could have been drinking chlorophyll water! TikTok is the first place that opened my eyes up to chlorophyll water. I would see so many videos of athletic and fit people drinking this mystery liquid. So, I just had to research what exactly chlorophyll water does.

One important thing to keep in mind is that this is a chlorophyll supplement. Which means that it is a water-soluble form that is created from copper instead of magnesium, like regular chlorophyll. This is important to know because this type of chlorophyll works better with the human body and its process of absorption.

Liquid chlorophyll may be what’s called a “blood builder.” This means it can potentially increase the count of red blood cells and improve their quality.

In 2020, Matt Levine would pedal his bike around Brooklyn with a backpack full of water hoping to make some green. 

But, during the early months of the pandemic, the former restaurant owner’s goal was more than just making money. Levine wanted to pique the interest of businesses to carry his unusual liquid: mountain spring water mixed with liquid chlorophyll and essential vitamins.

Now, two years later, Chlorophyll Water, which gets its color from the green pigment extracted from alfalfa, is growing rapidly. Retail giants, such as Sprouts and Whole Foods, are displaying the brand prominently in some of their grab-and-go coolers.