Guest post by Nicole Mor at LivingSafe.com.au
As kids, nearly all of us turned up our noses at having to eat our greens, but our parents knew what was good for us. Greens do have huge health benefits! So what is the magic ingredient in these powerful foods? Answer: Chlorophyll.
Health practitioners recommend chlorophyll liquids and powders to help alkaline the body’s pH level when people are overly acidic due to poor diet, ill health and stress. A slightly more alkaline state, rather than acidic, is what the human body requires to maintain optimal health. Chlorophyll is also recommended as a natural supplement that helps to purify the blood and increase red blood cell production. It has been shown to remove toxins and carcinogens from the body, increase bowel health and deodorize the body e.g it is used very effectively for those who suffer from body odour and halitosis.
Have you ever wondered why eating a sprig of parsley after indulging on a ‘heavy on the garlic’ pasta, neutralizes that dreaded garlic breath? Now you know the answer, it is the chlorophyll. Chlorophyll works not only to neutralize bad odours in your oral cavity, but also down in your digestive system, as it aids in the digestive process so that food doesn’t ferment in your gut and rise up your digestive track to cause deep-seated ‘bad-breath’. This is why natural health practitioners advise those who suffer from halitosis to take chlorophyll liquid regularly. Read more here at Natural Holistic Health.
Chlorophyll is responsible for giving green food its green colour. It is chlorophyll that allows plants to absorb the energy from the sun. There have been quite a few scientific studies into the benefits of consuming chlorophyll and still more are in process, as scientifically, there is not yet enough data to substantiate all the health claims out there about this wonderful green substance, but the current results have proved very positive and many of the claims have indeed been validated. See this short definition of Chlorophyll by WebMD.
As is common, the alternative health practitioners already have a better understanding about chlorophyll and have been utilizing the many benefits it has to offer us for years and have in turn developed different kinds of chlorophyll extracts, which are widely available throughout the world, both in liquid and powder forms e.g Barley Grass, Wheat Grass, Chlorella, Spirulina.
Chlorophyll has and is being studied by scientists to see how it is may play a positive role in blocking the carcinogenic effects of Aflatoxins, a mould commonly found in grains, legumes and nuts such as peanuts and corn crops. Read this study by The Linus Pauling Institute at Oregan University. For those who would like a highly scientific breakdown of how it works against cancer read this study at E3Live.
Here is also another detailed report covering various scientific, chlorophyll studies. The results from these studies offer some very positive results. This is also an interesting read here: www.abc.net.au/sa/stories/s830401.htm
Green Supplements and their health benefits
Chlorella is known as a micro-algae and is believed to contain the highest levels of Chlorophyll. It also contains Chlorella Growth Factor (CGF), which boosts the immune system, reverses cancer, and offers other health benefits. CGF also helps repair nerve tissues in the body and is excellent for treating degenerative brain and nerve disorders. It also has the ability to remove heavy metals e.g. mercury from the body.
I researched and came across Mike Adams book The Chlorella Factor, a very detailed and interesting book about the Micro-Algae’s Spirulina and Chlorella and you can read around 39 pages of his book here.
Spirulina is another micro-algae that not only contains high levels of Chlorophyll, but a complete protein and all the essential fatty acids, making it a great source of protein for vegans and vegetarians. It is the best source of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), a “good” fat necessary for the human brain, proper heart function, and other body systems. Spirulina also contains Phycocyanin, a potent anti-cancer phytochemical that also gives Spirulina its characteristic blue hue. PLEASE NOTE-There are some safety concerns with contaminated spirulina that may lead to liver cancer, which you can read here at Wikipedia under Safety.
Wheatgrass is another great and very popular source of chlorophyll and other beneficial vitamins, amino acids and enzymes. You can commonly find ‘wheatgrass shots’ sold at various Juice Bars and people even grow and extract their own wheat-grass shots at home. More on Wheatgrass from WebMD
Barley Grass is another excellent source of chlorophyll and also contains a huge number of vitamins and minerals, e.g Vitamins A, B1, B2, Folic Acid and B12, C, Iron and Calcium as well as high levels of electrolyte minerals potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus. Studies have showed barley grass to reduce cholesterol and help improve the health of Type 2 Diabetes patients. It is also used by alternative health practitioners as a natural cancer treatment read here.
How To Use Chlorophyll and ‘Green’ Supplements Safely!
The safest and most natural way to get enough Chlorophyll is from leafy green vegetables, e.g spinach, parsley, garden cress, green beans and arugula and these should always be ORGANICALLY GROWN!
You may like to grow your own organic Wheat-Grass or Barley-Grass at home. These types of grasses are prone to mould which can cause headaches, so you must remove any mouldy grass before juicing. See more here from Livestrong.com
You can choose to take a Chlorophyll and various other ‘ Green’ supplements in a liquid form, powdered, or tablet form e.g Spirulina and Chlorella tablets.
Barley Greens tends to be the most well tolerated and has a lot to offer nutrient wise, but those with Coeliac Disease should avoid it as it is made from Barley, see more here
Not sure which green supplement is for you, Green Powder Reviews is a great site devoted entirely to just reviewing Green Powders.
Important Health and Safety information to read before you take Green Supplements or Grass Shots.
It defeats the entire purpose of detoxifying the body and working towards optimal health, if the source of your Chlorophyll/Green Supplement is tainted with pesticides and fungicides and heavy metals. eg read this report by CosumerLab.com on Lead and Cadmium found in greens.
Another thing to be aware of is that a lot of chlorella is grown in Japan and since the Fukushima Nuclear plant melt down, it would be wise to steer clear of chlorella from or near to Japan, to ensure there is no radiation contamination.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO CHECK WITH YOUR HEALTHCARE PRACTITIONER IF YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH PROBLEMS OR TAKE ANY MEDICATION BEFORE USING ANY TYPE OF GREEN SUPPLEMENTS AS THERE CAN BE ADVERSE REACTIONS. PREGNANT AND BREAST FEEDING WOMEN SHOULD AVOID THESE SUPPLEMENTS AND GRASS-SHOTS- read here more about wheatgrass and pregnancy.
Taking green supplements can produce unwanted side-effects, especially if your body is not in a healthy state, these side-effects are not generally harmful but can be unpleasant as the supplements work to cleanse and detoxify your system e.g fatigue, rashes, headaches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, insomnia or constipation.
Here is a report by Buzzle.com on Spirulina Side Effects. Chlorophyll can also cause extra sensitivity to the sun so protective clothing etc is advisable when out in the sun, see here. There are some important health guidelines for those who wish to take a Chlorophyll supplements see this report by Wellness.com and another report by Buzzle on Liquid Chlorophyll
Below is a paragraph on the Safety of Chlorophyll from the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University.
Safety
Natural chlorophylls are not known to be toxic, and no toxic effects have been attributed to chlorophyllin despite more than 50 years of clinical use in humans (8, 23, 29). When taken orally, chlorophyllin may cause green discoloration of urine or feces, or yellow or black discoloration of the tongue (38). There have also been occasional reports of diarrhea related to oral chlorophyllin use. When applied topically to wounds, chlorophyllin has been reported to cause mild burning or itching in some cases (39). Oral chlorophyllin may result in false positive results on guaiac card tests for occult blood (40). Since the safety of chlorophyll or chlorophyllin supplements has not been tested in pregnant or lactating women, they should be avoided during pregnancy and lactation.