HEALTH
Clear skin, more energy, better digestion—these are just a few of chlorophyll water’s purported benefits. But experts note there’s still much we don’t know. Influencers tout chlorophyll water as a cure-all for everything from acne to constipation. While there is research that supports this, many of the existing studies on the benefits of chlorophyll have been done on animals. Photograph by Yanadjana, Alamy Stock Photo
March 12, 2025
If you regularly follow wellness and fitness influencers on social media, you’ve likely seen afew videosof someone praising chlorophyll water and its purported benefits. Even the visual of adding a chlorophyll supplement—usually sold as a liquid tincture—into a large glass of water is dramatic and alluring:a dark, concentrated cloudthat eventually dissipates, revealing a vibrant emerald tonic.
Promises of clearer skin, fresher breath, less bloating, and more energy are enticing enough to turn chlorophyll water into one of today’s top health trends. But does it actually do anything?
( 5 things you should know before trusting that supplement. ) Natural chlorophyll is found in green fruits and vegetables like spinach, broccoli, and kiwi. Micrograph by John Durham, Science Photo Library Chlorophyll supplements are typically sold in the form of a tincture or a pill and are often labeled "chlorophyllin," which is the synthetic version of the nutrient where the central magnesium atom is replaced by copper. What is chlorophyll?
Chlorophyll is the naturally occurring green pigment found in plant cells. It’s used as energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into a plant’s food during photosynthesis, a process that also releases oxygen into the air. The nutrient is found naturally in green fruits and vegetables like spinach, broccoli, and kiwi.
As a supplement, chlorophyll is typically sold either as a tincture or a pill, but it’s not chemically identical to its natural form. “It is usually in the form of chlorophyllin, a water-soluble form of chlorophyll that contains copper and sodium,” says Vijaya Surampudi , associate professor of medicine and co-creator of the adult nutrition support services for enteral, TPN management, and nutrition oncology clinics at UCLA. Chlorophyllin is a synthetic version of chlorophyll where […]
Drinking chlorophyll is a popular wellness trend. Does it really work?
