The Power of Greens & Chlorophyll

There is no doubt you have heard of chlorophyll by now and the many benefits that come from this small green compound. Chlorophyll is the pigment that gives green plants their green appearance and is often referred to as “plants’ blood”. It is the star behind photosynthesis, the process of plants converting the sun’s energy into chemical energy, and research has shown it has many health-supporting functions for the human body. All in all, it is nothing short of spectacular.

What you may not know about chlorophyll is that its chemical makeup is similar to the oxygen-carrying part of our blood’s hemoglobin, called heme. Hemoglobin is a protein in human blood that carries oxygen from the lungs to the other cells and tissues in the body. Research points out that chlorophyll can stimulate red blood cells’ quality and quantity1, support detoxification2,3, provide anti-inflammatory benefits4, and act as a powerful antioxidant to fight off free radicals5.

But it doesn’t stop there – greens can also bolster immunity, starting in the gut! Researchers have found that the chemical compounds found in green veggies, like broccoli and bok choy, interact positively with immune cells in our guts to improve defenses. How? Our gut immune cells, called intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs), are activated by the compounds found in green veggies, therefore increasing their prevalence in our guts, and directly strengthening our immune protection6. If you weren’t convinced to eat your greens before, you just might be convinced now!

How do you get more chlorophyll into your diet?

Eat more green plants! There are many ways to add more greens to your diet, but not all greens have the same nutritional or quality profile. Truth is, there are some greens that are regular (though still good for you) foods while others are classified as “superfoods”, providing health benefits that extend beyond their recognized nutritional value.

Easy Greens: Raw Organic Perfect Food

Garden of Life’s Raw Organic Perfect Food products are power packed with greens, vitamins, minerals, enzymes and an abundance of naturally-occurring chlorophyll.

We’ve maximized Raw Organic Perfect Food’s nutrient density by JUICING grasses, then using low-temperature drying to create powders for six times more concentration. Each scoop is packed with the power of 40 nutrient-dense, RAW, Certified USDA Organic and Non-GMO Project Verified juiced greens, sprouts, vegetables and fruits (with no fillers or add sugars).

Grown by our family farmers on organic farms in Utah, our greens are harvested before the grain buds (to prevent gluten from forming), then juiced at the farm immediately. Our juice is gently low-temperature dried and powdered on site, locking in its nutritionally dense, high bioavailability.

Choosing greens is also a matter of taste preference – some love the full and earthy presence of raw greens, while others might need a bit of added sweetness to make it palatable and enjoyable. Raw Organic Perfect Food can be enjoyed in a variety of ways with our 3 options of Original, Energizer and, our newest addition, Chocolate!
 
 References:
  1. Chauhan, M. (2014). A pilot study on wheat grass juice for its phytochemical, nutritional and therapeutic potential on chronic diseases. Semantic Scholar
  2. de Vogel, J., et al. (2004). Green vegetables, red meat and colon cancer: chlorophyll prevents the cytotoxic and hyperproliferative effects of haem in rat colon.
  3. Egnar, P.A., et al. (2001). Chlorophyllin intervention reduces aflatoxin-DNA adducts in individuals at high risk for liver cancer.
  4. Subramoniam, A., et al. (2012). Chlorophyll revisited: anti-inflammatory activities of chlorophyll a and inhibition of expression of TNF-α gene by the same.
  5. Wang, E., Wank, M. (2016). Chlorophyll enhances oxidative stress tolerance in Caenorhabditis elegans and extends its lifespan.
  6. Science Daily. (2011). Eating green veggies improves immune defenses.