Food for thought
It’s TikTok’s favourite tipple, but is the latest plant-based drinking craze all it seems? Let’s find out whether the glass really is greener
In an unexpected throwback to GCSE biology class, TikTok videos containing #chlorophyll stand at over 553 million views. Back in 2021, the goal would have been finding hacks to keep the green plants you bought during lockdown alive (RIP calatheas). But this time round, it’s about your own health.
There’s currently a collective thirst for seeing people’s intake of chlorophyll water – a highly pigmented green drink, made by adding drops of earthy-smelling liquid chlorophyll to water. The smell is somewhat misleading – chlorophyll breaks down quickly once removed from plants, so liquid chlorophyll is actually a man-made version known as chlorophyllin, a more stable, water-soluble form. And yet, the trend is going nowhere. Growth in the chlorophyll-extract market is predicted to shoot up 8% each year between 2022 and 2030, says market analyst Report Ocean.
While consumption risks include Shrek-stained teeth and green wee, the viral TikTok videos promote its alleged health benefits. These include boosting energy levels, treating acne and fighting oxidative stress – an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in the body. But perhaps the most enticing promise of this trend is that of strengthening your immunity.
With its antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, alongside the ability to increase red and white blood cell count due to having a similar chemical structure to haemoglobin, it looks positive. In comparison to antibiotics, chlorophyll has a small amount of antibacterial properties, although they’re unlikely to be strong enough to cure bacterial infections.
The truth is, when it comes to your immune system, you don’t want to strengthen or suppress it. Your ultimate goal should be to support it with balance and care. You can achieve this in a variety
