Chlorophyll - Nature's Detox
Chlorophyll - A Natural Detox
Chlorophyll is a natural green pigment that creates the vibrant green color of many plants. It is actually the main component of photosynthesis, along with light, that allows plants to absorb energy from the sun. Leafy greens such as spinach and parsley contain high levels of this valuable pigment.
Chlorophyll is known for its detoxifying properties and can promote circulation and oxygen in the bloodstream. It has been touted for its potential blood-purifying properties. Studies have shown that chlorophyll promotes detoxification because of its ability to bind to toxins, including heavy metals and then transports them out of the body. Chlorophyll can also enhance liver function. This is especially important to women in midlife because so many of the symptoms we are dealing with are because we have an overload of toxins built up.
It also has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, so it neutralizes free radical damage to the body’s cells which may help in the growth and repair of tissues.
Chlorophyll in food is an excellent source of many essential vitamins and minerals including vitamins A, C, E, and K, beta-carotene, magnesium, iron, potassium, calcium, and fatty acids.
There are many great benefits to eating chlorophyll foods, so adding more greens to your diet is a no-brainer. Here are the foods with the highest concentration of chlorophyll that you should be including in your diet.
Spinach:
Spinach is arguably one of the best sources of chlorophyll with a high concentration of 23.7 milligrams per cup.
Spinach is an incredibly potent superfood with tons of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, including lutein, zeaxanthin, beta-carotene, and more than enough of your daily recommended intake of vitamin K in one cup.
To get more spinach in your diet, simply add it to a salad or a smoothie. My Menopause Smoothie Program includes many smoothie recipes that use spinach. CLICK HERE TO GET MY SMOOTHIE CHALLENGE
Parsley:
Parsley is a nutritious green herb with plenty of chlorophyll—just half a cup of this herb contains 19 milligrams of the nutritious green pigment.
One of the most commonly used fresh herbs in the United States, Parsley is easy to get your hands on, and you’ll find many recipes that include it.
Don’t like parsley?
Sneak it into your smoothie or favorite soup to trick yourself into eating this powerfully nutritious leafy green.
This green is an excellent source of vitamins A, C, and K, and folate, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, and manganese.
Parsley can be added to soups, salads, smoothies and so many other dishes. The more you add this green herb into your meals, the more you and your family will become accustomed to the taste.
Broccoli:
These little green trees pack a powerful nutritional punch—and therefore many health benefits.
This cruciferous vegetable contains not only chlorophyll, but plenty of vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin B6, folate, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, manganese, and selenium.
Research shows that broccoli high in selenium has benefits for patients of colon and breast cancer and can help reduce the signs of aging, detox the liver, boost the immune system, and much more. It is also low in calories
To get the most nutrients out of your broccoli, buy fresh and eat raw or lightly steamed. CLICK HERE for my delicious Apple Broccoli Salad recipe.
Brussels Sprouts:
Another healthy cruciferous green vegetable, Brussels sprouts are a great source of chlorophyll, and they have been proven to reduce inflammation and free radical damage to the body’s cells.
Brussels sprouts contain antioxidants phytonutrients, including many flavonoids.
Along with other vegetables like broccoli, brussel sprouts can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.
Like a lot of other nutritious green vegetables, they are also a great source of vitamin K, which is vital to blood and bone health.
Matcha Tea:
Matcha, a type of powdered green tea, has a high chlorophyll concentration due to the way that it is shade-grown and consumed. Shade increases the amount of chlorophyll content in leaves, making the tea leaves a bright green. The higher quality the matcha is, the more vibrant green it will be.
Additionally, since matcha tea leaves are ground into a powder, when you drink matcha you are consuming the whole leaf. This is different from loose leaf green tea whereby the leaves are steeped in water and then removed before you enjoy your brew. According to research, a cup of ceremonial grade matcha powder contains almost 6x the chlorophyll content of regular green tea. This is because the more of the actual tea leaf you consume, the more chlorophyll you get.
I only use the highest grade matcha tea. I add 1/2 teaspoon of powdered matcha tea to my daily green smoothie. This is the brand that I use: CLICK HERE
Moringa:
This powerhouse herb has high concentrations of chlorophyll along with vitamins and minerals. Along with being super detoxifying, it has been used to treat many other ailments including inflammation, cancer, anemia, arthritis, allergies, asthma and thyroid conditions.
I enjoy it as a tea or in my smoothies. You can make the tea with the teabags like you would any other tea. If you use it in your smoothies (my favorite way) then just cut open the teabag and put the tea right into your blender with your other smoothie ingredients, blend and enjoy! CLICK HERE FOR BRAND I USE
Spirulina & Chlorella:
I saved the most nutritious for last—and that’s the green-blue algaes, spirulina & chlorella.
Spirulina & chlorella are up to 70% vegetable protein, and boast over 65 vitamins, minerals, and enzymes—including 18 amino acids.
The highly pigmented blue-green algaes should tip you off to its high concentration of chlorophyll. Spirulina and chlorella, are in fact, some of the world’s most chlorophyll-rich foods.
In 100g of spirulina or chlorella, you get 1000 milligrams of chlorophyll. That's a big bang for your buck!
I always include spirulina and chlorella in my diet. These are truly a superfood. They are not supplements ... they are whole plant foods. CLICK HERE for the brand that I use (use coupon code "KellyNentwich" whenever you checkout so you can get 20% off).
Eating healthy and detoxing can be as easy as including the above foods in your diet. Even just one of these per day can make a big difference in your health. So eat your greens daily and get your healthy dose of chlorophyll so it will help eliminate toxins that have accumulated in your body!!
-Kelly
XO
