Vitamineral Green™ - The Superior Green Formula!

Vitamineral Green™ - Product Review

Vitamineral Green™

In my previously published blog posts, we’ve learned the importance of consuming large amounts of dark leafy greens on a regular basis due to the vital, and nutrient dense vitamins and minerals, and high content of chlorophyll that these plants possess. Greens are a necessity to our diet and to our existence. The challenge with trying to consume enough leafy greens to truly benefit, is that we would need to eat several pounds of greens per meal, which would be merely impossible for our bodies to properly digest, in order to absorb enough of the nutrients from these plants. Juicing can offer another option by removing the fiber and extracting the high water content, along with many of the nutrients, making it easier to absorb more nutrient dense calories in smaller amounts.  The downside to this option is that it can be very costly to do this on a daily basis, and much of the nutrients along with the beneficial fiber is lost through juicing. Then the question is, “How can we consume a highly concentrated amount of nutritious, essentially raw, dark leafy greens?” The answer, “supplementation with a highly concentrated green powder (a super food)”.

There are a number of brands of green powders on the market. Over the years I have tried a large variety of these brands. There are actually several excellent products to choose from. In fact, I use a couple of these great products, and would highly recommend them. However, I can honestly say, I have yet to find any superfood green powder supplement with such a comprehensive blend of superior, nutrient-dense green superfoods and other high quality plant food ingredients, such as what I have found with the product I’m featuring in this review, on Healthforce NutritionalsVitamineral Green™.

Vitamineral Green™ was developed in the 1990’s by a noted naturopath, and herbal medicine researcher Dr. Jameth Sheridan – Doctor of Holistic Medicine (D.H.M.). Vitamineral Green™ is a well-rounded, comprehensive formula, that includes highly potent ingredients, not readily found in other leading green powder supplements in the market. The Vitamineral Green™ formula is therapeutic, and supports health extensively, including detoxification, the immune system, liver, pancreas, colon, regularity, blood circulation, blood sugar, kidneys, brain, skin, bones, and longevity.

“The Most Comprehensive, Superior Blend of Ingredients Found in any Green Powder Supplement”

This incredibly nutritious, and high-quality supplement includes a variety of land grasses and vegetables that are juiced, which include Nettle Leaf, Chickweed, Alfalfa Grass, Dandelion Leaf, Barley Grass, Oat Grass, Horsetail, American Basil, Holy Basil/Tulsi, Moringa Leaf, Barley Grass, Wheat Grass, Ginger Root, Yacon Leaf, Carob Pod, Shilajit, and Amla Berry. In addition, this formula includes dried sea vegetables and algae such as Spirulina, Chlorella, Kelp, Dulse, Bladderwrack, and others.  These are ingredients that just aren’t found in other competitor’s products.

Vitamineral Green™ contains concentrated enzymes sufficient to break down and make use of digested nutrients. In addition, this powder formula contains beneficial levels of probiotics, and is rich in anti-oxidants. It contains a range of naturally occurring, easy to absorb vitamins, minerals, essential amino acids, soluble and insoluble fibers, an abundance of phytonutrients, and other nutrients, which all are necessary to maintain optimal health and well-being. It contains no synthetic or isolated nutrients, is 100% vegan, raw, gluten free, and yeast free. Vitamineral Green™ is Actual Food™. 

“Feel Immediately Energized”

Vitamineral Green™ is incredibly healing and energizing. The benefits from one serving are immediate. This powdered formula can be mixed into purified water, fresh fruit and vegetable juice, added to smoothies, or sprinkled over cereal. “I prefer to drink it like a tea, just mixed with purified water, and a few drops of stevia, slightly chilled.” Only 10 grams, or 1 1/2 tablespoons per serving is needed per day to feel the power of this amazing green superfood.

“Excellent Value in Every Bottle of Vitamineral Green™”

The initial cost of a 30-day bottle of Vitamineral Green™ may seem pricy. However, when you work out the cost per 10 gram serving and what it provides nutritionally on a daily basis – the result is excellent value for your money. The average price for a 500-gram supply, in stores and on the internet is about $64.95 per bottle; about $0.12/per gram or $1.29/per serving. The 500-gram supply is the largest size available, and to me, provides the best value. That’s about 50 servings or just shy of a two-month supply.

Vitamineral Green™ also is available in several sizes, both as a loose powder, and in the form of vegan capsules. Sizes include 150 grams, 300 grams, 500 grams, 120 vegan capsules, and 400 vegan capsules.

Vitamineral Green™

If you haven’t tried Vitamineral Green™, then I highly recommend you do. If you are already familiar with Vitamineral Green™, I suggest you stick with it, and don’t look for any other brand. Vitamineral Green™ is by far the best possible green superfood powder available! Don’t compromise your health by settling for inferior brands. Go with quality! Go with Vitamineral Green™!

Visit Healthforce Nutritionals online to learn more about the company, Dr. Sheridan, and this amazing product, Vitamineral Green™.

*Note: The statements and recommendations included in this article are strictly based on the opinion of the writer, and in no way should be considered in any other context. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product review and information about this product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult your doctor before taking any of these products.

The Importance of Alkalinity

The vital balance between acidity and alkalinity in our internal chemistry rules our bodies. The fluids of different regions within us have varying optimal pH readings. For instance, stomach acid needs to be more acidic in order to properly breakdown the foods consumed, while other bodily fluids need to be alkaline (or basic). In fact, the body’s blood averages to an ideal pH that is slightly alkaline, which is in the range of 7.365-7.45. The right pH is absolutely critical for optimal health and for maintaining our reserves of sodium, potassium, and magnesium. These minerals are important for neutralizing acids, which is necessary in the prevention of pathogens, and they assist with removing toxins. A proper pH balance ultimately results in mineral rich blood needed for increased energy, physical strength, and overall well-being.

Since the balance of our body chemistry is extremely pertinent to our well-being, then what goes in and what goes out of our bodies inherently is just as important. But if food itself does not directly cause the imbalance, then what does? I would have to presume that how our body processes and reacts to what we consume will impact the chemical balance.

pH Range, by DMarsh-Art.com

If chlorophyll is alkaline, then consuming large amounts of fresh, dark leafy greens and sea algae, rich in the necessary minerals for neutralizing the blood, would be especially beneficial to the body’s chemical balance. In addition to the high alkalinity and nutrient density of these plants, when minimally prepared or processed to allow for higher water content, they can also contribute to hydration and consequentially with the chemical balance within.

This point further proves the importance of plant based foods, as in dark leafy greens and sea algae. Basically, we want plant foods rich in chlorophyll and minerals, which is another reason why dark leafy greens and sea algae are considered the top of the superfood hierarchy of importance to health and longevity.

Since the inner balance of your body’s chemistry is most important for preventing illness and disease, make it a priority to maintain good health by incorporating an abundance of chlorophyll and mineral rich plant based foods into your daily diet. Keep the body well hydrated, and have your blood chemistry checked regularly to ensure you are fueling your body with what it needs to stay healthy.
A super food enriched diet equals a super fueled and super healthy body!

“So, are all superfoods considered alkaline?” The answer to that is “NO”. However, some non-alkalizing foods are also important to well-being. Look for future articles to learn more about these foods.


Article References:

The pH Miracle: Balance Your Diet, Reclaim Your Health, by Shelley Redford Young, and Robert O. Young. Hatchet Book Group. 2010. USA.

The Acid-Alkaline Food Guide: A Quick Reference to Foods & Their Effect on pH Levels, by Susan E. Brown and Larry Trivieri Jr. Square One Publishers. 2006. Garden City Park, NY.

Toxemia Explained: The True Interpretation of the Cause of Disease (Revised Edition), by Dr. J. H. Tilden, M.d. 2016. Denver, CO.

The Inflammation Syndrome, by Jack Challem. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2010. Hoboken, NJ.

Superfoods, The Food and Medicine of the Future, by David Wolfe. North Atlantic Books. 2009. Berkley, CA.

The World’s Greatest Superfood in Supplement Form

Sea Veg® Product Review

While searching for great companies to represent as affiliates for my blogs, I discovered this great, all natural sea vegetable supplement, Sea Veg®. Everything I read about the product, and the company that makes it, gave me very positive vibes. I decided to purchase a bottle for myself to decide just how great this product is.

This supplement is truly amazing. The encapsulated seaweed blend has a very faint ocean smell and is very easy to swallow. I personally have already experienced the health benefits from taking this product. It’s been almost a full month since I started taking a daily dose of the Sea Veg® supplement, and my digestion has considerably improved. I also have more energy, and I truly feel the difference in my health just in a short time.

As I have written before, sea vegetables (or sea algae)  make up one of the greatest super food groups on the planet!  Sea vegetables are rich in chlorophyll and vital minerals that are extremely important to overall health and longevity. The creators of Sea Veg®, FarmaSea®, have done extensive research over the years. It is the mission of FarmaSea® to provide the highest quality of products and to continually make improvements as nutritional research evolves. FarmaSea® also provides reliable and courteous customer service and support. A great company, with great products!

FarmaSea® uses the finest quality blend of nutrient-rich sea vegetables. Their sea vegetables are sustainably harvested from pristine oceans.  This practice reflects on their ongoing commitment to provide you with the best nutrition the sea has to offer.

Sea Veg® is a proprietary blend of 12 whole sea plants, including those such as Wakame, which is considered one of the most nutrient rich seaweeds to consume. Sea Veg® contains organic vegetarian and vegan Vitamin D, Iodine, Omega-3 and Omega-6, as well as other nutritional, 100% all natural ingredients, and no fillers.

Sea Veg® provides the necessary minerals and nutrients needed to help fortify the immune system, restore metabolism, contribute to a healthy thyroid, provide energy, and sustain overall good health and longevity. The selected sea vegetables included in this blend contain all the elements necessary for cell regeneration and repair, as well as antioxidants necessary for healing and reducing inflammation. “That’s why these sea plants are considered the greatest superfood in the world!”

Currently, Sea Veg® is only available directly through the FarmaSea® website. This is the only way to guarantee the authenticity of the product purchased and received. To learn more about this great superfood supplement, visit the FarmaSea® website at buyseaveg.com.

The Earth’s Greatest Superfoods – Sea Vegetables

Plants do not obtain food by the same process that people and animals do. They get their nutrition to sustain life through the process of photosynthesis. This basically means that plants depend upon themselves to make their own food using simple raw materials, including light, water, and the carbon dioxide that we exhale. Just as plants do this, so do some other organisms such as algae (sea vegetables) and certain bacteria. These organisms, along with plants, have the green pigment from chlorophyll to help with photosynthesis. Meanwhile, all these other organisms have a food chain that ultimately relies on some organism consuming plants somewhere down the line for energy. There are thousands of species of algae, which can be brown, red, and green in color. They mostly live in water (both fresh water and marine water), but they can also live in damp soil and on rocks. Algae is very important to our Earth and the life on it, as it’s responsible for producing most of the oxygen on the planet. The more common algae that live in fresh water are referred to as Spirulina and Chlorella. Spirulina is considered blue-green algae, while Chlorella is considered just green. Spirulina grows mostly in fresh water ponds, rivers, and lakes. Spirulina is a close cousin of Chlorella, and more closely related to other sea vegetables such as Kelp. Chlorella also tend to occupy in fresh water, but are often microscopic in comparison to Spirulina. Chlorella is a true single-cell alga with a nucleus, while Spirulina is a multi-celled plant with no distinctive nucleus. Chlorella has a cell wall that is indigestible to humans. In the supplement form, chlorella has been processed to dissolve the cell wall for easier consumption, which makes it quite expensive in comparison to other marine water algae supplements.

In the ocean, the very small marine algae are considered phytoplankton. The larger forms are referred to as seaweed. Unlike other algae, seaweed does not have roots; therefore, seaweed photosynthesize in all of their tissues, whereas most plants photosynthesize in only their leaves. Some of the more edible varieties of seaweed include Kelp, Wakame, Dulse, Nori, Sea Lettuce, and Irish Moss to name a few.

Sea vegetables are super rich with chlorophyll. In fact, their chlorophyll content is far superior to any plant leaf.  Additionally, they are the best sources of other minerals. Algae and seaweed are high in iodine, calcium, magnesium, iron, vitamins A, B, C, and K, fiber, and protein. They are also very potent sources of antioxidants. In fact, they are considered some of the richest plant sources of calcium. Because of the very high content of nutrients, some caution should be taken when consuming these algae on a regular basis. For instance, the potassium level in certain varieties of seaweed is considerably higher than that of a banana. Their iodine levels are much more naturally concentrated; thus, additional supplementation should be reduced to a minimum, if not removed from the diet altogether.

These amazing sea vegetables or seaweed are the perfect food. They are the perfect superfood! So when adding the most nutrient-dense, dark leafy vegetable(s) to your daily diet regime, also consider adding some blue green algae or seaweed. A little bit can go a long way, and there are a variety of ways to consume these sea vegetables. You can purchase these amazing super foods in supplement form, concentrated powder. Most seaweed is sold in dried form, and can be found at Asian markets, health food stores, some grocery, as well as through online markets. Sea vegetables are great for digestion, low in calories, high in nutrients, and high in mineral content. There are measurable amounts of other key minerals and trace elements as well, such as calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, vanadium, and zinc, in addition to iodine.


When taking sea vegetables in supplement form, be sure to only purchase high-quality products. Sea Veg® is one of the best natural brands on the market, and it is produced by a company called FarmaSea®. The product is made of a propriety blend of 12 organic nutrient-rich whole sea plants. 

Look for product review post in the near future.

Sea Greens Cucumber Roll-up

Sea vegetables are delicious and easy to prepare meals with. Each variety has its own unique taste, and can enhance the flavors of the foods its combined with. One of my favorite dishes to make using seaweed is my raw vegan version of tuna salad. It’s super easy to make, and incredibly delicious. I also enjoy simple seaweed salads. Check out my recipes below.

Recipes:

Mock Tuna Salad

Ingredients: 

2 cups almonds

2-3 sprigs fresh parsley (chopped)

3 T fresh lemon juice

½ tsp Garlic powder to taste

1 tsp Nama Shoyu or sea salt to taste

½-1 tsp Bragg Kelp Delight Seasoning to taste

1-2 dashes ground cayenne pepper

½ - 1/3 cup Wakame seaweed (soaked)

Initial Preparation:

Drain seaweed and chop well. Set aside. Place almonds in a food processor and process until crumbly. Add remaining ingredients. Continue processing until all ingredients are finally chopped and mixed. Consistency should be similar to “canned” tuna. Remove from processor and store in an air-tight glass container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. This is the base tuna “meat”.

Mock Tuna

To make the tuna salad, you will need the following additional ingredients:

1 avocado

1 date (pitted)

1 stalk celery with or without leaves

Tuna Salad Preparation: 

Chop celery into small pieces and combine with “tuna” mixture. Peel and chop avocado. Finally chop date, and combine avocado and date in a mixing bowl, or in the food processor. Mash with a fork, or process, until smooth like mayonnaise. Fold the avocado mayo into the tuna base, and mix well. (Mayo will not keep as long. Therefore, when combined with mock tuna, reduce storage time by a few days. Mock tuna salad is ready to use in a sandwich, as a spread, or in a salad.) Enjoy!

Mock Tuna Salad on Lettuce, Mock Tuna Salad Sandwich (From Left to Right)

Seaweed Salad with Avocado and Cucumber

Seaweed Salad with Avocado and Cucumber 
Makes 1 to 2 servings.

Ingredients: 

1 package mixed seaweed salad*

½ large cucumber (peeled)

1 avocado (peeled, and pitted)

Preparation:

Soak seaweed in purified water until completely constituted. Drain well, and slightly dry on paper towel. Cut cucumber and avocado into small chunks. . Add all of the ingredients into a large bowl. Lightly toss, and serve. This is a quick and fresh way to consume seaweed. 

In addition to adding spirulina, chlorella, and other lake algae powders to smoothies and juices, you can make delicious raw crackers, exotic chocolates, and snack balls too. Here’s a recipe for sesame crackers made with spirulina powder:

Spirulina Crackers

Spirulina Crackers 

Ingredients:

½ cup sesame seeds

2-3 small to medium size bananas (peeled)

1 cup shredded coconut

¼-½ cup raw honey (or ½ to 1 cup pitted dates)

1 tsp vanilla

1 T spirulina powder

Dash sea salt

Preparation:

Combine bananas, honey, vanilla, sea salt, and spirulina into a high-speed blender or food processor. Mix until smooth. Pour into a bowl and stir in sesame seeds. Mix well. Spread over dehydrator sheets, and place in dehydrator and dry for 2-3 hours. Score mixture into equal-sized squares. Place back in the dehydrator for another 8-10 hours until totally dry and crisp. Best oven temperature is 105 to 114 F, depending on dehydrator.

Recommended Products:

       

Article References:

Seaweed: The Green Superfood You’re Not Eating — But Should Be, by Nick English. 08/21/2013. The Huffington Post. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/21/superfood-seaweed-health-benefits_n_3786076.html

What Are the Health Benefits of Eating Seaweed? by Sylvie Tremblay, MSc, Demand Media. Healthy Eating. http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/health-benefits-eating-seaweed-6373.html

Nutritional and digestive health benefits of seaweed. by Rajapakse N1, Kim SK. 2011. 1Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. n_rajapakse@yahoo.com. National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22054935

We Should Be Eating Seaweed by the Bucketload, by Gareth May. August 27, 2014. Munchies. https://munchies.vice.com/en/articles/we-should-be-eating-seaweed-by-the-bucketload

Modes of Nutrition in Plants and Animals (with diagrams), by Deeptirekha Jain Essay. BiologyDiscussion.com. 2013. http://www.biologydiscussion.com/essay/modes-of-nutrition-in-plants-and-animals-with-diagrams/1525

Types of Microorganisms. Boundless.com. https://www.boundless.com/microbiology/textbooks/boundless-microbiology-textbook/introduction-to-microbiology-1/microbes-and-the-world-19/types-of-microorganisms-207-1066/

The Most Important Organism? by Dr. Jack Hall, September 12, 2011. Ecology.com. http://www.ecology.com/2011/09/12/important-organism/

Seaweeds: Plants or Algae? Point Reyes National Seashore Association. http://www.ptreyes.org/activities/seaweeds-plants-or-algae

Superfoods, by David Wolfe. North Atlantic Books. Berkley, California, 2009

Dark Leafy Greens – Top of the List

Swiss Chard, Rainbow Chard

Chlorophyll is the king of all molecules, and it is considered a “super food” because of its abundance of phytonutrients and super high antioxidant content; the best way to get it is to consume plants rich in chlorophyll. Plants rich in chlorophyll will be rich in green color, since chlorophyll is the green pigment in plants. Thus, dark leafy greens and sea algae would be the best sources of chlorophyll. But for this article, we are going to focus on dark leafy greens.


Dark leafy greens are not only rich in chlorophyll; they are a power house of nutrition, abundant in soluble and insoluble fiber, and contain a variety of phytonutrients, including chlorophyll and carotenoids. Dark leafy greens are high in folate, amino acids (the building blocks of proteins), vitamins and minerals, as well as essential fatty acids (both Omega 3 and Omega 6). They are also super high in antioxidants, and they are considered alkaline – all essential and necessary for optimal health. In fact, there is more compact nutrition per calorie in dark leafy greens than any other plant-based food. This is why dark leafy greens are at the top of the super food list.

Mixed Dark Leafy Greens

The physical and functional structure of a leafy green is very different from other plant foods. Leafy greens, typically being leaves or leaflets, are actually considered photosynthetic tissue due to the notably high levels of vitamin K, which is a key vitamin for the purpose of photosynthesis. They are the only plant-based food that is actually used to aid in the digestion of other plant-based foods such as fruits, other vegetables, seeds, nuts, and grains. There are so many varieties of dark leafy greens to try, and even unique ones from different parts of the globe. Dark leafy greens can be broken down into several categories, with examples of the more readily available common greens:

• Lettuces – crisp and slightly bitter, rich in vitamins A, C, and K
• Romaine
• Green Leaf
• Red Leaf
• Arugula
• Butterhead

• Cruciferous Leafy Greens – rich in glycosylates, minerals such as magnesium, and considered the most nutrient rich of the dark leafy green categories
• Kale
• Mustard Greens
• Collard Greens
• Cabbage
• Broccoli

• Amaranthaceous – rich in iron
• Spinach
• Swiss Chard
• Edible Green Leaves – also referred to as edible “weeds”, rich in a variety of phytonutrients
• Dandelion
• Red Clover
• Watercress

One of the biggest challenges I find is how to consume enough greens on a daily basis. From all the research I’ve done, and from personal experience, most do not consume enough dark leafy greens for optimal health. I think this is partly due to the taste expectation, and the conditioning from society of how greens should be consumed – in a salad, or cooked to mush!

One great way to consume these amazing superfoods is by juicing and making smoothies. Green smoothies are becoming the “health-conscious” norm. Plus, when you drink your greens, if done right, you can get more nutrition in one glass with minimal calories, which is great for clean energy and weight loss. In addition, because of the high water content that fresh raw greens have, juicing helps with hydration.

If you find it difficult to consume greens regularly, then be sure to include a high-quality dark leafy green supplement, preferably the concentrated powder form that can easily be dissolved in water. It’s better than sugar-laden, processed juices. It’s also definitely better than soda and coffee, and it can act as an energy drink that sustains you for long periods of time. I have recommendations for various green powders at the end of this article. Some have been mentioned before in my previous article on chlorophyll. Also, be sure to try my green smoothie recipe and my power-house green juice recipe included below. Dark leafy greens are a super food that you shouldn’t be without! Keep these leafy greens at the top of your food list daily for optimal health and well-being.

Recipes:

Debbie’s Green Envy Juice

Debbie's Green Envy Juice

(previously published in Raw-Riffic Food’s 101 Super-Charged Juices, Shakes & Smoothies)

Ingredients:
3-5 Kale leaves (with stems)
1 handful spinach leaves
3-5 thick sprigs parsley (with stems)
1-2 medium carrots (with leaves)
2 stalks celery (with leaves)
1 apple (recommend Red Delicious variety)
Purified water as needed

Preparation:
Clean all vegetables and cut into pieces that will fit properly into a good quality juicer. Turn juicer on, and add cut ingredients a few pieces at a time to properly juice. Once all ingredients are juiced, pour some purified water to remove the remaining fibers and nutrients from inside the juicer and add to the juice. Juice is ready to serve. Makes 1 to 2 glasses, depending upon glass size. Best served at room temperature or slightly chilled.


Basic Green Smoothie

Ingredients:
1 cup purified water, or coconut water
2-3 large handfuls baby spinach
1 small banana (peeled)

Preparation:
Place all ingredients in a high-speed blender, in the order listed. (For a colder smoothie add a few cubes of ice.) Blend ingredients on high till smooth. Adjust thickness by adding a little more liquid. Ready to serve. Makes about 1-2 glasses, depending upon size of glass.

For a variation: Add ½ to 1 cup mango chunks, or other fruit.

Basic Green Smoothie

Green Powder Supplement Recommendations:

 

Article References:

List of Dark Green Leafy Vegetables, by Tanya Brown, Demand Media. Healthy Eating. http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/list-dark-green-leafy-vegetables-1647.html

List of Dark Green Leafy Vegetables, by Melanie Clatfelter.  Last Updated: Apr 26, 2015. Live Strong. http://www.livestrong.com/article/358248-list-of-dark-green-leafy-vegetables/

Dark Green Leafy Vegetables, posted under Health Guides. Updated 23 December 2014. Center for Young Women’s Health. http://youngwomenshealth.org/2012/12/10/dark-green-leafy-vegetables/

Guide to a Healthy Kitchen. Leafy Greens -- Ranked and Rated. By Cari Nierenberg. WebMD Feature. Reviewed by Kathleen M. Zelman, MPH, RD, LD. WebMD. http://www.webmd.com/diet/healthy-kitchen-11/leafy-greens-rated

Green for Life, by Victoria Boutenko. Raw Family Publishing. 2005.

12 Steps to Raw Foods, by Victoria Boutenko. North Atlantic Books. Berkley, California. 2007.

Leaf vegetable, from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaf_vegetable

Chlorophyll – The King of All Plant Molecules

Based on my personal research, I consider chlorophyll to be the most important and basic of all plant molecules. Why? Simply because plants can’t live without chlorophyll. Basic science has taught us that chlorophyll is the chemical compound responsible for the green pigments in plants which allows for the absorption of solar radiation, or rather light from the sun. This allows the green plant to convert the sunlight, along with carbon dioxide, into sugars and carbohydrates, which we then consume for energy. This process is known as photosynthesis. The only “plant-life” that does not depend on chlorophyll are plant roots and mushrooms. Therefore, all plant life depends on chlorophyll to survive. Did you know that even the atmosphere’s oxygen is a byproduct of chlorophyll’s light induced carbon dioxide and water?

The reason why chlorophyll is so important to human beings is because it ultimately gives plants life and energy, which we consume to survive. Without the process of photosynthesis, not only would plants not exist, but no other aerobic lifeforms could live on this earth. Plants produce the oxygen for aerobic life, and aerobic life produces the carbon dioxide for plants. It is an ongoing cycle. Since chlorophyll is the compound that makes it possible for photosynthesis to occur for plants to feed, I consider chlorophyll the king of all plant molecules!

So how does chlorophyll directly impact health? I consider chlorophyll to be “life’s blood”, which is a title and concept that I have fostered over my past 10 years on my health journey. Meaning, we can benefit more directly from our “plant’s food” by consuming the chlorophyll directly. Chlorophyll has been shown to have a great impact on human health when consumed in a concentrated form through fresh natural green juice, and as a supplement. Here is a short list of just some of the amazing benefits that chlorophyll consumption can offer:

• Good source of vitamins, including vitamins A, C, E, and K, and beta carotene
• Rich in antioxidants and in vital minerals, including magnesium, iron, potassium, calcium and essential fatty acids
• Aids in restoring and replenishing red blood cells
• Enables our bodies to regenerate by working at cellular and molecular levels
• Rich in natural enzymes that have not been denatured from processing Enhances the ability of blood to carry more oxygen by assisting in cleansing the blood
• A blood builder effective against anemia, which is caused by a deficit of red blood cells in the body
• Acts as an anti-inflammatory by interfering with the growth of bacteria induced inflammation
• Purifying qualities, assisting with detoxification of the body
• Works as a natural antiseptic by disinfecting the environment to reduce bacterial growth, and as an antibiotic by reducing the toxins and chemicals in the body
• Helps support and maintain healthy tissues, which is attributed to the abundance of rich antioxidants and the presence of magnesium
• The presence of vitamin K helps clean and rejuvenate the adrenals and improves function
• Helps maintain intestinal flora and stimulate bowel movements, and repairs wounded bowel tissue
• Helps with calming the nerves and irritability, and alleviates general body fatigue
• Aids in strengthening cell walls and overall immune system, attributed to its alkaline nature
• Natural deodorizer, and effective remedy for bad breath when used as a mouthwash
• Acts as a wound healer when used as a topical ointment

The best source of chlorophyll is to consume sea algae and dark leafy greens. Spinach, parsley, and water cress have some of the highest content of chlorophyll among dark leafy greens. Spirulina and Chlorella contain some of the highest content of chlorophyll of any sea algae, and of any dark leafy greens. A key point to keep in mind is that the darker and richer the green color, the more likely it is that the plant contains a high content of chlorophyll. The other option would be to take a good quality chlorophyll supplement. I personally recommend having some form of chlorophyll daily. At my house, we drink a green powder mix, rich in chlorophyll and other nutrients, on a daily basis. My chlorella, and green powder supplement recommendations can be found at the end of this article.

In summary, chlorophyll is the king of all plant molecules, and the king of all superfoods, due to its impressive nutritional content and super potent antioxidant properties. I believe that our health and well-being depends on including chlorophyll in our daily diets. 

…Next article in the series: Carotenoids and Flavonoids – A Rainbow of Phytonutrients

Recommended Chlorophyll Supplements:

Article References:

10 Amazing Benefits of Chlorophyll, by Dr. Edward Group DC, NP, DACBN, DCBCN, DABFM

Published on January 4, 2014, Last Updated on January 6, 2014. Global Healing Center. 

http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/10-amazing-benefits-of-chlorophyll/

Photosynthesis for Kids, GlobalWarmingKids.net. is a project of ClimateChangeEducation.Org. ©2007-2012?  http://photosynthesisforkids.com/

Chlorophyll Benefits: The Plant Pigment that Heals + Detoxes Better than All Others. Dr. Josh Axe, draxe.com,  https://draxe.com/chlorophyll-benefits/

Green for Life, by Victoria Boutenko. North Atlantic Books. Berkley, California, 2005.

Superfoods, by David Wolfe. North Atlantic Books. Berkley, California, 2009.