Moringa chlorophyll: what it is, what we know and how to take it
Moringa (Moringa oleifera) owes its bright green colour to chlorophyll, like every green leaf. The internet credits this pigment with plenty of virtues: âdetoxâ, skin, odours⊠Here is what it really is, what is known about its effects in humans, how it differs from the chlorophyllin sold in bottles, and how to use moringa leaves.
Moringa oleifera capsules â 100 capsules of 500 mg
Powdered Moringa oleifera leaves, 100% pure with no additives, in 500 mg vegetable capsules. 2 to 4 capsules a day, with meals.
See the moringa capsulesIn short
- Chlorophyll is the green pigment that lets plants capture light.
- Moringa leaf powder contains it, just like spinach, parsley and other green leaves.
- Its colour tells you about the quality of the powder: a bright green usually means gentle drying and good storage.
- The âdetoxâ, âpurifyingâ or âdeodorisingâ effects attributed to it have not been demonstrated in humans.
- The chlorophyllin in liquid supplements is a processed derivative, different from the chlorophyll in leaves.
What is chlorophyll?
Chlorophyll is the pigment that gives plants their green colour. It captures energy from light for photosynthesis, the process by which plants make their sugars from water and carbon dioxide in the air. Its molecule is ring-shaped, with a magnesium atom at its centre. Leaves contain two main forms, chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b.
For the plant, it is a working tool. For us, it is first and foremost a food pigment: we swallow some every time we eat salad, spinach, fresh herbs or a leaf powder such as moringa. It is also used as a natural colouring in the food industry, under the code E140.
Why is moringa powder so green?
Because it is made from leaves that are dried and then ground, and some of the chlorophyll is preserved. Yet this pigment is fragile: heat, light, air and moisture break it down, and the green then turns olive and eventually brown. It is what you see when spinach is cooked for too long.
For the buyer, it is a practical guide:
- A clear, bright green: most often, leaves dried at low temperature and a well-protected powder.
- A dull, khaki or brownish green: an old powder, exposed to light or dried too hot.
- A smell of damp hay or mould: a powder that has absorbed moisture, not to be consumed.
The capsule protects the powder from light and air; loose powder is best kept in an opaque, tightly closed jar in a dry place. The differences between formats are explained in Moringa capsules or powder: how to choose.
What can be said, and what cannot
| What you read | What is known |
|---|---|
| âChlorophyll detoxifies the bodyâ | No solid study shows that chlorophyll from food âeliminates toxinsâ in humans. That is the job of the liver and kidneys. |
| âIt removes heavy metalsâ | Not demonstrated in humans. Exposure to heavy metals calls for medical advice, not a food supplement. |
| âIt is a natural deodorantâ | The few studies on body odour are old and inconclusive: nothing allows us to promise it. |
| âIt looks like haemoglobin, so it makes bloodâ | The two molecules have a similar shape, but chlorophyll carries magnesium where haemoglobin carries iron. The body does not turn one into the other. |
| âMoringa is rich in chlorophyllâ | It contains some, like other green leaves. That is a statement about composition, not the promise of an effect. |
In other words, moringa chlorophyll is a pigment like the one found in all green vegetables. You can enjoy moringa powder for its colour, its herbal taste and its place in the cuisines of India and South-East Asia, without attributing any special power to it. The composition of the leaves is described in Moringa: leaf composition, uses and ways to consume it.
Chlorophyll or chlorophyllin: not the same thing
The âliquid chlorophyllsâ sold in bottles most often contain chlorophyllin (sodium copper chlorophyllin). It is a derivative obtained by processing chlorophyll: the magnesium is replaced by copper, which makes it water-soluble and more stable. It is also used as a food colouring (E141). So it is not the same substance as the natural chlorophyll in leaves, and what is said about one does not apply to the other. Our moringa capsules contain no chlorophyllin: only leaf powder.
How to consume moringa leaves
- As capsules: 2 to 4 capsules of 500 mg a day, with meals and a large glass of water. Full directions are in How to take moringa capsules: dose, timing and duration.
- As powder: a teaspoon in a smoothie, soup or sauce, added off the heat to keep its colour.
- With lemon: the acidity turns the powder olive green. That is the chlorophyll reacting, with no effect on taste or on consumption.
Precautions
Moringa capsules are not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women or for children. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice if you are taking any medication, particularly for diabetes, blood pressure or the thyroid. Do not exceed the stated daily dose.
This information is provided for educational purposes. This food supplement does not prevent, treat or cure any disease, and does not replace a varied and balanced diet or medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
What is moringa chlorophyll for?
In the plant, it captures light for photosynthesis. On the plate, it is a pigment that gives the powder its green colour. The âdetoxâ or âdeodorisingâ effects attributed to it have not been demonstrated in humans.
Does moringa contain more chlorophyll than other plants?
It contains some, like all green leaves. Once dried and powdered, the leaf concentrates its pigments in a small volume, hence its intense colour; no chlorophyll content is stated on our labels.
Why is my moringa powder no longer as green?
Chlorophyll breaks down with light, heat, air and moisture. A powder that has turned khaki or brownish has aged or been poorly stored.
Are liquid chlorophyll and moringa the same thing?
No. Liquid chlorophyll most often contains chlorophyllin, a derivative processed with copper. Moringa capsules are simply the dried leaf, ground into powder.
Read also
- Moringa: leaf composition, uses and ways to consume it
- Moringa capsules or powder: how to choose
- How to take moringa capsules: dose, timing and duration
Moringa oleifera capsules
The box of 100 capsules of 500 mg or the pack of 3 boxes, and our other plant capsules, such as turmeric and piperine.
All our plant capsules