SWAMP THING
They’re chloro-full of it.
TikTok users are draining the swamp by sucking down liquid chlorophyll — a plant molecule that aids in growth and creates a green shade.
While the trend has been popular with celebrities such as Reese Witherspoon, Mandy Moore, Gwyneth Paltrow and Kourtney Kardashian — with the latter two frequently criticized for their loose interpretations of scientific fact — Gen Z is now following their lead and getting on board. The hashtag #chlorophyll has 81.3 million views on TikTok.
Makers of the liquid drops claim the supplement can boost energy, detoxify the body, help with altitude sickness and even neutralize body odor. Social-media users love it for its alleged skin-clearing qualities: Adding a few drops of it into water each day has supposedly been the miracle cure for maladies from rosacea to acne.
But doctors are saying to have a salad instead.
“What you should do is eat your greens,” Dr. Rabia de Latour, an assistant professor at NYU Langone’s Department of Medicine, told The Post. “We know that chlorophyll, in its pure form [in leafy greens], is really great at being an anti-oxidant and treating inflammation, and that has been studied.”
Supplements of any kind are not regulated by the FDA, warned de Latour. “Whether or not different [supplement] companies have a true form of chlorophyll that would actually be absorbed [by your body], we don’t know,” she said. “I would be very hesitant to believe anything that a company that’s hawking them would advertise.”
More specifically, de Latour said she’s skeptical of chlorophyll’s touted wonder-drug properties when it comes to skin problems and body odor.
For clearer skin and overall health improvement, she recommends swapping processed foods for healthier ones.
Chlorophyll-rich foods — including spinach, arugula, green beans, peas, leeks and wheatgrass — have the added benefit of being packed with tons of vitamins and minerals, as well as fiber. Raw, uncooked produce is ideal, as some nutrients can burn off at high heat.
Supplements and drops, on the other hand, will often include added chemicals or oils to extend their shelf life, said de Latour. And those might not be the best for the body.
That could be why some chlorophyll drinkers on TikTok have complained of an upset stomach. “You have to be wary of the ingredients” when taking any supplement, de Latour said.
While not a common occurrence, “I have seen people who take random herbal supplements end up having a serious liver injury,” she added. “They can be very dangerous.”
Should you be interested in adding chlorophyll drops, or any supplement, to your diet, check with your doctor first. “See if they think that it’s safe and that it doesn’t have any risks,” de Latour said.
And use common sense when deciphering claims that seem too good to be true.
“Instead of taking a short cut, I always recommend just eating the raw foods,” she said.