Green smoothies here, green bowls there: wherever we look, whether on social media or on a walk through town, green superfoods are being advertised. And there's a good reason for it! Superfoods like avocado and co. owe their green colour to chlorophyll. In this article we explain what exactly chlorophyll is and which vegetables contain it.
What is chlorophyll?
Chlorophyll is a natural pigment that gives plants, and in part our foods, their green colour. Chlorophyll is also very important for life on Earth, because it's thanks to chlorophyll that plants can carry out photosynthesis in the first place. As a refresher, here's the explanation of photosynthesis again: during photosynthesis, carbon dioxide, which is toxic to humans, is converted together with water, with the help of sunlight, into fresh oxygen and glucose. So photosynthesis, and with it chlorophyll, provides better air to breathe and a better climate.
Where does the name chlorophyll come from?
Have you ever wondered where the name chlorophyll actually comes from? It derives from the Greek words "chloros" for green and "phyllon" for leaf. Translated, chlorophyll means roughly "green leaf". Quite a fitting name when you consider that plants only get their green colour thanks to chlorophyll.
Is chlorophyll sensitive to heat?
The answer is a clear yes! When chlorophyll is exposed to heat, it denatures - meaning important enzymes and nutrients are destroyed and many of its healthy properties are lost. That's also the case with pasteurisation.
At frank. we skip pasteurisation for all of our green juices and instead rely on the HPP process for preservation. The HPP process, also called high-pressure processing, is a gentle method that eliminates harmful bacteria without destroying the valuable nutrients.
Which vegetables contain chlorophyll?
To get more chlorophyll into your diet, make sure above all that you eat plenty of green leafy vegetables like spinach, kale and chard. Herbs shouldn't be missing from your table either! You can also add small portions of green leafy veg to your smoothies, where you won't taste them among the sweet fruit but they'll still supply you with important nutrients. You'll also find plenty of green vegetables in our frank. juices, which we've smartly combined with fruity fruit. Wheatgrass and spirulina are not only especially healthy but also especially green - you'll find these two superfoods in our juices The Purist and The Ocean respectively.
Garden Brew
Our Garden Brew is a mix of green tea, quince juice, lime juice and the healthy green leaves of parsley, lemon balm and dandelion. The perfect combination for a healthy refresher on hot days!
Lean Machine
Do you know Lean Machine yet? This green juice contains cucumber, courgette, coconut water, spinach, kale and nettle. Cucumber and courgette provide a refreshing base and coconut water gives the juice a light sweetness. Try this juice for a healthy start to the day or a refreshing green break!
Marvellous Greens
Our Marvellous Greens juice combines cucumber, apple, spinach, lemon and ginger juice for a refreshing mix. Cucumber and spinach give this juice its vibrant colour, and lemon and ginger deliver an extra freshness kick. Enjoy it during fasting or just in between!
Discover Marvellous Greens now!
The Crocodile
Fruity and slightly tart - The Crocodile is a mix of apple, orange, cucumber and spinach juice. With added vitamins B6 and B12, this juice lets you simply forget the stress of everyday life.
The Purist
The Purist is the greenest of our juices and offers a simple but powerful combination of cucumber, celery, spinach and lemon juice.
frank. verdict on chlorophyll
Now you know everything you need to know about chlorophyll and green vegetables, and can start working the green pigment into your everyday life. When you're in a hurry and don't have time to prepare a green smoothie, we can recommend our green juices. With a bit of ginger and a small share of fruit, the juices don't just taste healthy, they taste delicious too. You'll also find lots of green juices in our juice cleanses. Our Pro juice cleanse contains, for example, 4 green juices per cleanse day.
