The green plant pigment we call chlorophyll is arguably the most important substance in all of creation, since plants use it to take the energy of sunlight and convert carbon dioxide into the oxygen that sustains all life on Earth.
Oddly, chlorophyll has a chemical profile almost identical to that of human blood. In some ways this is hardly surprising, since chlorophyll is to plants what blood is to animals. The main difference between chlorophyll and blood is that the central atom in blood hemoglobin is iron, whereas in chlorophyll the central atom is magnesium. Otherwise there is little difference between the two, and this has prompted many scientists to wonder if chlorophyll might play a role in human health. The answer appears to be a resounding yes.
For instance, research reveals that chlorophyll acts as an anti-mutagen, protecting the DNA, that is, the genetic code, of cells to prevent harmful, potentially pre-cancerous changes. This in part may explain why eating lots of green vegetables seems to help reduce the risk of many diseases.