It is common knowledge that you should be eating your greens, chock-full of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. However, the tight schedules of daily life or even picky palates can make getting enough of the essential nutrients a challenge. Between dealing with a demanding 9-5 job and showing up at social commitments, there may not be enough time to stack your plate with leafy greens. You begin to wonder if alternatives that can help you drink up your greens Powder won’t come in handy. You could even swap your morning coffee for some Supergreens powder and get the necessary nutrients in one scoop.
But are there health benefits of greens powders? In this article, you’ll learn what greens powders are, their benefits, and if you should be taking them.
Greens Powder – What Is It?
Greens powder is a dietary supplement. It’s made from a blend of various green, leafy vegetables, fruits, and sometimes herbs or spices. The mix that makes up greens powder is freeze-dried and ground into a fine powder.
The ingredients used in preparing a greens powder vary with brands as they mix choice vegetables and fruits to create their own unique taste and nutrient blend. Regardless, some of the common components in greens powder include:
- Leafy greens like kale, spinach, or collard greens
- Cruciferous vegetables including broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower
- Grasses such as wheatgrass
- Fruits such as berries and pomegranate
- Herbs like turmeric and ginger
Health Benefits of Greens Powder
It can be incredibly tempting to dismiss greens powder as a fad in the health and wellness world. But don’t let its humble appearance fool you. Greens powder is dense with phytonutrients, vitamins, and minerals.
Some of their benefits include:
Rich Source of Vitamins and Minerals
If for any reason, you’ve not been taking meals that balance out the essential nutrients your body needs, greens powder can serve as a convenient fix to that. Loaded with vitamins including vitamins A, C, and K, greens powder provides vitamins essential for immune function, bone, and heart health.
Increases Energy Level
Greens powder can help reduce fatigue and increase energy levels. The natural sugars, vitamins, and minerals contained in it work to give you an instant boost, making it a great addition to your morning routine.
Boosts Antioxidant Intake
Like many edibles from plant sources, Greens powder contains antioxidants. Antioxidants help protect your cells from damage caused by free radicals generated through oxidative stress.
Cell damage caused by free radicals can lead to chronic diseases like Alzheimer’s. But, with an antioxidant boost, there is a reduced risk of chronic diseases including cancer and heart disease.
Support Gut Health
Another benefit of greens powder is that some contain prebiotics and probiotics. Its probiotics and digestive enzyme content can aid in digestion. By supporting digestive health, it reduces bloating and promotes healthy gut bacteria.
May Help Lower Inflammation
Inflammation has a linkage with some health conditions, including arthritis and cardiovascular disease. Greens powders, with their anti-inflammatory properties, have the potential to alleviate inflammation, thereby preventing the occurrence of these conditions.
Supports Immune Function
Greens powder contains a blend of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, such as flavonoids and polyphenols. These may support immune function and reduce the risk of illnesses.
Limitations of Greens Powder
Although greens powder has numerous benefits, there isn’t much research on some of the purported benefits. Greens powder is a supplement and was not made to replace actual meals. So it’s important to remember that greens powder should never replace whole foods or well-balanced meals.
Also, there are a few limitations with taking greens powder that highlight how it may not be the optimal nutritional choice. Some of these limitations include:
Less fiber
Greens powder goes through a lot of processing stages. From freeze-drying to grinding, these processes reduce most of the fiber content of the supplement. Less fiber content means less improvement in gut health and/or digestion.
Sugar crashes
Depending on the veggies-fruit-herbs mix of green powder, many of them tend to have a grassy taste. So, some brands load their products with added sugars. This ultimately leads to energy crashes instead of sustained levels.
Choosing the Right Greens Powder
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate supplements, of which greens powder is one. This means, there is no regulatory body overseeing that these products provide the benefits they claim to do. So, it’s important to choose the right greens powder for you.
Some of the things you should consider to make the right choice include:
- Go for reputable brands that do not compromise on quality. Best if they source organic ingredients
- Check the ingredients list and stay away from products with added sugars and flavors
- Look out for seals from reliable third-party programs like the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) on product packs to confirm ingredient quality.
Bottom Line
Greens powder can be a valuable addition to a healthy lifestyle. They provide a concentrated dose of essential nutrients and antioxidants. While it shouldn’t replace whole foods entirely, it can certainly help fill the gaps in your diet.
