Greens powders have become the latest viral trend, with influencers and celebs sipping on odd-looking green drinks and pitching their health benefits on social media.
Videos with the hashtag #greenspowders have racked up over 477 million views on TikTok and research suggests the industry will reach $718 million by 2028.
Fans of the fluorescent greens powders say the product does wonders for their health, and list improved digestion, less bloating, more energy and healthier skin and nails, and many more as the benefits. It sounds too good to be true but nutritionists and testers put the theory to the test to delve a bit deeper into whether it’s just hype of if supergreens are worth it.
Greens Powders Compared To Whole Foods
The first thing to take into account is that the vitamins and minerals in whole foods have better bioavailability than powders, which means they are more easily absorbed by the body.
Greens powders do contain lots of micronutrients, but the problem is that there is little or no research to support the bioavailability of the micronutrients in powder form. There is uncertainty over whether the body is making efficient use of them.
Whole foods also deliver fibre, an essential element for maintaining a healthy digestive system, plus important vitamins and minerals . Most of the fiber content is lost in the production process of greenspowders. And that’s why you need to choose a supergreens powder with fiber in it.
Are Supergreens Powders Good For You?
For people struggling to eat enough fresh fruit and vegetables daily, greens powders have value.
Individuals who don’t have a balanced diet could benefit from the vitamins and minerals included in the powders as these likely provide more nourishment than an unbalanced diet.
But greens powders are not essential for a healthy diet.
Whole foods are a better nutritional source and nutritionists don’t usually recommend a greens powder as the first option, rather suggesting food first approach. The evidence behind the benefits of greens powders is limited and the poders don’t count towards the recommended five-a-day fruits and vegetables.
People who are already eating a healthy, well-balanced diet, are unlikely to get any benefit from using a greens supplement.
It would make very little difference because the human body can only absorb a specific amount of water soluble vitamins (All the B vitamins) and anything over and above that will just be expelled when urinating.
Some nutritionists see psychological benefits to taking greens powders. Even though the research into greens powders is limited, if taking one puts you in a ‘healthy’ mindset and reminds you to make other changes to better your health like prioritising sleep or getting more exercise it can be helpful.
What To Look For In A Supergreens Powder
When you want to join the leafy trens, nutritionists advise choosing a greens powder that contains real fruit and vegetable powders.
A product that has whole foods listed as ingredients list with several vitamins and minerals appearing as product nutrient reference values (NRVs) would be the better choice.
Supplements should be avoided as they contain high levels of synthetic and fortified ingredients that can cause gastrointestinal distress, especially sweeteners. Aside from the cost, fortified vitamins are the same as standard multivitamins.
Greens powders may not live up to the hype because they are not regulated by governing bodies. It’s important to check the ingredients list is accurate and free from contaminants and to choose one that has been tested by a third party.
Different powders are also suitable in different circumstances. Athletic Greens, for example, is NSF Certified for Sport whereas Verve’s powder is Informed Sport Certified. If there is any doubt, the best thing to do is to seek advice from a registered dietician or nutritionist before taking a green supplement.
My Recommandation
The only greens powder we carry in our store is Supergreens powder by Yourbiology.
First of all, besides the list of minerals and vitamins in its ingredients, you also get a good fiber (apple pectin) and real supergreens and superfoods as we discussed above (for example matcha tea, spirulina, spinach, acerola, wild yam etc).
And secondly (and more importantly), when you are buying a supplement, the main question you should ask yourself is “do I trust the manufacturer of this product?”.
Because supplements are not regulated by the FDA, you need to make sure that the product actually contains the ingredients it says it contains. There is also the issue of the quantity of said ingredients and the quality (where are they sourced from).
Yourbiology products are made by WOLFSON BRANDS, a company headquartered in the UK with manufacturing facilities both in the US and the UK. They are by far the most trusted name when it comes to food supplements, so you can rest assured you are getting your money’s worth.
Head over to our store to check out supergreens powder ingredients and benefits and decide whether it’s the right product for you.
Professional Health and Fitness Coach. Encouraging and inspiring busy working people to take time out for themselves through fitness and general health and wellness.
