Greens supplements are concentrated plant extracts, freeze-dried into a powder that dissolves easily in liquids. These powders typically combine fruits, vegetables, herbs, vitamins, minerals, and superfoods like spirulina. Essentially, greens powders serve as whole-food multivitamins, boosting your intake of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.
As a result, they can elevate energy, support metabolism, reduce health risks, and combat visible aging.
The Health Benefits of Fruits and Vegetables
Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is proven to boost health, lower disease risk, and slow aging. Packed with antioxidants, they also help alkalinize the body and support metabolism. However, research shows fewer than one-thirs of North Americans meet the recommended five servigs daily.
This nutritional gap reduces essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, leading to poorer cellular repair, increased inflammation, and faster aging. Consuming at least five servings daily can help prevent and even reverse these effects.
Reasons You Should Consider Taking Greens Supplements
Many people fall short of their daily fruit and vegetable servings due to cost, busy schedules, and nutrient soil depletion, which leaves produce less nutrient-dense. Greens supplements offer an easy solution. Unlike whole produce, they are highly concentrated, providing a broad spectrum of nutrients, including enzymes and phytochemicals that boost digestion and overall health. Often, a single serving delivers more than the recommended five daily servings, ensuring a potent nutrient boost beyond what most diets provide.
Fibre Content Found In Greens Supplements
Beyond simple nutrition, one of the greatest benefits that fruits and vegetables provide is their rich fiber content. While green supplements boost nutrition, they can fall short on fibre. Fortunately, many include natural fibre sources like apple fibre or rice bran. Still, it's important to complement these supplements with whole grains, nuts, and seeds to ensure you meet your daily fibre needs.
10 Key Nutrients Found In Greens Supplements
This varies depending on the brand, but there are some general ingredients that most brands will select from, and there are some that help to improve taste while improving the health benefits. Generally, any grains used in these formulas have been sprouted to increase their nutritional potency. The following is by no means an exhaustive list:
1. Alfalfa
This is a nutrient-rich plant that contains isoflavones and is rich in chlorophyll.
2. Barley Grass
This grass is the sprout of the barley grain that contains high levels of several vitamins, minerals and nutrients such as chlorophyll. It is a complete protein source as it also contains all of the essential amino acids.
3. Chlorella
Chlorella is an edible water-grown algae that is rich in vitamins and minerals and also contains extremely high levels of chlorophyll, which aids in the detoxification and oxygenation of the tissues.
4. Fibre
Apple fibre, flax, and rice bran are some examples of fibre sources that may be found in green formulas. Alternatively, some greens powders have proprietary fibres such as PGX. If your diet is not otherwise high in fibre, it is a good idea to consider a formula that will help you get the amount you need.
5. Fruit
Apple is the most commonly found fruit in greens mixtures, although others include prunes, blueberries, cranberries, tomatoes, mangos, grapes, strawberries, and pomegranates. Each fruit has specific nutritional constituents, and most are extremely high in antioxidants. Some formulas will even add superfruits to boost their antioxidant content.
6. Herbs
An extremely wide variety of herbs can be found in different green powder formulas. Describing each is beyond the scope of this article. Please see our herb articles for more information on each herb you are interested in learning more about.
7. Probiotics / Prebiotics
Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that help to colonize the gut and protect it from infection. They also aid in digestion by breaking up some of the foods that our enzymes cannot. Some prebiotics, such as fructooligosaccharides (FOS), are food for probiotics to help them initially take hold in your gut.
8. Spirulina
Spirulina is an edible cyanobacterium that is rich in vitamins and minerals and also contains extremely high levels of chlorophyll, which aids in the detoxification and oxygenation of the tissues. In addition to this, spirulina provides a source of complete protein containing all the essential amino acids.
9. Wheat Grass
Sprouted wheat grain is a rich source of vitamins and minerals.
10. Vegetables
Beets, broccoli, carrots, cabbage, spinach, kelp, and kale are some examples of the vegetables commonly found in greens powders. These vegetables provide a rich source of vitamins, nutrients and antioxidants that have a litany of health benefits.
Different Varieties of Greens Supplements
There is a wide variety of green supplements, each tailored to different needs. Some focus on fruits, others on vegetables, and many include extra herbs and nutrients. For example, some are designed to boost energy, like the popular Genuine Health Greens+.
Dosages vary, so always check the label to choose one aligned with your lifestyle and goals.
Key Considerations When Taking Greens Supplements
When taking greens supplements, remember that fruit and vegetables provide vital fiber, so make sure your diet compensates if the powder lacks it. Check labels for fillers like soy and allergens.
Some greens contain herbs that may interact with medications or health conditions. Consult with your doctor if you have health concerns before taking supplements containing herbs. Use extra caution during pregnancy or lactation, and avoid herb-heavy formulas.
