Eating enough food throughout the day is hard enough, let alone your veggies and greens. But what if you could drink all of your vital greens and cruciferous veggies with one small scoop and 8 oz of water? Greens powder supplements do just that. They pack in vital micronutrients and supergreens such as Kale, Chlorella, Spirulina, and Wheat Grass, so that you can get the ingredients you need to power your active lifestyle, without missing a beat. But not all greens powders are created equal. We’re going to talk about the best greens powder ingredients (and their benefits) to look for when buying a greens powder.
What Are Greens Powders?
Greens powders come from super potent and nutrient-rich dehydrated fruits, vegetables and superfood greens, that deliver similar added benefits, of downing a few cups of veggies. Most greens powders contain a greens blend, which contains grass-like wheatgrass, barley grass, and blue algae like chlorella and spirulina. They also contain reds or antioxidant blends consisting of pomegranate, beetroot, raspberries, or blueberries. Some greens blends will also add in pre and/or probiotics for digestive health. Most greens powders contain the same type of nutrients, b vitamins, antioxidants, zinc, copper, and magnesium. The one thing they lack in comparison to raw veggies, however, is their fiber content. Since most greens do contain an abundance of b-vitamins, they can be great in the morning, or before your workout for an added burst of energy or quick natural pick me up.
Make Sure Your Greens Powder Is Proprietary Blend Free
Before you buy your greens powder, make sure you look at the ingredients and ensure that it does not contain a blend or complex.
It’s important to find a greens powder supplement that is transparent and tells you how much of each ingredient is in your product. Most greens powders use proprietary blends and complexes which do not disclose how much of each ingredient they use. Without knowing the amount you're ingesting, you won’t know how much of each essential nutrient you’re really getting in your greens powder. Seems shady doesn’t it? That’s because it is. At Swolverine we use complete transparency and tell you exactly of each ingredient you’re getting.
Manufacturers do this so that they can save money and cut corners, by only sprinkling the ingredients you truly need.
Pay attention to the supplement label and make sure the amounts for each type of greens are listed. Most greens powders will place each category, of ingredient, greens, reds, or probiotics into their own complex and do not disclose how much of each ingredient it has.
Below you'll see an example of what to look for in a green powder.
Here’s an example of what not to buy. As you can see, each ingredient is in a complex or blend and does not disclose how much of each ingredient it has. It also contains corn maltodextrin in the “other ingredients” aka refined sugar.
Make Sure Your Greens Powder Has Higher Doses
Often times, we think more is better. Wow, this greens powder has more ingredients so it must be better right? Wrong. Just like any other supplement, make sure your greens have higher amounts of each ingredient to actually improve your health. If a product has 10g per serving but has 50 ingredients, chances are your product isn't underdosed, its microdosed. Look for key nutrient-dense ingredients, which have higher doses. You'll actually reap the health benefits that way.
What Are The Best Greens Powder Ingredients?
Spirulina
First used by the ancient Aztecs as a supplemental source of protein, sourced from Lake Texcoco in central Mexico, Spirulina’s claim to fame, really came when it was introduced and used by NASA as a dietary supplement for astronauts. Today the miracle algae from the sea has gained pop-culture superfood status due to its highly rich nutritional profile. One of the most remarkable aspects of Spirulina’s nutritional content however is the high amount of protein, which makes up nearly 70% of its nutritional contents. Gram for gram, spirulina is one of the most nutrient dense foods on the planet providing protein, b-vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids potassium, niacin, calcium, and iron.
RELATED ARTICLE: Is Spirulina Good For You?
Chlorella
Chlorella like Spirulina is another form of algae with an impressive nutrient profile. Chlorella is stacked with protein, but where this super algae really shines is with its vitamins and minerals. Chlorella has over 200% of the daily recommended value of Vitamin A and Iron, and over 100% of the daily recommended value of Zinc in just one, one-ounce serving. Chlorella is also loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, which provide numerous health benefits, including reduced inflammation, heart health, and brain health. If you’re looking for a quality greens powder, make sure it has Chlorella.
RELATED ARTICLE: The Ultimate Guide To Krill Oil And Omega-3
Wheat Grass
A must of have ingredient in your greens powder, Wheat Grass has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties. Wheatgrass is packed with a powerful combination of vitamins and phytonutrients. Wheatgrass also contains chlorophyll, which helps rid the body of waste and stored toxins [R]. Wheatgrass can also aid in digestion, relieving bloat, and helping symptoms associated with irritable bowel syndrome [R].
RELATED ARTICLE 5 Benefits Of Wheatgrass
Beet Root
Beets. You know those delicious little red devils that you eat with your salad. Beets have a host of health benefits and are a great reds addition to your greens powder. Beets are an amazing source of folate, fiber, iron, and vitamin c. Studies have shown that beetroot juice, can improve blood flow, lower blood pressure, and even increase exercise performance [R, R]. A greens powder is not truly complete without beets.
RELATED ARTICLE 22 Studies That Prove Beetroot Can Improve Athletic Performance
Pomegranate
Pomegranates are one of the healthiest, most delicious fruits on the planet. Go ahead break one open. Those red, juicy, and sweet delectable seeds won’t disappoint. Their what’s known as life-changing. Not only that but they are unrivaled in the world of fruit, for their nutrient density and numerous health benefits. In addition to normal nutrients, such as vitamin c, vitamin k, folate, and potassium, what makes pomegranate truly unique, are the plant compounds - Pomegranates contain Punicalagins and Punicic Acid, an extremely potent antioxidant and type of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) which has proven benefits on weight management and overall health. Pomegranates also have powerful anti-inflammatory effects, namely from the antioxidant properties in punicalagin [R]. Studies have shown that the anti-inflammatory effects can block specific enzymes that are known to cause damage in those with osteoarthritis [R]. Pomegranates have also been shown to reduce risks of heart disease, cancer, and improve memory [R, R, R].
RELATED ARTICLE 7 Health Benefits Of Pomegranate
Bilberries
Bilberries - they are exactly what they sound like...a medieval blueberry. Bilberries are blueberries native to Northern Europe. Bilberries are rich in nutrients, vitamin c, manganese, and vitamin k.
Rich in antioxidants, as well as phenolic acid bilberries, are an incredible source of Anthocyanins a powerful plant compound responsible for many of the health benefits such as reduced inflammation, improved vision, heart health, brain health, and glucose stability [R, R].
Turmeric
Turmeric is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial plant (Curcuma longa). Sometimes referred to as Indian Saffron or the golden spice, Turmeric is part of the Ginger family and is a tall plant that grows in Southeast Asia and cultivated in India. The turmeric that you find in supplements is directly derived from the plant’s roots. Through several studies, Turmeric been proven to provide countless health benefits from improving joint health and mobility, reducing exercise-induced inflammation and muscle soreness, thus enhancing recovery and performance. But, that’s not all.
Turmeric contains over 100 unique chemical properties that contribute to its countless therapeutic and anti-inflammatory effects. The most active ingredient in Turmeric is Curcumin a polyphenol that has been shown to target multiple signaling molecules at the cellular level.
When you’re looking for a great greens powder, if it lists turmeric as an ingredient, make sure it also contains black pepper extract. Despite the health benefits associated with Curcumin, the major problem with ingesting curcumin by itself is its poor bioavailability. Adding a digestive bioavailability enhancer such as black pepper, can increase the bioavailability of curcumin by 2000%. Swolverine’s green powder contains organic black pepper extract to ensure you reap all the benefits of turmeric.
RELATED ARTICLE: 5 Amazing Health Benefits Of Turmeric
Chia
Tiny in size, yet ferocious in might, Chia Seeds are among the most nutritious foods on the planet. Rich in fiber, protein, omega-3’s, and loaded with antioxidants; Chia seeds are a must-have ingredient in your greens powder. A study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning even stated that ingesting chia seeds was equivalent to the energy boost obtained by drinking Gatorade [R]. Not only that Chia seeds contain the highest plant-based source of protein. Like I said, one of the best ingredients in your greens powder – chia seeds.
RELATED ARTICLE 6 Benefits Of Chia Seeds
The Best Greens Powder Ingredients: Takeaway
Here’s the bottom line. Greens powders are an amazing source of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. Made with nutrient-dense and rich ingredients, greens powders can help bridge the gap in your nutrition, when you may not be able to get all of your veggies in. Greens powders are also great for a natural pick me up when you need it the most. It’s important to remember that greens powders are not intended to replace eating pure, raw greens, whether in a salad, or on the side of your salmon. Greens powders however are a great addition to your diet and can provide a convenient way to get in some much-needed micronutrients, especially when your diet lacks healthy greens and veggies.
Looking for an amazing proprietary blend free greens powder?
Greens+Reds is a high-quality, proprietary blend-free combination of Organic super greens and antioxidant-rich reds. Greens + Reds contains powerfully rich organic super greens from land and sea like Spirulina, Chlorella, Wheat Grass, and reds including Organic beets, Pomegranate, Bilberry, Blueberry and Organic Turmeric to improve your energy levels, bridge the gaps in your daily diet, and promote overall health and wellness.
We believe that everyone can optimize not only their athletic performance but their human potential. The way we believe we can optimize performance is through transparency, clinically effective doses, and clinically proven ingredients with evidence-based outcomes. We provide the nutrients you need to power your active lifestyle.
