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Do Greens Powders Actually Work?
There seems to be a rise in popularity of greens powder and whether or not we are to add them into our daily nutritional diet. What's all the hype about? Are they actually good for you?
Greens powders and greens superfoods have been a popular supplement in the health and fitness industry as they were created to help individuals reach their daily vitamin and mineral intake. For those of us who struggle to get our fruits and vegetables in, greens powders may be a supplement to consider!
How do you know if greens powders and superfoods are something you should incorporate in your supplement routine? Good news! Today's article will go over the benefits of greens powder and superfood supplements, what they are, how to use them, and if you should start taking them on the daily. Keep scrolling to learn more!
What are Greens Superfood Supplements?
Greens superfoods are a dietary supplement that help individuals reach their daily vitamin and mineral intake. These supplements are made up of a blend of vegetables, fruits, grasses, and seeds.
Exact ingredients vary depending on the brand of the greens supplement; however, common ingredients are spirulina, barley grass, leafy greens, digestive enzymes, and prebiotic blends.
Taking a greens superfood supplement everyday can provide many benefits, especially for those who may struggle eating vegetables and fruits.
Superfoods such as algae, seaweed, kelp, and chlorella are powerful ingredients found in many greens supplements that are very beneficial phytonutrients (found in foods you typically don't eat).
Although eating your vegetables is one of the best way to get in your vitamins and minerals, adding in a greens superfood supplement can benefit your health in many ways.
Did we mention greens superfoods can help improve gut health and support immunity? Keep scrolling to learn more!
What Makes Up a High-Quality Greens Supplement?
Typically for supplements, the less of the ingredient list, the better... Not for greens superfood supplements! That's right. Greens superfood supplements are likely to contain dozen of healthful ingredients to support your daily dose of greens.
Rich blends of super greens, marine superfoods, prebiotics and probiotics, antioxidants, and digestive enzymes are all beneficial properties of a greens supplement. Luckily our Greens Superfood powder contains all of the above!
Below, I will highlight a handful of key ingredients found in a high-quality greens supplement!
Barley Grass
Barley grass is rich in vitamins A & C— both of which act as antioxidants for the body. Together, these vitamins can help fight off free radicals that can potentially damage the body. Barley grass may also promote weight loss, enhance heart health, and support balanced blood sugar levels.
Wheatgrass
Similar to barley grass, wheatgrass has many components shown to improve weight loss, decrease inflammation, lower cholesterol, and stabilize blood sugar. It is considered a superfood that is packed with antioxidants to support immune function, aid in digestion, and decrease bloat.
Many greens supplements have either wheatgrass or barley grass because of their comparable health benefits, but a high-quality green superfood supplement will typically have both!
Spirulina
One of the most nutrient dense superfoods you can find. It contains a powerful plant-based protein called phycocyanin — an ingredient that shows powerful antioxidant effects, pain-relief, anti-inflammatory properties, and promotes a healthy nervous system.
Spriulina is a green-blue marine superfood that is considered a member of the algae family. Algae has been shown to help protect cells from damage.
Acacia Fiber Gum
A key component in a fibrous blend of ingredients. Acacia Fiber Gum is an excellent source of dietary fiber and also has strong prebiotic properties. Research suggests that arcacia fiber gum can also have many benefits to promoting weight loss.
An ideal greens supplement will be paired with other high fibrous ingredients like chia seeds and flax seeds!
Antioxidant Blend
Antioxidant blends are found in most, if not all greens supplements. Common ingredients like beet root, maca root, carrot, goji berry, acai berry, and turmeric are powerful antioxidants that contain vitamins A, K, and C.
Antioxidants may reduce the risk of many diseases such as heart disease and some cancers. Additionally, they protect your cells against free radicals (molecules produced when your body breaks down food or when you're exposed to tobacco smoke or radiation) (Mayo Clinic, 2022).
Probiotic Blend
Probiotics are live bacteria that line your digestive tract and support your body’s ability to absorb nutrients. A high-quality greens powder supplement will contain probiotic ingredients with crazy to pronounce names like lactobacillius rhamnosus, bufidobacterium bifidum, and streptococcus thermophilius.
Probiotics support a healthy gut and help decrease bloat. They can also help support the immune system, reduce inflammation, and improve hormone production. A high-quality greens powder will contain probiotic blends and provide all these benefits!
Digestive Enzymes
Naturally occurring digestive enzymes are proteins that your body makes to break down food and aid digestion (Denhard, n.d)
Interestingly enough, indigestion as well as poor lifestyle habits can negatively effect your body's ability to produce these healthy enzymes.
Supplementing with a high-quality greens powder just may be a good idea to prevent digestive issues like bloating, gas, and constipation.
Benefits of Greens & Greens Superfoods
As mentioned above, there are many benefits in taking a greens superfood supplement. Not only do greens supplements offer a rich profile of nutrients, but also supports energy and vitality, enhances digestive health, and help reduce inflammation.
Let's dive into the 4 common benefits of taking a greens supplement!
Boosts Energy: Greens powders are useful for regulating steady daily energy through improved nutrient absorption. This is achieved when your body is adapted to a healthy balance by reducing the acid overload, improving gut health, and supplying your body with high quality nutrients.
Support Immunity: Greens superfood supplements contain many antioxidant-rich ingredients to provide your daily dose of alkalizing ingredients to help support a strong immune system.
Aid in Digestion: Probiotics & enzymes found in greens superfood supplements contain enzymes that aid in breaking down the food we consume and also support digestion.
Helps Recovery: Most greens supplements are packed with superfoods, adaptogens, and antioxidants. These powerful ingredients are beneficial in aiding in muscle recovery and enhancing athletic performance.
Convenient Use: Supplementing with greens supplements is extremely beneficial for those who tend to not get in as many fruits and vegetables as they should. Most greens and superfood supplements come in a small container or individual packets and are ready to scoop and mix in water!
Greens Supplements vs. Vegetables
So, what's the difference between taking a greens supplement and just eating vegetables?
Many online sources suggest that greens supplements are not a substitute for a well-balanced diet and cannot replace the nutritional benefits you get from consuming whole foods; however, they do provide many nutrients that someone's diet could potentially be lacking.
Green leafy vegetables are a rich source of a number of micronutrients and other phytochemicals having antioxidant properties. Raw vegetables have been reported to provide a significantly higher antioxidant level than cooked vegetables. Considering powdered greens are technically not cooked, they could have the same potential benefits that raw vegetables have.
Additionally, since powdered greens go through processing and filtration, they lack additional fiber and other nutrients than vegetables would have.
So, in short, vegetables are considered the better option when choosing between the two; however, a high-quality greens superfood supplement is quite close to second with the significant amount of nutrients and benefits they provide.
Can you replace fruits and vegetables with a greens superfood supplement?
Bodybuilders, fitness enthusiast, and those looking to add more vegetables to their diet may want to consider a greens powder supplement. Although supplements are used to supplementyour diet, greens powders can be beneficial for those who struggle with getting in fruits and vegetables.
Again, many online sources will suggest that you do not completely give up on all fruits and vegetables and replace with a supplement, but to use a greens supplement along side of your daily diet.
It can never hurt to fill up on important nutrients from your fruits and veggies!
How to Take Greens Powder Supplements:
Greens superfood powders are extremely versatile!
Although some may taste a bit grassy, we have formulated our Greens Superfood powder to be the best-tasting greens supplement out there!
Greens powders can be mixed with a glass of water, added to your morning smoothie, and/or your post workout shake!
AstroFlav's Superfood Greens powder comes in packet forms and is quick and easy two-step mixing!
Mix 1 serving (1 scoop) in 8-10 oz of cold water and consume once daily. It is best to use it immediately upon waking up.
AstroFlav Greens can also be mixed with juice, smoothies or protein shakes.
The Bottom Line:
Greens powders and greens superfood supplements can be a great addition in everyone's daily diet! They provide many nutritional benefits such as a wide variety of antioxidants, probiotics, prebiotics, and digestive enzymes.
Taking a greens superfood supplement everyday can provide many benefits, especially for those who may struggle eating vegetables and fruits. It is important to keep in mind that a greens superfood powder should not replace fruits and vegetables in your diet.
By using a high-quality, nutrient-dense greens powder, you can reap the benefits of superfoods that you may not be able to buy fresh from the local grocery store (ingredients like algae & spirulina).
So, do greens powders and superfood powders actually work? Of course they do! Greens superfoods contain so many beneficial ingredients that are beneficial in boosting energy, supporting immunity, and aiding in digestion!
Try AstroFlav's Greens Superfoods powder to try for yourself!
RESOURCES
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/digestive-enzymes-and-digestive-enzyme-supplements#:~:text=What%20are%20digestive%20enzymes%2C%20and,grow%20and%20perform%20vital%20functions. (n.d.).