Greens powders are a dietary supplement that usually consist of a mix of dried fruit & vegetables, probiotics and other plant based ingredients. Each brand will differ, however most of these powders usually contain 20+ ingredients.
It seems super convenient and effortless to get our daily Veg needs from a scoop of powder alone but, are these powders actually worth it?
It is important to know that greens supplements are not equal or superior to whole food. It is always better to get your nutrients from fresh fruit and Veg! (which offer fibre and other microbiome beneficial ingredients).
Most brands of greens powder have claims of:
Immunity Boosting
Digestive Health
Energy Boosting
Gut health and digestion
There is limited research on whether or not Greens are beneficial for us, however out of this limited research there are positive benefits these included:
Lowering of blood pressure in a controlled group study.
Large antioxidant effects , which could potentially assist with preventing disease
The benefit of having vitamin, antioxidant and minerals in the body (view study here)
In our opinion, greens powders do have the benefits of micronutrients, and may not be a total waste of money, however in our opinion, they are not the best use of your money.
All of the vitamins, minerals, antioxidants etc. can be found in fresh fruit and vegetables, which, thankfully is easily accessible. It is important to note, supplements are not to replace food.
If you are wanting to add greens powders to your daily intake, please check the ingredient list and the Supplement regulation industry guidelines or reach out and we can assist!!
Julia Higgs
JVIA Founder, Accredited Sports Nutritionist (Grad Dip) and Gym Owner.
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