The Best Greens Powders
Green powders are having a moment.
Between influencer marketing, podcast ads, and TV commercials, theyre hard to miss.
Thats because theres money to be made.
Thats a 250 percent increase in just 10 years.
This makes it a great option if you dont like vegetables.
The texture was smooth, it mixed easily, and lacked any gritty mouthfeel.
Still, its not as egregious as some similar products on the market.
The companys website didnt include any information about its sustainability efforts, which was disappointing.
Its sweetened with monk fruit, which we prefer (taste-wise) over stevia.
Were impressed with the level of information, education, and transparency provided on the companys website.
AG1 also provides more superfood ingredients than others, likely contributing to the price tag.
But more isnt always better.
I have clients who take this regularly, though, and they report noticeable benefits.
I advise them to consume in moderation.
The depth of the ingredients lists varied as well.
If youre a tea drinker, you might be a fan of this green powder.
This green powder is also unique in that it features sprouted seeds, beans, grains, and lentils.
This means theyre subject to bias, but it doesnt mean the research should be dismissed altogether.
This makes it difficult to determine how much of said ingredient youre consuming.
When it comes to potential health benefits, heres what we know.
Compare this to the control group, where there were no significant changes.
There are a few reasons why green powders may lower your blood pressure.
This mineral plays a role in helping flush excess sodium from our bodies.
According to theAmerican Heart Association, potassium helps relax the walls of our blood vessels, lowering blood pressure.
Other ingredients in green powders may help lower blood pressure and more.
Load up on potassium-rich produce such as bananas, tomatoes, avocados, oranges, potatoes, and mushrooms.
So wheres all this promised energy coming from?
Green powders arent usually teeming with energy, aka calories.
Theyre often lower in calories, ranging from 10 to 50 per serving.
One source of energy may be all the B vitamins commonly found in powdered greens.
Theyre high in vitamins B12, niacin, thiamin, and more.
This class of vitamins helps our bodies metabolize the food we eat to produce energy.
Even then, a deficiency doesnt necessitate drinking a green powder per day a daily multivitamin would suffice.
Another potential energy source is caffeine.
A cup of green tea has about 30 milligrams (mg) of caffeine.
But, boosting immunity might be a bit of an overreach.
Instead, some of the functional ingredients found in green powders have the potential tosupportyour immune system.
Aids Digestion
Less bloating.
Daily support for gut health.
These digestive complexes or fiber blends often contain ingredients like apple fiber and chicory root.
The latter is a bang out of inulin fiber, which sometimes disagrees with our GI tracts.
Greens powders arent a cure-all like the claims may have led you to believe.
What to Know About Greens Powders
What are greens powders exactly?
No two greens powder brands are the same.
Greens powders tend to taste, well, very green, and kind of earthy.
In some cases, theres a solid vegetal smell and taste.
Supplements, the category greens powders belong to, do not fall under the FDAs purview.
This is where third-party testing comes in.
This review was also written by an RD.
We rated each product based on the overall nutrition composition, including nutrient contents and ingredient safety.
We reviewed any health claims made by the product and the science provided to back them up.
Flavor varies significantly across greens powders some are vegetal and earthy, and others are fruit-flavored.
They also span the spectrum of consistency, texture, and mixability, so we considered these factors.
The Bottom Line
Its essential not to exceed your daily intake of greens powders.
Every brand we reviewed recommended just one scoop per day.
More is not always better.
If youre concerned about heavy metals or enjoy fruits and vegetables regularly, dont use a greens powder daily.
Enjoy greens powder by adding them to a liquid like water, juice, milk, or a smoothie.
Frequently Asked Questions
The simple answer here is no.
Neither Kenney, Barmmer, nor the author consume greens powders regularly.
We take a stab at get the nutrients our bodies need from whole foods as much as possible.
But there are times when a greens powder could be beneficial.
For most people, greens powders are likely safe to consume.
But some contain 50-plus ingredients, some of which could interact with certain medications.
You should talk to your doctor before starting a greens powder or supplement.
Greens powders can also have issues with heavy metals like lead, cadmium, and arsenic.
Kenney agrees, I don’t currently include greens powders in my diet.
Theyre also not safe for anyone pregnant or breastfeeding.
Generally, theres no hard-and-fast rule on when to take greens powders.
Greens powders conveniently add vitamins, minerals, and other plant compounds to your diet.
They shouldnt replace fruits and vegetables but supplement what you might be missing.
Research shows that some consumption of greens powders may positively impact your blood pressure.
Unfortunately, it can be hard to tell how many ingredients are in each powder.
And overall, more research on the powders themselves is needed.
