How Greens Powders Can Transform Your Daily Nutrition Effortlessly
You're best friends with the rocket selection in Sainsbury's, there's always a head of broccoli in your veg drawer and you know that 'the rainbow' is something that you eat. So why would you need a greens powder? Surely these popular smoothie additions, made mainstream by Elle Macpherson (who launched the Welleco Super Elixir daily greens in 2014, when everyone thought she was crazy - but has since been much copied) are for retired supermodels and lazy salad swervers? You may have to think again.
These days most of us, without knowing it, are prey to the 'nutrition gap', defined as the discrepancy between the nutrients the average person on a reasonable Western diet gets from food, and the levels needed for optimal health. Nutritionists tell us which ones they rate for immunity, hormone balance and energy
What exactly is a super greens powder?
Greens powders, which are basically a heap of veg and grasses in powder form, are a convenient way to get a decent and varied dose of phytonutrients (plant compounds) and health-protecting antioxidants - so crucial for staving off diseases - into our system. Many are marketed as antioxidant and immune support.
Typically, you'll find things like barley grass, wheat grass, spirulina, chlorella, spinach and broccoli. "You want to ensure a wide selection of greens which include land greens (your kale and broccoli) and sea greens, such as chlorella," says Akpuaka.
They aren't called 'super greens' for nothing - they are among the foods richest in phytonutrients, which help maintain and modulate immunity and can help prevent specific diseases including, research shows, "heart disease and cancers" says Akpuaka.
How much should you take?
Depending on the brand, your daily dose of super greens is one-to-three heaped teaspoons of powder, which ideally should contain "at least 5000mg (or 5g) of concentrated greens," says Akpuaka. Unfortunately, most powders don't state the actual amounts of greens, listing instead the levels of any added vitamins and minerals.
Benefits of taking a greens powder
- To future-proof your health
- To up your veg count and support your immune system
- To support your liver and help you detox
- To get more fibre for gut health and better bowel movements
- To support hormone balance
What should you be wary of in a greens powder?
As with any trendy supplement, greens powders aren't necessarily clean supplements and can contain junk ingredients, so check the label for added sugar, caffeine, artificial sweeteners, preservatives, synthetic dyes, emulsifiers, thickeners or fillers, and read our guide to dejunking your supplements).
The best greens powders as chosen by nutritionists
Best for the whole family: Cytoplan Organic Super Greens + Immunity, £45 for 30 servings
Chosen by nutritional therapist Ify Akpuaka
"What sets this apart is its simplicity: just six pure ingredients (organic kale, broccoli, acerola cherry, spinach, spirulina and chlorella) and nothing else. Cytoplan keeps it straightforward, making this a perfect complement to their multivitamin formulas. It's also suitable for children aged four and up. Plus, I like that the brand conducts extensive testing and analysis to ensure each ingredient is pure and free from contaminants. You only need 5g per day, which can be easily added to water, juices, smoothies, or even soups to provide a significant boost of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fibre."
The celebrity favourite: Athletic Greens AG1 Comprehensive Convenient Daily Nutrition, £79 for 30 servings
Chosen by nutritional therapist Daniel O'Shaughnessy
"This is a truly comprehensive formula with liver support - it has everything from sea and land greens (wheat grass, chlorella, alfalfa, beetroot etc) to pea protein to fruit powders and fruit enzymes, vitamins, minerals, herbs, functional mushrooms, and live bacteria too. And it's tasty enough to just mix with water."
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