Green superfood powders combine many different natural ingredients to help fill nutritional gaps in an easy-to-take supplement.
Green powders are typically made from leafy greens and other vegetables, grasses, herbs and fruits high in antioxidants. Some manufacturers ferment their vegetables to enrich their nutritional levels and break down compounds that may interfere with mineral absorption [2].
Most green powders are high in polyphenols and have weight loss antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties [1].
7 Top Benefits of Green Superfood Powders
- Help support immune function through high levels of vitamins A and C and enzymes added to support gut health [2].
- Helps balance digestive health prebiotics, probiotics and digestive enzymes to help regulate the GI tract, Colon Cleanse and improve gut microbiome [2].
- May protect you from oxidative stress through antioxidant compounds which may help you to fight off chronic disease [4].
A 4 week study showed lower blood levels of oxidatively damaged proteins by 30% in those taking a green powder supplement [1]. - Energy boosting effects from essential B vitamins to convert food into energy, and often green tea extract which contains caffeine, helping you to feel more alert.
One 12 week trial showed that women who took a green superfood powder supplement containing green tea extract daily reported significantly higher levels of energy than the control group [3]. - May help detoxify your body when used as a meal replacement due to increased water intake and metabolism increasing effects [2].
- Promotes skin health through high levels of vitamins A and C which help fight inflammation. Antioxidants in green superfood powders help to fight free radical damage that can cause visible effects of ageing [1].
- May assist with weight loss by helping you feel full and energised while you maintain a balanced diet and exercise regularly. Green superfood powders often contain ingredients including spirulina which is shown to have metabolism boosting effects as well as wheatgrass, barley grass and chlorella which research shows to support the body’s natural fat burning process [4].
What’s in Green Superfood Powders?
Green powders vary greatly depending on the brand. Food Supplement have more grasses and greenery whereas others that boast a sweater taste may include more fruit.
Here are the top ingredients to look out for:
1. Organic Spirulina
2. Spinach leaf
3. Kale sprouts or leaf
4. Wheatgrass
5. Rosehip
6. Kelp/ Seaweed
7. Chlorella
8. Rosemary Leaf
9. Green Tea Extract
10. Dandelion Root
You can expect your average green powder to contain:
- 40 to 50 calories per serve
- 5 to 10g of carbohydrates
- <2g of protein
- <2g of fibre
- <2g of sugar
- <1g of fat
- Plus loads of B vitamins, and vitamins A, C and K [2]
Best Prebiotics and Probiotics in Green Superfood Powders
Again, these will vary from brand to brand, but there are two strains you should look out for:
- Bifidobacterium Lactis
- Lactobacillus Acidophilus
The combination of these key probiotic strains has been shown to reduce inflammatory responses in the gut [5].