Science Says Green is The New Black

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It’s no secret that greens are good, but how does green powder scale on the food pyramid? The saying goes that “five greens a day keeps the doctor away” but fitting five into your daily diet is certainly easier said than done.  So it’s often nice to settle for a supplement in the form of juice or a green powder packet.

But how does green juice stack up to green powder? We’ve crunched the numbers (and the leaves) with help from nutritionists and health aficionados alike to determine the best way to plate up your daily dose of veg. To understand the difference between the two, we need to ask ourselves what makes our greens good?  

Science Says Green Is The New Black

At the turn of the 2000s the term appropriately coined ‘superfood’ was conceived to group nutrient powerhouses that pack large doses of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals – many of whose names take an elocution class to pronounce. Kale, spinach, broccoli and plant-based supplements like spirulina, maca powder and flaxseed burst onto the nutritional stage in the form of juice, bars and powders due to their increased nutritional benefits that can help bolster your health.

What’s more is that a plant-based diet has the potential to influence many aspects of human health, and most importantly, promote alkalinity within the human body. Research has demonstrated that the net acid load of the typical Western diet adversely affects osteoporosis risk, cardiovascular disease, obesity and overall well-being, and part of the cure is improving alkalinity within the body. Part of this process is about creating more of an oxygen-rich environment, improving your immune system, reducing free radicals and inflammation which in turn slows down the aging process.

So how can you best reap the benefits of the good greens?

Making The Most Out Of Your Smoothie

Getting the most out of your greens has long been the topic of debate between consumers and the health industry with an influx of cold-pressed juices, green powder and superfoods breaking out onto the breakfast menu.

So What Smoothie Suits You?

Green juice (and other colored juices as well) are packed with nutrients from fresh produce allowing your body to soak up the nutrient-rich vitamins and minerals without putting in the leg work to break them down. Since the veggies are partially digested, it allows our enzymes to bathe and absorb these mineral quenching by-products, resulting in prosperous health benefits. However, blending isn’t always best with many health nuts noting that juicing can kill off live enzymes and vital nutrients from the produce, making it less nutrient dense than before.

Powders, on the other hand, do much of the same job, and in some cases more – especially if the green powder also uses a variety of different produce like green tea powders (loaded with antioxidants), spirulina (rich in B vitamins and iron) and others that can help boost the nutrient content of the powder. These studies are further backed by nutritionist Teresa Boyce who says,

“A green powder supplement is like a multivitamin on steroids. They offer you all the vitamins and minerals of a ‘multi’ but with the added nutrients such as probiotics, prebiotics, detoxification nutrients and disease protective antioxidants.” 

However, powder products aren’t always the proffered choice with many compromised by the addition of fillers like lecithin, fibers, pectin, rice bran and flax, weakening the positive health effects of the greens.

How Do You Differentiate The Bad From The Good?

The best way to wade through the inferior alternatives is by reading the ingredient list and checking the label of your green powder to ensure that the primary ingredients are, in fact, green vegetables. Other key ingredients to look for are nutrient-rich organic algaes such as spirulina & chlorella, as well as grass juice powders such as wheat grass, barley grass & alfalfa grass that combine vitamins, minerals and chlorophyll to alkalize the body and create energy. This recommended mix is championed in this Superfood Greens blend, promising to improve energy, vitality and alkalinity within the body. The organic recipe takes green juice powder to a totally new level, adding flavor, depth and drinkability in a cocktail fit for a Mallee bull (or regular human).

So Which One Is Best For Me? 

Both green juices and powders promote prosperous health benefits. However, with added supplements like algaes and grasses, the nutritional value of green powders can sometimes outweigh the benefits of a regular juice. Combined with the longevity of shelf life and the monetary savings, powders can be an obvious choice for professionals who are looking for a quick way to boost their health without the hassle of finding the nearest greengrocer and are ‘washing up’ averse.  

Does This Mean I Can Stop Eating Greens?

Despite their promise to optimize health and vitality, green powder supplements work best when supporting a healthy diet. In other words, this magic powder doesn’t give you free reign to jump on that tray of doughnuts you’ve been thinking of ordering on Uber Eats - it will simply aid in supporting your recommended intake of 5 servings of vegetables a day, in addition to some kick-ass health benefits. So why not leave the doughnuts alone and enjoy a quick and easy green cocktail!

 What’s your favorite way to prepare your Superfood Greens? 

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