Jul

Green Food Products and Powders

By Davy Russell

Green food products and powders are becoming popular nutritional supplements for those looking to increase their intake of greens without eating more salads. Green powders usually contain a large variety of powdered vegetables, wild or exotic greens such as cactus or dandelion, sea vegetables (kelp powder, dulse), algae (spirulina) and enzyme complexes. They are full of naturally-ocurring sources of vitamins, minerals, fiber, phytonutrients, trace minerals and chlorophyll.

Typically, these powdered greens are added to water, fruit or vegetable juice. They can also be added to smoothies. Some brands offer both powdered and tablet forms.

Health Benefits

Those who sell powdered green food products claim a variety of health benefits including:

Weight loss.
Stronger immune system.
Improved mental clarity and focus.
Increased energy.
Improved digestion.
Healthier skin and hair.
Stabilized blood sugar and lower blood pressure.
Reduction of or recovery from seasonal allergies.
Detox of heavy metals, pesticides and toxins accumulated in the body.

Some who sell these products claim that they prevent, reduce and even cure many chronic illnesses.

Green food powders are not generally marketed as a replacement for standard multivitamin and mineral supplements. Instead, they are used for increasing the variety of greens and “superfoods” in your diet and for its detoxification properties.

As far as powdered supplements go, powdered greens tend to be a bit on the expensive side. A 60-day supply (1 serving per day) usually costs over $40.

I used to take Complete Greens which is distributed by Market America. I found it to be pleasant tasting and not too chalky when mixed with water. I did notice an increase of energy while taking this product. Complete Greens comes in both powdered and tablet form.

You can also find powdered green food products online or at your local health food store. I have not tried any other powdered green food products on the market, and I would advise being careful with where you purchase them online.

Do You Really Need This?

I’m on the fence about the usefulness of green food products and powders. On one hand, it can’t hurt to include a high-quality supplement to your diet that boosts your intake of greens and fiber. However, if you drink green smoothies on a daily basis, and eat a variety of healthy fruits and vegetables, you will most likely experience all of the health benefits attributed to these products, but without the extra expense of purchasing a powdered supplement. Also, I think it is always better to eat foods in their natural state, rather than those that have been processed into powders and marketed online where freshness and potency are not guaranteed.