What Do Nutritionists Really Think About Powdered Greens?

Greens powder is a great way to supplement some nutrients in your daily diet, particularly if you find one that is high quality and uses the most clinically effective ingredients. A high-quality greens powder supplement can help support your overall health, and in particular, your digestion and gut health.

Do Nutritionists Recommend Greens Powder?

Nutritionists find value in greens powder’s ability to boost nutrient intake, but do not recommend it as a primary source of nutrition (and neither do we). It is a widely-adopted belief that greens powder should not be a 1-1 replacement for any whole fruits or vegetables. Nutritionists recommend prioritizing a balanced diet of whole foods, protein, fats, and carbs.

A few considerations in choosing a greens powder supplement are:

Ingredient quality - it’s crucial that you consider where ingredients are being sourced from and whether or not they are clinically tested. Higher quality ingredients will have a more positive impact on your gut health and overall health.
Testing - you want to choose supplements that have been third-party tested and have clinically effective/clinically-proven ingredients.
Organic greens - this is going to ensure the greens in your greens powder are high-quality, not laced with pesticides, and most likely use more nutrient-rich soil, giving you a more nutrient-rich greens blend.

Are Powdered Greens Actually Beneficial?

Yes, powdered greens are beneficial when used to complement a balanced diet. Greens powder helps improve your gut health, increase your natural energy, strengthen your immune system, and improve your digestion. It also helps with:

Fiber content - many greens powders supplements have fiber, which aids in optimal gut health.
Pre- and probiotics - these support your gut microbiome, which contributes to optimal gut health overall.
Skin health - green powder can protect and improve the health of your skin thanks to its high concentration of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Gut & Green Superfoods contains a clinically-studied anti-aging ingredient called Apigenin. It’s a plant-based flavonoid that is known for its ability to increase NAD+ levels in your cells (which decrease as we age).
Nutrition - greens powder supports your overall nutrition, giving you a boost of essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other nutrients.

Additionally, greens powder provides a wide range of vitamins like Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Vitamin D, as well as antioxidants and minerals like Zinc, Iron, and Calcium.

What Should I Avoid in Greens Powder

When assessing what to avoid in a greens powder, you want to avoid artificial flavors, added sugar or sugar alcohols, and gums. These ingredients can defeat the purpose of taking a greens by inflaming your gut, and they are ultimately unhelpful and not beneficial for your overall health.

Gums—guar gum, xanthan gum, carageenan—can cause digestive issues such as bloating, gas, and general stomach upset. Common side effects of gums include allergic reactions, increased gas, abdominal pain, lethargy due to an altered gut microbiome, and even feeling full constantly. They are not necessary for greens powder (or in general) and do not contribute to the health benefits of a supplement.

Sugar alcohols such as sorbitol, xylitol, erythritol, and maltitol are commonly used as sugar replacements. Typically having a lower glycemic index than regular sugar, sugar alcohols do not tend to spike blood sugar, but they still can produce an insulin response. While they technically may be healthier than regular sugar, they can cause gastrointestinal issues because your body can’t naturally digest most of them. This causes them to travel to your large intestine, allowing your gut bacteria to break them down. Some sugar alcohols, including sorbitol, are considered FODMAPs (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols), which are carbs that your gut has a difficult time absorbing. Again, while sugar alcohols may be considered “healthier” due to their lower glycemic index, they may have longer-term negative effects that are important to consider.

What Green Powders Are Third-Party Tested?

Finding a greens powder that is third-party tested is important because it allows for greater transparency and less bias regarding ingredient sourcing and manufacturing practices. Third-party testing is simply when a lab that is not affiliated with the supplement company or manufacturer evaluates a supplement, ensuring and confirming that supplements meet quality standards and do not contain any harmful ingredients or substances.

Other types of third party testing are raw material testing, product run testing, and finished product testing—we do all three at Previnex. Gut & Green Superfoods is third-party tested to give you the highest quality ingredients, materials, and manufacturing practices.

Conclusion

Finding a high-quality greens powder is a great way to support your gut health and overall health. Gut & Green Superfoods is chock-full of high-quality, clinically-proven ingredients. It has:

Solnul® - a clinically-sudied multi-function fiber that feeds a form of gut bacteria, designed to repair your gut lining, support healthy digestion, and improve the overall health of your GI tract.
GutGard® - a clinically-researched natural bioactive ingredient that improves gut mobility, regulates bowel movements, inhibits H. Pylori, inhibits pathogenic bacteria, does not negatively affect probiotic bacteria or increase gastric pH, and protects the mucous membrane lining your stomach.
SNZ 1969® - an extensively clinically-studied probiotic strain with over 50 years of use. It promotes a healthy digestive tract and regularity, supports digestion, and acts as an antimicrobial.
…and more!

It’s also free from all gums, added sugar or sugar alcohols, preservatives, and anything artificial. Our blend of clinically studied gut health (and overall health) ingredients, vitamins, minerals, and organic greens creates a high-quality, tasty greens powder designed to support your gut health. If you’re ready for your gut to reach optimal health, grab Gut & Green Superfoods today!