Can You Really Get All Your Vegetables From a Powder?:

Sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? Instead of buying and cooking a heap of fresh vegetables, just have a teaspoon or two of green powder – combined with your favourite beverage or meal – and presto! You’ve reached your recommended daily green intake in one easy serving.

While it may sound far-fetched, it’s a reality that more people have begun to embrace. But why now? 

Well, for starters, research has found only 5 percent of Australian adults have a sufficient intake of both fruits and vegetables. Whether this is due to poor lifestyle, the rising cost of living, or limited availability in remote areas, the promise of a quick and easy fix is a strong appeal to many people.

Another key factor is availability. Simply put, there are far more powder supplements on the market than there were a decade ago. And there are lots of varieties out there to meet people’s unique dietary needs. So, it’s no surprise these supplements are flying off the shelf.

But with all the hype and hysteria, this begs the question: do green powder supplements stack up to the real thing? Let’s find out.

Green Powder Supplements: The Basics

First, let’s discuss how green powder is made. 

Derived from ingredients such as spinach, wheatgrass, broccoli, algae, spice extracts and herbs; once extracted from their source, the ingredients are dried then ground into a fine powder. Some powders also include extra fibre to help you feel fuller for longer, and natural sugar substitutes to improve the taste.

Green powder can be used in a range of food and beverages due to its fine powder form. Add a few tablespoons into a glass of juice, milk, water, or a smoothie. Enjoy a delicious batch of green powder-infused muffins. Or create your own protein-packed energy balls to keep you alert during the day. The serving options are nearly endless!

Aside from being easy to include in your current diet, green powder comes in a range of varieties to meet your unique nutritional needs. That’s because different green powders have different combinations of ingredients. And each mix of ingredients offers different health benefits.

For instance, some green powders contain antioxidants and anti-inflammatory actions of plant compounds, which may help reduce the risk of cancer and chronic disease. Other powders haven been shown to provide an energy boost by including compounds that help you feel alert, such as green tea extracts (which contains caffeine and calorie burning plant compounds).

Furthermore, some green powders have been shown to help detoxify the body. How exactly? By getting rid of the bad metabolic waste (acidity) of digested food (which makes you vulnerable to disease and illness), and keeping the good metabolic waste (alkaline) to protect the body.

So, it’s clear to see, you can get really specific when it comes to meeting your unique nutritional requirements. Of course, are these benefits enough to do away with vegetables entirely? 

Unfortunately, the answer is not that simple.

Say Goodbye to Vegetables… or Not?

Is a daily dose of powder supplements a great way to reach your daily green intake? Absolutely. But the truth is, you still need fresh vegetables to enjoy a balanced healthy diet. 

Why? By eating a variety of fresh, unprocessed vegetables, you’re able to intake a wider range of the essential vitamins and nutrients you need to stay healthy. This is harder to achieve with green powder supplements, as quite often you’re consuming a concentrated dose of very specific nutrients. So, unless you’re filling the pantry with every powder supplement under the sun, you’re unlikely to get all of the nutrients you need.

With that being said, when combined with a balanced diet of fresh fruits and vegetables, a daily dose of green powder supplements is a great way to fill the nutrient gaps in your current diet, and more easily reach your recommended daily green intake. 

What’s the final verdict? Well, green powder supplements cannot replace a healthy serving of fruits and vegetables, yet. But they are a simple and effective way to ensure you receive all of the best nutrients to stay healthy, happy, and alert.

Article provided by Terra Madre