Vegetables are very important for the quality of our health. These foods, which we usually avoid as children, contain a variety of health benefits such as being rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber, and other nutrients. Vegetables can also help us avoid major diseases such as cancer and, in general, they can help us live longer, provided that we live an overall healthy lifestyle with proper sleep, proper diet, regular exercise, and good stress management.
Unfortunately, most people do not eat enough vegetables or even avoid vegetables altogether. Not only that, but with the rise of processed foods and fast-food chains, our diets have become more and more unhealthy – hence, leading to a rise of major diseases like diabetes, heart attack, and obesity.
Fortunately, though, there are a few other ways you can consume vegetables to make sure your body is getting the right amount it needs.
Best Overall
Athletic Greens
- 75 vitamins, minerals, and whole-food ingredients
- Includes adaptogens for stress relief
- 60-day money-back guarantee
One way to get more veggies in your life is by consuming them in supplement form – often called “greens supplements.” Of course, the fastest way to take them is by pills – just swallow, drink, and you’re done. One of the most common ways, though, is to take them in powder form. So let’s take a closer look at these supplements, their benefits, and what the best greens supplements are so you can find the right choice for your needs.
Benefits of Greens Supplements
Greens supplements are dietary supplements designed to fill in nutritional gaps for those who do not get the proper amount of vegetables. This can lead to a vitamin and nutrient deficiency issue which greens supplements then swoop in to solve.
They work by providing vitamins, nutrients, and minerals to your body the same way eating vegetables would. This provides a multitude of benefits to your overall health including protecting from major diseases, providing fiber, adding missed nutrients, benefiting gut health, and simply helping to keep your body and health intact.
How to Choose the Right Supplement
As with any product, especially supplements, not all are created equal. Finding the right supplement, with the right ingredients, at the right price can be quite a challenge. Greens supplements are no different.
When choosing the right greens supplement, ingredients are always key to finding a successful product. Powdered greens supplements come from vegetables. and will usually include ingredients such as antioxidant-rich fruits, fiber-rich foods, seaweeds, herbs, grasses, and other types of vegetables.
What to Look For
- High-quality greens ingredients
- Professionally-formulated blends
- The RIGHT vegetables and fruits
- Healthy, fiber-rich formulas
- Trustworthy manufacturers
- Third-party quality testing
What to Avoid
- Low-quality ingredients or poor dosages
- Ineffectual blends
- Overly hyped marketing
- Fillers
- Unreliable manufacturers
- Lack of quality oversight or science-backed research
Top Rated Greens Supplements
When it comes to providing you with the right supplement choices you can trust, that is always our goal at Fitness Clone. We have reviewed over 500 supplements and fitness products with a focus on ingredient quality, supplement formulation, and company trustworthiness. Below are our top rated greens supplements that are worth adding to your routine.
AG1
by Athletic Greens
Athletic Greens is one of the best greens supplements available. This greens supplement powder includes a large variety of superfoods, vitamins, minerals, herbs, mushroom powders, and antioxidants within its formula.
In addition to these ingredients, Athletic Greens also includes digestive enzymes and probiotics to further benefit health.
Athletic Greens is designed to support the immune system, promote better digestion, improve gut health, increase energy, and support healthy aging. It also contains adaptogens to contribute to the relief of stress on the body and brain.
Pros
- Formula contains 75 vitamins, minerals, and other whole-food sourced ingredients
- Antioxidant amounts are equivalent to 12 servings of fruits and vegetables
- Includes adaptogens for relieving stress
- Designed to benefit gut health, the immune system, and energy levels
- Easy to take with 1 daily scoop
- 60-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Label does not show exact dosages for some ingredients, which can make it difficult to know exactly what you’re getting
Primal Plants
by Gundry MD
Primal Plants is a top greens supplement formulated and produced by respected and well-known pediatric heart surgeon and founder of the Center for Restorative Medicine, Dr. Steven Gundry. Gundry believes that optimal health starts with proper nutrition and Primal Plants is an example of this.
Primal Plants is a green superfood blend that is rich in polyphenols, vitamins, and probiotics. It includes 4 blends designed for specific health needs including a superfood greens blend, a metabolic enhancing blend, a digestive support blend, and a probiotic blend.
Primal Plants’ research-backed ingredients combine to provide benefits for overall health and wellness. These benefits include healthier skin, better digestion, increased energy levels, weight management assistance, and healthy cholesterol level support.
Pros
- All-natural formula includes 25 superfruits
- Contains a variety of superfoods and probiotics
- Formulated by pediatric heart surgeon Dr. Steven Gundry
- Designed to improve skin health, digestion, and energy levels
- Manufactured in the USA
- 90-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- On the high-end for price without discounts
- Only comes in one flavor, green apple
Morning Complete
by ActivatedYou
Morning Completes is a top greens supplement formulated and produced by popular health company ActivatedYou.
This supplement is designed to be an “all-in-one” health powder drink that can benefit energy levels, immune system health, gut health, heart health, and overall body health.
Morning Complete contains 8 specially chosen blends formulated to address multiple different areas of health. These includes blends for liver support, prebiotic fiber, adaptogens, antioxidants, sugar support, probiotics, and green superfoods.
Pros
- Formula includes 8 blends designed to address different areas of health
- Ingredients are scientifically tested and backed by research
- Probiotic blend includes 10 strains of good gut bacteria
- Supports gut, heart, skin, and immune system health
- Formulated to be an “all-in-one” supplement
- 90-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Comes in an apple cinnamon flavor, which some may not enjoy
Beyond Greens
by Live Conscious
LiveWell Beyond Greens is a top greens supplement from Live Conscious (formerly LiveWell). It comes in a light matcha flavor and is designed to boost energy and immunity, as well as provide an overall whole-body detox.
Beyond Greens’ formula contains 14 ingredients that feature a concentrated blend of four functional mushroom varieties, probiotics, echinacea, milk thistle, matcha, chlorella, and Rhodiola. Additionally, Beyond Greens is dairy-free, soy-free, gluten-free, and vegan-friendly.
Pros
- Transparent formula contains functional mushrooms and echinacea
- Boosts energy and immune health
- Comes in a matcha tea flavor
- Provides a whole-body detox
- Ingredients are dairy-free, vegan-friendly, and keto-friendly
- Manufactured in the USA and third party tested
- 365-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Smaller dosages of some ingredients compared to other greens supplements
What exactly are greens supplements?
Greens supplements are dietary supplements specifically made to give supplementation to people who do not eat or cannot eat the proper amount of vegetables.
The goal of greens supplements is to give as many vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients the same way eating actual vegetables would.
As a supplement, greens act as a form of leverage to increase your intake of a certain vitamin or mineral you need.
What are some key ingredients in greens supplements?
Powdered greens come from vegetables, but here are the common ingredients that make up a greens supplement:
Seaweeds – e.g. chlorella and kelp
Grasses – oat grass, wheatgrass, barley grass
Extracts – such as, from green tea, ginkgo Biloba and grape seed
Antioxidant-rich fruits – e.g. berries like raspberries and blueberries
Herbs (which are often supplements in themselves!) – e.g. basil and milk thistle
Fiber-rich foods – e.g. rice bran
Other types of vegetables – e.g. carrots, tomatoes, cabbage, broccoli
Usually, greens supplements are made with a combination of these, although for some, like herbs, you can buy supplements that are a single source, like milk thistle supplements or ashwagandha supplements.
What are the different forms of greens supplements?
There are different forms of greens supplements in the market.
Unlike other supplements, the most common form of greens supplements comes in powder form, (also called “greens powders.” You can take these by just mixing them with water, juice, or even adding them to a smoothie.
Other forms of greens supplements include pill and liquid form. Pill supplements work best if you want to avoid the taste of your supplement, but liquid works better if optimum absorption is your concern.
Do greens supplements really work?
The short answer is – yes! Greens supplements do work. So, why the bad reputation?
Supplements often have a bad rep because sometimes people try to make money by selling low-quality supplements. Just as some supplements are false, some supplements are real and they are made to really help you with your health. You just need to find them – that means, do a little research before you stick to one supplement.
Are there any alternatives to greens supplements?
The main alternative to greens supplements is real fruits and vegetables. If you don’t want to take greens supplements but need more nutrients in your diet just turn towards the source: real fruits and veggies.
Are greens supplements right for me?
Greens supplements are safe for most people, unless you are suffering from a certain medical condition or if you are pregnant – even though green supplements are nutritious, they may still have negative side effects. In these cases, it’s best you ask your doctor first before taking the supplementation. Also, remember a supplement is not a direct substitute for real fruits and vegetables so make sure you’re still getting the real deal in your diet.
If you are thinking about adding greens supplements to your diet, now is a great time to try it out. Greens supplements are easy and safe supplements to test that carry a variety of benefits. If you start taking a greens supplement and experience any negative symptoms, contact a medical professional for help.