Designed to help you increase your daily intake of certain vitamins and minerals, greens powders have become incredibly popular in recent years. By just mixing a scoop of greens powder into a glass of water and drinking it down each morning, you can support your body’s immune response, increase your energy levels and better regulate your digestive system.
I've been covering a lot of greens powders recently, including the greens powder taste test that I did, and the safest greens powders for pregnancy in which I interviewed doctors and dietitians to add credibility. It never ceases to amaze me how many greens supplements pop up almost every day. But, each greens powder is a little different from the other.
The ingredients in these supplements vary, but can include things like grasses, leafy greens, fruits, vegetables, herbs, adaptogens, functional mushrooms, probiotics, prebiotics and nutritional extracts. You can find brands that flavor their products or use organic ingredients for a healthier option. There’s a lot to choose from if you’re interested in taking advantage of the health benefits of a super greens powder.
The Power of Super Greens Powder for a Healthy Gut
A lot of brands market their greens powder as being beneficial for gut health. In addition to increasing your intake of certain nutrients that are good for your gut, some products will also contain multiple strains of pre and probiotics and digestive enzymes. This can help create a more diverse microbiome in your gut, helping to reduce bloating, constipation and promote regularity. A healthier gut can even positively impact your mental health.
A lot of super greens powders contain spirulina as a main ingredient. This component is a blue-green algae plant that can help detox your body, lower your blood pressure, reduce cholesterol levels and reduce the appearance of candida in your body. Candida overgrowth is something that can negatively affect your digestive system, preventing a healthy amount of beneficial bacteria from flourishing in your gut.
Increasing your intake of diverse foods can often make a big difference in your gut health, but many of us are simply too busy to make this happen on a regular basis. Others are a bit picky with what they like to eat, which limits the nutrients that are being consumed. That’s when a super greens powder comes into play. It helps fill in nutritional gaps while benefiting your body in a way that you never thought was possible from just a single scoop of powder.
The Best Greens Powders for Gut Health
Now that we’ve talked a bit about the use of greens powders for gut health and overall health, I want to introduce to you some of my favorite products. Here are my top seven selections.
#1. Primal Greens
Containing more than 50 different fruits, vegetables, herbs, adaptogens, probiotics, functional mushrooms and digestive enzymes, Primal Greens from Primal Harvest is one of my top greens powder options for gut health and general wellbeing. Each dose contains more than 3.5 billion CFUs of probiotics, helping to create a more diverse bacteria population in your gut. In addition to gut health, Primal Greens can also help you feel more energized, address any nutritional deficiencies that you’re dealing with and even balance your hormones.
In order to fully reap the benefits of this greens powder from Primal Harvest, it’s recommended that you use it daily for approximately three months. However, there are definitely benefits that you should see in a shorter amount of time. The taste of Primal Greens is very pleasant, so it’s easy to drink down in just water. You can also mix it into any liquid that you choose.
The Greens Formulas
I love how versatile and extensive the formulation for Primal Greens is. In just one serving, you receive access to a probiotic blend, prebiotic fibers, digestive enzymes, herbs and extracts, superfoods, mushrooms and antioxidants. You’ll be hard pressed to find something that’s as jam packed with beneficial ingredients as this product. Some of the main ingredients include:
- Wheat grass
- Spirulina
- Carrot
- Blueberry
- Reishi mushrooms
- Turmeric
- Green tea leaf extract
- Ginger
- Apple fiber
- Cinnamon bark
- L. acidophilus
- B. longum
- L. rhamnosus
Pros
- Contains 3.5 billion CFUs of probiotics in addition to digestive enzymes
- Contains more than 50 fruits, vegetables and herbs
- Doesn’t contain any dairy or gluten
- Contains a potent and beneficial antioxidant, adaptogen and superfood blend
- Third-party testing is used for safety and purity
- Supports a healthy immune response
- Increases your energy levels
Cons
- Primal Harvest doesn’t disclose how much of each ingredient is in each of their proprietary blends
Cost and Where to Buy
You can purchase Primal Greens through the Primal Harvest website, which is located at https://primalharvest.com/products/primal-greens. The current cost is $49.95 for a one-time purchase, or you can subscribe to save 20 percent and receive free shipping. This drops the price down to $39.96 per bag. This is very affordable compared to many other greens supplements out there.
#2. Opti-Greens 50
The Opti-Greens 50 greens powder manufactured by 1st Phorm supplements is designed to boost your immune health as well as your gut health. Containing 50 different alkalizing ingredients in each serving, Opti-Greens helps create a more diverse gut microbiome that will increase your absorption of nutrients, promote better bowel regulation and reduce bloating. A low-temperature manufacturing process is used to retain the nutrients in each of the ingredients included in this greens supplement. Digestive enzymes and probiotics (over five billion CFU’s) have also been added.
The Greens Formulas
Opti-Greens 50 is broken down into five different proprietary blends, including the Green Superfood Complex (Barley grass, wheat grass, spirulina, alfalfa, oat grass), Glycemic Balance Blend (Rice bran, grape seed extract, cinnamon, green tea), Phytonutrient Complex (beets, raspberry, strawberry, cranberry), Plant Enzyme Blend (Amylase, protease, lipase, cellulase) and Probiotic Blend (nine strains total).
Pros
- Decreases instances of bloating
- The formulation offers access to digestive enzymes and probiotics
- Contains only natural and organic ingredients
- Improves your natural immune response
- Helps regulate your blood sugar levels naturally
Cons
- Flavored using non-organic natural flavors
Cost and Where to Buy
You can find Opti-Greens 50 by visiting https://1stphorm.com/products/opti-greens-50. The current cost is $69.99 for a one-time purchase, or you can opt for the subscribe and save choice, which drops the cost down to $59.99.
Athletic Greens is a superfood greens powder that utilizes 75 different ingredients into its formulation. It’s designed to address any nutritional deficiencies that you may have, as well as boost your gut health thanks to digestive enzymes, probiotics and antioxidants. It’s gentle enough that it can be used by both adults and children alike. Also included is a nutrient-dense superfood complex, herbs and functional mushrooms. Athletic Greens is a reputable brand that has been producing high quality products since 2009. They have their regular container of powdered greens, but they also have convenient travel packs that you can take on the go with you.
To see how this product stacks up to the one you just read about, one of our dietitians compared Athletic Greens Vs Opti-Greens 50 to see which is the better greens powder.
The Greens Formulas
Key ingredients in Athletic Greens can help you increase your daily intake of nutrients such as vitamins A, C, E, B12, biotin and folate. This is thanks to things like spirulina, apple powder, inulin, wheat grass, chlorella, alfalfa, rhodiola rosea extract, milk thistle, hawthorn berry and functional mushrooms. A few different strains of probiotics are included as well as digestive enzymes.
Pros
- Subscribing for monthly deliveries can save you money
- Convenient travel packs are available
- Contains 75 nutritional ingredients
- No artificial ingredients or fillers have been added
- Free of gluten, nuts and eggs
Cons
- Athletic Greens has a unique flavor combination of carrot, ginger, pineapple and vanilla. It’s pleasant enough, but it can’t really be mixed in well with other ingredients or flavors.
Cost and Where to Buy
You can purchase Athletic Greens by visiting https://athleticgreens.com/en. The current cost of this product is $99 for a 30-day supply. If you choose to subscribe for regular shipments, your cost then drops down to $79 per order, including a free starter kit and five starter packs.
KOS Show Me the Greens is a greens supplement that is designed to stimulate your body’s natural detoxification abilities. It also provides you with access to beneficial nutrients, increases your energy throughout the day and supports your gut health. Made from responsibly sourced ingredients (which we’ll talk about in a minute), KOS Greens is stimulant free and doesn’t contain any artificial ingredients. You’ll find all the typical fruits, veggies, greens and grasses in this supplement, but they’re also broken down into those which have alkalizing properties and the ingredients that can help boost your gut health.
Recently, I compared KOS Greens vs Bloom Greens to highlight the main differences and similarities as both of these greens powders are very trendy.
The Greens Formulas
You will find four different blends of ingredients inside of KOS’ Show Me the Greens supplement. There is an Organic Algae Superfood Blend, containing 250 milligrams of organic chlorella and organic spirulina. There is also four grams of an Organic Alkalizing Greens Blend consisting of wheatgrass and oat grass. The Organic Fruit and Vegetable Blend includes nutritious ingredients such as lemon, cabbage, kale, apple, broccoli and bell pepper. KOS’ Digestive Prebiotic Blend is made from organic acacia gum and isolmalto-oligosaccharide to help you create a more diverse microbiome.
Pros
- Has a refreshing taste thanks to added mint, lemon and apple
- Contains over 90 phytonutrients thanks to just wheat grass alone
- Contains nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, selenium, phosphorus, iron, potassium, B12, cobalt and zinc
- Soluble fiber from pectin helps prevent constipation
Cons
- You can’t see how much of each ingredient is in the proprietary blends that make up this product. KOS only includes the amount of each blend.
Cost and Where to Buy
The price of KOS Show Me the Greens! is currently $39.99 for a one-time purchase. You can save 15 percent by subscribing for regular deliveries, which drops the cost down to $33.99 per container. This product is available through https://kos.com/.
@fit.healthymomma Peachy Greens Review (Clean Simple Eats) My thoughts on Clean Simple Eats’ Greens Powder. Use my code TAMI to save on your next CSE order #peachygreensreview #peachygreens #cleansimpleeatspartner #cleansimpleeats #greenspowder #greenspowdereview ♬ original sound - Fit Healthy Momma | Tami Smith
The Greens mix from Clean Simple Eats includes organic and ethically sourced ingredients, each manufactured using a cold-process that keeps nutrients in tact. With no fillers or artificial ingredients, one serving of Clean Simple Eats Greens can provide you with nutrients from things like spirulina, flax, ginger, olive leaf, turmeric and kamut. Designed to help detox your body in a way that boosts energy and resets the digestive tract, this greens supplement focuses on only the most nutrient-dense foods available. When you’re not getting enough greens from your diet alone, this supplement is there to fill in the gaps.
Women love these products and I highlighted that in my Clean Simple Eats review article, which covers the brand, supplements and user reviews.
Use code TAMI for savings if you decide to go with Clean Simple Eats Greens for gut health improvement.
The Greens Formulas
The key ingredient in Super Greens Mix is organic spirulina algae. This is the most nutrient dense food on earth, providing you with access to all kinds of vitamins, proteins, minerals, antioxidants and omegas. Chlorella has also been added (in organic form), thanks to its ability to bind to any heavy metals that are in your system. It can also detox your body, regulate your blood pressure, balance your blood sugar levels and improve cholesterol numbers naturally. Other ingredients include ginger, alfalfa, flax, apple, Echinacea, kale, beet, millet, lemon and amaranth.
Pros
- Boosts your natural immune response
- Improves digestion
- Protects your cells from free radical damage
- Includes prebiotic fiber to balance your gut microbiome
- Clears your digestive tract from toxins and waste
- Regulates your body’s pH balance
Cons
- Contains stevia leaf
Cost and Where to Buy
You can find Clean Simple Eats Greens by visiting https://cleansimpleeats.com/collections/greens. The current cost of this product is set at $39.99 for a one time purchase, and $35.99 for a subscription (which saves you 10 percent). Additionally, use Clean Simple Eats coupon code TAMI for more savings!
#6. Bloom Greens
@fit.healthymomma Bloom Greens Review - Taste Test Here are my live thoughts on Bloom Greens. #bloomgreens #bloomgreensandsuperfoods #tastetest #realreview #notsponsored #greenspowder ♬ Exciting, fun, shopping, pop, loop - arachang
Bloom Nutrition is a relatively new supplement brand that was created in 2019 by husband and wife duo, Mari Llewellyn and Greg LaVecchia. Their main focus when starting this brand was on fitness and wellness. There appeared to be a substantial gap in the health industry in regard to something nutritious, pure, healthy and beneficial without the use of unnecessary additives. Taste was also a priority, which is something a lot of greens brands are lacking.
I compared Bloom Greens vs Athletic Greens and Primal Greens for those looking to see them stack up against each other.
The Greens Formulas
Bloom Greens includes essential digestive enzymes as well as dairy-free probiotics. They are part of the formulation to balance your gut microbiome while also preventing uncomfortable GI issues like bloating, gas and constipation. Key ingredients include barley grass, spirulina, chicory root and wheat grass. Other organic fruits and vegetables have been added such as carrots, beets, kale, blueberry, acai berry, broccoli and spinach, with more than 30 essential vitamins and nutrients in each serving of Bloom Greens. The formulation of Bloom Greens is broken down into seven different blends, including the Fiber Blend, Green Superfood Blend, Pre and Probiotic Blend, Antioxidant Beauty Blend, Digestive Enzyme Blend and Adaptogenic Blend.
Pros
- Includes seven different proprietary blends
- Detoxes the body
- Supports healthy digestion
- Reduces inflammation in the digestive tract
- Prevents constipation and bloating
Cons
- Contains stevia
Cost and Where to Buy
Visit amazon or their official website to purchase Bloom Greens Superfoods at the affordable price point of $39.99 for a one time purchase, and $35.99 if you subscribe and receive the 10 percent off discount.
Morning Complete is manufactured and sold by the brand Activated You. This daily wellness drink includes a blend of ingredients that can support a normal digestive process, in addition to improving cellular function, boosting your metabolism and promoting a positive mood. Eight different proprietary blends have been included in this formula, which is impressive compared to some of the competition out there.
We compared Morning Complete vs Primal Harvest, our number one overall greens powder for gut health, so you can decide which one is better for you.
The Greens Formulas
Eight different blends make up Morning Complete. Here’s a look at what has been included.
Green Superfoods Blend
Consisting of ultra-nutritious vegetables like kale and spinach, the Green Superfoods Blend in Morning Complete will increase your nutrient intake while boosting gut health and overall wellness.
Metabolic Blend
You can experience an easier time managing your weight thanks to ingredients like turmeric and bitter melon extract.
Cellular Function and Liver Support Blend
Gymnema sylvestre leaf extract is the main ingredient in the Cellular Function and Liver Support Blend, helping with detoxification and performance.
Prebiotic Fiber Blend
Prebiotics are included to help the beneficial bacteria in your gut thrive. This specific blend contains a very high-fiber prebiotic for more diversity in your gut.
Adaptogen Blend
Rhodiola rosea root extract and astragalus root are adaptogens that will assist your body with the impact of stress on a day-to-day basis.
Antioxidant Blend
Antioxidants sourced from lycium berry, pomegranate fruit extract and polygonum cuspidatum root extract will protect against the effects of aging, damage from free radicals and oxidative stress.
Probiotic Blend
Morning Complete contains nine different strains of probiotics, each designed to populate your digestive system with gut-friendly bacteria.
Pros
- Includes pre-biotics and probiotics
- Supports a healthy digestive process
- Reduces symptoms associated with bloating
- Includes a vast profile of nutrients
Cons
- Green tea extract is part of this product, which contains caffeine
Cost and Where to Buy
This Morning Complete supplement from Activated You can be found on the brand’s website, which is located at https://activatedyou.com/. The current cost of one jar of product is $79. Ten percent can be saved by purchasing multiple jars.
FAQs
Both prebiotics and probiotics are both essential components of any supplement that is designed to improve your gut health. Probiotics will help populate your gut microbiome with beneficial bacteria, while prebiotics will help feed those beneficial bacteria so it flourishes.
Essentially, you can mix your greens powder with anything that you want. Depending on the variety you choose, it may already have a strong flavor that will overpower anything that you mix it with. Try your greens powder with just water to start with and see what you think.
Not all greens powders are unpleasant. There are some rather earthy varieties out there, but some have a very tolerable, sweet flavor. Some greens powders come in different flavors.
It’s incredibly beneficial to take your greens powder every day, especially if you are looking to fill in nutritional gaps that exist with your daily diet. Make your greens powder part of your morning routine.
Greens powders are made from real, whole foods. Many brands have used organic ingredients as well, which increases the cost. You’re getting a ton of nutrients from just one single serving of greens powder, which is what you need to take into account when you’re shopping for a supplement and worried about the price.
Conclusion
Greens powders can be a bit of an investment, but this is a supplement that is so good for your health. You can use these products to boost your gut health, but they’re also a way to deal with nutrient deficiencies, to decrease inflammation, boost your energy levels naturally and protect your heart.
It seems like there are a lot of greens powders popping up all over the place but take some time to see what kind of ingredients are included in something you’re considering. Make sure you’re getting a full profile of nutrients, from a vast selection of fruits, vegetables, herbs, adaptogens and probiotics.