Can I mix different powder supplements?

You can certainly mix different greens powders, but I recommend looking at the food label to make sure you don't exceed the recommended dosage. Even too much of the healthiest food can cause an upset stomach, diarrhea and other symptoms.

What greens powder should I buy?

I've used and enjoyed all the products listed in this roundup. However, I've since realized that green powders (and plants in general) are an inferior source of micronutrients. That's why I'm consuming more organ meats these days and supplement with freeze-dried beef liver capsules .

What basic ingredients should a greens powder contain?

Most greens powders contain a mix of greens, fruits and other plants (such as mushrooms). Common ingredients you may find in such products include barley grass, blueberries, broccoli, chlorella, kale, raspberries, spirulina and wheatgrass (among others). Some have more exotic ingredients, such as açaí, turmeric, moringa and more.

Can I use greens powders to make smoothies?

Absolutely! My wife uses greens powder for her post-workout shake, which often includes almond milk, protein powder and a low-carb fruit.

Can I add greens powder to my protein shake?

Sure! Mixing greens powder with a natural protein powder makes for an excellent pre-workout meal or post-workout shake, packed with phytonutrients.

How many servings of fruits should I eat each day?

According to the American dietary guidelines , men should consume 2 cups and women 1.5 cups of fruit each day. These and other government recommendations are why more than 71% of Americans are overweight or obese . The truth is that fruits are loaded with sugar (fructose) and provide only small amounts of bioavailable micronutrients. As a result, I recommend staying away from most fruits, with the exception of avocados, berries and a few other low-carb options.

Can the enzymes in powdered greens improve digestive health?

Enzymes undoubtedly play an important part in the digestive process. If you're suffering from digestive issues or have an imbalance in your gut microbiota , supplementing with probiotics and enzymes can certainly help. More importantly, digestive enzymes and fat in greens powders can help your body absorb micronutrients. Without them, you might not be able to absorb all the vitamins and minerals. That's one of the reasons why I like Equip Food's product so much — it contains pancreatic enzymes and MCTs (fat).

Should my greens supplement contain amino acids?

Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. Because your body can't make them, you have to eat enough protein from high-quality sources. While I have seen some powdered greens that contain amino acids, I don't think that's necessary — especially plant-based protein, which is poorly absorbed by your body.

Why do many products not show the vitamins and minerals on the food label?

I've noticed that as well, and I think it's simply because there isn't enough room to list all the vitamins and minerals that come with the included ingredients. Still, I prefer products that spell out what micronutrients they contain.

What's the difference between non-GMO and organic greens?

Non-GMO means that the organism (i.e., the plant) was not genetically modified . However, just because something is non-GMO doesn't mean the manufacturer didn't use chemicals (such as pesticides) to grow the plant. That's why I recommend products that are both non-GMO and organic. However, you should know that farmers are still allowed to change the characteristics of plants via cross-breeding and other methods. So the fact that something is non-GMO doesn't mean it hasn't been materially modified. Additionally, the label USDA Organic doesn't mean that no pesticides were used. Under USDA regulations, farmers are still allowed to use certain chemicals that don't violate the program.

Are greens powders meal replacements?

In most cases, greens powders can't replace a meal (or even a snack). That's because they lack calories and other essential macronutrients, such as protein (amino acids) and fat (fatty acids). However, you can certainly mix greens powders with traditional meal replacement powders. One of my favorites is HLTH Code , but you can also refer to my lists of the best vegan meal replacement drinks and the best keto meal replacement shakes .

My stomach got upset after trying a greens drink powder. Is that normal?

Any time you introduce your body to new foods, you might impact your digestion and even upset your digestive tract. Chances are that you just need to get used it. But if your stomach issues don't go away after a few days, you might be sensitive to one or more of the ingredients. If that's the case, try switching brands and see if the situation improves.

Does drinking green tea have the same health benefits as drinking a greens powder?

Green teas, like matcha, are packed with antioxidants (such as polyphenols). However, they don't have the same breadth of nutrients as greens powder.

Can greens powders help with weight loss?

If you're trying to lose a few pounds, superfood powders can certainly assist with that process. But they aren't the most important factor. Weight loss is a byproduct of a healthy lifestyle that includes a proper diet (high-fat and low-carb), quality sleep and regular exercise.

Review of The Best 6 Superfood (Green) Powders On The Market

While searching for the best green powders on the market, I noticed that most products don’t meet my clean and ancestral eating requirements. There is only a handful I would consider buying and recommending to others.

Out of the many that I’ve researched and tried, the half-dozen listed below are the best.

Athletic Greens
SuperGreen TONIK
Naked Nutrition Naked Greens
Organifi Green Juice
Sunny Green
Equip Foods Micro Greens (discontinued)

In a nutshell, the products above are free of artificial sweeteners, fillers, wheat, soy and other inflammatory ingredients. Instead, they’re packed with fruits, vegetables and other plant-based ingredients like chlorella, kale, spirulina, wheatgrass and more.

This article covers the pros and cons of each of the products mentioned below, but I also recommend reading my article on the potential health benefits of green powders, which digs into the question of whether these products are even worth taking in the first place.

Also, I should mention that I stopped using green powders in favor of consuming more organ meats, which are arguably the best way of getting the micronutrients the body needs. Additionally, I’ve decided to make my own freeze-dried and grass-fed beef organs capsules, which my family and I supplement with every day. You can learn more about that on my MK Supplements page.

Comparison of Green Powders

Below is a quick comparison table of all the green powders I tried or researched for this roundup.

	Athletic Greens	Equip Foods	Naked Nutrition	Organifi	Sunny and Green	SuperGreen TONIK
Micronutrient Density	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	★★★☆☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★★
Organic Ingredients	Some	Yes	Yes	Yes	Some	Some
Vegan	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	Yes
Absorbability	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆
Calories	50	25	25	30	20	40
Net Carbs	4 g	1 g	4 g	3 g	2 g	5 g
Probiotics	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No
Third-Party Tested	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes
Price per Serving	$3.23	$4.21	$0.86	$2.33	$1.30	$2.97

The price per serving is based on a single purchase (not a subscription).

Due to the size of the table, you might have to scroll horizontally to see all the information.

1. Athletic Greens

Pros

High micronutrient density
Third-party tested
Includes probiotics

Cons

4 grams of net carbs
Absorbability
Price

Athletic Greens is packed with 75 vitamins, minerals and whole-food-sourced ingredients. I learned about this product when I attended the Paleo f(x) trade show in 2019 and had a chance to sample it at the company’s booth.

Athletic Greens offers the most diverse ingredients and highest micronutrient density of all the products in this roundup. However, not all of the ingredients the company uses are from organic sources.

Plus, the powder doesn’t include any sources of fat or digestive enzymes to maximize the absorbability of its ingredients. So I recommend adding a few drops of your favorite oil to each serving to improve the absorbability of the powder’s fat-soluble vitamins.

In my opinion, another thing that could be improved is the sweetness, as the product has too much stevia for my taste. However, other people — including my wife — seem to love it, so it’s definitely a personal preference.

Get Athletic Greens on Amazon

You can also order directly from Athletic Greens.

2. SuperGreen TONIK

Pros

Mostly organic ingredients
Third-party tested
High micronutrient density

Cons

Price
5 grams of net carbs

SuperGreen TONIK is a recent addition to my list of recommended green powders. I like this product because the team behind it was incredibly transparent and forthcoming when I asked them about individual ingredients and processing methods.

Besides that, SuperGreen TONIK features organic greens, a nootropic blend to boost mental performance, and an immune blend to help support your immune system.

Unlike most other products I’ve tried, SuperGreen TONIK lists the individual vitamins and ingredients on its label. I’m sure many of you will appreciate that.

Taste-wise, this green powder is comparable to Organifi. All three contain stevia, which gives each of the products a lightly sweet taste.

My wife noted that by adding a sweetened green powder to her post-workout protein shake, she can omit the banana she used to use as a natural sweetener. That cuts down on carbs and sugar!

Also worth noting: this product’s formula was updated in early 2021 to make it fully vegan. Previously, it contained a non-essential amino acid (l-tyrosine) that was derived from duck feathers.

Try SuperGreen TONIK

If you want to give SuperGreen TONIK a try, make sure to use discount code KUMMER10 to get 10% off your purchase. You can also purchase SuperGreen TONIK on Amazon.

Hi, thank you for your very comprehensive, well-written articles! I also do 16 hour fasts, and am curious about when you take your green powder. Some recommend taking first thing in the morning prior to any food or drink. Thanks! -Katrina

Michael Kummer

Jun 14, 2021 at 4:24 pm

Hi Katrina,

I actually stopped taking green powders but haven’t had a chance to update the article yet. I switched to freeze-dried organ meats as my primary source of nutrients (besides, real food, of course). See https://michaelkummer.com/beef-liver-supplements/

Just recently, I also launched my own Grass-Fed Beef Liver label – see shop.michaelkummer.com.
Reply

Where is legion athletics genesis green? It contains greens with real benefits in real dosages. Strange not to see it here

Michael Kummer

Nov 1, 2020 at 3:32 pm

Hi Dimitry,

Genesis has a ton of carbs from starches and sugar alcohol — a sweetener that not everyone likes. Beyond that, it doesn’t offer anything that’s better than the products I recommended.

Cheers,
Michael
Reply

Supergreen Tonik is by far my favorite greens powder. It’s tough finding a top greens supplement that taste really good too!

This is a very helpful comparison. Thanks for doing all the legwork.

I do have a question. You decided not to recommend Amazing Grass Green Superfood because it included silica. SuperGreen Tonik also includes that in the form of silicon dioxide. Was there a reason it’s more of an issue in one vs. the other? Amount?

Thanks!

Michael Kummer

Jun 28, 2020 at 1:10 pm

Hey Bob!

I actually had Amazing Grass as a “also recommended” brand but decided to move it to the “not recommended” list, mostly because their kids formula has sugar. That’s just a turn off — not from a product but brand perspective. Other than that, it’s a reasonably good product.

Cheers,
Michael
Reply

Best Superfood (Greens) Powders

Comparison of Green Powders

1. Athletic Greens

2. SuperGreen TONIK

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