The 12 Best Greens Powders of 2023, According to a Dietician

Drinking a glass of powdered vegetables may not sound pleasant, but it may be one of the most effective ways to enhance your vitamin and nutrient intake. This is in part because greens powders are often made of nutrient-rich dried leafy greens along with other vegetables, grasses, fruits, herbs, seaweed, and sometimes even probiotics and digestive enzymes. But before you trade in your multivitamin for greens powders, you should ask yourself a few questions. Namely, are greens powders worth the money? And if they are, which greens powder is the best for me?

After testing dozens of the best-selling greens supplement brands and a few lesser-known standouts, we’ve determined which of them are worth the buy and which are about as effective as drinking soil. We also have the low-down on which powders you won’t mind drinking every day and which ones you’ll have to plug and chug. Whether you’re looking for more energy, improved performance at the gym, or to simply feel better, we’ve got the best greens powders for you to choose from.

Best Greens Powders

• Best Greens Powder Overall: Athletic Greens AG1
• Best Tasting Greens Powder: KOS Show Me the Greens!
• Best Greens Powder for the Money: KOS Show Me the Greens!
• Best Greens Powder for Fiber: Transparent Labs Prebiotic Greens
• Best Greens Powder for Energy: Athletic Greens AG1
• Best Greens Powder Vegetable Blend: KOS Show Me the Greens!
• Best Greens Powder for Digestion: Athletic Greens AG1
• Best Organic Greens Powder: KOS Show Me the Greens!
• Best Greens Powder with Spirulina: Swolverine Greens + Reds
• Best Greens Powder with Protein: Kylea Total Living Drink Greens
• Best Greens Powder for Antioxidants: Swolverine Greens + Reds
• Best Greens Powder On the Go: Onnit Shroom Tech Greens

Editor’s note: The content on BarBend is meant to be informative in nature, but it should not be taken as medical advice. The opinions and articles on this site are not intended for the diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of health problems. It’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor before beginning a new fitness, nutritional, and/or supplement routine. 

Best Greens Powder Video Review

Take a closer look at our experience with our top picks for greens powders in our video review. Here, Nick English walks you through our favorite greens powder picks and explains the perks of each one.

Best Greens Powder Overall

To pick the best greens powder overall, we considered several factors: micronutrients, phytonutrients, adaptogens, and ingredients for digestive health. This pick checked all of our boxes to support overall health, plus it tastes pretty darn good. 

Athletic Greens AG1

Athletic Greens is a nutrient powerhouse: One serving provides 700 percent of your daily vitamin C, and 100 percent or more of most B vitamins (including B12), K2, and zinc. It also has 7.2 billion probiotic bacteria and digestive enzymes, which are important for supporting digestive health and a robust internal microbiome. AG1 isn’t just about the body either — it has adaptogens linked to mental health, like Rhodiola Rosea and ashwagandha, which may help reduce anxiety. There are two notable omissions though — vitamin D and iron — which are essential nutrients for immunity and energy, respectively. Athletic Greens does sell a separate D3 and K2 product, but you’ll have to find iron on your own.

As with many greens powders, the bulk of the ingredients are wrapped up in blends, so you don’t really know the exact proportions of what you’re ingesting. Still, we like the peace of mind it offers if you struggle to eat enough fruits and veggies. It’s also pretty pricey at about $3.30 per serving. The good news is that if other greens powders leave you wanting more taste-wise, AG1 made sure that wouldn’t be the case with a tasty Pineapple Vanilla flavor. This is one of the few greens powders we actually enjoyed sipping.

Specs

• Available Flavors: Pineapple Vanilla
• Certifications: NSF Certified for Sport­®
• Nutrition Per Scoop: 50 calories, 6g carbs, 2g protein
• Highlights: 7.2 billion CFU probiotics, Digestive enzyme blend, CoQ10, Milk thistle, Folate, Zinc
• Price: $99 for a pouch or $109 for individual travel packs
• Servings: 30

Pros

• The probiotic bacteria and digestive enzymes in this formulation may help with gut health and digestion/absorption of the other nutrients.
• There are various ingredients included that are known for their antioxidant content, such as spirulina, wheatgrass juice powder, and chlorella.
• The Rhodiola Rosea and ashwagandha may help with stress and anxiety.
• Athletic Greens is NSF Certified for Sport®, meaning its content claims are verified and it has been tested to be free of banned substances.

Cons

• Many of the ingredients are in proprietary blends, making it tough to know the exact amount of each component you’re consuming.
• This one is pretty pricey, though it’s worth noting the cost drops by $20 if you sign up for a monthly subscription.
• Vitamin D is notably absent from this formula, so you have to purchase a separate product on top of an already expensive greens powder.

We’ve tried dozens of greens supplements, and Athletic Greens AG1 ticks the most boxes, consisting of a huge variety of healthful ingredients that may provide myriad benefits for your body and mind. It’s hard to find a more encyclopedic formula and though it’s expensive, the ingredients justify the price.

Read our full review of Athletic Greens AG1.

Best Tasting Greens Powder

It’s no secret that many greens powders taste…earthy. And if you hate the taste, you’re never going to drink the stuff. This pick, however, has a great taste that masks the greens flavor almost entirely.

KOS Show Me the Greens!

If you’ve tried many greens powders and have yet to find one that tastes good, let us offer up what we think is the best tasting greens on the market — KOS Greens Powder. It comes in a light and refreshing Green Apple Sorbet flavor, and is sweetened with organic stevia, monk fruit extract, and mint. We found that it mixes well in water on its own or with other unflavored powders, but the green apple and mint flavors taste odd with liquids other than water (like orange juice or protein powder). Just like all greens powders, it does have a slightly earthy aftertaste, but there’s really no getting around that.

This greens powder is all organic and features a superfood blend with chlorella and spirulina, which are both high in antioxidants to support cellular health. We also like that KOS includes wheatgrass, oat grass, kale, broccoli, and green bell pepper for immunity and further antioxidants. Additionally, KOS provides a digestive prebiotic blend to potentially help feed your gut microbiome and keep digestion chugging along — something that many digestive health blends miss. The ingredients are in proprietary blends, though, so you don’t know exactly how much of each is in the formula. We really like the price of about $1.21 per serving, which is surprisingly cheap for a greens powder, especially when compared to other options that can be close to triple the cost.

Specs

• Available Flavors: Green Apple Sorbet
• Certifications: NSF Certified for Sport­®, USDA Organic, Non-GMO, Vegan
• Nutrition Per Scoop: 30 calories, 6g carbs, 1g protein
• Highlights: Organic Prebiotic Blend, Whole-food fruit and veggie blend, Iron
• Price: $39.99
• Servings: 28

Pros

• This powder is legitimately tasty. It has a light and refreshing taste almost reminiscent of summer.
• KOS features a superfood blend, greens blend, fruit and veggie blend, and digestive prebiotic blend to support multiple areas of health.
• If you prefer mixing your greens with water or in a shaker cup (rather than within a smoothie), the powder blends up easily with little or no clumping. 

Cons

• With only 13 ingredients, this isn’t the most robust ingredients list. Other options on our list have nearly 80. 
• There is only one flavor, so you’re out of luck if you don’t like Green Apple. 
• The green apple flavor isn’t compatible with most flavored liquids, so you’re better off sticking with water.

KOS’s Greens Powder has a solid formula, but more importantly, it tastes so great you’ll actually look forward to drinking it. It might not have the most ingredients in the world, but the balanced and purposeful approach of superfoods, greens, fruits and veggies, and prebiotic fibers work well together.

Best Affordable Greens Powder

The cost of greens powders can add up fast. If you’re not working with an unlimited budget, this greens powder can help stretch your money and return the most bang for your buck. 

KOS Show Me the Greens!

Coming in at about $33.99 per 28-serving container (with a delivery subscription), each serving of KOS Show Me the Greens! works out to $1.21, which is much more cost-efficient than many other greens products on the market. According to research, adults should incorporate two to three cups of vegetables a day into their dietary regimen, but that can be pretty expensive, especially if you’re selecting organic produce. (1) Show Me the Greens! has an organic whole-food fruits and veggies blend including cabbage, kale, broccoli, apple, and green bell pepper to help you reach that goal for just over a dollar per serving. 

If you’re having trouble finding the time to eat sufficient fruits and veggies, this greens powder may be the way to go since it contains 13 different organic ingredients (like spirulina, wheatgrass, kale, broccoli, apple, and more) to help meet recommended goals and provide antioxidants. Instead of cooking up all those ingredients, all you have to do is mix up the powder. Plus, this is a drink you won’t have to plug your nose to knock back either with a light but refreshing Green Apple Sorbet flavor. 

Specs

• Available Flavors: Green Apple Sorbet
• Certifications: NSF Certified for Sport­®, USDA Organic, Non-GMO, Vegan
• Nutrition Per Scoop: 30 calories, 6g carbs, 1g protein
• Highlights: Organic Prebiotic Blend, Whole-food fruit and veggie blend, Iron
• Price: $39.99
• Servings: 28

Pros

• This rich ingredient list includes extras like a prebiotic blend to help potentially support gut health.
• These greens are relatively affordable at around $1.21 per serving, while some other greens on the market can cost upwards of $4.00 for a single serving.
• This formula contains only organic ingredients from real, whole-food sources like fruits and vegetables.

Cons

• If you prefer to mix your greens with other powders, having only one flavor option is limiting.
• There are more exhaustive ingredient lists available, though they generally cost more.
• This powder is manufactured in a facility that also processes nuts, shellfish, wheat, and other products, so people allergic to those ingredients may want to look elsewhere.

With Show Me the Greens!, KOS managed to keep the cost down while not skimping on the quality of ingredients. If you want high-quality greens with additional potential benefits (like a prebiotic blend and an organic ingredient list), this is a great low-cost option for you.

Best Greens Powder for Fiber

Fiber can help with digestion and allow you to feel fuller for longer. If increasing fiber in your diet is a priority, this pick offers more than what’s found in your standard greens powder. 

Transparent Labs Prebiotic Greens 

Prebiotic Greens has six grams of fiber per serving (nearly a quarter of your recommended daily intake) to help support your gut microbiome and ease digestion. A full half of the formula is a blend of soluble, insoluble, and slowly fermenting fibers that are designed to feed your natural gut flora and keep you regular. The prebiotic fiber may also help with weight management and bloating.

Transparent Labs takes a two-pronged approach with three grams each of spirulina and broken cell chlorella to potentially deliver vitamins, minerals, and protein. These sea greens are extremely dense chlorophyll sources, which have helpful links to managing appetite and reducing body weight as well as helping to detox. (6)(7) This somewhat sparse label is highly transparent, and every ingredient has a clear purpose for being included, which we appreciate. We enjoy the Peach Mango flavor, but it doesn’t quite cover the earthiness.

Specs

• Available Flavors: Peach Mango, Unflavored
• Certifications: None
• Nutrition Per Scoop: 60 calories, 9g carbs, 4g protein
• Highlights: Organic prebiotics, Algae greens
• Price: $45.99
• Servings: 30

Pros

• The six grams of fiber in here may help you feel full for longer and snack less. 
• TL doesn’t use proprietary blends, so you know the exact amount of each ingredient in the formula.
• If you want to mask the flavor, you can use the unflavored option to mix with pretty much any liquid.

Cons

• Prebiotic Greens doesn’t include many micronutrients and adaptogens that you see in other greens powders.
• There may be some more cost-effective options that are similar out there.

If you’re looking for a greens powder with an extra hit of fiber, you’ll appreciate the six grams per serving here. Transparent Labs offers a short yet sweet ingredient list fully dosed and backed by lots of research (made available on their website).

Best Greens Powder for Energy

Drinking a greens powder first thing in the morning can help set you up with the energy you need for the rest of the day. This powder goes the extra mile by adding magnesium and reishi mushrooms, which may help boost your energy levels even higher. 

Athletics Greens AG1

Athletic Green’s AG1 formula is robust with vitamins, minerals, probiotics, enzymes, mushrooms, and antioxidant ingredients to promote overall wellness and energy. The greens powder contains 26mg of magnesium, an important mineral for over 300 bodily processes, including energy production (3). AG1’s formula also contains reishi mushrooms, which may help regulate testosterone levels, an essential hormone for energy production and fatigue resistance. They’re in a proprietary blend, though, so we don’t know the exact ingredient amounts.

Reishi mushrooms have been utilized for enhancing energy since 1590 A.D. starting with the Ming Dynasty, so it’s safe to say they’re time-tested. (4) While many may experience increased energy from the vitamins and minerals that greens powders provide, reishi mushrooms and magnesium may boost that energy even more. Due to the stacked sugar-free formula in this supplement, the price is considerably higher than many other greens formulas, so if you’re on a budget, this may not be the right one for you. 

Specs

• Available Flavors: Pineapple Vanilla
• Certifications: NSF Certified for Sport­®
• Nutrition Per Scoop: 50 calories, 6g carbs, 2g protein
• Highlights: 7.2 billion CFU probiotics, Digestive enzyme blend, CoQ10, Milk thistle, Folate, Zinc
• Price: $99 for a pouch or $109 for individual travel packs
• Servings: 30

Pros

• Specific ingredients are included to help with energy production like B vitamins, magnesium, reishi mushrooms, and CoQ10.
• AG1’s robust formula offers vitamins, minerals, enzymes, probiotics, mushrooms, and antioxidants. 
• It’s rare to find a greens powder that tastes good and doesn’t have a ton of added sugars.

Cons

• AG1 includes proprietary blends, so you can’t know the exact amount of everything in it.
• This greens powder costs two or more times the amount of most other options on the market. 

While this greens powder can help you reach your daily micronutrient goals, it may also boost your energy supply through magnesium and reishi mushroom supplementation. We also like that AG1 includes CoQ10, which can lower blood pressure and reduce your risk of heart attack.

Best Greens Powder Vegetable Blend

Many greens supplements are made from powdered vegetables or extracts from highly processed veggies, but KOS Greens Powder isn’t one of them. Each serving includes whole vegetables and superfoods. 

KOS Greens Powder 

Most adults don’t reach their recommended daily intake of two to three cups of vegetables per day, so they need dietary supplements to help hit those numbers. (1) Every scoop of this greens powder provides a blend of whole-food sourced and nutrient-rich veggies like organic kale, broccoli, green bell pepper, and cabbage to help provide antioxidants and immune support. Rather than focusing solely on vegetables, KOS also includes fruits like lemon, mint, and apple. You’ll also find a blend of prebiotics to feed and support your natural microbiome, which may help to make sure that all of the nutrients are properly absorbed. 

Each scoop only has 30 calories, so you won’t have to worry about this greens powder blowing up your diet. The price is very attractive as well at around $1.21 per serving if you sign up for regular shipments. The only major downside to note is that this powder only comes in one (albeit good) flavor — Green Apple Sorbet — so hopefully you’re a fan of that taste. 

Specs

• Available Flavors: Green Apple Sorbet
• Certifications: NSF Certified for Sport­®, USDA Organic, Non-GMO, Vegan
• Nutrition Per Scoop: 30 calories, 6g carbs, 1g protein
• Highlights: Organic Prebiotic Blend, Whole-food fruit and veggie blend, Iron
• Price: $39.99
• Servings: 28

Pros

• The formula here is surprisingly complete for the price, boasting organic broccoli, green bell pepper, kale, and cabbage, as well as a superfood and alkalizing greens blend.
• This greens powder offers prebiotic ingredients for potential support for gut health. 
• With some options costing up to $4.00 per serving, this one at about $1.21 per serving is well-priced. 

Cons

• The sole flavor this comes in may be difficult to mix in with other powders or smoothies. 
• The aftertaste can be bitter for some people because of the stevia.
• Though this powder doesn’t clump when you mix it, it still has somewhat of a gritty texture. 

The KOS Greens Powder formula contains a range of vegetables, greens, and superfoods designed to help improve both nutrition and performance. If you’re slacking on your vegetable intake or are looking for a cost-effective greens powder to cover all your bases, this may be the right product for you.

Best Greens Powder for Digestion

There’s interesting evidence that combining probiotic bacteria with prebiotic fiber can help to maximize both of their benefits for improving digestive health. (5) Athletic Greens AG1 does just that, which is why it’s our top pick in this category.

Athletic Greens AG1

Athletic Greens offers the triple crown for your digestive health. It has 7.2 billion probiotic bacteria, as well as prebiotic fiber and digestive enzymes. Prebiotics are the food source for your gut microbiota — combine that with digestive enzymes to potentially help everything digest a little easier, and these ingredients can create the optimal environment for digestive health and nutrient absorption. The triumvirate is completed with probiotics, which may help you stay more regular, prevent bloating, and break down food easier. (5) They work together with the prebiotics to establish themselves in your digestive tract and the enzymes to break down the food you eat.

AG1 is extremely nutrient dense, so these digestive support ingredients are warranted. This vegan-friendly super greens powder contains 700 percent of your daily vitamin C and 100+ percent of the majority of B vitamins which may help with everything from energy to immunity. We also like that AG1 has adaptogens like ashwagandha and rhodiola which may aid in managing stress. Vitamin D and iron are notably absent, however.

Specs

• Available Flavors: Pineapple Vanilla
• Certifications: NSF Certified for Sport­®
• Nutrition Per Scoop: 50 calories, 6g carbs, 2g protein
• Highlights: 7.2 billion CFU probiotics, Digestive enzyme blend, CoQ10, Milk thistle, Folate, Zinc
• Price: $99 for a pouch or $109 for individual travel packs
• Servings: 30

Pros

• If you have digestive issues and want a formula that may ease tummy trouble, AG1 has probiotics, prebiotics, and digestive enzymes. 
• The powder is tasty and will make a great addition to your morning smoothie without being too earthy.
• AG1 has third-party testing and is NSF Certified for Sport to be free of banned substances. 

Cons

• Most of the ingredients are in proprietary blends, which doesn’t allow you to know the exact amounts of each of them.
• AG1 is more expensive than many other greens powders. 

With specific ingredients geared toward easing digestive issues like enzymes, probiotics, and prebiotic fiber, Athletic Greens may be your answer to a healthier and happier gut. AG1’s robust formula supports both body and mind with adaptogens for stress, too.

Best Organic Greens Powder

A lot of greens powders — including high-quality picks on this list — use blends of fruits and vegetables. This pick goes a step further and uses only organic whole ingredients. The ingredients list may be shorter than some other products, but each ingredient in KOS Show Me the Greens! is top-notch and USDA-certified organic.

KOS Show Me the Greens!

KOS includes 13 different 100-percent organic ingredients to help meet your micronutrient goals, support digestion, and potentially promote alkalinity. Show Me the Greens! includes organic superfoods like spirulina and wheatgrass to provide phytonutrients and antioxidants for cellular health, too. 

To help with digestive health, KOS includes a two-gram prebiotic blend of organic isomalto-oligosaccharide and organic acacia gum, for feeding and supporting your natural gut flora. 

Every scoop is plant-based, organic, and dairy-free as well as gluten-free. A refreshing and natural Green Apple Sorbet flavor free of artificial helps to make this greens powder enjoyable instead of a punishment. Though our testers have noted that the apple flavoring is strong, so you may want to dilute the scoop in some extra water. The extra water may help alleviate some of the grittiness that we found when not using a blender, too.

Specs

• Available Flavors: Green Apple Sorbet
• Certifications: NSF Certified for Sport­®, USDA Organic, Non-GMO, Vegan
• Nutrition Per Scoop: 30 calories, 6g carbs, 1g protein
• Highlights: Organic Prebiotic Blend, Whole-food fruit and veggie blend, Iron
• Price: $39.99
• Servings: 28

Pros

• Every single ingredient in this formula is certified organic with no artificial flavors or ingredients. 
• Show Me the Greens comes with some added extras, like prebiotics to help aid in digestion. 
• The lower price point is appreciated since some greens powders can cost double or triple this one. 

Cons

• Some found the green apple flavor to be a bit too strong.
• Nutrient counters may not love the fact that KOS doesn’t list out the dosages of vitamins and minerals in each serving.
• Vitamin D is notably absent from this formula as is iron, which are essential nutrients that you’ll have to get from your diet or other supplements.

Many manufacturers use other words like whole food derived, but the ingredients are not necessarily certified organic. In the KOS Greens Powder, every single ingredient is Certified USDA Organic — plus, the low-calorie serving won’t blow your diet.

Best Greens Powder with Spirulina

This greens + reds powder has an impressive micronutrient profile with the addition of 2,500mg of the “superfood” spirulina which may help with recovery and weight loss.

Swolverine Greens + Reds

The standout ingredient in Swolverine Greens + Reds is the 2,500mg of spirulina, a blue-green algae that promotes better cellular health and may work as an anti-inflammatory agent. (8) Spirulina is also a great source of B vitamins, calcium, and omega-3 fatty acids, aiding in fatigue resistance and overall health. (9) It may also benefit you if your main goal is weight or fat loss. Spirulina supplementation was suggested in one study to reduce body fat, decrease waist size and BMI and increase healthy blood lipids. (10)

We also really like the other half of the formula, which includes reds like turmeric that may help reduce inflammation and beet powder to help with blood flow. The “reds” portion of the ingredients list is also rich in antioxidants for detoxification and cellular health. This formula comes in a Natural Orange flavor which we found to be very tasty. It mixes surprisingly well with just a spoon in a glass of water, and we found none of the gritty residue that many other greens powders leave.

Specs

• Available Flavors: Natural Orange
• Certifications: None
• Nutrition Per Scoop: 50 calories, 6g carbs, 4g protein
• Highlights: Organic Turmeric, Beet Powder, Acai, Matcha, and Iron
• Price: $59.99
• Servings: 30

Pros

• The label is transparent and shows you the exact amounts of every ingredient so you know how much of each you’re ingesting.
• This formula includes a blend of antioxidant reds as well as the typical greens ingredients. 
• There’s also turmeric and spirulina, which may aid in reducing inflammation.

Cons

• The only flavor is orange. We found it tasty, but if you don’t like orange then this might not be for you.
• Some studies use higher doses of spirulina than are present in this formula. 

If you specifically want a greens powder that contains spirulina, Swolverines Greens + Reds packs a healthy dose of 2,500mg of spirulina as well as a diverse profile of micronutrients and digestive enzymes.

Best Greens Powder with Protein

Many people opt to throw their green juice or greens powders into a protein shake. Kylea does the work for you by combining your greens and protein into one powder with the Total Living Drink Greens.

Kylea Total Living Drink Greens

This whole foods blend combines 11 grams of protein and the nutritional equivalent of seven to 10 servings of fruit and vegetables. Even though the protein blend is plant-based, Kylea uses complementing proteins for a complete amino acid profile. We like that Kylea also includes a digestive enzyme blend to aid in digestion and help you absorb all of the nutrients effectively. Plus, it comes in a convenient ziplock bag that you can easily transport and store to keep the powder fresh.

It’s worth noting that since this blend contains such a wide array of ingredients (which can potentially nix the need for other products), it is one of the more expensive greens powders on this list. The protein is also lower than that of a dedicated protein shake, but it’s significantly more than you’ll find in most greens powders.

Specs

• Available Flavors: Green Tea and Blueberry
• Certifications: None
• Nutrition Per Scoop: 120 calories, 2.5g fat, 10g carbs, 11g protein
• Highlights: Diverse enzyme blend, Glutamine, Taurine, Antioxidant blend
• Price: $99.00
• Servings: 30

Pros

• Kylea includes protein in addition to greens, an antioxidant blend, and more for a more complete formula. 
• The reworked formula added 2,000mg of spirulina to help provide calcium and omega 3’s while fighting inflammation. (9)
• This has probiotics to help with digestion and black pepper extract to aid with absorption. 

Cons

• This greens powder is expensive, even among upscale greens powders. 
• If you don’t need extra protein in your diet, this might be unnecessary.

While this greens powder is more expensive than some others on the market, this protein and greens blend can be a great investment if you’re sick of using separate protein and greens supplements.

Best Greens Powder for Antioxidants

If you’re looking for a greens powder blend that delivers antioxidants, having a robust ingredients list with multiple sources is essential. This product delivers antioxidants from both green and red veggies in a formula that is top-notch for antioxidant delivery.

Swolverine Greens + Reds 

As the name suggests, Swolverine combines the potential health benefits of organic super greens with antioxidant-rich reds in a high-quality formula free of proprietary blends. Each scoop provides solid doses of antioxidants, like beetroot (1,000mg), bilberry (500mg), blueberry (500mg), and pomegranate (500mg), which may help improve heart health, blood pressure, and inflammation. Research suggests that when taken together like in this product, the ingredients work synergistically for improved effects over taking them separately. (11)

This light (and tasty) Natural Orange flavored powder is also rich in micronutrients with an assortment of B vitamins for energy topped with electrolytes and other important trace minerals. The minerals, including zinc, manganese, and iodine, all potentially contribute to preventing oxidative damage and inflammation. We were pleasantly surprised with the flavor, which tasted like a slightly earthy orange juice. It was tasty even when mixed with just water making this an easy routine to stick to.

Specs

• Available Flavors: Natural Orange
• Certifications: None
• Nutrition Per Scoop: 50 calories, 6g carbs, 4g protein
• Highlights: Organic Turmeric, Beet Powder, Acai, Matcha, and Iron
• Price: $59.99
• Servings: 30

Pros

• Half of this formula is dedicated to providing antioxidant-rich ingredients.
• Swolverine doesn’t use any proprietary blends, so you know exactly how much of each ingredient is in the powder.
• This mixes so well, you can dissolve it in water just by stirring it with a spoon.

Cons

• If you’re looking for probiotics or prebiotic nutrients, you’ll need to look elsewhere.
• This has no unflavored option so you might not be able to mix it into smoothies or other powders as easily.
• There are more comprehensive formulas available.

Many greens powders may contain an ingredient or two intended to provide antioxidants, but Swolverine Greens + Reds dedicates about half of its entire formula to them. If you value antioxidants and want to include more of them in your daily regimen, this product may be a great way to achieve that.

Best Greens Powder On the Go

It’s common for greens powders to come in large containers with 30 or more servings, but that makes it difficult for people who are on the go often. Onnit sells high-quality Shroom Tech Greens in single-serving packets, making them convenient for maintaining proper nutrition while traveling.

Onnit Shroom Tech Greens

Generally speaking, adults should be eating two to three cups of vegetables daily to ensure a healthy diet, but not everyone has the time to sit down and eat them. (1) Onnit Shroom Tech Greens is sold in single-serving packets, which makes them a simple and convenient way to ingest your daily greens without worrying about bulky containers or measuring cups. 

As the name implies, this greens powder includes a mushroom blend of organic cordyceps, reishi, and lion’s mane mushrooms. These are intended to aid with energy utilization, immune support, and cognitive function. Shroom Tech Greens are unflavored, which means you can easily mix them into a smoothie, protein shake, or even pre-workout, without creating a weird combination of flavors. In fact, we highly suggest mixing them into something, because they taste like straight-up mushrooms, which some might find off-putting.

Specs

• Available Flavors: Unflavored
• Certifications: USDA Organic
• Nutrition Per Scoop: 15 calories, 3g carbs
• Highlights: Cordyceps, Reishi, Lion’s Mane
• Price: $59.95
• Servings: 30

Pros

• The single-serving packets are great for travel or easy to throw in a gym bag to take with you.
• These greens are under two dollars per serving, while some other greens on the market can cost upwards of $4.00 for the same serving size.
• Mushrooms have been used for centuries for a host of ergogenic aids and the ones in here support energy, brain health, and immunity.

Cons

• Most of Onnit’s products are Informed Sport Certified, but this one seems to lack that certification for athletes.
• The formula isn’t as robust with greens as some other powders. 
• This may taste too strongly of mushrooms if you’re not a fan.

Not only is this greens powder pretty cost-effective, but the single-serving pouches make it great for on-the-go use. The blend of organic greens and mushrooms also takes this product a step above many other greens powders that contain just vegetable extracts. Just make sure to mix this with juice or into a smoothie if you’re not a huge fan of how mushrooms taste.

Benefits of Greens Powders

When greens supplements burst onto the scene in the mid-2000s, they were marketed as the evolution of multivitamins. They’re not just sources of vitamins and minerals, however. Greens powders often contain antioxidants, probiotic bacteria, digestive enzymes, and naturally-derived compounds that are linked to everything from better-functioning livers to improved mental clarity.

But the biggest selling point is that those benefits come from naturally occurring foods. Usually, there are no isolated vitamins injected into the supplement — the nutrition comes entirely from whole foods taken straight from the ground, sea, or trees.

“I love whole food sources as a means to get our nutrition and vitamins and minerals, so I like that a lot of the greens powders are derived from whole foods and plants,” says Gianna Masi, RDN, CISSN, CPT.

“I really encourage everyone to pick one meal a day that’s non-negotiable to get vegetables in. That’s a great place to start consuming more. Then, to add more antioxidants and polyphenols you could have a greens powder. It’s so important to remember that while powders can be great insurance, it shouldn’t take the place of trying to increase your veggie consumption.”

As Masi implies, the base of greens powders is made from a combination of grasses (like wheatgrass and barley grass) and algae (like spirulina and chlorella). The rest of the ingredients could be vegetables, fruits, mushrooms, roots, herbs, leaves, stems, fiber, probiotic bacteria, digestive enzymes, and royal jelly. Compared to multivitamins, greens powders aim to harvest the benefits of whole food ingredients that can sometimes be excluded from a daily multi. 

Plants don’t just contain the isolated vitamins and minerals you might get in other supplements. They’re also a source of fiber, chlorophyll, and phytonutrients like indole-3-carbinol (which may help with estrogen balance), isothiocyanates (which may decrease inflammation), and glucosinolates (which may lower the risk of heart disease). 

However, one potential issue with greens powders is that they’re relatively new. There aren’t many studies that have been performed on their potential benefits, and there could be potential issues with ingesting such high levels of antioxidants at once, but more research is needed to determine if there’s a downside there.

That said, a couple of small studies published in the Journal of Chiropractic Medicine found that green superfood products caused study participants to experience a significant reduction in hypertensive symptoms, like better blood pressure. (12)(13)

These ingredients sometimes result in a tremendous amount of nutrition that vastly exceeds what’s offered in a multivitamin. Some greens powders can substitute for antioxidant supplements, digestive health supplements, adaptogen supplements, and natural herb supplements like Rhodiola Rosea or milk thistle.

When it comes to gut health, Masi suggests using a greens powder or a stand-alone probiotic. Otherwise, you risk digestive trouble. She also adds that greens powders or probiotics shouldn’t be considered a fix for gastrointestinal disturbances, and to always seek out a doctor if you have intense GI issues.

When Should I Take Greens Powders?

You can generally take a greens powder whenever it is right for you. However, some companies will recommend you take their greens powders in the morning on an empty stomach so that your body has the best opportunity to absorb all the nutrients before working to digest other foods.

Greens powders can be used the same way as a vitamin supplement, and therefore, they can be taken as you would take a daily vitamin. As with any vitamin, greens powders can show the best results if you take them regularly — so no matter when you choose to take your greens throughout the day, ensure it’s a time you can maintain consistently.

How Much Do Greens Powders Cost?

Greens powders fall into a wide range of prices. On the lower end, you’ll find greens powders that cost just 20 cents per serving. On the higher end of the range, you may find greens powders that cost over $3 per serving. On average, however, you can expect to pay $1.84 per serving and will find this list has plenty of options right around the average price per serving.

The most basic greens — and generally less expensive powders — are typically a blend of vegetables without any added vitamins, minerals, or extra supplementation. The more expensive powders typically contain added vitamins and minerals (like a B-complex), and additional supplementation (like protein and/or probiotics), and… they tend to include more ingredients to make them taste better. 

Overall, for pricing, be sure to consider the price per serving, rather than the price of the tub or bag itself, to evaluate how much you are getting for your money.

How We Tested and Chose the Best Greens Powders

To measure the potential effectiveness of different greens powders on this list, we paid attention to a few specific factors.

We looked at the micronutrients, antioxidants, adaptogens and herbs, and the probiotics and enzymes in each greens powder before making our decision. 

Micronutrients in Greens Powders

We know that many feel the point of greens powders is that they offer more than a multivitamin. And many greens powders make claims such as “equal to four servings of vegetables” and “a great source of vitamins and minerals.” We feel that it’s important to gauge a product’s vitamin and mineral contents. It’s a surprisingly difficult task, as many greens products state that they’re full of everything the body needs while leaving most vitamins and minerals off of the nutrition label.

Even if a label claims a certain number of servings worth of vegetables, Masi says to not accept that as your daily veggie consumption. “I’m still going to encourage real food sources due to their bioavailability (how much of them are absorbed) and fiber content,” she says.

Antioxidant Content in Greens Powders

Perhaps the most common claim made about green superfood powders is how jam-packed they are with antioxidants. There’s no line for ‘antioxidant strength’ on a nutrition label. However, some methods of measuring a product’s antioxidants, like the ORAC score, let you measure the antioxidant content against, say, a cup of blueberries.

Very few products do this, so we don’t notch them down too heavily if they don’t include their score, but it’s a big bonus when they do.

Adaptogens and Herbs in Greens Powders

A lot of the most exciting research in nutrition is on adaptogens, which are compounds that may alter the way the body responds to stress. One adaptogen that is often seen in greens powders is Rhodiola Rosea, which may improve focus similar to meditation and exercise performance. Reishi mushrooms, which have been linked to everything from subjective well-being to better immunity, are another. (14)(15)

Probiotics and Enzymes in Greens Powders

Maintaining a healthy population of gut bacteria — the trillions of little critters that live in your digestive tract and help you break down food — may tamp down inflammation, boost immunity, and positively impact your mood. Digestive enzymes and prebiotic fiber are also tied to a healthier gut and often find their way into greens powders, as well. We look for these ingredients in our picks.

Greens Powders vs. Multivitamins

As we mentioned above, greens powders are supposed to be more complete and nutritious compared to a general multivitamin. Here’s the rub though: Greens powders are also A) considerably more expensive, and B) may not be absorbed as effectively.

An article published by the Cambridge University Press asserts that plant-based diets can result in micronutrient deficiencies, but not just because a plant-based diet is naturally low in nutrients found in animal products (such as iron and magnesium).

According to the article, plant-based diets are also associated with “poor micronutrient bioavailability,” meaning they’re not absorbed as efficiently. (16) While Johns Hopkins found multivitamins to not be an effective solution against heart disease, cancer, or mental decline, it also didn’t say anything against its absorption rate. (17)

While prices do vary based on brand, multivitamins are generally cheaper than greens powders. So, if you’re looking to simply take in extra vitamins and minerals, then a multivitamin may be both more cost-effective and better absorbed.

That said, a greens powder contains more antioxidants and nutrients, as well as adaptogens and other possibly holistic herbs. Ultimately, the decision will come down to your preference and priorities. If you already eat a solid diet but want more nutrients, then the greens powder could be for you.

Here’s the thing, though: Articles and studies on both multivitamins and greens powders say that nothing can replace a balanced diet that consists of raw (or cooked) greens and healthy whole foods. A plate of fresh broccoli is better for you (not to mention more filling) than a glass of dehydrated, ground-up greens.

Here’s a summary since we just threw a lot at you:

• Talk to your doctor about what minerals and/or vitamins you need, because you may be better off taking a multivitamin over a greens powder.
• Greens powders contain more antioxidants, nutrients, and herbs compared to a multivitamin. (Though, one article says that plants aren’t as bioavailable.) 
• The best way to get more vitamins, minerals, and nutrients, according to research, is a diet abundant with whole foods such as vegetables and fruits. 

Ingredients In Greens Powders

Greens powders are notoriously robust, often containing nearly 75 different vitamins and minerals per serving. However, each brand takes a different approach to their formulation. While you’ll see a lot of different ingredients across the market, there are some big hitters you’ll see in many of the top greens powders.

Prebiotics and Probiotics

Prebiotic fiber and probiotics make for the golden combo when it comes to gut health. You’ll find prebiotic fiber in foods like legumes, beans, berries, and asparagus. Prebiotics are the fuel for probiotics, which are the good bacteria that line your gut. Greens powders often contain one or both of these ingredients to potentially help with digestion and gut health. (18)(19)

Spirulina

Spirulina is a blue-green algae that may boast antioxidant properties. It contains a high amount of vitamin B12, and it may also be helpful in balancing the gut microbiome, and boosting immunity. Spirulina is often a key ingredient customers search for in greens powders. (20)

Digestive Enzymes

Your body naturally produces digestive enzymes, which are proteins that can help you break down the food you eat. However, many greens powders contain an additional dose of these proteins to potentially help optimize gut health. (21)

Vegetables and Fruits

Most greens powders are made of powdered versions of — you guessed it — greens, like spinach, kale, chlorella, broccoli, and wheatgrass. Some even contain fruits like pineapple to provide bromelain and apple. Though the powdered versions of these vegetables and fruits still contain plenty of nutrients, some of their nutritional benefits are lost in powder processing.

So, though nothing beats eating these foods fresh, greens powders can be helpful in adding nutrients on top of your daily salads, or in instances when you’re traveling and it’s hard to follow the same dietary regimen you do when you’re home.

What to Consider Before Buying a Greens Powder

Before you click “order” on your new greens powder, consider these three points.

You’ll want to consider your normal micronutrient uptake and what your focus is for taking a greens powder. Plus, you’ll want to talk to a healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns with adding a greens powder to your custom supplement routine. 

Greens Powders Don’t Replace Vegetables

There are way too many green superfood drinks that advertise themselves as the equivalent of a serving of fruits and vegetables (or three). That’s not how it works. Fresh fruits and veggies contain far more ingredients and phytonutrients than you’ll find in an average scoop of greens, in addition to fiber and water. Eat your fruits and veggies.

Know Why You’re Buying

As you can see, greens powders can have many different focuses: antioxidants, digestive health, and adaptogens, to name a few. Do some research and know the strengths and weaknesses of your product before you commit.

Consult With Your Doctor

Always speak with your physician before undertaking a new supplement regimen.

Different Ways to Take Greens Powders

Don’t think you have to just mix greens powders into a glass of water and slam it (though you can). Here are a handful of creative ways to get in your greens (powder).

• Mix them into your shake: If you’re the type of person who prefers a more elaborate protein or meal replacement shake, then you may want to consider tossing a greens powder into the mix. Assuming you add protein, some milk, and various fruits, you may not even taste the greens powder. Of course, you may be thinking, “What if I already add veggies to my shake?” Well, that’s great, but a greens powder may contain a more broad and varied ingredient profile than what you’re getting from just a handful of kale. You can cut the serving in half and add the powder if you’re concerned about veggie overload.
• Bake a frittata: A frittata — a dish that consists of eggs (and/or egg white), veggies, proteins, and cheese that’s baked in the oven — is a convenient grab-and-go meal, packed with protein for muscle gain. With all of those flavors intermingling, chances are you won’t notice two scoops of your greens powder thrown in for a nutrient boost. That said, it’s possible that baking the powder may kill off some of the nutrients (though, this isn’t confirmed).
• Make a pesto: The same logic applies to the above two suggestions. The next time you whip up a pesto, a sauce that’s already green and earthy, try adding a scoop of greens powder to give it an even more earthy flavor and color. Then, go ahead and slather that onto chicken or beef, a hearty flatbread, or a salad.
• Bake brownies: Ok, this isn’t the healthiest suggestion, but brownies present a strong chocolate flavor that can mask the greens. Also, you can try making protein brownies or protein bars, where you can add whey protein powder to a brownie recipe for more protein.

Final Word

Of all of the health and wellness supplements on the market, green superfood powders are among the newest — and they’re also among the toughest to scrutinize. We get it: Many of them make outlandish claims and barely try to support them with information on their nutrition label. But while you can’t “out-supplement” a poor diet, many of the best greens powders may well confer benefits to some areas of your health. After digging through a lot of muck, we’ve uncovered some truly excellent greens supplements. We think you’ll be as impressed with them as we were.

FAQs

References

1. Lee SH, Moore LV, Park S, Harris DM, Blanck HM. Adults Meeting Fruit and Vegetable Intake Recommendations – United States, 2019. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2022 Jan 7;71(1):1-9. doi: 10.15585/mmwr.mm7101a1. PMID: 34990439; PMCID: PMC8735562.
2. Hewlings SJ, Kalman DS. Curcumin: A Review of Its Effects on Human Health. Foods. 2017 Oct 22;6(10):92. doi: 10.3390/foods6100092. PMID: 29065496; PMCID: PMC5664031.
3. Schwalfenberg GK, Genuis SJ. The Importance of Magnesium in Clinical Healthcare. Scientifica (Cairo). 2017;2017:4179326. doi: 10.1155/2017/4179326. Epub 2017 Sep 28. PMID: 29093983; PMCID: PMC5637834.
4. Wachtel-Galor S, Yuen J, Buswell JA, et al. Ganoderma lucidum (Lingzhi or Reishi): A Medicinal Mushroom. In: Benzie IFF, Wachtel-Galor S, editors. Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd edition. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press/Taylor & Francis; 2011. Chapter 9. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92757/
5. Williams, N. T. (2010). Probiotics. American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, 67(6), 449-458.
6. Montelius C, Erlandsson D, Vitija E, Stenblom EL, Egecioglu E, Erlanson-Albertsson C. Body weight loss, reduced urge for palatable food and increased release of GLP-1 through daily supplementation with green-plant membranes for three months in overweight women. Appetite. 2014 Oct;81:295-304. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2014.06.101. Epub 2014 Jun 30. Erratum in: Appetite. 2016 Jan 1;96:645-6. Erratum in: Appetite. 2016 Jun 1;101:239. PMID: 24993695.
7. Miczke A, Szulińska M, Hansdorfer-Korzon R, Kręgielska-Narożna M, Suliburska J, Walkowiak J, Bogdański P. Effects of spirulina consumption on body weight, blood pressure, and endothelial function in overweight hypertensive Caucasians: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2016;20(1):150-6. PMID: 26813468.
8. Sorrenti V, Castagna DA, Fortinguerra S, Buriani A, Scapagnini G, Willcox DC. Spirulina Microalgae and Brain Health: A Scoping Review of Experimental and Clinical Evidence. Mar Drugs. 2021 May 22;19(6):293. doi: 10.3390/md19060293. PMID: 34067317; PMCID: PMC8224803.
9. Johnson, M., Hassinger, L., Davis, J., Devor, S. T., & DiSilvestro, R. A. (2016). A randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study of spirulina supplementation on indices of mental and physical fatigue in men. International journal of food sciences and nutrition, 67(2), 203–206. https://doi.org/10.3109/09637486.2016.1144719
10. DiNicolantonio JJ, Bhat AG, OKeefe J. Effects of spirulina on weight loss and blood lipids: a review. Open Heart. 2020 Mar 8;7(1):e001003. doi: 10.1136/openhrt-2018-001003. PMID: 32201580; PMCID: PMC7061888.
11. Almeida, I. M., Barreira, J. C., Oliveira, M. B. P., & Ferreira, I. C. (2011). Dietary antioxidant supplements: benefits of their combined use. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 49(12), 3232-3237.
12. Zhang J, Bateman R, Metzger S, Lanigan K. Taking nutritional supplements for three months reduced blood pressure but not blood lipid levels in students. J Chiropr Med. 2006;5(2):53-59. doi:10.1016/S0899-3467(07)60133-5
13. Zhang J, Oxinos G, Maher JH. The effect of fruit and vegetable powder mix on hypertensive subjects: a pilot study. J Chiropr Med. 2009;8(3):101-106. doi:10.1016/j.jcm.2008.09.004
14. Ishaque S, Shamseer L, Bukutu C, Vohra S. Rhodiola rosea for physical and mental fatigue: a systematic review. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2012 May 29;12:70. doi: 10.1186/1472-6882-12-70. PMID: 22643043; PMCID: PMC3541197.
15. Bhardwaj N, Katyal P, Sharma AK. Suppression of inflammatory and allergic responses by pharmacologically potent fungus Ganoderma lucidum. Recent Pat Inflamm Allergy Drug Discov. 2014;8(2):104-17. doi: 10.2174/1872213×08666140619110657. PMID: 24948193.
16. Gibson, R., Perlas, L., & Hotz, C. (2006). Improving the bioavailability of nutrients in plant foods at the household level. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 65(2), 160-168. doi:10.1079/PNS2006489
17. Is there really any benefit to multivitamins? Is There Really Any Benefit to Multivitamins? | Johns Hopkins Medicine. (2021, November 1). Retrieved December 27, 2022, from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/is-there-really-any-benefit-to-multivitamins
18. Davani-Davari, D., Negahdaripour, M., Karimzadeh, I., Seifan, M., Mohkam, M., Masoumi, S. J., Berenjian, A., & Ghasemi, Y. (2019). Prebiotics: Definition, Types, Sources, Mechanisms, and Clinical Applications. Foods (Basel, Switzerland), 8(3), 92. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods8030092
19. Gupta V, Garg R. Probiotics. Indian J Med Microbiol. 2009 Jul-Sep;27(3):202-9. doi: 10.4103/0255-0857.53201. PMID: 19584499.
20. Finamore, A., Palmery, M., Bensehaila, S., & Peluso, I. (2017). Antioxidant, Immunomodulating, and Microbial-Modulating Activities of the Sustainable and Ecofriendly Spirulina. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity, 2017, 3247528. https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/3247528
21. Ianiro, G., Pecere, S., Giorgio, V., Gasbarrini, A., & Cammarota, G. (2016). Digestive Enzyme Supplementation in Gastrointestinal Diseases. Current drug metabolism, 17(2), 187–193. https://doi.org/10.2174/138920021702160114150137

The post The 12 Best Greens Powders of 2023, According to a Dietician appeared first on BarBend.