
Your mother was right: drink your greens!
Whether youʼre intermittent fasting, vegan or keto friendly, one thing is certain greens do not discriminate. While most of us grew up hearing our mothers tell us to eat more greens, the CDC reports that only 1 in 10 adults consumes the recommended amount of vegetables per day. Of course these recommendations vary by age, sex and activity levels, but eating your greens across the lifespan can protect against chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Most impressively, greens supply essential nutrients known to optimize cell function thereby helping you live longer.
If youʼve read my blog, you know that I am a firm believer that eating a Whole Foods diet, one with a wide variety of produce is the best means to attaining balanced nutrition. I wholeheartedly believe in the abundance of Mother Nature rather than a bottle. Still, weʼve all been there balancing the demands of work and family life, traveling or burning the midnight oil and nutrition begins to suffer. Might there be ways to complement your diet with added fuel? Keep in mind, weʼre not talking about meal replacements but a superior way to meet your bodyʼs nutritional needs. The answer lies in daily powdered greens.
Powdered greens are generally made from dried leafy greens and other vegetables, seaweed, grasses, high-antioxidant fruits and herbs, pre and probiotics and enzymes. Generally low in calories, these powerhouse ingredients are high in minerals and vitamins, including selenium, iodine, chromium and vitamins A, C and K, as well as plant compounds with antioxidant and anti inflammatory effects. You might be thinking that your daily multivitamin packs a similar punch, but I beg to differ! A daily cocktail of powdered greens delivers nutrients without hidden elements that can impact bioavailability. Touted for their benefit in improving energy, promoting detoxification, alkalinizing the body, supporting digestive and immune function and enhancing overall wellness, but are all powdered greens created equal?
Choosing whatʼs right for you begins with transparency of ingredients. Opt out of choices which contain ‘proprietary blendsʼ. Select a green drink which is organic or an all natural blend that has non-GMO content, no added sugar and free of heavy metals. Superfoods, mushrooms and adaptogens are desirable and while the list can be plenty, more of a good thing isnʼt necessarily a good thing! Second, itʼs also imperative to identify your intended goal for supplementation. If your objective is simply to add a healthy snack of powdered greens after a workout because your diet is solid then you may not need all the bells and whistles. Alternatively, if your lifestyle demands more and you need to supercharge your
diet then you may want to consider a formulation which can enhance physical endurance and cognitive performance.
Powdered greens are so versatile. You can add the powder to water, juice or mixed into a smoothie or tea. Check out our pick for the best powdered greens on the market and our recipes for how to prepare your daily greens. Take longevity to the next level and enjoy forty shades of green!