Our generation is the busiest period of all time to the point we can’t even eat healthily. In the end, we’re more likely going to load up ourselves with fried, sugary, and processed fast foods. As a result, we suffer from daily consequences like inability to concentrate, lack of energy, fatigue, weight gain, and other possible symptoms of a poor diet.
If you’re one of these people who’re having difficulties in squeezing sufficient nutrients, eat more greens! Let me guess. You’re not into leafy greens kale and spinach. Opt to the latest superfoods in the market—powdered greens.
What are these powdered greens?
Greens powder is one of the dietary supplementation created for people who are not into eating leafy vegetables and didn’t reach their daily recommended vegetable intake. Depending on the brands, these supplements contain 25-40 or more various plant-based ingredients such as:
- Grasses – such as alfalfa, barley, oat, wheatgrass
- Seaweed – such as chlorella, dulse, kelp, spirulina
- Leafy greens – such as collards, kale, parsley, spinach
- Herbs – such as ashwagandha, astragalus, echinacea, holy basil, milk thistle
- Other vegetables – such as beets, broccoli, carrots, green cabbage, tomatoes
- High-antioxidant fruits – such as acai berries, blueberries, goji, raspberries
- Probiotics – such as yeast and the gut-dwelling good bacteria
- Digestive enzymes – such as amylase, cellulase, lipase, papain, protease
- Natural sugar alternative extracts – such as from monk fruit, stevia leaf
- Fiber (extra) – apple fiber, inulin, rice bran
- Mushroom extracts – such as from maitake and shiitake
- Nutritional extracts – such as from ginkgo Biloba, grape seed, green tea
All the ingredients above offer various micronutrients. This made green powders to be referred to as superfoods that are worth considering by many. Let me give you two examples of how powerful the ingredients above.
Ashwagandha
Many considered the herb ashwagandha as ‘the king of adaptogens’ for many health-related reasons. Most endurance athletes and those who are under training are into it because it can increase their cardiorespiratory endurance.
Studies show that 600 mg of ashwagandha can increase testosterone levels of the males. Consequently, it improves their muscle building abilities, maximizes optimal performance during training, and even benefits their sexual health.
Wheatgrass
Many diseases are prompted by free radicals that turned into oxidative stress. That being so, they resulted in degenerative conditions, such as cataracts, arthritis, cancer, autoimmune diseases, and many more.
Wheatgrass is one of the potent antioxidant ingredients, which fight against oxidative stress. Specifically, wheatgrass focuses on getting rid of one particular type of radical called malondialdehyde (MDA). Further, the antioxidant on wheatgrass also revamps your skin and body’s healing capabilities.
Still not convinced? Listed down are four more health benefits of powdered greens.
Boosts Energy Levels
Are you constantly feeling run down even if you’re not doing any exhausting movement? That’s one of the signs that you’re suffering from stress. Intake more leafy vegetables to retain the balance in your body. Greens will lessen the acid overload you encounter and increase your consumption of alkaline-forming ingredients.
It also increases your consumption of healthful alkaline-forming foods. As a result, it will turn nutrient absorption faster, causing your energy skyrocket as soon as possible. If you don’t like plant-based food due to its bland and bitter taste, you can try green supplements, instead.
Reduces Chronic Diseases Risks
Dark leafy vegetables are incredibly excellent sources of alkaline calories, micronutrients, and disease-fighting antioxidants. What’s more, greens contain chlorophyll that supports blood alkalization, helping your body’s ability to fight against infection and various chronic diseases, such as:
- Asthma
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Eye disease
- Diabetes
- Bone disease (sarcopenia and osteoporosis)
- Skeletal muscle loss
- Heart disease and stroke
- Dementia
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Cancer
The compounds found in green vegetables tend to deactivate free radicals found in your body and prevent oxidative damage from killing our cells. Apart from that, they can also do the following:
- Decrease the risk of a blood clot (stroke prevention)
- Regulate triglyceride and cholesterol levels (heart disease prevention)
- Stave off the chances of cardiovascular disease development
- Support healthy cell division
- Deactivate carcinogens (prompts the death of cancer cells)
Considering the facts above, do you realize how beneficial greens now? If a bowl of kale salad isn’t appealing to you at all, you opt for powdered greens. Mixing green supplements in your daily smoothie or fruity juice is one of the ways to make use of the disease-busting advantages of green vegetables.
Decrease inflammation
Preexisting conditions such as obesity, arthritis, diabetes, or cancer can be worse if there’s an inflammation. In this case, a person is more likely going to suffer from fatigue, chronic pain, and other undesirable side effects. If taken for granted, this chronic inflammation will turn to a chronic disease, which will lead to a severe toll on one’s body over time.
Green consumption is one of the ways to prevent inflammation. As mentioned earlier, these greenish foods are alkaline-forming that boosts your energy and is full of antioxidants that fight against free radicals, which both happens when alleviating inflammatory properties. Plus, leafy vegetables and powdered greens are also brimming with vitamin E and magnesium, which are both potent anti-inflammatory.
Supports Weight Loss Management
Studies show that fat cells don’t only hold onto fats, but also to excess acid in your body. As a result, this mechanism allows these unwanted pesky fat cells from excess fats and acids to attack other body cells and damage your health eventually.
Again, alkaline-forming foods, such as leafy vegetables and green powders, neutralize your body’s pH and detoxify excess acids and fat cells. Additionally, these greens are also low in calories. If you’re not into eating vegetables, again you can add green supplements in your smoothies for your healthy weight management meal.
Takeaway
Powdered greens are low in calories, but high in specific minerals, such as chromium, iodine, and selenium; and vitamins, including vitamins A, C, and K. However, truth be told, powdered greens are low in fiber. Hence, powdered greens can support your optimal wellness and health only with a well-balanced diet and healthy lifestyle.
