Why are Organic Greens All the Rage Right Now?

Eating healthy can be delicious—but it can also be a challenge. From making sure you eat all your produce before it spoils, to tracking down sustainable sources and paying higher prices, the all-natural diet requires an investment of time and money.

Over the last few years, American consumers have been opting for even more organic greens. A 2021 trend report showed that organic greens purchases were up 16 percent in 2020, a trend which is expected to continue. Younger shoppers, especially, are more interested in going green.

If you’re struggling to add more organic greens to your diet, you might just be in luck. Organic greens powders are becoming increasingly popular. Avoid issues of food waste and spoilage, and get your daily vegetable intake in a quick, convenient way. Sounds like a dream come true: but are they as healthy as they seem?

What are greens powders?

Greens powders are dehydrated, powdered vegetables (usually leafy greens paired with other selections). They can be added to smoothies or dissolved in water or other liquids. On their own, they can taste quite vegetal and usually are green in color.

The powders usually include leafy greens like kale, spinach, parsley and collards. Often, companies add extra ingredients, such as natural sugars, extra fiber, digestive enzymes, probiotics, herbs, mushrooms, carrots, antioxidant fruits and even grasses.

The goal is to make it easy to drink a serving of vegetables, saving you time, prep and the potential for food waste. In turn, you should enjoy better levels of fiber, nutrients and helpful bacteria and enzymes. This contributes to overall and digestive health, helps regulate blood sugar and can boost your immune system, too.

While many of the brands are organic and plant-based, make sure to check the labels to verify.

Should you try powdered greens?

There’s no evidence to suggest that powdered greens can be harmful to your health, especially when used as part of a balanced diet. Keep in mind that not every brand’s nutritional value is created equally, so you’ll need to pay special attention to what each variety has to offer.

Some greens powders are designed to be meal replacements. These will typically provide a higher level of nutrients as well as more calories, as opposed to the supplements that other varieties offer.

Benefits of powdered greens

Getting your vegetables from a powder sounds like something straight out of the Jetsons, but it’s worth a try. Here are some of the benefits you’ll enjoy:

• Better digestive health: Few of us get enough probiotics, fiber and digestive enzymes in our daily diets. Instead of taking a separate probiotic or fiber supplement, you can add powdered greens with both included. It’s an easier way to get these valuable nutrients, without having to invest in multiple supplements or prepare several servings of vegetables per day.
• Can help prevent illness and disease: Because powdered greens are so nutrient dense, they can provide your body with more of the vitamins, minerals, anti-inflammatories and antioxidants it needs. In turn, your body will use these supplements to fight off free radicals, inflammation and other conditions that can lead to heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes.
• May boost your energy: Your overall energy will likely increase when you eat more vegetables. Powdered greens are a fast and easy—yet low-calorie—way to fuel your body for the day ahead.
• Convenience: The busier you are, the less likely you’ll want to prepare multiple servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Even though they’re packed with fiber and nutrients, it can be time consuming and expensive, especially if you don’t love vegetables anyway. Powdered greens are great for anyone on the go—or you can add them to soups and other dishes to improve the nutritional content.

While you shouldn’t think of greens powders as a substitute for all fresh vegetables, they can certainly help fill a nutritional gap. The key is to remember that every brand is different, so do your research and find one that will meet your needs.

If you have further questions about how to incorporate greens powders into your meals, talk to your medical doctor or dietician. They can make suggestions that will work with your lifestyle and health needs. Remember, if you’re trying to replace meals with greens powders, you need to find one with enough calories to act as a substitute.

Could powdered greens be the easiest way to boost your health? There’s only one way to find out.