Though I’m usually skeptical about health products that have gone viral, I was intrigued by the promising list of fruits and vegetables in Bloom Greens, so I decided to take a closer look at this supplement blend.
In this review, I’ll cover everything I learned about Bloom Greens & Superfoods, from the ingredients and potential health benefits to the taste and cost, to help you determine whether it might be a helpful addition to your diet or if you should consider other superfood powders like Live it Up Super Greens. Let’s get started!
Bloom Greens Quick Facts
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Key ingredients:
- Around 30 ingredients including fruits & vegetables
- Green superfoods
- Adaptogenic herbs
- Digestive enzymes
- Prebiotics, and probiotics
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Flavor options:
- Original
- Mango
- Coconut
- Strawberry Kiwi
- Berry
- Orange Passionfruit
- Citrus
- Pineapple
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Manufacturer health claims:
- "Relieves bloat"
- "Supports gut health"
- "Promotes energy”
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Possible side effects:
- Digestive discomfort
- Acid reflux
- Potential allergic reactions
- Calories: 1 scoop = 15 calories
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Container size:
- 30-serving containers
- 60-serving containers
- On-the-go stick packs
- Price: $34.99 for 30 servings (10% discount with subscription)
- Shipping: Minimum $50 spend for free U.S. shipping (or set up a monthly subscription)
What Is Bloom Greens & Superfoods?
Bloom Nutrition was co-founded in 2019 by wellness influencer Mari Llewellyn and her husband Greg LaVecchia. The company grew out of Mari’s fitness and weight loss journey, with the aim of providing tasty dietary supplements to help people realize their wellness goals.
Bloom’s supplement range includes a pre-workout energy and performance blend, whey isolate protein, colostrum and collagen peptides, matcha green tea, and a collagen creamer for coffee.
Bloom Greens & Superfoods is one of the brand’s most popular products. With the help of Llewellyn’s 1.5 million Instagram followers, it has attracted significant attention on social media. The supplement powder, which can be mixed with water or any other beverage, claims to support digestion, ease bloating, and promote immunity and energy balance. It features over 30 ingredients, including fruits, vegetables, leafy greens, adaptogenic herbs, extracts, digestive enzymes, prebiotics, and probiotics.
Each serving (one scoop of powder, or roughly 5.5 grams) contains 15 calories, 2 g of fiber, and 3-4 g of carbohydrates. Available in multiple flavors, Bloom Greens & Superfoods is sold online and in-person from certain retailers.
Pros of Bloom Greens
- Contains green superfoods like spirulina and alfalfa leaf powder
- Includes prebiotics, probiotics, and enzymes for digestion support
- Wide range of flavor options
- One serving provides 7% Daily Value of dietary fiber
- Subscribe & Save orders receive a 10% discount
- Sold at Target, Walmart, and Costco
Cons of Bloom Greens
- Vitamin and mineral content not listed in Supplement Facts
- The sweetener, stevia leaf extract, leaves an artificial aftertaste
- Contains maltodextrin
- No information provided about specific quantities of probiotics
- The powder can be clumpy, even after mixing
- $50 minimum spend for free shipping
Bloom Greens Purported Benefits
In advertising materials for Greens & Superfoods, Bloom Nutrition focuses on three potential benefits:
- Improved gut health and digestion (including bloating relief)
- Immune system support
- Energy balance
For each of these claims, I looked at the Greens & Superfoods formula to see how the ingredients match up to the potential benefits, and what customers have to say about the product’s impact on their overall health.
Benefit #1 of Bloom Greens: Gut Health, Digestion, and Bloating
The purported digestive benefits are Bloom’s main selling point, so I was particularly interested in reading customer reviews about the effects of Greens & Superfoods on their gut health.
From the ingredient list, it’s clear that Bloom Nutrition designed this product to focus on digestive health. I was impressed with the inclusion of so many different digestive enzymes, which are essential for breaking down various nutrients, and a fiber blend to help “keep you regular.”
It was also encouraging to see that both prebiotics and probiotics were included. However, I was surprised that the product didn’t specify the quantity of probiotics, typically measured in colony-forming units (CFU). Other green powder brands contain at least five billion CFU of probiotics (or sometimes more), so the lack of detail made me wonder whether Bloom Greens contains a clinically significant amount.
In customer reviews, quite a few reviewers mentioned that they had experienced more regular bowel movements and less bloating, though a significant number said they didn’t feel any different after adding Greens & Superfoods to their morning routine.
Some reviewers commented that they experienced stomach upset or increased bloating when using this greens powder, though this was usually a short-term side effect at the start of supplementation.
Benefit #2 of Bloom Greens: Immunity
Another purported benefit of Bloom Greens & Superfoods is support for your immune system. Somewhat disappointingly, the manufacturer doesn’t provide details about how the blend achieves this. The Supplement Facts are surprisingly sparse and don’t list any vitamins and minerals except for a small amount of iron and a negligible amount of sodium.
That being said, many of the ingredients in Bloom Greens could positively impact the immune system, even though the product label doesn’t specifically identify them. The blend includes greens such as chlorella, spirulina, wheatgrass, and barley grass, which are full of immune-supporting compounds like antioxidants and polyphenols, plus numerous fruit and vegetable powders.
In their whole form, these fruits and vegetables contain vitamins A, B-complex, C, D, E, and K and minerals like calcium, potassium, iron, and magnesium. One would hope that the powdered versions maintain some of these important micronutrients. However, the lack of clarity around the vitamins and minerals provided leaves me to wonder how much immune support this greens blend delivers.
Customer reviews mention immunity rarely compared to bloating, so it’s difficult to determine the perceived effectiveness of Greens & Superfoods on this area of health.
Benefit #3 of Bloom Greens: Energy
Bloom Nutrition claims that using this greens powder “promotes energy.” I would have liked to read how the ingredients in Greens & Superfoods contribute to energy balance, but once again, there is no explanation of this purported health benefit. And with no mention of B vitamins or magnesium in the Supplement Facts, I had to do some detective work to figure out where the “energy” comes from.
Getting enough vitamins and minerals in your diet is crucial to functioning properly (both mentally and physically) throughout the day, so the same immune-supporting ingredients may also contribute to energy balance.
Additionally, Greens & Superfoods contains matcha green tea leaf as part of its “antioxidant beauty blend.” There is a small amount of caffeine in matcha, and this may contribute to feeling more energized after using this product. Adaptogens like Rhodiola root, ashwagandha root, and eleuthero root may also play a role in helping people feel more alert throughout the day.
In customer reviews, Greens & Superfoods users are largely positive about the perceived increase in their energy levels:
Bloom Greens Ingredient Breakdown
With over 30 ingredients in Bloom Greens & Superfoods, it’s easy to skim over the Supplement Facts label. I wanted to understand why each one was chosen, so I took a close look at the various types of ingredients that Bloom Nutrition selected to deliver its promised health and nutrition benefits.
Green Superfoods
It wouldn’t be a greens powder without powdered greens! Bloom uses five green superfoods in this blend: organic barley grass powder, organic spirulina powder, organic wheatgrass powder, organic alfalfa leaf powder, and organic chlorella powder. These are some of the most common greens found in supplement powders (you’ll also find them in Live it Up Super Greens, Athletic Greens, and many other brands) due to their incredible nutrient density.
For example, in the blue-green algae chlorella and spirulina, you’ll find vitamins A, C, D, iron, calcium zinc, B vitamins, copper, amino acids, protein, and omega-3 fatty acids. With abundant antioxidants, these superfoods are an excellent choice for individuals looking to increase their intake of nutritionally-dense greens.
In Bloom Greens, you get 1.367 grams of greens per serving. Although this is not nearly as much as some other greens powders, it’s a helpful starting point for filling nutrient gaps.
Fiber, Prebiotics, and Probiotics
Considering the goal of Bloom Greens & Superfoods to provide digestion support and bloating relief, the addition of fiber, prebiotics, and probiotics should come as no surprise. Collectively, these ingredients may contribute to a positive balance of “good” bacteria in the microbiome and a healthy digestive tract.
What I did find surprising is that the Supplement Facts do not specify the quantity of probiotics in the blend. Greens & Superfoods includes three different probiotic strains (Bifidobacterium bifidum, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, and Lactobacillus acidophilus), along with blue agave inulin and chicory root fructooligosaccharides (prebiotics that support the growth of beneficial gut bacteria), but there is no mention of the colony-forming units (CFU). For reference, most probiotic supplements contain anywhere from 1 billion to 10 billion CFU.
Nearly all of the other green powders I’ve encountered have listed the CFU of their probiotics. For example, Garden of Life Perfect Food has 250 million CFU, while Live it Up Super Greens has 5 billion CFU of dairy-free probiotics.
The organic flaxseed and apple fruit powder contribute to the dietary fiber content in Bloom Greens, providing around two grams of dietary fiber (7% of the Daily Value) per serving. This is roughly the same as a tangerine or a medium-sized boiled potato. This is helpful, though clearly only a small portion of your recommended daily fiber intake.
Fruit and Vegetable Blend
Bloom Greens & Superfoods features a “fruit and vegetable blend” and an “antioxidant beauty blend.” The former includes organic carrot powder, beetroot powder, kale leaf powder, blueberry powder, spinach powder, broccoli powder, and ginger root 5:1 extract.
The antioxidant blend consists of cranberry fruit powder, strawberry fruit powder, raspberry fruit powder, tart cherry fruit powder, elderberry and açai fruit extracts, goji berry, horseradish tree leaf (moringa), grape seed extract, and matcha green tea leaf.
Although Bloom does not explain why these particular fruit, vegetable, and plant powders are included, the assumption is that they will provide vitamins and minerals and help with antioxidant activity. For example, the polyphenols and flavonoids in grape seed extract may help to neutralize free radicals that cause oxidative damage to cells.
Unfortunately, although this is an impressive assortment of plant-based powders and extracts, there is no way to determine how much of each is included. While the total amount per serving of the fruit and vegetable blend is 572 mg and the antioxidant beauty blend comprises 550 mg, no further details are available about the dosage of each ingredient.
Digestive Enzymes
The digestive enzyme blend in Bloom Greens contains six different digestive enzymes: amylase, amyloglucosidase, protease, acid protease, cellulase, and lipase. Each of these enzymes supports gut health by breaking down the various macronutrients in food into smaller compounds. Although your body produces digestive enzymes, whole fruits and vegetables are also good sources.
Surprisingly, the Supplement Facts list maltodextrin as the first ingredient in the digestive enzyme blend, even though maltodextrin is not a digestive enzyme. Certain variations of maltodextrin may have digestive benefits, but the majority are included in products to improve their flavor, texture, or shelf life.
Unfortunately, maltodextrin has been linked to bloating (a side effect reported by some Bloom Greens users). The role of maltodextrin in the microbiome is also unclear, as some research suggests that it may hinder the growth of probiotics. In contrast, other studies suggest that it may sometimes be a helpful prebiotic.
Adaptogens
Bloom Greens & Superfoods contains six root powders and extracts chosen for their adaptogenic properties: licorice root extract, Rhodiola root powder, American ginseng root extract, ashwagandha root powder, astragalus root powder, and eleuthero root powder. Although there is significant debate about the effectiveness of adaptogens, research suggests they may promote a healthy response to stress, anxiety, and fatigue. They may also help with mood, focus, and healthy sleep patterns.
Although adaptogens are generally well tolerated, they may cause side effects including digestive issues and possibly allergic reactions. It’s important to discuss the safety of adaptogens with your healthcare provider if you take medications.
Bloom Greens Quality and Safety
Bloom Nutrition products are suitable for individuals 18 and over. According to Bloom Nutrition, Greens & Superfoods is dairy-free, gluten-free, and free from GMO ingredients. Although the website doesn’t say that the product is vegan, it does describe it as “plant-based.”
Greens & Superfoods is free from allergens, including soy and nuts. However, those with severe food sensitivities should note that the Bloom website states “Our products are made in a facility that also processes nuts and dairy products.”
In the Bloom Nutrition FAQs, the company assures customers that all Bloom products are made in certified Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) facilities that adhere to FDA standards and are third-party tested by ISO-accredited labs. Specifically, Bloom tests to ensure that supplements are free from “contaminants like heavy metals, microbes and pesticides, and gluten.”
Bloom Greens Cost Analysis
Bloom Greens is one of the most affordable greens powders on the market. A 30-serving container costs $34.99 on the Bloom Nutrition website, though you may come across other prices if you buy Bloom Greens in stores like Target, GNC, and Wegmans.
Some online customers may opt for the 60-serving container ($64.99) to benefit from free shipping, which requires a minimum order of $50.
Another option is to set up a monthly Subscribe & Save order, which gets you a 10% discount on the 30-serving container and free shipping for U.S. customers. The subscription can be paused or canceled at any time. This is similar to Live it Up Super Greens, although Live it Up offers monthly subscribers a more substantial 33% discount on 30-serving orders and a 42% discount on 60-serving orders. In contrast to Bloom’s $50 minimum, there is no minimum spend for free shipping from the Live it Up website, even on one-time orders.
Bloom Nutrition accepts unopened and undamaged returns within 15 days of purchase, though customers have to cover the return shipping costs. Bloom does not appear to offer a money-back guarantee on its products, which is another area in which it falls short of Live it Up’s customer service policy.
Bloom Greens Taste Review
Considering the numerous flavor options (seven fruit flavors plus Original), I was curious to find out what customers thought of the taste of Bloom Greens. Compared to other green powders, this brand offers a great deal of choice with its fruit options: Mango, Coconut, Strawberry Kiwi, Berry, Orange Passionfruit, Citrus, and Pineapple.
To summarize the dozens of reviews I read on BloomNu.com and Amazon, most customers found the taste acceptable, if somewhat artificially sweet. This is not particularly surprising considering that the sweetener, stevia leaf extract, is more than 200 times sweeter than sugar. However, a significant number found the stevia overpowering, leaving a distinct aftertaste. Strawberry Kiwi, Mango, and Coconut appear to be among the most popular flavors.
Some reviewers said that although they had been excited to try Bloom Greens, and had even noticed an improvement in bloating or regularity, they were unable to get past the taste and thus gave up on the product.
Although Bloom Nutrition encourages customers to mix their Greens & Superfoods powder with water, many prefer mixing it with juice or a smoothie to make it easier to drink. Unfortunately, the texture of Greens & Superfoods was also a problem for some customers, who described it as “gritty” or “chalky.” Some recommended using a milk frother or hand blender to break down clumps.
Overall, whether you’ll enjoy the taste of Bloom Greens & Superfoods seems to be a bit of a gamble. The most common theme in the reviews seemed to be the distinctive stevia aftertaste, which some users were able to hide in a smoothie or juice.
Taste is a matter of personal preference, of course, but individuals who are sensitive to strong flavors and odors might do better with a different greens powder, like Live it Up’s stevia-free greens blend that uses monk fruit extract as its only sweetener.
My Verdict on if Bloom Greens & Superfoods is Worth it
Although many wellness products I see on social media are wildly overpriced and offer few nutrition or health benefits, I don’t think Bloom Greens & Superfoods falls into that category. Instead, I think this is a decent product that helps customers increase their intake of fruits, vegetables, fiber, gut-friendly bacteria, and digestive enzymes.
However, after reading dozens of customer reviews and conducting extensive research on the ingredients and alleged health benefits of Bloom Greens, I’ve identified several areas that could be improved to make this a better product.
Above all, I would like to know more about the vitamin and mineral content, which is notably absent from the Supplement Facts. The ingredients seem promising, but there is no way for prospective customers to judge how much of each one is included. Likewise, the lack of transparency about the probiotic content was surprising – especially for a product focused on gut health.
The customer reviews also made it clear that although Blooms Greens has fans who report improved digestive health and energy balance, others said they felt little or no change.
Impressively, Bloom Greens is available in eight flavor options, though the taste and texture have divided opinion among users. Though it’s one of the more affordable greens powders on the market, I consider Bloom Greens a bit of a gamble considering that it has an overpoweringly sweet taste and gritty texture and may not contain clinically significant amounts of key micronutrients.
Why I Recommend Live it Up Super Greens
Although Bloom Greens is better than some of the other greens powders I’ve come across, I don’t typically recommend it to clients interested in adding a green superfood blend to their daily nutrition.
Of course, everyone has unique health and wellness goals, and I don’t believe in a “one-size-fits-all” approach to health. That being said, I consistently recommend Live it Up Super Greens as my top choice for a greens powder that offers comprehensive nutrition from a diverse array of superfoods.
Although Bloom Greens and Live it Up Super Greens share some similarities, Live it Up stands out with its streamlined ingredients list, transparent Supplement Facts, and lack of stevia, caffeine, and maltodextrin.
Live it Up has over 20 nutrient-dense ingredients, each carefully chosen for its micronutrient content and potential health benefits. Along with well-known superfoods like kale, broccoli, wheatgrass, and barley grass, there’s also moringa leaf, alfalfa, kelp, dandelion, ginger root, and more. These organic vegetables are rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, polyphenols, and amino acids, making them excellent for immune support and energy balance.
The leafy greens in Live it Up Super Greens may also contribute to a healthy digestive system and help with bloating discomfort, further aided by 5 billion CFU of dairy-free probiotics and a digestive enzyme complex featuring bromelain, papain, and vegetarian pepsin.
Like Bloom Greens, Live it Up Super Greens is vegan, GMO-free, gluten-free, and nut-free. The vitamin and mineral content comes exclusively from its all-natural ingredients. Along with Live it Up’s other superfood powders, Super Greens is manufactured in GMP-certified facilities and third-party tested for purity and safety.
Both the Original and Wild Berries flavors are hugely popular with customers, who have given Live it Up Super Greens a 4.9 rating from nearly 2,000 reviews. Live it Up Super Greens offers excellent value, guaranteed free shipping, and a risk-free return policy in the unlikely event that you aren’t satisfied with your order.
FAQs
Interested in learning more? Check out my answers to some common questions about Bloom Greens & Superfoods.
Does Bloom Greens actually work?
While customer reviews are divided on whether Bloom Greens makes a noticeable difference to health and wellness, the brand has many loyal customers who enjoy using the product and feel that it makes a difference, particularly with digestive issues and energy balance.
Does Bloom help with bloating?
Although some customers haven’t noticed an improvement (and some say that Bloom actually makes bloating worse), numerous reviewers report that daily supplementation with Bloom Greens has helped them with bloating discomfort.
What does Bloom Greens do for your body?
According to the manufacturer, Bloom Greens & Superfoods is supposed to provide a daily serving of greens and thus help fill nutritional gaps – though precise information about micronutrient content is lacking from the Supplement Facts. The supplement blend contains leafy greens, fruits, vegetables, herbal extracts, prebiotics, probiotics, and digestive enzymes to help support normal bodily functions, especially digestion.
Does Bloom help you lose weight?
Bloom Greens is not a weight loss supplement and is not designed to replace any meals. However, as a low-calorie product containing fruits and vegetables (and 7% of the daily recommendation for dietary fiber), it may help support your weight management goals in conjunction with a healthy, well-rounded diet.
Are there side effects to Bloom Greens?
Bloating and stomach upset are among the most commonly reported side effects of using Bloom Greens. However, these symptoms tend to diminish once your body gets used to the supplement, and not everyone will experience them. It’s always a good idea to consult your healthcare provider before taking a new supplement, especially if you take prescription medications or have any preexisting conditions.
References
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/fiber/art-20043983
- https://www.chhs.colostate.edu/krnc/monthly-blog/what-are-polyphenols-another-great-reason-to-eat-fruits-and-veggies/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7019700/
- https://www.healthline.com/health/stress/smart-girls-guide-to-adaptogens
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/chlorella-spirulina#differences
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/probiotics/faq-20058065
- https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/pick-right-probiotic
- https://www.med.umich.edu/mott/pdf/mott-fiber-chart.pdf
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7054588/
- https://www.webmd.com/diet/what-are-digestive-enzymes
- https://www.verywellhealth.com/maltodextrin-7481887
- https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/is-maltodextrin-bad-for-me#when-to-avoid
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3991026/
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/22361-adaptogens
- https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-is-stevia
- https://www.topnutritioncoaching.com/blog/ag1-review
- https://foodinsight.org/everything-you-need-to-know-about-monk-fruit-sweeteners/
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