As a registered dietitian, I’m well aware that the market is flooded with dietary supplements making all sorts of health claims, and new products come out all the time. One that I've seen soar in popularity over the past couple of years is Cymbiotika Super Greens.
This chlorophyll supplement is designed to support general health, but what immediately sets it apart is that instead of a gummy, capsule, or powder form, it comes in a gel. Despite a high upfront cost, I couldn't resist putting it to the test to see how it stacks up against Live it Up Super Greens, which is the best greens powder I've found for benefits like support for gut health and immunity. In this review, I’ll cover:
- Is Cymbiotika Super Greens Worth a Try?
- What Is Cymbiotika?
- Purported Health Benefits
- Ingredient Breakdown
- Quality and Safety
- Cost Analysis
- Taste Review
- Why I Choose Live it Up Super Greens
Cymbiotika Super Greens Quick Facts
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Key ingredients:
- Chlorophyll (sodium copper chlorophyllin)
- Greens complex, including organic alfalfa powder, broccoli seed extract, glucoraphanin powder, and organic spirulina
- Organic cassava syrup and citrus extracts for flavor
- Fillers like water, glycerin, and pectin
- Flavor: Citrus Lime
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Manufacturer health claims:
- Boosts cellular detoxification
- Improves energy levels
- Supports the immune system
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Possible side effects: Cymbiotika doesn't list any side effects for its Super Greens, but any greens supplement may cause effects such as:
- Digestive upset, gas, and bloating
- Rare allergic reactions to certain ingredients
- Interactions with prescription medications
- Container size: 30 servings (15mL per serving)
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Nutrition facts: One super greens pouch =
- 35 calories
- 8g of carbohydrates
- 0g of protein
- 0g of dietary fiber
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Price:
- $70.20 for 30 servings with a subscription ($2.34 per serving)
- $78 for 30 servings ($2.60 per serving)
- Shipping: Free for all orders
Bottom Line: Is Cymbiotika Worth a Try?
Cymbiotika does a great job providing evidence for every ingredient in its Super Greens gel. However, that evidence doesn't hold up when you look carefully at the product's supplement facts. The nutritional content is sparse, the texture is unpleasant, and the dosage of greens is extremely low, especially considering that this is one of the most expensive greens supplements I've seen.
In my professional opinion, Live it Up Super Greens provides a much better value thanks to its robust nutritional profile from leafy greens, gut-healthy ingredients, and a refreshing taste.
What Is Cymbiotika?
Cymbiotika was co-founded in 2018 by the husband and wife team of Shahab and Durana Elmi, along with their colleague Chervin Jafarieh. The trio had the mission of creating plant-based supplements without artificial ingredients, filling what they saw as a hole in the supplement market by combining modern science with traditional Eastern medicine.
The company has since grown to offer 38 different supplements that target specific needs such as skin, gut, and brain health, as well as general fitness and detoxification. Cymbiotika maintains the following standards for all of its products:
- Gluten-free
- Soy-free
- Vegetarian
- Made in the USA
- No artificial flavors, fillers, preservatives, or GMOs
One of those products is Cymbiotika Super Greens, a daily greens supplement designed to support cellular detoxification, energy levels, and the body's healthy immune response. It has 35 calories and eight grams of carbohydrates per serving.
Cymbiotika Super Greens Pros
- Third-party tested in GMP-compliant facilities
- Convenient to-go gel pouches don't require mixing
- Citrus Lime flavor helps mask the taste of greens
- Uses sodium copper chlorophyllin, which may support the body's natural detoxification processes
Cymbiotika Super Greens Cons
- Very expensive compared to other, more robust greens supplements on the market
- Doesn't contain any digestive enzymes or probiotics to assist with gut health
- Very sparse supplement facts panel that lists no specific nutrient content
- Gel consistency doesn't mix well with liquids
- Its health claims are not backed by high-quality research
- Very small dosage of greens per serving
Cymbiotika Super Greens Purported Benefits
Cymbiotika points to its high-quality ingredients to support a list of claims about the health benefits of its Super Greens. However, the product's short ingredient list, small dosages, and sparse nutritional information are all red flags to me as a registered dietitian. Let's look more closely at each of these health claims.
Benefit #1: Energy Levels
Cymbiotika cites chlorophyll as an ingredient that can help with energy levels. While chlorophyll is used by plants to absorb energy from the sun, there is little scientific evidence to suggest that chlorophyll supplements provide energy production for people. None of the chlorophyll studies highlighted on Cymbiotika's website pertain to this benefit, either.
Sodium copper chlorophyllin, the type of chlorophyll used by Cymbiotika, does show some promise as an antioxidant and a neuroprotective. However, it's worth noting that most studies are done on animals or in vitro, and they use much higher doses than what's found in the Cymbiotika Super Greens supplement.
Benefit #2: Immunity
There is at least some potential merit to the claim that Cymbiotika Super Greens can aid immune function. The product contains glucoraphanin powder, which can be broken down into the antioxidant-rich compound sulforaphane.
Antioxidants help to balance the level of harmful free radicals that the body produces naturally, which in turn helps the immune system effectively fight infections without allowing free radicals to damage the body's cells.
Benefit #3: Cellular Detoxification
Whenever you see the terms "detox" or "detoxification" used in the context of dietary supplements, it's almost always a red flag for misleading health claims. There is currently no strong evidence to prove that supplements can provide enhanced cellular detoxification in the body. In fact, the typical body naturally detoxifies itself via the liver and kidneys.
While nutrients from certain foods, such as broccoli, can help these processes, they would need to be present in high amounts. The low dosage of greens available in Cymbiotika Super Greens likely wouldn't have much of an impact. The best ways to support natural detoxification are consuming vegetables and other healthy foods, avoiding drinking alcohol, and exercising regularly.
Benefit #4: Digestive Support
Cymbiotika claims that its Super Greens supports healthy digestion. However, this is the only claim that it doesn't back up using specific studies, and it may be because there are no traditional gut-supporting ingredients in the formula.
Many greens supplements contain digestive enzymes or probiotics to help the body process nutrients and to aid with symptoms of digestive discomfort. Neither of these elements is present in the Cymbiotika Super Greens formula (plus zero fiber), so I doubt how much this supplement can offer digestive support.
Cymbiotika Super Greens Ingredients Breakdown
Cymbiotika relies on a simple formula with few ingredients. However, simplicity alone doesn’t make for an effective supplement. Let’s break down each ingredient in detail.
Chloropyll
Sodium copper chlorophyllin from mulberry leaf, the type of chlorophyll used by Cymbiotika, shows some promise as an antioxidant and a neuroprotective. However, it's worth noting that most studies are done on animals or in vitro, and they use much higher doses than what's found in Cymbiotika Super Greens.
Proprietary Super Greens Complex
There are only 458 mg of greens that include seven listed ingredients, including organic alfalfa powder, organic oat grass powder, organic spinach powder, organic spirulina, organic kale, broccoli seed powder extract, and 13% glucoraphanin powder. This would be a low dosage of any of these ingredients alone. For example, most alfalfa supplements come in doses of at least 500 mg and up to 10 grams (10,000 mg).
Even without knowing exact amounts of each, it's clear to me that none of these ingredients are present in an amount that would provide significant health benefits.
Other Ingredients
It's likely that most of the calories and carbohydrates in this formula come from the organic cassava syrup and organic glycerin listed under other ingredients on the product's label. Cassava is rich in carbs, and the syrup is a sugar solution that is likely added to provide flavor and help with the consistency of the gel.
Organic citrus extract, lime extract, and organic lemon oil are also listed, which give the gel its citrus lime flavor. Lastly, this gel gets its consistency from water, pectin, and glycerin, filler ingredients that are fine in my book, but I’d much rather see replaced with superfoods.
Cymbiotika Super Greens Quality and Safety
Cymbiotika is based in San Diego and makes its Super Greens in the USA. It utilizes third-party testing by Certified Laboratories, which tests for compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and verifies that the product is free from harmful contaminants, bacteria, and heavy metals.
This is the standard I prefer to see from a supplement company, and it indicates to me that Cymbiotika Super Greens is a safe product made from quality ingredients.
Additionally, Cymbiotika Super Greens is gluten-free, soy-free, and made without artificial flavors, preservatives, or GMOs. However, the company does not specify information about other common allergens that may be in its product.
Cymbiotika Super Greens Cost Analysis
Cymbiotika Super Greens is among the most expensive greens supplements I’ve tested. Shipping appears to be free for orders inside the U.S., but Cymbiotika does not accept returns for opened products.
- Single purchase: $78 for 30 single-serving pouches ($2.60 per serving)
- Subscription: $70.20 for 30 single-serving pouches ($2.34 per serving)
- Shipping: Free for all orders
If you subscribe, you can get a larger discount for each additional package you purchase, up to 30% off if you buy 5 packages at once. However, this still leaves you with a total price of $273 for 150 servings ($1.82 per serving), which is still more expensive than a subscription for Live it Up Super Greens.
It's also worth noting that as of writing, each purchase from Cymbiotika earns entries into an ongoing sweepstakes. The brand offers additional entries for answering questionnaires, signing up for promotional messaging, leaving reviews, engaging in the brand's community, and referrals.
Cymbiotika Super Greens Taste Review
Cymbiotika Super Greens is a gel you can either eat directly out of the pouch or mix into your favorite beverage. The taste is grassy with subtle hints of lemon-lime. It also has a distinct sweetness from cassava syrup.
Reviews on texture are mixed, and it seems as though Cymbiotika may have changed up its formula in the past few years. What customers used to describe as a smooth gel is now a bit clumpy, which I have found makes taking it by itself less palatable and mixing it into drinks more difficult.
Overall, there are definitely better-tasting green supplements. Due to the prominence of chlorophyll in the formula, Cymbiotika Super Greens is overall much grassier than Live it Up Super Greens, which has a slightly minty or fruity flavor thanks to the use of monk fruit extract as a natural sweetener.
Why I Recommend Live it Up Super Greens
I have to recommend against Cymbiotika Super Greens. Even putting aside the hefty price tag, it simply doesn't seem capable of supporting daily nutrition in a significant way. Its formula is full of nutritional gaps due to the low dosage of greens, and its unpleasant taste and texture are reasons enough to choose a different supplement.
While every individual has different health goals and concerns, the recommendation I give most frequently to my clients is Live it Up Super Greens. It does most of what Cymbiotika claims to do, and does it well. It contains an effective probiotic count and digestive enzymes to support a healthy gut. It's packed with antioxidants and more than 20 superfoods to provide immune support and sustained energy levels throughout the day.
Live it Up is also third-party tested for quality, and I think it’s the best-tasting greens powder. It comes in two flavors that strike a balance between slightly sweet and refreshing. Whether you prefer the minty taste of the Original or the fruity taste of Wild Berries, you'll be able to blend it easily into your favorite drink or recipe.
Even if you're unsure about greens supplements in general, Live it Up is an affordable place to start and has a money-back guarantee.
FAQs About Cymbiotika Super Greens
What makes Cymbiotika different?
Cymbiotika Super Greens stands out in the greens supplement market as a gel-based product. Most greens supplements come in the form of a mixable powder, a chewable gummy, or a capsule that you swallow whole. The Cymbiotika gel pouch is designed to be a convenient way to get greens on the go, since users can consume the gel directly from the pouch on its own. It can also be squeezed out of the pouch and mixed into beverages.
Does Cymbiotika Super Greens have sugar?
Cymbiotika Super Greens does not list any added sugar content in its supplement facts. However, it does contain cassava syrup, which comes from the pulverized cassava root mixed with water. The resulting solution is technically a type of sugar, adding sweetness and helping with the consistency of the gel-based super greens product. It also contributes to the calorie and carbohydrate count of Cymbiotika Super Greens, since cassava is rich in complex carbs.
Is Cymbiotika FDA-approved?
Cymbiotika supplements are not Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved, but this is also the case for all supplement products sold in the US.
The FDA does not have the authority to approve supplements before they enter the market. Instead, the agency regulates supplement safety and labeling accuracy. It may take action against manufacturers and remove products from the market if they are proven to be harmful or misleading.
Do super greens powders actually work?
Whether or not daily greens powders actually work depends on your specific health goals and the formula you're using. A supplement needs to contain the right ingredients in effective doses to achieve specific health outcomes, and you may need to consult with your dietitian or healthcare provider to determine the right fit for you. I’ve always recommended Live it Up Super Greens for its nutrient-dense formula, organic vegetables, and positive reviews.
Some supplements that don't seem to have an effective formula may still provide a placebo effect for users, making them feel healthier and more energized after consumption.
Are Cymbiotika products third-party tested?
Yes, Cymbiotika products are third-party tested for safety and consistency across batches. The company's Super Greens are tested by Certified Laboratories, an accredited dietary supplement testing provider with testing labs based in the U.S. Cymbiotika will send a certificate of analysis via email upon request.
References
- https://cymbiotika.com/collections/all-products-collection/products/supergreens
- https://health.clevelandclinic.org/are-there-health-benefits-to-using-liquid-chlorophyll
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11018464/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21240766/
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/antioxidants-explained
- https://extension.colostate.edu/resource/nutrition-misinformation-how-to-identify-fraud-and-misleading-claims/
- https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/detoxes-and-cleanses-what-you-need-to-know
- https://www.mdanderson.org/cancerwise/the-facts-behind-4-detox-myths-should-you-detox-your-body.h00-159385890.html
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4488002/
- https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/digestive-enzymes-and-digestive-enzyme-supplements
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/14598-probiotics
- https://www.health.com/alfalfa-benefits-8547342#toc-how-to-use
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/cassava
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