We all want to lead a healthy life that energizes and empowers us, but getting all the nutrients we need in a day through fruits and veggies alone isn't always possible. Taking nutritional supplements has the potential to help, but it can be difficult to narrow down the best option with so many different dietary supplements on the market.
Let's start small by just comparing greens vs. multivitamins. Vitamin and mineral supplements, as well as super greens powders, both have the potential to fill the gaps of those missing nutrients and, in turn, aid our cognitive task performance, cerebral blood flow, and overall health.
Although greens powders stood out as the most supportive of the two options, this article breaks down what each type of supplement is, their individual ingredients, and what to look for depending on your specific wellness needs so you can make the choice that feels right to you.
A Quick Look
- What is greens powder? It is a powdered version of the natural, nutritious greens that are part of a complete diet and aid a healthy lifestyle.
- What are multivitamin supplements? Multivitamin supplements are pills, tablets, capsules, or gummies that add beneficial vitamins and minerals to your diet.
- What are the pros and cons of greens powders vs. multivitamins? Multivitamins are quicker to take, but green powders are a more natural option that you can easily incorporate into your daily regimen.
- Why greens powder wins. As a nutritionist, I believe that greens powder is the better of the two options because it consists of only natural compounds, especially brands that are made with organic vegetables like Super Greens, vs. multivitamins, which can have synthetic components, leaving nutritional gaps in their daily servings.
But let's take a closer look so you can decide.
What Is Greens Powder?
Greens powder is, essentially, a powder form of the leafy greens vital for a healthy diet and lifestyle. Add the powder to water, milk, or any liquid for a green drink or a morning smoothie. You can easily incorporate it into your morning routine without much time or effort.
Although the ingredients can vary greatly by brand, here are some potential benefits many powders offer:
1. They help a balanced diet. While they aren't a complete replacement for solid food, greens powders can support a healthy diet by providing a daily nutrient intake. It all comes down to the ingredients within the powdered greens you purchase.
2. They are made of whole foods. Not only are greens powders packed with dried leafy greens, but they also offer the whole fruits, whole vegetables, and other vitamins and minerals you need.
3. They offer hard-to-find nutrients. Eating greens gives you vitamins and minerals that are otherwise difficult to get, such as magnesium, calcium, potassium, and manganese. They may also aid digestion and immune support and, in general, promote healthy energy levels.
What Are the Benefits of the Ingredients in a Greens Powder?
Greens powders contain essential superfoods that may promote health and well-being in various ways. Here are some of the most important ingredients to look for in a greens powder, along with their potential benefits.
Spirulina
Spirulina is an algae that is blue-green in color and contains vitamins B and E, as well as other vital nutrients such as iron and zinc. This algae has shown numerous potential advantages, making it a supportive dietary supplement for people who might benefit from a boost of these nutrients.
Burdock Root
Burdock root is a biennial plant that is rich in nutrients, vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, and calcium. Burdock root contains anti-inflammatory properties and has been used to alleviate burns and wounds. One serving contains only 110 calories and a significant amount of nutrients that have been shown to promote general health and well-being.
Alfalfa
Due to alfalfa sprouts’ nutritional properties and essential vitamin content, this herbal supplement was widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. Fiber, protein, antioxidants, and phosphorous are also found in alfalfa. This superfood is particularly high in vitamin K, which has been shown to help bone health.
Dandelion Leaf
Dandelion leaf contains a high concentration of antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins A, B6, C, and K. The perennial herb has been shown to aid with inflammation reduction, digestion, and immune system support, as well as aid skin health. Despite its potential health benefits, a cup of raw greens contains only 25 calories.
Many More
These are just a few of the healthy superfoods that can be found in a greens powder blend. Other ingredients with potent nutrients and minerals include kale, chlorella, nettle leaf, wheatgrass, and barley grass. Combined, these superfoods may help aid digestion, immunity, and energy.
What Are Multivitamin Supplements and What Are They Actually Made Of?
Multivitamin supplements take the form of pills or gummies that add vitamins and minerals to your diet. However, many vitamins and multivitamin supplements can come from synthetic or non-organic sources. Multivitamins don't replace full meals. They're similar to greens powder because neither can fully replace whole foods and beverages but rather aid in bridging nutritional gaps.
The difference is in the ingredients and construction. Powdered greens typically consist of natural, whole-food greens, dried and ground into powder, but multivitamins comprise the extracted vitamins and minerals themselves, also ground into a powder.
Multivitamins can offer an extensive list of vitamins and minerals, such as calcium, iodine, iron, and zinc, and vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and K. Although there are a lot of nutrients these capsules can cover, they aren't always natural.
Most of the time, the vitamins are synthetic, and nutritionists combine the supplements with other additives to help the lab-created vitamins break down easier with stomach acids. The potential issue is their manufactured quality. People should always follow directions on how much to take to avoid adverse health effects.
The FDA does not review the ingredients inside the dietary supplements to ensure they are safe to consume. The lack of oversight (particularly if a product is not third-party tested) leaves room for error, allowing some groups to distribute fake supplements and raising the opportunity for toxins to enter your body by accident and without your knowledge.
Another potential danger is overdosing on your vitamin intake. Too much is dangerous, depending on the vitamin you're ingesting. In this case, it's best to consult your physician or a registered dietitian before integrating multivitamins and other potentially synthetic supplements.
What Are the Benefits of Multivitamin Supplements?
Multivitamins can help supplement a variety of essential vitamins and minerals. While well-balanced and healthy food patterns should always be the primary source of nutrients, taking a multivitamin supplement can help fill any nutritional gaps and ensure that your body has all the micronutrients it needs.
Aiding your immune system, cognitive function, energy, and overall health are some of the potential benefits of taking a multivitamin supplement. The specific benefits will vary depending on the ingredients in the multivitamin and the individual taking the supplement. It is best to consult your doctor or a qualified healthcare professional to determine if a multivitamin supplement is right for you.
The Pros and Cons of Greens Powders and Multivitamins
Integrating both multivitamins and greens powders has its pros and cons, so we’ve compiled a list to help you decide which is the best for you.
Pros of Multivitamins
- They support your body’s natural defenses.
- Provide necessary vitamins and minerals that may maintain your energy.
- Easy to consume as pills or gummies.
- Specific types based on need: Prenatal, For Men, For Women, etc.
Cons of Multivitamins
- Synthetic vitamins are not as beneficial as whole-food nutrients.
- They don't replace food or beverages.
- Potential to over- or underdose on daily vitamins.
Pros of Greens Powders
- Made with natural fruits, vegetables, and green superfoods.
- May aid fuel and energy.
- Helps gut health with supportive bacteria and digestive enzymes.
- Vitamins and minerals can aid your immune system.
- Can be mixed into a delicious drink you enjoy.
- No artificial sweeteners or synthetic vitamins in many products.
Cons of Greens Powders
- Might not provide all the nutritional needs of everyone.
- Some have a grassy taste.
- Not monitored by the FDA, but many products like Super Greens are GMP-certified and third-party tested for quality standards.
An In-Depth Comparison
There are several similarities between greens powders and multivitamins, both good and bad. It's quicker to take multivitamins as a pill, tablet, capsule, or gummy, but they can lack the other nutrients you need per day, and they are synthetic.
Although greens powders don't replace whole foods, they can be easily mixed with whole foods, like fruits and vegetables, green superfoods, and other foods and liquids. Blending these items can support a healthy diet and replenish the water that greens powder lacks. Multivitamins might be easier, but green powders can be incorporated into your daily routine.
Both supplements may aid energy levels and protect your body’s natural systems. However, some multivitamins can contain potentially dangerous additives, while a quality greens powder brand guarantees you natural sources. As a nutritionist, I believe the best option is always the natural option.
Brands like Live it Up are made with organic vegetables and real ingredients, providing natural vitamins and minerals through superfoods with digestive enzymes and fiber.
As a company, they offer options that can support your health and taste good in the form of a greens powder smoothie or green tea. Live it Up lets you know exactly what you're putting into your body and helps you understand superfoods and the components that go into them by being transparent.
So, which is the better option? Both have their ups and downs, and this article is here to help you decide what fits your specific needs. That said, with brands like Live it Up, you know you're getting nothing but whole foods in a tasty powder that you can incorporate into your lifestyle.
How to Incorporate Greens Powder into Your Daily Routine
There are several ways to incorporate greens powder into your daily routine. The possibilities are endless, but here are some of the most common and convenient methods.
- Water: Greens powder dissolves and mixes easily in water. This method is possibly the simplest way to get your daily dose of nutrients and superfoods. Because Super Greens has a refreshing mint flavor, you don't need to add extra sweeteners or flavors to mask an unpleasant taste.
- Smoothie: To get even more nutrition out of your favorite smoothie blend, add a scoop of greens powder. Blend your favorite fruits, ice, juice, yogurt, or milk with Super Greens for a delicious and healthy treat.
- Protein Shake: Greens powder is an excellent addition to your favorite protein shake. You can not only fuel your body with powerful plant-based protein, but you can also nourish it with nutritious superfoods.
- Food Ingredient: Greens powder works well in meals such as eggs, bread, soups, and salad dressing. To add extra nutrients and minerals to your meal, mix or dissolve a scoop of Super Greens in your favorite dish.
How To Pick the Best Green Powder
The overall potential benefits of the best greens powders cover a variety of health-related positives. The main plus is the potential to increase your daily fruit and vegetable intake.
Live it Up’s superfood greens powder may support your daily physiological health and immune system and offer several advantages not found in other green powders, which lack the same reputation and trust. While we believe that Super Greens offers the best value out of any greens powder, here are some things to consider when selecting a green powder to meet your specific health needs:
Ingredient Quality and Sourcing
The quality and source of ingredients in green powders can significantly impact their effectiveness. To get the most nutrient-dense and pure product, look for brands that use high-quality, non-GMO ingredients. Transparency in ingredient sourcing and processing is also important to ensure the product is free of harmful contaminants and additives.
Health and Lifestyle Goals
When selecting a green powder, keep your health and lifestyle goals in mind. Some powders are designed to help with specific health goals, such as supporting energy or aiding digestion. Others cater to specific lifestyles, such as vegan or paleo. Choose a powder that complements your goals and lifestyle to reap the most benefits.
Brand Reputation and Testing
When selecting a green powder, keep the brand's reputation and testing practices in mind. Look for brands that are open about their manufacturing processes, as well as those that use third-party testing to ensure quality and purity. When incorporating the powder into your routine, a reputable brand will prioritize safety and effectiveness, giving you peace of mind.
Why Super Greens?
Live it Up is a leading super green powder company that offers one of the best greens powders made with organic vegetables. Live it Up always posts its ingredients list to show transparency and consideration toward those looking for long-term solutions through greens powder supplements.
Positives of Super Greens
- A variety of superfoods, plus probiotics and digestive enzymes
- Fully plant-based and vegan
- Gluten-free
- Dairy-free
- Non-chalky formula
- All-natural fruit enzymes
- No fillers, added sugar, artificial sweeteners, or artificial ingredients
This greens powder can be energy-supporting, body-rebooting, and nutritionally beneficial, leaving most customers feeling good. Reviews have also said that it is the tastiest green powder on the market, making it easy to incorporate into your morning routine.
Overall, Super Greens is our recommended choice over multivitamins to help give your nutrition a super boost.
FAQs About Greens Powder vs. Multivitamins
Here are some common questions related to powdered greens and multivitamins.
Can you take both greens powder and multivitamins?
In short, you can, but there are some precautions to follow when taking greens powder and specific vitamins and minerals altogether. Taking both is only beneficial if the multivitamin focuses on particular nutrients the greens powder doesn't have. If they match, don't take both. Consuming too many supplements is not beneficial in the long run, and you don't want to risk too high a dosage of specific vitamins or minerals.
Can greens powder replace a multivitamin?
Yes, they can. Greens powder may offer the same beneficial nutrients and minerals as vegetables and fruits as multivitamins, coming from whole food sources.
Is greens powder beneficial?
Yes! While what's beneficial might be subjective for each individual, Live it Up can bridge nutritional gaps, which benefits anyone looking for a micronutrient solution.
Are greens supplements necessary?
No, but greens, superfoods, and the vitamins they give us are to help us achieve a healthier body and mind potentially. You don't need them if you can provide your body with all the proper whole foods and beverages without the supplements.
Are multivitamins necessary?
If you're giving your body the nutrients it needs daily without the supplement, you don't need them.
References
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/super-greens
- https://www.ars.usda.gov/plains-area/gfnd/gfhnrc/docs/news-2013/dark-green-leafy-vegetables/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24668061/
- https://americanbonehealth.org/nutrition/vitamin-k2-plays-key-role-in-bone-health/#:~:text=Research%20has%20suggested%20that%20Vitamin,protein%20for%20maintaining%20bone%20strength.&text=Vitamin%20K%20comes%20in%20two,Vitamin%20K2%20(menaquinone).
- https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/MVMS-Consumer/
- https://www.nutritionletter.tufts.edu/ask-experts/q-how-are-multivitamins-made-and-how-do-the-vitamins-get-into-the-body-after-you-swallow-a-multivitamin/
- https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/dietary-supplements
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/synthetic-vs-natural-nutrients
- https://www.bestgreenpowder.com/?utm_campaign=17595891540&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=640975078937&utm_term=green%20powder%20vs%20multivitamin&adgroupid=150063751091&matchtype=b&network=g&device=c&adposition=&gad=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw2K6lBhBXEiwA5RjtCTEAm7gGhczRBeg_sRcjLnHdJTMqduRtAkGHzsFEEfY1Z7397o7eqxoCRQYQAvD_BwE
Leave a comment