Super greens powders are an easy way to fill gaps in your diet by simply blending into a drink or sprinkling over other foods. As a dietitian, whenever I evaluate a new super greens supplement for my clients, I always check to see if the nutritional content matches the claims made. The ingredients are important, but so is transparency around the vitamins and minerals in each serving.
I’ve been curious about Herbalife V Plant-Based Greens Booster, a greens powder by the longstanding supplement provider Herbalife International. I wanted to see how it compared to the greens powder I most frequently recommend to clients, Live it Up Super Greens. Herbalife falls short in significant ways, while Live it Up remains my top choice for supporting overall health.
Comparison Chart
 |
 |
|
| Best for | Herbalife lovers looking to boost their intake of fruits and veggies. | Those who want a delicious, affordable greens supplement that offers comprehensive nutritional support. |
| Cost per serving | $2.85 - 2.91 | $1.33 (with a subscription) |
| Health targets | Overall health and wellness |
|
| Formula at a glance |
|
|
| Digestive support |
|
|
| Micronutrient content | 0 vitamins, 2 minerals | 22 vitamins and minerals |
5 Ways Live it Up Super Greens Outranks Herbalife Greens
As I considered these two greens powders, I looked at factors such as nutritional content, pricing, ingredients, and taste. After a thorough side-by-side comparison, here are the top five reasons I recommend Live it Up Super Greens to my clients.
1. Live it Up offers transparent nutrition
Live it Up Super Greens is a great source of more than 20 essential vitamins and minerals, and rather than just hoping you take their word for it, the company clearly spells out its nutrient content and amounts per serving. As a dietitian, this makes it easy for me to check Live it Up’s health claims since I can trace each one back to specific nutrients.
In contrast, Herbalife does not disclose its micronutrient content. It does list various vegetables and greens in its ingredients, which should have some nutritional value. Without quantities, however, it's hard to know just how much value they're offering. Instead, Herbalife wisely keeps its health claims vague by simply stating that Herbalife Greens Booster supports overall health and wellness, for example.
2. Live it Up has gut support you can rely on
Many greens supplements include probiotics for gut health support. This is true of both Herbalife Greens and Live it Up Super Greens, but the key difference is dosage. Live it Up contains 5 billion CFU of dairy-free probiotics (plus digestive enzymes), including Lactobacillus acidophilus, the most well-studied probiotic on the market. Plus, an analysis of studies has shown that 5 billion CFU is an effective daily dose to balance the adult gut microbiome.
Herbalife V Plant-Based Greens Booster, however, only includes 1 billion CFU of Bacillus coagulans and no digestive enzymes. This is a lesser-studied probiotic in a quantity that can be considered underdosed, meaning less reliable gut support.
3. Live it Up is wallet-friendly
Live it Up offers excellent value, especially compared to Herbalife V Plant-Based Greens Booster. While Herbalife's prices are not available for the general public, you can find its independent distributors selling Herbalife V Plant-Based Greens Booster in a 20-serving package size for between $56.95 and $58.20.
This works out to about $2.85 to $2.91 per serving, which is far higher than Live it Up's $1.33 to $1.66 per serving. I also account for package size. Live it Up is also available in a 30-serving package, meaning you'll only need to purchase one package at a time to get a full month's supply.
4. Live it Up is not an MLM
Like most greens supplements, Live it Up Super Greens is available for purchase directly. You can visit the Live it Up website, shop for Super Greens and other supplements, purchase them from the company, and have them shipped directly to you without jumping through hoops to buy from an MLM.
Herbalife, on the other hand, has been described by the Federal Trade Commission as a multi-level marketer (MLM). This means the only way to purchase Herbalife Greens or any Herbalife products is to contact an Herbalife Independent Distributor. These practices and the obfuscation around the products themselves make the company hard for me to trust.
5. Live it Up is delicious
One thing that sets Live it Up from a lot of greens powders I've tried is that it tastes great on its own. This is due in part to its use of monk fruit extract as a sweetener. Live it Up is completely free from stevia and naturally has a refreshing, minty flavor. It also comes in a Wild Berries flavor that has a bit more of a tart sweetness. Whichever your preference, it can be mixed into water and enjoyed without augmentation.
From what I've seen from reviewers (most of whom are independent distributors with an interest in selling the product) Herbalife V Plant-Based Greens Booster tastes like earthy greens and is best when mixed with juice or one of Herbalife's flavored Herbal Aloe Concentrates. These products include added sugars and end up adding to the already high cost of Herbalife V Plant-Based Greens Booster.
Herbalife V Plant-Based Greens Booster Overview
Herbalife was founded in 1980 by Mark R. Hughes. Its products are sold by a network of millions of independent distributors via an MLM sales structure in 95 countries. I can remember several controversies the company has experienced, such as being sued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the California attorney general's office, and the California Department of Health over false health claims, as well as settling with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission over its business practices in 2016.
Herbalife V Plant-Based Greens Booster is a powdered dietary supplement that includes proprietary vegetable, greens, and herb blends as well as 1 billion CFU of probiotics per serving.
Read the full Herbalife Greens review to learn more.
Herbalife Greens Nutrition Facts
One 12-gram serving of Herbalife V Plant-Based Greens Booster includes:
- Calories: 40
- Total carbohydrate: 6g
- Dietary fiber: 1g
- Total sugar: 3g
- Total protein: 1g
Herbalife Greens Ingredients
Herbalife V Plant-Based Greens Booster contains three proprietary ingredient blends, including:
- Veggies Plus Blend with apple, sweet potato, carrot, kale, mango, blueberry, broccoli, spinach, and more
- Grass, Sprouts, and Algae Blend with barley grass juice, spirulina, wheat grass juice, chlorella, and more
- Herbs, Spices, and Tea Blend with ashwagandha extract, green tea extract, ginger extract, and more
It also contains 1 billion CFU of the probiotic Bacillus coagulans.
Herbalife Purported Benefits
Herbalife’s only health claim for its Plant-Based Greens Booster is that it supports overall health and wellness. This could be true given the ingredients included in the formula, but without knowing the product’s specific nutrient quantities, I’m left to wonder if the company is being intentionally vague. It’s difficult to analyze the potential effectiveness of a supplement without knowing which vitamins and minerals it provides.
Herbalife Greens Quality and Safety
Herbalife tests its ingredients in labs that have achieved ISO 17025 accreditation, an international standard for competence and reliability. Herbalife V Plant-Based Greens Booster is made with organic ingredients and is soy-free, dairy-free, and non-GMO. It's unclear where this particular product is manufactured. The company mentions that many of its products are tested and certified by NSF International, but does not specify which ones.
Live it Up Super Greens Overview
Live it Up was founded in 2021 by Haim Nigri, who was inspired by the abundance of nutrient-dense vegetables that are readily available in his home country of Brazil. His goal was to make healthy superfoods accessible to everyone in the United States, starting with the brand's signature Super Greens powder for overall health and nutrition. Live it Up has since expanded to offer a Wild Berries flavor of Super Greens as well as two additional supplements, Feel the Beet and Golden Hour.
Live it Up Super Greens is made with organic vegetables and serves as a low-carb, sugar-free multivitamin with probiotics and digestive enzymes.
Live it Up Nutrition Facts
One serving of Live it Up Super Greens contains:
- Calories: 25
- Total carbohydrates: 5g
- Dietary fiber: 3g
- Total sugar: 0g
- Total protein: 2g
- Vitamins: Vitamin B12 (109% DV), vitamin K (78% DV), vitamin B2 (13% DV), Folate (6% DV), vitamin A (5% DV), and vitamin B3 (3% DV), among others
- Minerals: Iron (34% DV), iodine (28% DV), calcium (5% DV), magnesium (4% DV), Potassium (3% DV), Zinc (2% DV), and more
Live it Up Ingredients
Live it Up Super Greens contains more than 20 all-natural organic vegetables that are chock-full of beneficial vitamins and nutrients. There are no fillers or additives to artificially sweeten or enhance the formula. The vegan greens blend includes:
- Young cereal greens such as wheatgrass, barley grass, and oat grass
- Aquatic algae, including chlorella, spirulina, and kelp
- Other leafy green vegetables like broccoli, spinach, and kale
- Medicinal herbs such as moringa leaf, burdock root, dandelion, peppermint, and ginger root
- Three different digestive enzymes and 5 billion CFU of dairy-free probiotics
Live it Up Purported Benefits
- Gut Health: Each serving of Live it Up contains 74mg of digestive enzymes, 5 billion CFUs of probiotics, and 3g of dietary fiber, all of which can help balance the gut microbiome and support overall gut health. Ingredients such as ginger, alfalfa, wheatgrass, and barley grass are also rich in prebiotics, which can work with probiotics to feed gut bacteria and help the body with digestion.
- Immunity: The Live it Up formula features several nutrient-rich leafy green vegetables, such as kale and broccoli, that contain immune-supportive vitamins and minerals.
- Energy Levels: The body's ability to metabolize nutrients is key to maintaining its energy levels all day long. Super Greens is rich in B vitamins and the digestive enzymes needed to process them, while the formula in general helps fill nutritional gaps and may leave you feeling more energized.
Live it Up Quality and Safety
Live it Up manufactures all of its supplement products in the U.S. in good manufacturing practice (GMP) certified facilities. This certification ensures that Super Greens meets strict standards for quality and safety. All products are third-party tested for harmful contaminants such as heavy metals, pesticides, and allergens. Super Greens is made with organic ingredients and is free from sugar, gluten, dairy, and GMOs.
Taste Comparison
Because Herbalife operates with an MLM sales structure, it’s not easy to try without contacting an independent distributor. As such, there are very few reviews online for Herbalife V Plant-Based Greens Booster, and the ones I found were all published by distributors themselves.
| Herbalife Greens Taste | Live it Up Taste | |
| Flavors | Only one greens flavor |
|
| Sweeteners | Stevia | Monk fruit extract |
| Customer Reviews |
|
|
Cost Comparison
While Herbalife doesn’t sell its products directly to consumers, I did come across a few of its independent distributors’ websites, where they seem to set their own pricing. This makes a direct cost comparison with Live it Up difficult, but I’ve broken down what we know for sure in the table below.
| Herbalife Greens Cost | Live it Up Cost | |
| Purchasing Options |
|
|
| Regular Cost | Varies by distributor. I found prices ranging from $56.95–$58.20 ($2.85–$2.91 per serving). | $59.99 ($1.66 per serving) |
| Subscription Cost | Not available | $39.99 ($1.33 per serving) |
| Shipping Cost | Varies by distributor | Always free |
| Return Policy | 30-day money-back guarantee | 30-day money-back guarantee |
| Where to Buy | Herbalife Independent Distributors only | Live it Up website or AMZ |
Get Your Daily Greens with Live it Up
While every individual has unique goals and health concerns, Live it Up Super Greens is still my overall top choice when recommending greens powders to clients.
This all-natural greens powder is designed to support energy, immunity, and digestion–and has the formula to back it up. Live it Up is very clear about the nutrients it provides via its blend of 20+ organic vegetables, superfoods, and antioxidants. It has a reliable formula for gut health featuring digestive enzymes and probiotics. It's also relatively affordable with a naturally sweet and delicious flavor, making it easy to incorporate into your regular diet.
With an affordable price of $1.33 a day and a money-back guarantee, there’s no harm in giving Live it Up Super Greens a try and working toward your health goals!
FAQs About Herbalife Greens vs. Live it Up
What is the lawsuit against Herbalife?
The lawsuit against Herbalife is not currently ongoing, but one occurred most recently when the company was sued by the Federal Trade Commission in 2016. The allegation against Herbalife was that it had deceived its independent distributors about how much money they could earn by selling its products. Herbalife settled for $200 million and agreed to fundamentally restructure the way it does business, making it so that members were paid based on products sold.
Is Herbalife approved by the FDA?
No, Herbalife is not approved by the FDA, but this does not make it any different from other dietary supplements. The FDA does not regulate or approve supplements for safety or quality before they go to market. Instead, it sets standards that supplements typically strive to meet via third-party safety testing and good manufacturing practices. Herbalife does have some of its products tested, although it’s unclear which ones.
Are Live it Up Greens worth it?
Live it Up Super Greens is worth it for people who need support with their daily greens intake. Taken in conjunction with a healthy diet and active lifestyle, Live it Up can help to support gut health, balanced energy levels throughout the day, and immune system function. When it comes to greens powders, I recommend Live it Up Super Greens over any other option on the market.
What are the side effects of Live it Up Super Greens?
Live it Up Super Greens is generally considered safe for most people to consume, although you may wish to consult with your healthcare provider or dietitian before altering your diet. There are no allergens or known severe side effects specific to Live it Up Super Greens, but like with most greens powders, it may cause mild digestive discomfort in some individuals when first starting the supplement.
Can I buy Herbalife products without a membership?
Yes, you can buy Herbalife products without a membership, but only from an Herbalife member. Otherwise, you must be a member yourself. What Herbalife calls members are its independent distributors. Because Herbalife operates with an MLM sales structure, it sells products directly to members who then sell it to their own customers. There is no easy and convenient way to buy Herbalife products in store or online without going through an Herbalife member.
References
- https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/blog/2016/07/its-no-longer-business-usual-herbalife-inside-look-200-million-ftc-settlement
- https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Probiotics-HealthProfessional/
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/14598-probiotics
- https://internationalprobiotics.org/home/probiotic-dosage-what-is-adequate/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3166406/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5748737/
- https://ispe.org/initiatives/regulatory-resources/gmp
- https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/refunds/herbalife-refunds
- https://www.mdanderson.org/cancerwise/what-are-free-radicals-a-dietitian-explains.h00-159699912.html
Leave a comment