The Lowdown
- Live it Up Super Greens (formerly Ensō Supergreens) - Best for Comprehensive Nutrition
- Ka Chava - Good for Plant-Based but Costly
- Huel - Good for Protein but Lacks Whole-Food Ingredients
Are you incorporating enough fruits and vegetables into your diet? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that adults eat at least 1.5 to 2 cups of fruits and 2 to 3 cups of vegetables daily to maintain healthy eating habits. If you find yourself falling short of these guidelines, you aren’t alone—9 in 10 adults fail to meet this standard.
Poor nutrition can lead to low energy levels, nutritional deficiencies, and other illnesses in more severe cases. Thankfully, there are many simple and convenient ways to help boost your nutrient intake, from multivitamins and meal replacement shakes to nourishing greens powders.
Ka Chava and Huel are two top meal replacement brands that people use to support their workout regime or help lose weight. When you think about “meal replacement,” you likely figure a product has a lot of protein, a high-calorie count, and enough nutrients to replace a standard balanced meal (i.e., one with protein, vegetables, grains, etc.).
Meanwhile, Live it Up Super Greens is a premium super greens powder. Unlike meal replacement shakes, greens powders have a low caloric content and strive to supplement nutrient intake rather than replace a full meal. These powerful blends focus on plant-based nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytonutrients, derived from green vegetables, algae, grasses, and herbs.
Because it could help support overall health, boost nutrient intake, and fill potential gaps in a person’s diet, Live it Up Super Greens is our recommended choice. Nonetheless, this guide will break down Ka Chava, Huel, and Live it Up Super Greens’ ingredients, taste, cost, and potential health benefits to help you decide which dietary supplement is best for you.
Quick Comparison
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| 100% all natural |  |
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| Made with organic vegetables | |
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| Wide variety of superfoods | |
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| Probiotics | |
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| Digestive enzymes | |
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| Local sourcing | |
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| Manufactured in the US | |
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| NSF Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) registered facilities | |
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| Third party tested | |
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| Sugar free | |
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| No stevia | |
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| Caffeine free | |
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| Non GMO | |
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| Nut free | |
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| Free shipping without any limitations or spend limit | |
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| Money-back guarantee | |
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| Live chat with a real person and responsive customer service | |
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| Cost per serving (for the subscription) | $4.66 | $2.21 | $1.33 |
Ka Chava Overview
Marketed as “the whole-body meal,” Ka Chava is a plant-based meal replacement powder that offers a super blend of protein, fiber, adaptogenic herbs, omega fatty acids, lab-made MCT fats, digestive enzymes, electrolytes, and more.
Right off the bat, it sounds like an extremely comprehensive formula that could easily replace a nutritious meal. In fact, depending on someone’s diet, Ka Chava's meal replacement options could wind up being healthier than what users normally eat.
Accessible for the everyday consumer, the product targets athletes and individuals who want to replace a meal and give their bodies additional nutrition. With over 85 superfoods and adaptogens, Ka Chava has a dynamic formula that can pack a lot of nutrients into a single shake. A single serving delivers vitamins A, C, D, and E and vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, and B12.
You’ll also get good doses of essential minerals like iron, calcium, phosphorus, copper, manganese, sodium, and potassium. All of the nutrients cover nearly half or over half of your recommended daily allowance (RDA), so a serving could easily replace a full meal and may offer nutritional benefits depending on your existing diet and lifestyle.
The formula is divided into specialized blends, but Ka Chava doesn’t reveal exactly how much of each ingredient is included. That being said, the company does offer a complete breakdown of which ingredients are in every blend. This is the same practice that Live it Up Super Greens follows, along with how much of each blend is incorporated into a single serving.
Ka Chava is fully vegan with 100% plant-based ingredients. It is also dairy-free, gluten-free, and soy-free and contains zero preservatives or artificial colors, flavors, or sweeteners.
Each bag of powder contains 15 servings, and there are five available flavors: vanilla, chocolate, coconut acai, chai, and matcha. Ka Chava offers energizing blends that are both tasty and nutritious if the taste of a meal replacement shake has ever turned you off.
What Is Ka Chava?
Founding the business in 2014, Simon Malone set out to create a plant-based meal replacement after becoming interested in nutrient-dense, all-natural superfoods like maca root, camu camu, and sacha inchi.
Realizing that it's hard to get good nutrition in our fast-paced world, Ka Chava wants to make slow eating easier by making vegan meal replacement shakes that "reconnect with nature" and remind us of how our ancestors used to eat what the earth gave them.
Ka Chava's manufacturing practices reflect its commitment to wholeness and quality; its product is made in facilities with FDA, NSF, GMP, and USDA-Organic certifications. As for the brand itself, some ingredients are sourced in the USA, and others are sourced from growers overseas.
Furthermore, products are evaluated by an in-house, ISO 17025-certified laboratory and third-party tested. The company lists the labs they work with on its quality page.
Another great feature of Ka Chava is its commitment to sustainability and conservation. The company partners with the Rainforest Trust and has saved over 116,000 acres of rainforest to date.
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Bottom Line: As far as meal replacement shakes go, Ka Chava is a highly health-conscious vegan supplement that offers 85 superfood ingredients and adaptogens in its formula, along with digestive enzymes. It could be valuable for people with nutritional deficiencies or athletes who want a healthy boost, but it comes at a significant price.
Huel Overview
Huel is geared more toward athletes who want a high-powered diet for their fast-paced lives. They promote real "fast food" instead of junk food. For example, they say that one serving of Huel Daily Greens, which has 91 vitamins, minerals, and ingredients made from whole foods, has 147 supposed health benefits.
The signature Huel meal replacement is a “complete meal powder” containing 30g of protein per serving, less than 1% sugar, and doses of all 27 essential vitamins and minerals. The Huel meal replacement also features phytonutrients, probiotics, and kombucha.
Each bag of Huel powder contains 17 meals and comes in 10 flavors: the oaty original taste, vanilla, banana, berry, chocolate, cinnamon roll, caffé latte, peanut butter, salted caramel, and unsweetened and unflavored, which is quite earthy and not preferred by most customers.
As for ingredients, Huel doesn't contain any vegetables or superfoods. The only recognizable ingredients are oats, pea protein, acerola cherries, brown rice protein, tapioca starch (likely the source of probiotics), corn starch, sunflower oil powder, and kombucha tea powder. The rest of the ingredients are vitamin additives and sucralose as a sweetener. Xanthan gum is likely the primary thickening agent.
A gluten-free version of the Original 3.0 is available, as is an Essentials formula that contains less protein, and Huel Black, which features 33% more protein and 55% fewer carbohydrates.
Huel Greens are the closest thing to natural on the site, featuring 91 organic greens, adaptogens, superfoods, and probiotics. The product is advertised as 100% vegan, but it’s important to note that doesn’t mean it’s extremely healthy. Many vegan green powders and meal replacements can still be high in sugar or contain additives you’re better off avoiding.
Out of any Huel product, the Daily Greens formula seems to be the most nutritionally beneficial because it uses organic produce like broccoli, spirulina, chlorella, kale, spinach, and nettle.
What Is Huel?
Huel is a meal replacement designed with an active lifestyle in mind. The majority of products are geared toward athletic people who want to increase their protein or carb intake, but the Daily Greens mix is marketed to a more general audience of people who want to fortify their immunity and overall health.
A successful businessman by the name of Julian Hearn founded Huel in 2015. The company writes that its vision is to make nutritious food available to more people while minimizing the impact on animals and the environment.
Its six products are made using plant-based ingredients, so they’re all vegan-friendly and lactose-free. They’re also non-GMO and contain zero soy. The company recommends its product for people to drink when they’re low on time and don’t want to compromise nutrition for convenience.
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Bottom Line: A protein-rich meal substitute, Huel doesn’t contain any actual produce, fruits, or vegetables that you need for a truly healthy diet. While it can give you vitamins and 400 calories to keep you full, it likely lacks the true nutritional benefit of a product made from organic ingredients.
Live it Up Super Greens Overview
Live it Up Super greens (formerly Ensō Supergreens) distinguishes itself from Ka Chava and Huel as the only super greens powder on this list. Unlike a meal replacement, super greens powders are primarily focused on providing plant-based nutrients and typically serve as dietary supplements. Live it Up Super Greens’ blend includes 20+ ingredients, including various green vegetables, algae, grasses, and herbs.
Many of the ingredients included in Live it Up Super Greens are superfoods offering a wealth of potential health benefits, including support for immune function, regular digestion, and energy balance. Some of the most potent ingredients included in the blend are spirulina powder, chlorella powder, burdock root, kale powder, broccoli powder, and peppermint leaf. Live it Up Super Greens also includes a digestive enzyme blend of papain, bromelain, vegetarian pepsin, and 5 billion CFUs of dairy-free probiotics.
Ingredients you won’t find in Live it Up Super Greens? Added sugars, sweeteners, artificial flavors, herbicides, pesticides, fillers, caffeine, and GMOs. Our founder, Haim Nigri, wanted this dietary supplement to be as accessible to as many people as possible; therefore, Live it Up Super Greens is also nut-free, dairy-free, gluten-free, and 100% plant-based.
Live it Up Super Greens is made with organic vegetables and all-natural ingredients and is manufactured in the USA in a GMP-Certified facility. Live it Up Super Greens also undergoes rigorous third-party testing for purity and heavy metal contamination, giving customers peace of mind that they are only consuming a greens powder of the utmost quality on a daily basis.
It's very easy to incorporate Live it Up Super Greens into your daily routine. Simply use the scoop inside the package (equivalent to two tablespoons) and mix your greens into water, milk, milk substitutes, or a smoothie. If you are feeling adventurous, you can also get creative and add greens to your meals by sprinkling them on top of scrambled eggs, dips, dressings, or soups.
What Is Live it Up?
Live it Up, the brainchild of Haim Nigri, a native of Brazil, is a health and wellness brand that emerged in 2021. Nigri's upbringing provided him with abundant access to fresh produce and nourishing meals. However, upon relocating to New York City, he found himself ensnared in the all-too-common predicament of failing to meet the recommended daily intake of fruits and vegetables.
Having personally witnessed the detrimental effects of inadequate nutrition on overall health and wellness, Nigri felt compelled to be a part of the solution to this nationwide issue. Drawing from his interest in nutrition and his professional background at global corporations and smaller startups, he embarked on a journey to establish his own health and wellness enterprise. His mission was to facilitate access to nutritious foods for all individuals and simplify the process of incorporating these essential nutrients into their lives.
Aside from our flagship product, Live it Up Super Greens, two other products are available. Customers can also purchase Power Beets, a beetroot powder with adaptogens, or Recharge, which may help with relaxation, sleep, and inflammation.
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Bottom Line: Live it Up Super Greens is a premium super greens powder packed with superfoods, algae, leafy greens, cereal grasses, digestive enzymes, and probiotics. By incorporating this supplement into your daily routine, you can more effortlessly fulfill your recommended daily fruit and vegetable intake, increase nutrient consumption, and help support your overall health and wellness.
Health Benefits Analysis
Ka Chava and Huel are meal replacements, while Live it Up Super Greens is a super greens powder; therefore, each product caters to different audiences and has its own approach to health. There are a few areas where their proposed benefits overlap, which we’ll explore below.
Full Nutrition
Ka Chava’s “whole body nutrition” and Huel’s “complete nutrition” have the same goal: to help you get all the vitamins and minerals you need in a single serving of their product. Ka Chava delivers half or more of your daily recommended dose for a good portion of vitamins and minerals.
Huel has all 27 in a serving, but the downside is that they aren’t naturally derived at all. Added vitamin compounds are not as good for you as those from produce, even if they are available in higher quantities. For that reason, we would recommend the more multifaceted Ka Chava formula over Huel for its nutritional value.
Meanwhile, Live it Up Super Greens also helps you reach your daily recommended fruit and vegetable intake. Each serving delivers 85% of the daily value (DV) for vitamin A, 93% of the DV for folate, 53% of the DV for vitamin B6, and 20 times the DV for vitamin B12. Live it Up Super Greens’ high dosage of vitamin B is particularly helpful, as our bodies cannot produce most B vitamins on their own. Therefore, it’s important for us to obtain them through diet or supplementation.
Support Immunity
Huel claims to give your body the essential nutrients it needs to thrive, but it does so through only a small handful of relatively ineffective naturally sourced ingredients. Ka Chava, however, uses a multifaceted recipe that includes a supergreens and vegetable blend, an adaptogen blend, a superfruits and fruit blend, an omega-and-fiber blend, and a plant-based protein blend.
For someone with poor nutritional health, Huel’s influx of vitamins could possibly benefit them. However, someone looking to support their immune system and their body’s overall function would probably do better choosing Ka Chava because of their well-rounded formula.
Live it Up Super Greens contains many nutrients and vitamins that may support immune system maintenance, including chlorella, spirulina, and leafy greens. Chlorella is particularly promising for immune function. Brimming with protein, vitamin B12, iron, and vitamin C, this nutritious algae functions as an antioxidant and may also help fight off sickness.
Convenience
Both Ka Chava and Huel aim to make nutrition more accessible, and they do so by allowing you to quickly whip up a meal replacement in a bottle. One serving of Ka Chava is 60 grams, while one Huel serving is 100 grams. Huel also offers ready-to-drink meal substitutes that could be even better if you don’t have time to meal prep.
Live it Up Super Greens functions similarly, but instead of a meal replacement, users consume a glass of greens juice or a superfood smoothie. Just scoop out a dose of greens powder, combine it with your liquid of choice, and enjoy.
Help Digestion
Ka Chava claims to support digestive health through a good dose of fiber, probiotics, and digestive enzymes. Huel also contains prebiotics and probiotics, as well as fiber, but it’s not particularly formulated to support digestion.
On the other hand, digestion is one of Live it Up Super Greens primary health focuses. Several ingredients in this greens powder may promote a healthy digestive tract, like kale, ginger, and peppermint leaf, but it mainly aims to regulate digestion through its probiotic and enzyme complex, the latter containing papain, bromelain, and pepsin, which all target different aspects of digestive health.
Balance Energy
Huel aims to round out a person’s nutrition so they can feel more balanced and energized by improving their overall diet. The company performed a study to test how their product impacted consumers’ lives, and they found that even though they consumed less energy, their nutritional intake improved. The research went on to be published in the Frontiers in Nutrition journal.
Ka Chava uses scientifically supported ingredients that may naturally support energy levels. Doses of iron, vitamin D, and B-complex vitamins can help fight off fatigue if you struggle with low energy throughout the day (so long as it isn’t tied to other causes).
Natural energy is another pillar of Live it Up Super Greens’ core focuses. There are many ingredients included in this formula that may help mental and physical energy levels throughout the day, including spirulina and peppermint leaf. Many athletes incorporate spirulina into their daily routines, as spirulina has been shown to enhance speed, energy, endurance, and mental ability, while peppermint leaf may help reduce daytime fatigue.
Ingredients Breakdown
Let’s take a look at the ingredients of Ka Chava vs. Huel vs. Live it Up Super Greens and see how they compare.
Superfoods
If you compare Huel Daily Greens to Ka Chava, you'll find that both have a wide range of superfoods, like fruits, vegetables, and adaptogens. However, Huel 3.0 falls completely flat in this department, as it lacks superfoods or any produce aside from acerola cherries. Acerola cherries are extremely rich in vitamin C and possess a wide range of phytonutrients, including phenolics, anthocyanins, and flavonoids.
Meanwhile, of Live it Up Super Greens’ 20+ ingredients, 14 are considered superfoods, including spirulina, chlorella, burdock root, wheatgrass, kale, broccoli, and spinach. Like kale and chlorella, which may promote a wealth of benefits, spirulina has anti-inflammatory properties that have been shown to help the immune system function more efficiently.
Probiotics
Huel, Ka Chava, and Live it Up Super Greens all feature probiotics. Huel's prebiotics and probiotics come from kombucha, while Ka Chava’s and Live it Up Super Greens probiotics come from their own blend.
Digestive Enzymes
Huel 3.0 does not have any digestive enzymes, and many users report that drinking it led to a significant increase in intense gas. Ka Chava includes five digestive enzymes in a 50-mg blend per serving. Live it Up Super Greens includes three digestive enzymes in its blend, including papain, bromelain, and vegetarian pepsin.
Local Sourcing
Ka Chava sources its ingredients from the U.S. and overseas, while Live it Up Super Greens sources all of its ingredients from only the highest quality farms worldwide. It’s unclear where Huel sources its Daily Greens blend ingredients.
Manufactured in the U.S.
Huel, Ka Chava, and Live it Up Super Greens are all made in the United States in FDA-registered facilities.
NSF Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) Registered Facilities
All three brands manufacture their products in FDA-registered facilities that follow GMP practices, but only Ka Chava reports using facilities that have NSF certification.
Third-party Tested
All three companies require that their products undergo third-party testing.
Sugar-free
Huel is not sugar-free; it uses sucralose or stevia to sweeten its products, and the amount depends on the flavor you choose. It does, however, aim to keep its products low in sugar.
Ka Chava contains added sugars but no artificial sweeteners, while Live it Up Super Greens is 100% sugar-free.
No Stevia
Huel contains stevia in some flavors, but Ka Chava and Live it Up Super Greens do not.
Caffeine-free
All three products are caffeine-free, except for Huel’s caffé latte flavor.
Non-GMO
Ka Chava, Huel, and Live it Up Super Greens are all non-GMO. Huel and Live it Up Super Greens state that they are completely GMO-free.
Nut-free
Huel and Ka Chava contain coconut, so they aren’t suitable for people with tree nut allergies. Live it Up Super Greens is 100% nut-free.
Taste Review
Taste matters for any nutrition supplement, whether it’s a meal replacement protein shake or a greens powder. See how these three brands stack up.
Overall Taste Satisfaction
Despite having more flavor options, Huel does not hold up well in the taste department. Even when it tastes like peanut butter, consumers say it tends to have a lackluster texture, making it somewhat unpalatable.
Ka Chava is much more natural-tasting and doesn’t use artificial sweeteners or flavorings. So, if you want a meal replacement that tastes more like a fruit smoothie, Ka Chava would be a better choice.
Other than cost, one of the most substantial barriers with super greens powders is their grassy and bitter flavor. Thankfully, this is not the case with Live it Up Super Greens. The formula relies on ingredients such as monk fruit and peppermint leaf to naturally sweeten the blend and give it its distinct minty flavor.
Texture
Ka Chava is generally smooth, but it can have some lumps. Huel is often reported to have a flour-like consistency that is quite thick and not easy to get over, even if the flavor isn’t bad.
Conversely, Live it Up Super Greens is a very fine powder that blends seamlessly into most liquids. Because the powder is so thin, most people prefer to mix it into a thicker liquid, like milk or a smoothie.
How Well the Powder Mixes With Liquid
Blending Ka Chava well is important, as it can be lumpy if it isn’t thoroughly mixed. A high-powered mixer, blender, or food processor should smooth its final consistency. You might have much more trouble getting a smooth finish if you make it in a glass and whisk with a fork.
Huel’s thick texture is not easy to mix on its own; you would need a shaker bottle or blender to make it a palatable consistency.
While some users prefer to mix Live it Up Super Greens with a blender, it can also be incorporated easily into a beverage with a fork or spoon. Make sure to give your super greens smoothie a good mix, particularly at the bottom of your glass.
Chalky Taste
Consumers generally favor Ka Chava’s flavors, but some report that its chocolate blend can be chalky. Online, there are many reports of Huel, no matter what flavor, being chalky and powdery even after mixing it well. Customers should experience no issues with chalkiness with Live it Up Super Greens.
Ka Chava vs. Huel vs. Live it Up Super Greens Cost
A one-time order of Ka Chava costs $69.95, and you receive 15 servings in a package. That comes to $4.66 per serving.
Huel requires a two-bag minimum order, and costs range from $59.40 to $65 for two bags. The cost per serving is much less than Ka Chava, with an average of $2.21 per meal.
A 30-serving package of Live it Up Super Greens costs $59.99, which equates to $1.99 per serving.
Loyalty Perks
Subscribers to Huel save 10% on their orders and can set up a delivery frequency of between 1 and 7 weeks.
Ka Chava subscribers save $10 on each bag and receive a monthly delivery.
If customers choose to subscribe to Live it Up Super Greens, they will receive a 33% discount on every order. Free shipping is granted to subscribers and non-subscribers.
Return Policies
Within 30 days of purchase, Ka Chava will provide a full refund for one bag of each flavor, no questions asked. Huel and Live it Up Super Greens will accept any product for a complete refund within 30 days of purchase.
The Bottom Line: Why Choose Live it Up Super Greens Instead
Live it Up isn’t a meal replacement brand, but our supergreens product still provides benefits that both Ka Chava and Huel lack. The flagship product Live it Up Super Greens is one of the best super greens powders on the market.
Rather than pack an entire meal into a serving, it uses natural superfoods to supplement your daily serving of greens. The ultra-fresh ingredients are delicious and can be transformed into a green smoothie that you can enjoy in the morning or afternoon.
All of the products are third-party tested and made in GMP facilities in the USA. With 5 billion probiotics and a robust digestive enzyme blend in every serving, the juice may also support your digestive health. And even better, a package of Live it Up Super Greens is far less expensive than the other two products, too.
While they certainly offer unique advantages for certain consumers, Ka Chava and Huel may not offer the best nutritional value. With every drop of Live it Up Super Greens, you know exactly what you’re getting and why it’s good for you. From the quality of our superfoods to our vitamin-packed formula and premium manufacturing, Live it Up Super Greens makes green taste and feel good.
References
- https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2017/p1116-fruit-vegetable-consumption.html
- https://www.kachava.com/
- https://huel.com/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7551956/
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/270435#:~:text=Kale%20is%20high%20in%20fiber,and%20a%20healthy%20digestive%20tract.
- https://www.webmd.com/diet/ss/slideshow-health-benefits-peppermint
- https://www.forbes.com/health/body/health-benefits-of-spirulina/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6098779/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3136577/
