Shelley Balls, a registered dietitian nutritionist at Consumer Health Digest, says that while greens powders may be beneficial when used in addition to a healthy diet, they fail to provide your body with adequate dietary fiber, and they’re not a substitute for a poor eating pattern. She’d recommend spending your money on “whole foods that contain ample sources of dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals, over green powders.” She also says that if you like the convenience of greens powders, “you might find frozen, canned, and pre-washed/chopped options helpful to boost your veggie intake.”. Dawn Menning, a registered dietitian and director for digital health with the Nutu App, agrees, saying that, “According to the CDC, only 10 percent of American adults meet the dietary recommendations for fruits and vegetables. With that in mind, green powders may be a convenient way for some individuals to fill in these nutritional gaps. But green powders shouldn’t replace eating whole fruits and vegetables.” She adds that if you already eat a healthy variety of fruits and veggies, “you probably don’t need a green powder.”. One thing to consider in the “pro” category: Per Trista Best, a registered dietitian at Balance One Supplements, “green powder supplements can be beneficial for vegetarians” because they can help fill nutritional gaps, especially regarding iron. She says, “Iron is one key nutrient that may be lacking in a vegetarian diet. While iron is found in a variety of plant-based foods, it is not as easily absorbed by the body as the iron found in meat.”. And when it comes to “super” ingredients, a word often emblazoned across the packaging of various greens powders, like spirulina or adaptogens, Balls says that there are some possible benefits but that there isn’t an abundance of research that supports their use. And some of these ingredients can interact with certain medications or trigger autoimmune disorders.
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