The 10 Best Greens Powders of 2024, RDN-Approved (2024)

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Drinking a glass of powdered green vegetables may not sound pleasant, but it can be one of the best ways to boost your vitamin and nutrient intake, rivaling even some of thebest multivitamins. According to the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans, adults should consume 1.5-2 cup-equivalents of fruits and 2-3 cup-equivalents of vegetables daily. (1) Greens powders are made of nutrient-rich dried leafy greens, vegetables, fruits, herbs, seaweed, and even have some helpful digestion-focused additives.

After our team of experts sampled 39 of the best-selling greens supplements and a few lesser-known standouts, we’ve determined which of them are worth the buy and which are about as effective as drinking soil. We researched the formulations, solubility, side effects, flavor, and more to narrow down the absolute best greens powders. Whether you’re looking for more energy, improved performance at the gym, or to simply feel better, we’ve gathered and tried them all.

Best Greens Powders

• Best Greens Powder Overall: Athletic GreensAG1
• Best Greens Powder for Fiber: Transparent LabsPrebioticGreens
• Best Organic Greens Powder: KOS Show Me the Greens!
• Best Greens Powder for Digestion:Nested Naturals Super Greens
• Best Greens Powder On the Go: Onnit Shroom Tech Greens
• Best Tasting Greens Powder: Live It Up!
• Best Greens PowderwithSpirulina:Legion Genesis Greens
• Best AffordableGreens Powder:Jacked Factory Greens Surge
• Best Greens Powder for Bloating:1st Phorm Opti-Greens 50
• Best Greens Powder with Protein: Kylea Total Living Drink Greens

Editor’s note: The content on BarBend is meant to be informative in nature, but it should not be taken as medical advice. The opinions and articles on this site are not intended for the diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of health problems. It’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor before beginning a new fitness, nutritional, and/or supplement routine.

Best Greens Powder Video Review

JoinBarBendexpert testerJake Herod, NASM-CNC, and registered dietician nutritionistChelsea Rae Bourgeois, MS, RDN, LD, as they discuss our picks for the best (and most budget-friendly) greens powders.

How We Tested and Chose the Best Greens Powders

To measure the potential effectiveness of different greens powders on this list, we paid attention to a few specific factors. Our team of experts, including personal trainers and athletes, tested about 39 different greens powders, looking closely at the ingredients, flavor, solubility, and more.

Quality Ingredients

We feel that it’s important to gauge a product’s vitamin and mineral content. But that’s a surprisingly difficult task, as many greens products state that they’re full of everything the body needs, while leaving many vitamins and minerals off of the nutrition label.

We prioritized products with transparent labels that provide as much information as necessary regarding the actual values of different vitamins and minerals. We also paid attention to ingredient sourcing, putting a high priority on whole-food-sourced powders.

Third-Party Testing

Some greens powder supplements are third-party tested, meaning all the ingredients on the label are accurate in the amounts written. We do our best to always prioritize third-party tested products to ensure our readers are getting the safest supplements on the market.

Product Taste

If we’re being totally honest, greens powders can taste pretty gnarly — and who wants to stir up an icky beverage first thing in the morning? Count us out. That’s why we made flavor a priority when picking our products.

Our product testers personally sipped each and every supplement on this list, comparing and contrasting different brands. In making our top picks, we kept flavor front-of-mind. After all, sipping a daily greens powder should be a consistent habit, and who wants to gulp down a beverage that tastes like dirt each day?

Solubility

Throwing your greens powder in a blender isn’t always convenient, especially if you want to sip your supplement on-the-go. So, we prioritized products that dissolve well in water with a spoon or shaker bottle. We made note of any clumps or ingredient settling as we tried one supplement after the next.

Side Effects

Luckily, most greens powders don’t have any side effects. Our testers kept track of any bloating, aftertaste, and digestion changes. Luckily, for every pick on this list, our testers noticed zero immediate side effects.

With that said, everyone’s body is different. If you have any allergies (or follow a specific diet, like gluten-free eating) or food sensitivities, it’s best to read the ingredient label closely before you try any new dietary supplements and speak with your healthcare provider or nutritionist as needed.

Expert Insight

While we certainly have some extensive experience when it comes to supplements, we’re not experts. So, to make sure you’re getting the highest-quality powders, we consulted an expert. Our team chatted withGianna Masi, RDN, a registered dietitian and certified personal trainer, to get her personal insight on the products we chose. And our intuition was accurate — she gave our picks a big thumbs up.

Customer Satisfaction

Everyone has different preferences and needs for their supplements. Regardless, we did our best to test and feature greens powders that seem to satisfy most of their customers. Each powder we picked comes with glowing reviews, and after testing them ourselves, we certainly agree.

Best Greens PowderOverall:Athletic GreensAG1

Athletic Greens

Athletic Greens

This nutritious greens powder is NSF certified for sport and includes 75 absorbable ingredients and is free of gluten, sugar, dairy, eggs, and peanuts. It is compatible with vegan, keto, and paleo diets.

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To pick the best greens powder overall, we prioritized micronutrients and ingredients for digestive health. This pick checked all of our boxes to support overall health. Plus, from personal experience, I think it’s one of the best-tasting greens powders.

“The grassy flavor you get with most greens powders is mild here,”our tester says, giving this an overall 4.5 out of 5 for flavor.“It’s a pineapple vanilla flavor that’s tasty but light, so it can mix well with other ingredients or alone.”

Athletic Greens also has a stand-out ingredient label. One serving gives you more than 100 percent of your daily vitamin C, vitamin E, and vitamin B12, among others. This supplement is dairy-free and has no fillers, artificial colors, preservatives, or animal byproducts. Considering it’s packed with so many crucial vitamins and nutrients in high doses, our testers gave the formulation a 5 out of 5.

I have to use an electric stirrer when mixing my scoop, and even then, it tends to settle since I like to sip my greens throughout the morning. So, I had to give the solubility a 3.5 out of 5 but so long as you keep a straw in your glass, manual mixing does the trick.

According toGianna Masi, RDN, a registered dietitian and certified personal trainer, the NSF Certified for Sport label is something athletes should prioritize.“When I’m working with professional or collegiate athletes, I especially want to make sure I’m providing tested products such as ‘NSF Certified for Sport’ or ‘Informed Choice for Sport,’ so I don’t impact their eligibility in addition to their health.”

You get about 30 servings per container, but the bag costs $79, making it $2.63 per serving. Most other greens powders are just over $1 per serving, so we gave Athletic Greens a 1 out of 5 for price per serve. To soften the price, a cup of coffee is going to cost you atleast$3.30 in a cafe, so if you grab a daily Starbucks, why not swap for a nutritious beverage?

Read our full Athletic Greens AG1 Review.

Best Greens Powderwith Fiber: Transparent LabsPrebioticGreens

Transparent Labs Prebiotic Greens for Fiber

Transparent Labs Prebiotic Greens for Fiber

A simple but effectively-dosed supplement that emphasizes sea greens and prebiotic fiber, and contains other ingredients in full doses backed by science.

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Fiber can promote good digestion, helping you to feel fuller for longer. “Most greens powders actually lack this ingredient,” saysGianna Masi, RDN, a registered dietitian and certified personal trainer. But with this supplement, you get about 21 percent of your daily value.

If digestive regularity is a challenge, Prebiotic Greens is a good pick. You get six grams of fiber per serving, plus a blend of probiotics for digestive health. However, it does lack any info on the actual nutrients you get with these ingredients, earning this product a 2 out of 5 for formulation.

“I really enjoyed the Peach Mango flavor,”one of our product testers said, giving the taste a 4 out of 5.“The flavor is definitely sweet but not too much and still a little earthy.”However, one of our other product testers found the flavor too grassy and needed to be mixed with orange juice. Flavor is a personal preference, so it really just depends on what you like.

This one earned a 4.5 out of 5 for solubility because our testers had zero issues when mixing the supplement with water. It dissolved easily, and you didn’t need to consistently stir as you sipped the drink.

When it comes to actual value and price, we thought this product was lacking a little, giving it a 3 out of 5 for price per serving. The 30-serving container costs $39.99 or $1.33 per serving, which isn’t particularly expensive. However, you can find cheaper products with better formulations, including specific percentages of vitamins and mineral

BestOrganic Greens Powder: KOS Show Me the Greens!

KOS Show Me the Greens!

See Also

Ghost Greens vs. Athletic Greens (AG1): Which Is Better?Are greens powders actually worth it? The experts weigh inJocko Greens vs Athletic Greens (AG1) | Which is Best?Primal Greens vs Athletic Greens (2024) | Garage Gym Reviews

KOS Show Me the Greens!

This greens powder features a wide variety of vitamins, minerals, and prebiotics sourced from all-natural and organic superfoods. It's got everything you need to help promote gut health and proper nutrition without any added sugars or artificial flavors all packed in a refreshing Green Apple Smoothie flavor.

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The ingredient list may be shorter than some other greens products, but KOS includes 13 different 100-percent organic ingredients, including apple, lemon, and mint, among others. While they may be part of proprietary blends, Show Me the Greens! adds organic superfoods like spirulina and wheatgrass to provide antioxidants and probiotics, which is why our testers gave this one a 4 out of 5 for formulation. (13)

“The powder tastes like green apple but has an earthy aftertaste,”says our product tester, giving the flavor a 4 out of 5.“It’s drinkable and I can finish the whole serving but I can tell it’s a greens powder. It would be perfect if it were a little sweeter.”

The solubility also received a 4 out of 5 because our tester found it to be a little gritty, so you may want to use an electric stirrer or blender. Unfortunately, this isn’t always convenient on the go.

If you’re shopping on a budget, KOS’ greens supplement is a great fit. The 30-serving container costs $32.99, which is only about $1.17. As one of the cheapest greens powders on this list, this one earned a 5 out of 5 for price per serving.

Best Greens Powder for Digestion: Nested Naturals Supergreens

Nested Naturals Super Greens

Nested Naturals Super Greens

Nested Naturals Super Greens blends micronutrients with digestion-focused ingredients, including probiotics and digestive enzymes. You can get this product in a handful of flavors with different objectives, including immunity or energy.

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There’s evidence that combining probiotic bacteria with fiber may help maximize both of these ingredients’ benefits, improving yourdigestive health. (3) This formula has a probiotic blend with about 1.67 billion CFU, digestive enzymes, and a fiber blend, all of which are helpful for digestion. However, we gave the formula a 2 out of 5 because it contains proprietary blends.

And while it does contain fiber and probiotics, they’re not in very high doses. You only get about seven percent of your daily fiber value, which isn’t very much. And the 1.67 billion CFU is positive but some probiotic supplements contain 50 billion CFU or more per dose. (4)

This supplement comes in a few flavors, including Berry Immunity, Calm, Chocolate, Energy Original, Focus, all with ingredients geared towards different benefits.“I had the original and it tasted like a lot of other greens powders I’ve sipped,”our tester said, giving the flavor a 3 out of 5.“The flavor tastes green — that’s the best way I can put it. I can get it down with just water but I’d definitely recommend mixing it with juice.”

When it comes to solubility, this product earned a 5 out of 5.“There’s absolutely no clumping when I mix it in water and juice,”our tester said.“There’s also no unwanted texture and it didn’t settle at any point.”

The company does claim to be third-party tested but doesn’t actually provide any testing info, so we had to give it a 3 out of 5 in this category. However, we did give the customer service a 5 out of 5 because we love the 100 percent lifetime satisfaction guarantee.

Nested Naturals Super Greens earned a 4.5 out of 5 for price per serving. The package costs about $24.99 for 30 servings, which is about $0.83 per serving, making this one of our budget-friendly options.

Read our fullNested Naturals Super Greens Review.

Best Greens PowderOn the Go: Onnit Shroom Tech Greens

10% Off

Onnit Shroom Tech Greens

Onnit Shroom Tech Greens

Each packet of Onnit Shroom Tech Greens contains one serving of vegetables. Each serving of vegetables includes 14 kale leaves, four spinach leaves, and one broccoli floret, as well as a mushroom blend.

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Onnit sells Shroom Tech Greens in single-serving size packets, making them convenient formaintaining proper nutrition while traveling. You can toss a packet in your gym bag or keep a few in your car — all you need is a cup of water.

This supplement combines high-quality whole-food sourced ingredients with an organic mushroom blend. However, these are all in proprietary blends, so you don’t actually know how much you’re getting for each ingredient. While mushrooms contain prebiotics, there are no added probiotics, which many other powders contain. All these factors considered, our product testers had to give this formula a 2 out of 5 total.

“It tasted like real mushrooms, which I found to taste a little weird,”our tester said, giving the flavor a 3 out of 5“Someone who loves the taste of mushroom may enjoy it but it wasn’t for me. When I mixed it with juice, it was okay.”However, Onnit’s powder did earn a 5 out of 5 for solubility, as it dissolved completely and easily with no gritty texture.

Luckily, our tester didn’t have any issues after sipping this supplement.“I didn’t notice any side effects — my stomach felt fine,”he says, giving the product a 4 out of 5 for side effects.“However, I couldn’t actually drink more than one serving because I didn’t enjoy the taste.”

This supplement isn’t the cheapest, but it’s also not the priciest. The product costs $59.95 for 30 single-serving packets, which is about $2 per serving, earning a 3 out of 5 for overall price.

Best Tasting Greens Powder: Live It Up Super Greens

Live It Up Supergreens

Live It Up Supergreens

Live It Up Supergreens pack more than 100 percent of plenty vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, vitamin B1, and vitamin B12, to name a few. It also has a refreshing minty flavor.

See Also

9 Best Athletic Greens Alternatives By A Dietitian (AG1 Substitute)

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Let’s be totally honest: Greens powders taste, well, very green. For most greens powder supplements, getting past the earthy flavor is a challenge. But that wasn’t our experience with the Live It Up greens powder. After sipping this product for six months, our tester gave the overall flavor a 4.5 out of 5.

“The Original flavor is kind of like mint,”our tester said.“I’d say it definitely tastes as described. At first, I thought the flavor was a little overwhelming but after drinking it more, I actually really enjoyed it.”

Overall, we liked the formula here, too. Live it Up’s formula has more than 20 natural superfoods, including chlorella and spirulina. You also get more than 50 percent of your daily recommended value of vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B9, and vitamin B12, among others.However, we don’t love that the brand uses proprietary blends.

“Live It Up Greens scores a 2.75 out of 5 in the formulation category,”according to Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, RDN.“It contains a small amount of plant-based protein, whereas many other greens powders do not. However, its nutrient content leaves you wanting more based on the cost per serving and many ingredients are part of proprietary blends.”

We also had a little bit of issues with solubility, giving this category a 3 out of 5. According to our testers, the product leaves some powder at the bottom of the cup no matter how much shaking they did. A blender may solve this issue but we understand that not everyone has time to whip up a smoothie every time they want to sip this supplement.

At $1.99 per serving ($59.99 per bag), this is a pricier greens powder. However, you can subscribe to monthly deliveries for $39.99 ($1.33 per serving). Nevertheless, we know this product may not be within every athlete’s budget and we do have more cost-friendly options on this list.

Best Greens PowderwithSpirulina: Legion Genesis Greens

Legion Genesis Greens Powder

Legion Genesis Greens Powder

This greens powder contains 5g of spirulina, 3g of reishi mushroom, 3g of astragalus membranaceus, 1.25g of dong quai root, and 1.5g of maca root extract. It comes in two flavors — Original and Acai Berry — which are both naturally sweetened and flavored.

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One dose of Legion Genesis provides five grams of organicspirulina, a blue-green algae that’s rich in nutrients like iron and beta-carotene. (2) Spirulina is also rich in antioxidants, which may help reduce inflammation. Research has linked consistent spirulina intake with improved health parameters surrounding weight, blood pressure, and endothelial function. (12)

Alongside the spirulina, this super greens powder includes maca root extract, dong quai root, and others, earning this powder a 4 out of 5 for formulation. These ingredients help support various functions, including immunity, blood sugar, and overall organ health.

“We specifically like Legion because you can actually read through the benefits of each ingredient,”says our product tester Kate Meier,BarBendeditorial staff member and competitive weightlifter.“The formula is lab tested and Legion provides research to prove its ingredients are in effective doses.”

This product comes in two flavors: Acai Berry and Original.“I sipped the acai berry and actually thought the flavor was okay — it tasted like berries mixed with greens,”Meier said, giving the flavor an overall 4 out of 5.“I finished the whole scoop and actually enjoyed it.”

It actually blended beautifully, too, earning a 4.5 out of 5 for solubility. We had to ding the product a little, though, because Meier had to stir for a while before the product fully dissolved.

We gave this product a 4 out 5 for price, though. The 30-serving container costs $41.99, which is about $1.40 per serving. There are definitely cheaper options for those shopping on a budget. We also did like that Legion offers pretty hassle-free returns, in case you’re not satisfied with the product.

Best AffordableGreens Powder: Jacked Factory Greens Surge

Jacked Factory Green Surge

Jacked Factory Green Surge

This greens supplement costs only about $0.75 per serving, making it one of the most cost-friendly greens powders on the market. However, it's also loaded with digestive enzymes, probiotics, and essential nutrients.

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Not everyone can afford to spend hundreds of dollars on supplements a month. The good news is, you don’t have to! Earning a 5 out of 5 for price per serving, Jacked Factory’s Greens Surge is a budget-friendly option that only costs about $0.83 cents per serving ($24.99 for 30 servings).

The formula combines whole-food sourced ingredients with a probiotic blend for digestive health. However, our testers had to give this formula a 3 out of 5 because you don’t actually get specific micronutrient values.

Unique to Jacked Factory’s product, this comes in multiple flavors, including Mixed Berry, Unflavored, Mint Chocolate, Sour Apple, and Lemon Lime.“I sipped on the mixed berry and I really enjoyed it,”says our product tester, giving the flavor a 4.5 out of 5.“It still tastes a little bit grassy but the added berry flavor makes it more appetizing.”

Although our tester didn’t notice any unwanted side effects,“it does contain sucralose as a sweetener,”she says, giving a 4 out of 5 for side effects.“Sucralose can cause unwanted digestive issues for some athletes, so if you have trouble with artificial sweeteners, this may not be the best product.”

This product ships across the world and has a 30-day money-back guarantee, so if the product doesn’t meet expectations, you can return it. However, given the large number of five-star reviews on the company website, there’s a good chance you will, too.

Best Greens PowderforBloating: 1st Phorm Opti-Greens 50

1st Phorm Opti-Greens 50

1st Phorm Opti-Greens 50

Opti-Greens 50 contains digestive enzymes and probiotics to help combat any unwanted bloating. Plus, you can buy this product in single-serving packets for easier on-the-go supplementation.

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This formula combines digestive enzymes and probiotics, including amylase, protease, peptidase, lipase, and more, to keep you bloat-free. Plus, this only has one gram of fiber, which is ideal if you’re concerned about bloating, as high-fiber diets can sometimes cause extra bloat. (5)

This formula contains some whole-food sourced ingredients, like barley grass, spirulina, wheatgrass, kale, spinach, and more. But our tester gave the formulation a 2 out of 5 because you can’t actually tell how much of each ingredient you get per dose.

This only comes in the Natural Berry Flavor but we were pleasantly surprised.“I actually enjoyed how this tasted,”our tester said, giving the flavor a 4 out of 5.“Unlike some others, it’s actually not very grassy at all, which is unique.”They also had zero issues with solubility, as it dissolved easily in water with no clumping.

Our tester had no side-effects with this supplement, giving it a 5 out of 5 in that category.“I didn’t experience any side effects at all,”our tester said.“Also it seems customers really enjoy this product for bloating issues.”

We gave this product a 3 out of 5 for price, as it sits in the middle of the road — it’s not too pricey but there are cheaper alternatives. One bag costs $70 for 30 servings, which is about $2.33 per serving.

Best Greens Powderwith Protein: Kylea Total Living Drink Greens

Kylea Total Living Drink Greens

Kylea Total Living Drink Greens

These greens contain 12 grams of protein and the nutritional equivalent of 7 to 10 servings of fruit and vegetables, along with 2,000mg of spirulina, probiotics, and a B-complex.

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Many people opt to throw their green juice or greens powders into aprotein shake. Kylea does the work for you, combining your greens and protein supplement into one powder with the Total Living Drink Greens.

This whole foods blend combines 11 grams of protein and the nutritional equivalent of 7-10 servings of fruit and vegetables. You also get plenty of nutrient-dense grasses, like alfalfa and barley grass.

Oftentimes, diets rich in plant-based foods are protein deficient. (11) Even though the protein blend is plant-based (it’s completely dairy-free), Kylea uses complementing proteins for a complete amino acid profile, so we gave the formula a 5 out of 5. We also like that Kylea also includes a digestive enzyme blend and probiotics to promote good digestion. Plus, it comes in a convenient ziplock bag that you can easily transport and store to keep the powder fresh.

Like Athletic Greens, this is one of the more expensive greens powders on this list at about $3.33 per serving, earning a 3 out of 5 in this category. But many happy customers say it’s totally worth the higher price point.

Unfortunately, the protein is lower than that of most of thebest protein powders. So, it may not be able to totally replace your whey. With that said, it’s significantly more than you’ll find in most greens powders.

While this greens powder is more expensive than some others on the market, this protein and greens blend can be a great investment if you’re sick of using separate protein and greens supplements. Another bonus: It’s available on Amazon Prime so you can get it delivered pretty quickly.

Potential Benefits of Greens Powders

When greens supplements burst onto the scene, they were marketed as the evolution of multivitamins. They’re notjustsources of vitamins and minerals, however. Greens powders often contain antioxidants, probiotic bacteria, digestive enzymes, and naturally-derived compounds that are linked to everything from better-functioning livers to improved mental clarity. Keep reading to learn all the health benefits of greens powders.

They’re Whole-Food Based

The biggest selling point is that the main benefits come from naturally-occurring foods, much like afruit and vegetable supplement.Usually, there are no isolated vitamins injected into the supplement — the nutrition comes entirely from whole foods.

“I love whole food sources as a means to get our nutrition and vitamins and minerals, so I like that a lot of the greens powders are derived from whole fruits, vegetables, and grasses,”says Masi.“I really encourage everyone to pick one meal a day that’s non-negotiable to get vegetables in. That’s a great place to start consuming more. Then, to add more antioxidants and polyphenols you could have a greens powder. It’s so important to remember that while powders can be great insurance, it shouldn’t take the place of trying to increase your veggie consumption.”

Compared to multivitamins, greens powders aim to harvest the benefits of whole food ingredients that can sometimes be excluded from a daily multi.

They Provide Additional Nutrients

Plants are a source of fiber, chlorophyll, and phytonutrients like indole-3-carbinol (which may help with estrogen balance), isothiocyanates (which may decrease inflammation), and glucosinolates (which may lower therisk of heart disease).

Diets rich in plant-based foods have been associated with improved health markers, such as a lower risk of heart disease, improved insulin sensitivity, weight management support, and a reduced risk of certain cancers. (7)

These ingredients sometimes result in a tremendous amount of nutrition that vastly exceeds what’s offered in a multivitamin. Some greens powders can substitute for antioxidant supplements, digestive health supplements, adaptogen supplements, and natural herb supplements likeRhodiola Roseaor milk thistle.

When it comes to gut health, Masi suggests using a greens powderora stand-alone probiotic. Otherwise, you risk digestive trouble. She also adds that greens powders or probiotics shouldn’t be considered a fix for gastrointestinal disturbances, and to always seek out a doctor if you have intense GI issues.

When Should I Take Greens Powders?

You can generally take a greens powder whenever it’s right for you — you’ll get the health benefits regardless. However, some companies recommend you take their product in the morning on an empty stomach.

As with any vitamin, greens powders can show the best results if you take them regularly — so no matter when you choose to take your greens throughout the day, ensure it’s a time you can maintain consistently.

How Much Do Greens Powders Cost?

Like many other supplements, greens powders fall into a wide range of prices. On the lower end, you’ll find powders that cost just 20 cents per serving. On the higher end of the range, you may find greens powders that cost more than $3 per serving. On average, however, you can expect to pay between $1.50 and $2 per serving. We’ve got several picks in that range on our list, as well as some that cost less and others that cost more.

The most basic greens — and generally less expensive powders — are typically a blend of vegetables without any added vitamins, minerals, or extra supplementation. The more expensive powders typically contain added vitamins and minerals (like a B-complex), and additional supplementation (like protein and/or probiotics), and they tend to include more ingredients to make them taste better.

Overall, for pricing, be sure to consider the price per serving, rather than the price of the tub or bag itself, to evaluate how much you are getting for your money.

Common Ingredients In Greens Powders

Greens powders often contain nearly 75 different vitamins and minerals per serving. However, each brand takes a different approach to their formulation. While you’ll see a lot of different ingredients across the market, there are some big hitters you’ll see in many of the top greens powders.

Prebiotics and Probiotics

Prebiotic fiber and probiotics make for the golden combo when it comes to gut health. You’ll find prebiotic fiber in foods like legumes, beans, berries, and asparagus. Prebiotics are the fuel for probiotics, which are the good bacteria that line your gut. Greens powders often contain one or both of these ingredients to potentially help with digestion and gut health. (8)

Spirulina

Spirulina is a blue-green algae that may provide antioxidant properties. It contains a high amount of vitamin B12, and it may also be helpful in balancing the gut microbiome, and boosting immunity. (9)

Digestive Enzymes

Your body naturally produces digestive enzymes, which are proteins that can help you break down the food you eat. However, many greens powders contain an additional dose of these proteins to potentially help optimize gut health. (10)

Vegetables and Fruits

Most greens powders are made of powdered versions of — you guessed it — greens, like spinach, kale, chlorella, broccoli, and wheatgrass. Some even contain fruits like pineapple, to provide bromelain, and apple. Though the powdered versions of these vegetables and fruits still contain plenty of nutrients, some of their nutritional benefits are lost in powder processing.

So, though nothing beats eating these foods fresh, greens powders can be helpful in adding nutrients on top of your daily salads, or in instances when you’re traveling and it’s hard to follow the same healthy diet you do when you’re home.

What to Consider Before Buying a Greens Powder

Before you click “order” on your new greens powder, consider these three points.

Greens Powders Don’t Replace Vegetables

One tip from our RDN: Don’t let it replace your veggie consumption with a greens powder. After all, supplements are supposed to add onto what you’re already doing, not replace good, whole food nutrition. Greens powders can be good for you but they’re not a replacement for whole foods.

“Even if the label says equal to 4 servings of vegetables, I wouldn’t accept that as someone’s daily vegetable consumption,”she explains.“I’m still going to encourage real food sources due to the bioavailability (how much gets absorbed) and fiber content.”

Know Why You’re Buying

As you can see, greens powders can have many different focuses: antioxidants, digestive health, and adaptogens, to name a few. Do some research and know the strengths and weaknesses of your product before you commit.

Consult With Your Doctor

Always speak with your physician before undertaking a new supplement regimen.

Final Word

Of all of the health and wellness supplements on the market, green superfood powders are among the newest — and they’re also among the toughest to scrutinize. We get it: Many of them make outlandish claims and barely try to support them with information on their nutrition label. But while you can’t “out-supplement” a poor diet, many of the best greens powders may well confer benefits to some areas of your health. After digging through a lot of muck, we’ve uncovered some truly excellent greens supplements. We think you’ll be as impressed with them as we were.

FAQs

References

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2. Trotta T, Porro C, Cianciulli A, Panaro MA.Beneficial Effects of Spirulina Consumption on Brain Health.Nutrients. 2022;14(3):676. Published 2022 Feb 5. doi:10.3390/nu14030676
3. Zaib S, Hayat A, Khan I.Probiotics and their Beneficial Health Effects.Mini Rev Med Chem. 2024;24(1):110-125. doi:10.2174/1389557523666230608163823
4. National Institutes of Health.Probiotics.
5. Ioniță-Mîndrican CB, Ziani K, Mititelu M, et al.Therapeutic Benefits and Dietary Restrictions of Fiber Intake: A State of the Art Review.Nutrients. 2022;14(13):2641. Published 2022 Jun 26. doi:10.3390/nu14132641
6. Johnson, M., Hassinger, L., Davis, J., Devor, S. T., & DiSilvestro, R. A. (2016).A randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study of spirulina supplementation on indices of mental and physical fatigue in men.International journal of food sciences and nutrition, 67(2), 203–206.https://doi.org/10.3109/09637486.2016.1144719
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