Superfood Powder and Daily Greens Drinks for the USA

These powders are made from dried whole foods: usually vegetables and fruits, natural herbs, or other botanicals. They are not typically dried apples and bananas. The powders are often made from ingredients you might not find at your local shop because they are quite unusual. Think along the lines of moringa, matcha, maca root, lucuma and acai. Alongside single-ingredient superfood powders, you can find blends that combine several superfoods, which is what ours is.

Is "superfood" even a real category?

While the term may sound special (like the packaging of these products, which no doubt helps justify their often-high price), chances are there is little to the term beyond marketing. Nutritionally speaking, there is no official "superfood" category, and no criteria a food has to meet to be called one. That said, some foods are plainly healthier than others: a veggie-loaded salad against a hot dog and chips. Everyday foods such as avocados and beets have well-proven dietary benefits.

Whole food nutrition

Superfoods are nutrient-dense whole foods: greens, fruits, vegetables, seeds and botanicals. Powder Greens puts them into a scoop you can mix into water, juice or a smoothie in about 30 seconds.

A varied diet comes first

A varied diet built around whole foods is the foundation. A greens powder is a convenient way to add more fruit and vegetables to a busy day, and it is not a replacement for either. Eating too much of one type of food can actually work against you and stop you getting the range of nutrients you need. Superfoods should be added to a well-balanced diet, not replace one.

Does drying and powdering affect the nutrients?

Concentrating and grinding these foods makes sense in some circumstances: fruits like acai are not easy to find at the supermarket, and a powdered version may be your only option. Part of the appeal is that the ingredients are harder to get in whole-food form. It is worth knowing that drying can affect the nutritional content of produce, potentially reducing vitamins including C and A through heat and air, and time on a shelf can take a toll too: one study of powdered vegetables found that twelve months of storage may have affected their phenolic content, the compounds responsible for much of the nutritional value of these foods. A whole-food-first approach is still the sensible order.

The part most shops leave out

Even where superfood powders are nutritionally rich, it is not a foregone conclusion they will deliver other advantages. There is no guarantee of a health benefit, and the research is limited. Treat any claim made on the packaging or advertising of these products, including ours, with some healthy skepticism. Superfood powders are sold as food supplements, which means they get limited regulatory oversight: they are not assessed for safety and effectiveness before they go on sale the way a medicine is.

Before you add a supplement like a superfood powder to your routine, check with a healthcare professional that it is appropriate for you. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, stay on the safe side and avoid them entirely: for most greens powders there is not enough information to know whether they are safe to use.

How to use a superfood powder

If you want to try one, look for a trusted brand and read the label. Whole food beats a powder, but a powder made without fillers, added flavors and added sugar is an easy way to get more plant food into the day. A scoop goes into everyday drinks or baked goods with no preparation. Labels matter especially if you have a dietary restriction, such as a gluten allergy or a vegan diet, and you can look for certifications from third-party companies unaffiliated with the brand. Not every powder works with every dish, so it is worth a bit of trial and error to see what suits what.