Consuming high amounts of alfalfa may not be safe for pregnant or breastfeeding people as well as anyone with hormone-related conditions like breast cancer and endometriosis.Although people believe alfalfa to be helpful in treating many diseases from diabetes to high cholesterol and digestive issues, there is no research to support this.While they are often marketed as "food," greens powders are a supplement, and even food-based ingredients can be problematic for certain people in the quantities included.The ingredients in greens powders vary significantly, so it's important to thoroughly read the label to make sure it's safe for you.Many contain grasses and alfalfa sprouts that could interact with medications or make some health concerns worse.Fruit and vegetable powders have been shown to increase blood levels of vitamins as well as certain antioxidants, like carotenoids.Many powders contain herbs, adaptogens, prebiotics, probiotics, digestive enzymes, and other ingredients, many of which could interact with medications or worsen symptoms of chronic illnesses.Therefore, if you're considering using a greens powder, review the ingredient label carefully and check with a healthcare provider to ensure it's safe for you."Greens powders may be a way to increase your fruit and vegetable intake with minimal effort," says Maddi Osburn RDN LD ."Whole fruits and vegetables provide significantly more fiber per serving than most greens powders, which is important for digestive and cardiovascular health," says Osburn.Biosteel Sport Greens is vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, non-GMO, and free from any artificial flavors or colors, making it a good product if you have specific dietary requirements.Amazing grass contains rosehips, which may interact with antacids, estrogens, lithium, and medications that affect blood clotting.This blend also contains two types of algae—spirulina and chlorella, which have been shown to have numerous potential health benefits, including reduced risk of many chronic diseases.Fermenting fruits, vegetables, and other foods may increase the body's ability to use and benefit from the antioxidants found in those ingredients.Both spirulina and algae have been shown to offer a number of health benefits, including lowering cholesterol and blood pressure.While the research on this is limited, one randomized control trial did show that oral hyaluronic can lessen wrinkle formation and improve skin.This greens powder is particularly high in vitamin K —with around 70% of the recommended daily allowance—which can interact with blood thinners, cholesterol medications, and even some antibiotics.Final Verdict If you're looking for an easy way to get more of the nutrients found in vegetables and fruits, the Garden of Life Raw Organic Perfect Food Green Superfood could help you do that.Because greens powders are a supplement category that is more likely to be contaminated with heavy metals or contain some fillers, we are very selective with the brands we recommend.While some adaptogenic herbs may be safe and helpful for certain populations, there isn't enough research to support their efficacy and safety for the general population—and in some cases, they may even be dangerous.If you have been diagnosed with any of these conditions, taking a separate digestive enzyme supplement that targets your specific issue is recommended," says Finkel.If you have been diagnosed with any of these conditions, taking a separate digestive enzyme supplement that targets your specific issue is recommended," says Finkel.Probiotics: Many greens powder contain low levels of probiotics—about the amount you'd find in yogurt (though doses vary).Specific probiotic strains have been clinically shown to improve a small number of gastrointestinal conditions, but these are not the bacteria you would find in a powdered greens product," says Finkel.In fact, when Consumer Lab tested 16 greens powders and other whole food supplements, they did find lead in two products.The amount in these products was lower than the FDA standards for adults but higher than the much more stringent level that California proposition 65 puts forth, requiring a lead warning label.While most powders contain high amounts of vitamins and minerals, there isn't research to understand the bioavailability (how much your body can absorb) of these nutrients in this form.It's important to review the Recommended Dietary Allowance and Tolerable Upper Limits as set by the NIH for each ingredient to make sure you are consuming safe levels of each nutrient.They also may contain ingredients, such as spirulina and chlorella, that are primarily found in powder form and may offer some health benefits."While greens powders can help increase your fruit and vegetable intake, don't count on them to completely replace whole foods.Greens and other vegetables provide fiber, which offers numerous health benefits from better digestion to lower cholesterol."Add them into scrambled eggs for omelets, as a seasoning for a soup, into pancake or waffle batter, in baked goods, or mix into your favorite dip," says Akaphong.Sarah is also a freelance writer, where she lends her expertise in translating the research on a wide variety of nutrition topics into relatable and approachable recommendations for consumers
/VW-Fit-The-7-Best-Greens-Powders-of-2021-According-to-a-Dietitian-4165389-7a401a3377f4441dbc271f81ff11f616.jpg)
