Green Superfoods - Nutritional Facts, Health Benefits, and Market Trends
A diet rich in ‘superfoods’ that include green veggies and fruits is essential for maintaining overall health. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), merely 9% of American adults meet the recommended intake of greens and fruits.[i] While busy lifestyles, limited availability, and access are critical reasons for this, green superfood powders can help bridge the nutrition gap!
What is Green Superfood Powder?
Green superfood powders are a blend of 25-40 or more dehydrated, distilled, or compacted vegetables, grasses, fruits, and even algae in powdered form. Some of the common elements in these blends include wheatgrass, barley grass, alfalfa, spirulina, vegetables, fruits, herbs, and legumes. Newer trends of producing these green superfood powders include fermenting or sprouting ingredients for increasing nutrition levels and ease of breaking down components that can interfere with mineral absorption.[ii] [iii] [iv] [v]
What Does Green Superfood Powder Do?
Besides offering a range of health benefits, here are some specific reasons why an individual would go for green superfoods powders:
- They can effectively fill up the nutrition gap and support overall wellness when combined with a healthy diet and lifestyle.
- Green superfood powders offer a more comprehensive range of nutrients than the whole food alone.
- These powders are quick to serve and support today’s fast-paced lifestyle.
Green Superfoods for Enhanced Health
Following are 5 green superfood powders that offer a wide range of health benefits with their raw ingredients.
Barley Grass
Barley grass is a green superfood rich in a wide range of vital nutrients, including vitamins A, C, and K, fiber, polyphenols, and flavonoids. The insoluble fiber in barley grass may help support healthy blood sugar levels already in a normal range and promote weight management. Compounds such as saponarin, tryptophan, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) may also help reduce inflammation due to physical overexertion, maintain healthy blood pressure already in a normal range, and support overall heart health.[vi] [vii]
Wheatgrass
Wheatgrass is another green superfood. It is an excellent source of vitamins A, C, and E, calcium, magnesium, iron, amino acids, and antioxidants that may help support healthy blood sugar and healthy cholesterol levels already within normal ranges, reduce inflammation due to physical overexertion, and support weight loss.[viii]
Chlorella
Chlorella, the unicellular freshwater algae, is loaded with several beneficial nutrients, including B vitamins, vitamin C, protein, iron, fiber, Omega 3s, and other minerals such as zinc, magnesium, potassium, copper, folic acid, and calcium. It also contains a diverse range of antioxidants. Chlorella green superfood may help enhance the immune system, support healthy cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar levels already within normal ranges, improve aerobic endurance, and promote the body’s detoxification process.[ix]
Spirulina
Spirulina is blue-green algae and has been shown to be an excellent source of protein, copper, iron, and vitamins B1, B2, and B3. It also contains decent amounts of manganese, potassium, and magnesium and consists of all other essential nutrients in small quantities. So, what is spirulina good for? As with it’s green superfood cousins, Spirulina also supports healthy cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar levels already within normal ranges, has antioxidant properties and helps enhance muscle strength and endurance.[x]
Alfalfa Grass
Alfalfa green superfood is rich in vitamin K and contains other nutrients such as copper, folate, vitamin C, and manganese. With its powerful antioxidant properties, alfalfa benefits the skin by helping enhance its texture and keeping dryness at bay. It also supports skin and body detoxification processes, helps relieve menopause symptoms, and aids in promoting metabolic health.[xi] [xii]
Nutritional Value of Green Superfood
Nutritional ingredients vary across brands, so does the nutritional value. On average, a scoop (2 tablespoons or 10 grams) of green superfoods powder nutrition consists of:[xiii]
Calories | 40 |
Total Carbohydrates | 7 grams |
Fat | 0.5 grams |
Sugar | 1 gram |
Dietary fiber | 2 grams |
Sodium | 2% of RDI (Reference Daily Intake) |
Protein | 2 grams |
Vitamin A | 80% of RDI |
Vitamin K | 60% of RDI |
Vitamin C | 80% of RDI |
Additionally, these powders can also be an excellent source of:
- Iron
- Calcium
- Selenium
- Iodine
- Potassium
- Chromium
Green superfood powders are primarily high in polyphenols and other plant substances that offer anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Green Superfood Powder Benefits
Green superfood supplements offer a wide range of health benefits that:
-
Promotes Healthy Skin
Loaded with antioxidants and vitamin A, green superfood powders help keep the skin healthy.
-
Shown to Support Detoxification
A stressful lifestyle and poor-quality foods and other lifestyle choices may increase our body’s toxic load. Green superfoods have been shown to help support the body’s natural detoxification mechanisms.
-
Supports Healthy Energy Levels
Green powders make it easy for the body to get nutrients and increase the natural energy levels. Additionally, some of the ingredients in green powders have compounds that may boost energy levels and help you feel more alert.
-
Supports a Healthy Immune System
With their impeccable nutritional profile and ability to support gut health, green powders can support healthy immune functioning.
Green Superfood Market
The Green superfood supplement market size is estimated to reach USD 397.78 million by 2027 at a CAGR of 8.3% between 2019 and 2027. The Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region due to rapid urbanization, changing lifestyle, rise in disposable income, growing prevalence and awareness about health issues, and increased weight management programs.[xiv]
There’s a surge in grass-based supplements for an added boost of nutrition and other functional benefits. Product-wise, the green superfood powder market is segmented into marine sources, fermented greens, grassed sources, and others.
Partner With A Reliable Contract Manufacturer For Green Superfood Powders
Nutra Science Labs can help you make a unique and appealing green superfood powder that stands out in the market. We have 120+ years of supplement contract manufacturing experience, and our team of experts can help you create high-quality products and develop mouth-watering flavoring options. We also offer world-class turnkey services that include award-winning, FDA-compliant packaging, labeling, and fulfillment services. Call us at 855-492-7388 or send us your request to receive a free nutraceutical manufacturing quote.
References:
[i] https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2017/p1116-fruit-vegetable-consumption.html
[ii] https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/super-greens
[iii] https://1stphorm.com/blogs/news/benefits-of-green-superfoods
[iv] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25213974/
[v] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16969377/
[vi] https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/barley-grass
[vii] https://onbetterliving.com/green-superfoods/
[viii] https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/wheatgrass-benefits
[ix] https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/benefits-of-chlorella
[x] https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-proven-benefits-of-spirulina
[xi] https://www.naturesgardencandles.com/alfalfa-leaf-class.html
[xii] https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/alfalfa
[xiii] https://www.webmd.com/diet/greens-powder-are-there-health-benefits
[xiv] https://www.theinsightpartners.com/reports/greens-powders-market