Greens powder

Greens powders are dietary supplements made up of green and leaf vegetables, as well as other plant-based products. They are generally mixed with water prior to consumption, or added to foods, including during cooking.

Composition

Greens powders are made from various dehydrated powdered greens vegetables, fruits, algae, grasses, herbs and other plant-based ingredients. Ingredient labels often list pre and probiotics, antioxidants and various vitamins.

Health claims

Consumption has been cited as partially making up for insufficient vegetable consumption. Greens powders have been claimed to boost immunity and reduce chronic disease risk, but research continues into the supplement's long-term effects. They generally come without recommendations from dietary experts.

History

The precursor to modern greens powders can be traced to the 1930s, when agricultural chemist Charles Schnabel popularized dehydrated cereal grass powders (such as wheatgrass) as food-based nutritional supplements.

One early entrant in the multi-ingredient "greens powder" category was Green Vibrance, introduced in 1992 by clinical nutritionist Mark Timon, who founded the company Vibrant Health the same year. According to the company, the product was engineered as an ingredient-transparent, multi-strain probiotic and superfood powder intended to support digestive health.

Vibrant Health has described Green Vibrance as the first multi-ingredient greens superfood powder on the market; this claim originates with the company and has not been independently verified. Other early entrants in the category, such as Greens First, introduced in 1999, have made similar claims of priority.

See also

• Dietary supplement