Even though we all want to lead a healthy lifestyle, it’s sometimes not that easy to do. There are many factors that all play an important role in being healthy, with regular exercise and a healthy and balanced diet being two of the most vital. However, despite our best efforts, eating healthily can be difficult.
If you are working throughout the day, you may find that you don’t have enough time to prepare a wholesome and healthy meal, and instead just pop a ready meal into your microwave. Even taking regular exercise can be difficult for some people, especially if they have kids or work every day.
Supplements and vitamins
Many people will take daily supplements or vitamins to help with ensuring that they are taking their required daily intake. There are a huge variety of different vitamins that you can pick up at your local pharmacist, and a good choice for many are multivitamins, which include a range of nutrients including vitamin C and D, iron, calcium and magnesium.
Another popular choice for a lot of individuals are greens powder, which are supplements that have been created to help people take their daily requirement of vegetables.
What are greens powders?
It’s a well known fact that eating vegetables each day is an important part of a healthy and balanced diet. The problem for many people is that they simply don’t have the time to prepare and cook the vegetables, or they may actually not enjoy eating them. Whatever the reason, this is where greens powders come into play.
They are dietary supplements in the form of green powder, which are mixed with water and then drunk. Most of the greens powders will contain a wide range of ingredients, featuring anything from 25 to 40 different ingredients. They are said to be able to help support the immune system, as well as increase your levels of energy.
With so many different brands available, you might be a little overwhelmed when looking for the best greens powder, but with a little testing, you can easily find the one that is right for you.
Ingredients of greens powders
Most greens powders will usually contain the same basic range of ingredients, though you may find that some brands offer a wider variety with some additional ingredients included in their products.
Leafy greens are one of the most important ingredients, with parsley, kale and spinach being an important ingredient in the powder. Various grasses are also included such as oat, barley and wheatgrass. You’ll also find a selection of herbs being included in the ingredients such as basil, milk thistle and astragalus.
Most of the greens powders you can find are suitable for vegans, though it’s always a good idea to check the labels just to make sure.
Benefits of greens powders
There are a number of health benefits that can be gained from taking a daily dose of greens powders. Below we will take a look at some of the best benefits.
Source of digestive enzymes
Gut health is vital for our wellbeing, but is often something that is overlooked. Having a smooth functioning digestive system is something we all want, though some people often have digestive issues, caused by a variety of factors. Digestive enzymes are very important for the breaking down of the food that we eat, as well as the absorption of the nutrients. Greens powders provide the digestive enzymes we need for a healthy gut.
Help with blood pressure
There are a number of minerals that are associated with having a good blood pressure. Potassium and calcium are two of the most important, and these are found in greens powders. Studies have shown that by taking just a daily portion of greens powders, individuals noticed a drop in their diastolic and systolic blood pressure.
They are a source of Phytonutrients
Phytonutrients may not be as glamorous as some minerals or vitamins, but they play an important role in the overall functioning of our body, as well as helping to prevent disease. They are great for the immune system and are anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory. These are able to fight free radicals that can damage the cells in your body that can lead to chronic health issues such as heart disease or diabetes.
They can prevent hunger cravings
Our brain is home to the hypothalamus, which is the section that controls our cravings and appetite. The ingredients you’ll find in greens powders are absorbed by the body and keep your hypothalamus content and happy, thus reducing the craving signals that it sends.
Some final thoughts
There are a lot more health benefits that you can get from taking greens powders, and they are a very convenient source of a number of vitamins and minerals that our body needs on a daily basis.
Of course, they are no substitute for eating a variety of vegetables each day, though in the fast paced world that we find ourselves living in, this is something that is becoming more and more difficult to achieve.