What do I think about Greens Powders?

I've been getting a lot of questions about these trendy "super greens" powders lately.

You've probably seen big names endorse certain greens powders on social media or on their podcasts...

These products make some pretty impressive claims…

Boosting your energy

Improving digestion

Lowering stress

"Detoxifying" your body

(Can feel my BS-O-Meter rising 💩💩💩)

I get why they're appealing…
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You want easily digestible, convenient vitamins and minerals in your diet so mixing a scoop of powder into water seems like a simple solution (spoiler alert: there’s a much better way🥩).

But here's what I really think about greens powders...

The intention is good…

But the execution is BAD in my opinion.

These powders are basically a bunch of grasses - alfalfa grass, oak grass, wheat grass, kale, spinach - concentrated into a powder form.

What you're really getting is a CONCENTRATION OF PLANT DEFENSE CHEMICALS.

And some people react negatively to these (myself included).

Think about it from an evolutionary perspective...

Plants don't want their leaves, stems, and roots to be eaten.

They've developed potent defense chemicals to DISCOURAGE consumption.

When you concentrate these already problematic plant parts into a powder, you're essentially creating a mega-dose of some concerning compounds:

❌ Oxalates which we know contribute to kidney stones (PMID: 30566003, PMID: 37342493)

❌ Isothiocyanates which can harm your thyroid function (PMID: 26946249, PMID: 26946249)

The supplement industry isn't helping either…

Since the FDA doesn't regulate supplements the same way it regulates drugs, greens powder companies can slap all sorts of claims on their labels – as long as they include that little disclaimer that the FDA hasn't evaluated their statements.

So, those benefits? Suggestive at best.
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​And from a research perspective, the science behind greens powders is shaky…

When you look at the literature…

There is extremely limited credible research on the actual health effects of greens powders.

There are maybe a handful of papers… but none are compelling enough to make me endure a greens smoothie every morning 👎👎👎

(I found only one randomized control trial from 2004 which found NO significant health benefits after 12 weeks PMID: 15217524)

I get it though.

You want convenience. Modern life is busy.

If you like your greens powder and it serves you... great.

Keep doing it.

It’s probably better than what you’d be using instead like a synthetic multivitamin or junk food snacks.

But I’m personally not a fan at all.

And here's something else most people STILL don't realize…

The vitamins and minerals in plant foods are NOT nearly as bioavailable as they are in animal foods.

So if you want vitamins and minerals that are truly bioavailable, meat and organs are the TRUE superfoods here.

They provide everything your body needs in forms it can actually USE.

For example, the vitamin A in liver is 100% preformed retinol - immediately usable by your body.
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Compare that to the beta-carotene in plants that must be converted…
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(Many humans LACK the gene to efficiently convert beta-carotene to its usable form!).

And the fact is...

Animal foods also provide UNIQUE nutrients you simply cannot get from plants too…

Creatine, Carnitine, Choline, Biotin, Anserine, Taurine, Vitamin K2, B12, Collagen and peptides etc.

That’s why for a snack I would go for something like a meat stick or air-dried steak.

(Way more enjoyable and nutrient-rich than those green smoothies which basically taste like slightly sugary mud 🤢).

Or even an animal-based protein powder…

(Word on the street this is the new greens powder anyway 😉)

And from a purely functional perspective, I’d absolutely choose something like Beef Organs from Heart & Soil instead.

It's the ultimate multivitamin for humans - a full spectrum grass-fed blend of the best organs: heart, liver, kidney, spleen, and pancreas…

Delivering all the micronutrients you need to thrive in their most bioavailable form.

So, my verdict?

Greens powders = Not optimal and kind of a waste of money in my opinion.

Animal foods are a far superior option that will give you way more bang for your buck!
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Welcome to the Remembering 🏹

Paul

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