- Written by Annabelle Rackham
- health reporter
image source, Getty Images
Powdered supplements often appear green when diluted with water.
Companies selling super green supplements claim that mixing a glass of magic powder with water is enough to improve your health.
Many promise a long list of potential benefits, including stronger hair and nails, increased energy, and reduced swelling.
The clean, green packaging touts an ingredient list that includes prebiotics, probiotics, antioxidants, and vitamins.
But experts told the BBC there are easy and cheap ways to incorporate these nutrients into our diets.
Tamsin Hill, a registered dietitian with the NHS, said she first learned about the service through targeted social media advertising and researched what they were offering as part of her job.
“I looked at the ingredients on the back of the package and thought it was unlikely to significantly improve your health,” she told the BBC.
image source, Getty Images
These supplements claim to improve skin, hair, and nails and reduce swelling.
Free Soul's FS Green Blend makes similar claims, promising to provide digestive and immune support through key ingredients like ashwagandha, golden kiwi, and maca.
An Athletic Greens spokesperson told the BBC: “Our team of scientists and researchers reviewed thousands of studies as part of the AG1 development and continuous improvement process.”
The Free Soul team also said their products “contain clinically researched and patented ingredients.”
Rheal Superfoods, which was contacted by the BBC, does not make any scientific claims in its online marketing.
These products have also been approved for sale in the UK by the Food Standards Association, the regulatory authority that oversees food safety.
“They are taking advantage of our health concerns.”
Miss Hill analyzes these three products in particular: “If you look at the research, these claims are not supported by scientific evidence, and the quality of the evidence we have is very poor.”
She added: “Very few people are participating in the research, and many are just in the petri dish, so it's pretty unreliable.”
image source, Getty Images
Companies are trying to target people interested in healthy eating
Hill said she feels these products, which are considered ultra-processed because of their complex manufacturing processes, are “fueling our health concerns.”
Based on her experience as a nutritionist, she says that “younger generations are becoming more and more health-conscious,'' but that “people are being misled into spending money for health benefits that don't actually exist.'' There are concerns that
Jenna Hope, a registered dietitian and author, said she initially thought supergreen products had niche appeal, but the sheer number of products on the market “makes it difficult for people to buy them. It suggests that.”
According to one industry estimate, the green powder market is expected to double from 220 million pounds in 2023 to nearly 395 million pounds by 2030.
“There's a lot of misleading information out there. These brands make you think you're healthy and need these products to support your cognitive function, gut health, energy and sleep,” Hope told the BBC. told.
“But the fact is, we know that if you eat a healthy, balanced diet, you can still get these benefits and don't need to take these elite green powders,” she added.
“This is a week's grocery store budget.”
Super green powder supplements vary in price, but cost around £1 to £4 per day depending on what you choose.
“For some people, that might be the equivalent of a week's grocery store budget,” Hope says.
“Instead, it's really affordable if you focus on eating lots of fruits and vegetables, such as frozen spinach, vegetables, beans, legumes like lentils and whole grains,” she added. .
Hope emphasizes that simply reducing your intake of refined sugars, artificial sweeteners, and ultra-processed foods can have real positive effects on your health.
image source, Getty Images
A whole-food diet is better than supplements, according to experts
“There really is no one size fits all”
Hill says that while these supplements may not have scientific evidence to back up their claims, “they're not harmful and people can try them if they want.”
Another aspect of Hope's opinion is that “some people can have a healthy way of thinking.''
“So starting your day with these vegetables may not necessarily make you healthier, but it may give you the confidence to make healthier choices later in the day,” she added.
Hope also thinks there may be an advantage, perhaps for people who don't have the time.
“Really, there's no one-size-fits-all method. If you target people in highly stressful jobs, this could help them get closer to the right amount of nutrients,” she says. added.
She says these can also help people with dietary restrictions that prevent them from consuming certain types of fruits and vegetables.
tips for healthy eating
Nicola Ludlam-Raine, head of the British Dietetic Association, told the BBC: “Natural foods should always be the first choice for nutritional support.”
“Green supplements are certainly not necessary for health or a healthy diet. Additionally, they do not count towards your five-pill daily intake,” she added.
She recommends that people should focus on eating at least 30 types of plant-based foods, such as whole grains, per week to increase their fiber intake, and that people who want to take green supplements should first consult a nutritionist. Or you should consult a registered dietitian, he added.
