If you’re training hard your body needs the right fuel to keep it functioning at its best. And while getting the right nutritional balance from your normal daily diet without adding supplements is definitely the goal, let’s be honest that can be hard to do. That’s where the best super greens powders can help.
These handy superfood powders are packed with useful nutrients and offer an incredibly convenient way to give your body a little helping hand. Scroll down and watch the video below to see my pick of the top 3 super greens powders.
What are super greens?
Super greens powders are basically combinations of dried and powdered fruit and vegetables, many of them greens (spinach, broccoli, kale, spirulina, chlorella etc) hence the name. But you’ll also find fruits such as baobab, watermelon, apple and even avocado in some mixes, as well as grasses like barley grass, wheat grass. Some of the powders also add a little pep from things like matcha green tea.
A bit like condensing the best bits of your fruit and veg aisle into a single scoop, you can mix super greens into smoothies, soups and protein shakes – or just add them to a glass of water if you don’t mind the green taste – and they provide a quick, convenient way to get a big bang of nutrients into your body.
The ingredients tend to be carefully selected to provide a potent mix of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and amino acids that help to alkalize and maintain a healthy gut and keep your immune system resilient.
The best super greens powders have a relatively high concentration of protein, are low in sugar and get their ingredients from organic sources. They also taste good. I’ve been testing a bunch of them over the past few months and here’s my pick.
Hit Play: 3 Best super greens superfood powders
When to use super greens powders
Breakfast: Starting your day with a big hit of vital nutrients is a smart habit to get into. I tend to add a scoop of super greens to my usual green smoothie mix of water, spinach, kale, broccoli, blueberries, avocado and tart cherry powder.
I add a dash of apple juice that works with the cherry powder to offset the ‘greenness’ of the whole thing and it works a treat. Also a great option for pre-run fuelling if you don’t fancy eating a proper breakfast before heading out. The water packs a bit of added hydration too.
Multi-stage ultras: They’re a great option for multi-stage ultras like the Marathon des Sables, where you need to think about the weight of the food you’re carrying but still keep your nutrient levels up at a time when you’re putting a lot of strain on your body. They can be easily added to liquid breakfasts or added to your protein recovery shakes for after each day.
In your recovery shakes: If you’re already in the habit of drinking protein shakes as part of your recovery regime then this is a no brainer. The super greens actually make most protein powders taste much better too.
