More greens powder supplements now are including nootropic nutrients to promote better cognition and longer term brain health.
Many green brands promote better mental and brain health but few contain dedicated nootropic ingredients, except for Supergreen Tonik and Bulletproof Greens.
I'm going to look at some of the best greens on the market to give you a mental boost and ensure a healthy, long life for your brain.
7 Best Greens Powder for Brain Health
SuperGreen Tonik
Marketed as the best greens powder for mental clarity, Supergreen Tonik greens powder was formulated specifically to combat Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and contains a range of brain-boosting compounds among its 38 all-natural ingredients.
Alongside the standard-issue Rhodiola and Ashwagandha leaf, it also contains Ginkgo Biloba leaf, proven to improve short-term memory and prevent degenerative diseases.
The Bacopa leaf, used widely in Ayurvedic medicine, is also present for its ability to enhance intelligence and memory.
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Pros:
- The extensive list of nootropic compounds is purpose-built to give your improve your brain's performance and clarity.
- The nootropic blend can also assist in getting to sleep and achieving a deeper sleep.
- Clear listing of ingredients shows you the exact measurements that Tonik uses.
Cons:
- This premium green powder supplement is expensive, but saver bundes available.
- The sweet flavor could be off-putting to some people's tastes.
Related: Check out my review here.
AG1 Athletic Greens
Athletic Greens is one of the most popular greens powders, especially with brand ambassadors and some athletes.
As greens powder supplements go, Athletic Greens is more of a general use supplement, with no emphasis placed on improving mental acuity and brain health.
Its extensive list of 75 ingredients proven to help with inflammation, increased energy, and gut health is not explicitly designed for brain performance. Also, with only 12g for a serving and a proprietary blend label, it's hard to tell how much of those 75 ingredients you're getting in a scoop.
For example, one of its adaptogens, Reishi mushroom extract, has only a 154mg dose in a serving, while the recommended quantity is closer to 1.5-1.9g.
Pros:
- Leafy greens, spirulina, and green tea extract in the Athletic Greens formula are proven to increase energy levels, reduce mental fatigue and improve mental stamina.
- The digestive enzymes complex and probiotic blend assist in maintaining gut health, which is key to healthy brain function.
Cons:
- Less competitive list of nootropics than other competitors on our list shows Athletic Greens is more of a comprehensive blend not designed specifically for brain health.
- $100 for a month's supply is the most expensive product on our list, especially for a set of ingredients many cheaper competitors have on their labels.
Related: Check out my review here.
Bulletproof Greens
The biohacking company is well known for its Bulletproof Coffee and MCT oils and so only natural that they would get around to a powdered greens formula.
Bulletproof Greens has only recently launched in 2022 but I am including it here because this is one of the few greens supplements that includes dedicated nootropic ingredients (Citicoline and Panax Ginseng Root Extract).
Each serving contains a mix of 35 superfoods, vitamins, minerals, and digestive aids, plus nootropics. Unlike a few brands outlined in my list, the serving size is 7.9grams, which is not too impressive considering other top brands have 12-gram serving sizes (AG1, Supergreen Tonik).
The price is very affordable and if you're looking for an all-around green with some nootropics then Bulletproof Greens could be a good option.
Pros:
- Affordable price
- Contains two nootropic ingredients
- Popular brand well known for its coffee and keto-friendly supplements
Cons:
- Proprietary formula and so ingredient dosages not known
- Serving size is a little small compared to other leading greens brands
Related: Check out my review here.
Organifi Green Juice
Alongside the superfoods in this greens powder, it also has a series of adaptogens, which are natural compounds that aid in stress reduction and counteracting the unwanted side effects of stress hormones.
Among its greens powder blend is the Moringa Oleifera leaf, a tropical plant that is a rich source of minerals and antioxidants that promotes brain protection.
It also contains Matcha extract, which gives a similar mental edge to caffeine, as well as Turmeric, which has long been used as traditional medicine and has been shown to improve brain health.
Among its adaptogen ingredients is the Ashwagandha Root extract, an ingredient used in Ayurvedic medicine that reduces not only your body's production of the stress hormone Cortisol but also the negative side effects associated with it, such as food cravings and anxiety.
Pros:
- The combination of Matcha and Turmeric is great if you're looking for a morning reset with your greens powder.
- Coconut water extract promotes hydration, which is key to brain performance.
Cons:
- The number of probiotics in Organifi is lower than in other greens supplements, and good gut health is key to brain longevity.
- Organifi is very expensive compared to the competition. Most greens powders can be bought for $15-$40 a box, whereas Organifi is typical $84.95 for a month's supply
Related: Check out my review here.
Ladder Superfood Greens
The combination of Matcha extract and Rhodiola Rosea in Ladder's green supplement offer a solid boost of mental energy and focus in the morning without any of the negative buzz or acidity of a cup of coffee.
The Rhodiola has been proven to reduce the impacts of the stress hormone cortisol and is also great for combatting fatigue and reducing muscle soreness.
It also contains a healthy 400mg dose of magnesium which is thought to be beneficial to brain performance and enable deeper, more restorative sleep, which is essential to brain recovery.
Pros:
- Rhodiola Rosea reduces cortisol and promotes muscle recovery.
- The 400mg Magnesium dose completes your recommended daily intake, aiding brain function and deep sleep.
Cons:
- Matcha extract gives it a strong taste that may put some people off. You can mix it with fruit juice if Matcha isn't to your taste.
- It's currently only available in on-the-go packets.
Related: Check out my review here.
MacroLife Naturals Macro Greens Superfood
The 38 ingredients in Macro Greens fruit and vegetable blend are split into seven categories; one of them is the Adaptogenic and Metabolic herbs.
Among these are Ginger root powder, Astragalus root, used in Ayurvedic medicine, and Echinacea, which have all been proven to assist in reducing the negative side-effects of cortisol and also assist help getting quality sleep.
It's also packed with 18 billion probiotics, putting it at the upper end of gut-friendly powders on our list. However, the effectiveness of probiotics when ingested in superfood powders has not been researched fully.
Pros:
- At $65 for 90 servings, this is the overall cheapest greens powder supplement, at only 72 cents a serving.
- It's stacked with the majority of your daily vitamin requirements.
- The taste is more pleasing than some of the competition.
Cons:
- One serving claims to equal five servings of fruit and veg, however, it's too short on Magnesium, fiber, and B-vitamins to be considered a replacement for real fruit and veg.
Related: Check out my review here.
Raw Organic Perfect Food Green Superfood
As you could expect from the label, the 34 all-natural ingredients in this super greens powder are raw and vegan friendly.
The comprehensive list of leafy greens, superfoods, and sprouts are impressive, and they are all in the form of juice extracts, so you can get the full benefit of the phytonutrients of each ingredient.
However, the full potency of each serving is only 6 grams, which, while not terrible, is 2.5 grams less than a serving of Athletic Greens. It also doesn't contain any brain-boosting ingredients, and the strong veggie flavor with no added sweetener may turn a lot of people off.
Pros:
- The all-natural blend of ingredients is raw and vegan friendly.
- Great range of leafy greens and sprouting vegetables.
- $28 for a month's servings is very good value.
Cons:
- Very low potency compared to other green powders.
- The strong taste may be off-putting.
Related: Check out my review here.
What to Look For in a Greens Powder
It's always important to ensure your greens powder drink lists its ingredients explicitly. Often companies will hide their dosage behind a ‘proprietary blend,' making it impossible to tell how much you are getting in each dose.
If you're hunting for a mental boost, always check that it contains one of the nootropics we've mentioned, such as Ashwagandha, Reishi extract, or Rhodiola Rosea.
FAQs
When should you take your green powder?
If you're hunting for a mental kick to help start your day, it's the best time to take your supplement in the morning after first drinking 1-2 glasses of water.
You may need to be mindful of whether drinking your greens will break your fast. So, if you're fasting you may need to time consumption during your feeding window.
What can you mix a greens powder with?
You can mix your powder with water, but some people prefer to use juice or a protein shake to mask the strong taste.
Is it worth taking powdered greens?
If you struggle to get all fruit and veggies you should be during the day, then greens superfoods powders are a great, quick way to top up on all those minerals and nutrients that you're missing out on.
Should you drink greens on an empty stomach?
Yes, the best way to take green superfood supplements is on an empty stomach. It's also ideal to avoid eating anything else for around half an hour after taking your greens powder.
The Bottom Line
If you're looking to get a mental hit first thing in the morning without resorting to caffeine, many green superfood powders will do the trick.
Not only can these greens powders provide a boost to brain performance, but they also come with a range of essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that provide numerous health benefits.
LifeHacker Guy Greens Recommendation
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