Now more than ever, consumers realize having a healthy stomach is important. Fermented foods brimming with healthy bacteria, such as kombucha and kefir, are on-trend and on shelves in every store.
Your gut is sometimes referred to as your second brain; such is its massive impact on your wellbeing. Filled with millions and millions of tiny organisms, it's your job to ensure that the good probiotic ones outnumber the bad.
With the importance of maintaining a healthy gut microbiome in mind, today we will look at some greens powders packed with minerals and nutrients and see what health benefits they can offer your gut.
8 Best Greens Powder With Probiotics
I have researched over 77 brands of greens powders in the last few years, even working with a US-based manufacturer to develop my brand.
So, it's safe to say I know a thing or two about green supplements. Even though it is questionable how effective a probiotic formula with greens can be for the body, I know that people are keen to take the “complete nutritional supplement”.
Here is my list of 8 greens powders with probiotics, explaining their respective pros and cons.
Garden Of Life Raw Organic Perfect Food
You might be surprised to hear that greens powders can boast that all their ingredients are organic. This is where Garden of Life Perfect Food green powder stands out, with an entirely organic list of veggies, greens, fruits, and probiotics.
The juices all come from raw juice, preserving the valuable phytonutrients. This green drink packs a mighty green punch with ginger, kale, spinach, beetroot extract, and 13 sprouting veggies.
It's great that probiotics and enzymes are mentioned alongside the main blends. These ensure your gut is operating at peak capacity, so your body gets the most out of the dense levels of nutrients and calories.
The probiotic and enzyme dosage is on the lower end of the scale at 100g. Many of the measurements are also hidden behind a proprietary blend, which is a shame considering the effort into assembling them.
Pros:
- The commitment to a broad selection of organic, raw vegetables, leaves, and fruit sets it apart from the competition
- The fruit juice extracts preserve valuable and potent phytonutrients
Cons:
- Proprietary blend labeling makes it difficult to know the dosages in a serving
- The authentic, earthy flavor may put some people off
- The probiotics dose is at the lower end of the scale
AG1 Athletic Greens
Athletic Greens AG1 is the most popular, well-known brand of greens powders with classy marketing and a range of high-profile brand ambassadors.
The athletic greens blend of superfoods is designed to improve energy levels and improve gut health and gastrointestinal function.
It's hard to write about how good this blend is, as Athletics Greens' ingredient labeling only shows the weight of its superfood blends. An overall dose is only 12g, so it's not hard to assume that you aren't getting a massive dose of the nutrients listed.
Among its superfood blend are wheatgrass, alfalfa, lecithin, and spirulina. All of which are known for aiding digestion and inflammatory properties.
The probiotic blend, though, sits at a very low 38mg. With inconclusive studies into how well probiotics translate from greens powders, it's hard to confirm this is an effective dose.
Pros:
- A wide range of minerals and nutrients is available in its huge superfood ingredients
- Improved energy levels, digestive function, and increased blood flow are among the benefits of this greens supplement.
- It contains Stevia and sweeteners, so the taste is well-liked compared to other green supplements that aren't sweetened.
Cons:
- This is a little expensive at $79-$99 for a month's supply
- Proprietary blend labeling makes it impossible to know the dosage you are taking
Kylea Total Living Drink Greens
Kylea Greens claims to offer the equivalent of not only 7-10 servings of fruit per serving but also contains 11-12g of protein in a serving, which is great if you're looking to up your intake.
Because this greens powder includes protein, the serving size of Kylea is 40g, significantly higher than the standard greens powder serving size.
Kylea is more like a supplement than a traditional super greens powder. Its minerals and vitamins have been added to the mix instead of being derived from various fruits and greens.
On top of these great nutrition levels, Kylea contains four different kinds of probiotics, but we cannot tell you exactly how much you're getting because of the proprietary blend.
Pros:
- 11-12g of protein per serving is a great boast and something that most other green powders can't offer
- High vitamin levels are not restricted by coming from natural sources
Cons:
- A proprietary blend makes it hard to know how many other nutrients are in a dose, especially with the high percentage of protein.
- It is less of a green superfoods drink than an overall supplement with a range of added nutrients and minerals
Jacked Factory Green Surge
Credit is due to Jacked Factory Greens for being honest with their labeling, which shows the measurements of most of their ingredients, besides the 150mg enzyme blend.
They're proud to give their probiotic blend top billing, and with a giant 535mg dose of six different friendly bacteria, who can blame them? These microbes all help create a healthy digestive system and gastrointestinal function.
Beyond that is an exhaustive list of green vegetables, fruit, and greens powders stacked with minerals and nutrients. The high-powered digestive enzyme blend assists in your body's effective absorption of Green Surges' array of nutrients, including amylase, found in saliva, which speeds up absorption, and bromelain, an anti-inflammatory.
Pros:
- The high dosage of probiotics shows that gut health is important to the people who designed this product
- Digestive enzyme blend ensures your body is getting the most out of the high levels of vitamins and nutrients
Cons:
- Some users have complained about stomach aches and cramps after drinking, though this can happen anecdotally with greens powders
MacroLife Naturals Macro Greens Superfood
Thirty-eight superfoods go into one dose of Macro Greens, all dense in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and enzymes.
The proprietary superfood blend is a solid 1735mg containing health-boosting properties. The cracked cell variety of chlorella is present, which is easier for our body to digest than the unbroken chlorella variety.
Macro Greens powder also contains aloe vera, which has been proven to help with various health complaints, including constipation, and 1225mg of natural fruit and seed fibers.
The 200mg enzyme blend has improved gastrointestinal health, having a huge beneficial knock-on effect on our body's performance, further enhanced by the blend's 18 billion probiotics.
Pros:
- 18 billion probiotic bacteria assist in maintaining a healthy, powerful microbiome
- Great taste and very cost-effective compared to other green powders
Cons:
- Proprietary blend again makes measurements challenging to understand, though they are still more honest than some competition
Beyond Greens
The 14 superfood ingredients in this greens powder work to detoxify the body and provide an immunity boost and higher energy levels while improving liver function and reducing inflammation.
It's great to look at the label of Beyond Greens and see exactly how much of each ingredient is going into a serving.
Several ingredients are present specifically for their ability to enhance gut health, including prebiotics, probiotics, Rhodiola extract, and echinacea.
The functional mushroom blend is also impressive, harnessing the natural potency of the lion's mane, turkey tail, cordyceps, and reishi mushroom. These have incredible health properties, including boosting white blood cell count, anti-carcinogens, and promoting healthy gut bacteria.
Pros:
- The impressive mushroom stack harnesses the power of these amazing mushrooms for powerful health benefits.
- Honest labeling helps us understand precisely how much of each ingredient we are getting in a dose
Cons:
- While it contains a great spread of superfoods, it should be drunk as a supplement, not a replacement for fruit and veg, due to the lower doses of some of the ingredients.
Related: Beyond Greens vs AG1
Amazing Grass Green Superfood Booster
Amazing Grass Green Superfood is one of the more popular greens powders on the market, though it lacks potency compared to other green dietary supplements.
Coming either in original Sweet Berry or Chocolate flavor, this supplement is great for those put off by the earthy taste of some powders. The ingredients are beneficial to improving digestion, boosting gastrointestinal function, and upping energy levels.
However, due to the low dosing, you could experience all of these results in better form from a supplement with higher dosing. The dosage of the digestive enzymes and probiotics also leaves us wanting more.
That being said, this green powder receives great reviews, with a solid 4.6/5 Amazon score, so users are generally very pleased with the health benefits of this green supplement.
Pros:
- A variety of taste options is more inclusive to those who don't care for the taste of powdered greens
- Solid customer reviews speak to the product's good performance
Cons:
- Low dosing means you won't get the full potency of many superfood ingredients
- The proprietary blend of enzymes and active cultures makes it difficult to see how much we get of each
Related: AG1 vs Amazing Grass
Green Vibrance's Plant-Based Superfood
Green Vibrance superfood has a top-quality profile and probiotic compounds are the top green supplements on the market.
Green Vibrance includes barley grass, oat grass, wheatgrass, and turmeric, available in either original or Chocolate Coconut flavor. However, some of these ingredients, kale, at only 50g, are dosed too low for you to enjoy the benefits.
The antioxidant profile is strong with ingredients such as tomato, strawberry, and goji berry, which are great ingredients to detoxify your system; these ingredients are all in generous doses, too, so you're getting an effective amount.
The probiotic number sits at a solid 25 billion bacteria, which is solid but by no means the highest number of friendly bacteria on our list.
Pros:
- The enzyme blend and probiotic bacteria complex offer a great boost to your body's absorption of the superfood profile and strengthen your gut biome's overall health.
- The Chocolate Coconut may entice users who don't enjoy the earthy taste of greens powders.
- Strong antioxidant profile.
Cons:
- Weaker doses of some ingredients mean you won't reap their benefits as you would from other supplements.
- 9600mg of superfood puts it in the low-medium range of superfoods in the greens powder market.
Related: AG1 vs Green Vibrance
What Are Probiotic Greens Good for?
Infamous French general Napoleon hit the nail when he said, “An army marches on its stomach.”
Your gut is your second brain, and the health of its biome has a massive effect on the health of your brain. It contains billions upon billions of bacteria, more than there are organisms on the planet, and it's our responsibility to do our bit to ensure there are more good ones than bad.
Taking probiotic greens can be important to maintaining this crucial aspect of your health and wellbeing.
How To Choose The Best Greens Powder?
It's important to ensure that the labeling is clear to ensure you're buying the most potent option. Also, check that the probiotic levels are adequate; anything below 20 billion is less effective.
FAQs
Are probiotic greens healthy?
A probiotic green powder is a great way to catch up on nutrients and minerals you're missing out on fruit while improving the levels of healthy bacteria that live in your gut.
Related: Best probiotics for men
Should I take super greens on an empty stomach?
It's always good to hydrate with 1-2 glasses of water at the start of your day and kickstart your metabolism, ensuring adequate absorption of the nutrients in your green powder.
How long does it take for greens to start working?
You can expect to wait anywhere from 1-2 weeks before feeling the benefits of greens powders, bearing in mind differing doses and that everyone's gut is different.
When is the best time to take greens powder?
Taking your greens powder at the start of your day to give you an energy boost is a solid plan, or before a workout to provide you with a clean burst of energy.
The Bottom Line
Many of us often forget to take good care of gut health because we haven't been taught its importance.
Luckily, obtaining solid sources of billions of healthy bacteria is now easy through the greens powder route.
With these greens powders, we could improve our gut health and guarantee ourselves a valuable dose of important vitamins and minerals.
LifeHacker Guy Greens Recommendation
Some Call This An "Extreme" Step...
Most super greens supplements are disappointing.
I learned this the hard way. After creating this blog in 2018, I spent months buying and testing all the most popular brands.
I wasn’t happy with the results so I did something you might call "extreme"....
In 2019 I created my own brand that ticks every single box of what I look for in a super greens product:
- No hidden ingredient amounts - we have full disclosure labelling, so you know EXACTLY whats inside
- Ingredient amounts that make a difference - we include the minimum effective amounts supported by research, and most of the time, MORE
- Ingredients that help immunity, boost mental clarity and shake off brain fog - making for a much more productive and happy lifestyle
No more worrying about ineffective ingredients or too low dosages. I finally have a product I KNOW does the job it’s made to do.
I use it every day and, after years of battling Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), I now have my energy (and my life!) back.
The good news? I made my brand available to the public so you can see and feel the difference for yourself.