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IT Works! Greens Blend Review

IT Works Greens Review: Benefits, Drawbacks, And Comparison

As I am fast discovering, there is a whole world of supplements, nutritional drink blends, and superfood pills and powders available to everyone and anyone who chooses to buy online.

These various dietary products are being sold to a market that is growing in terms not only of numbers but in their interest and knowledge in specific areas. One such area – as we know – is with the rise in popular greens powders (also known, and marketed, as super greens or greens blend), and a company that is working hard on building its following are IT Works!.

With a marketing tagline like this (Have you tried it? IT works!) who could fail to be completely intrigued?

I particularly wanted to know more about their “healthy” IT Works Greens Blend and It Works Greens on the Go, alongside the full range of It Works products.

So let’s dig a little more and see what we can find out about the company, their range of healthy products, and what people are saying.

IT Works Greens Verdict

The average rating of this product is calculated based on the evaluation of the following factors:

Coupons: None available

Rating:

2.0

  • Ingredients / Dosages:1.5
  • Ingredient Safety:4.0
  • Value for the Price:2.0
  • Brand Transparency:1.0
  • Taste:2.5

IT works! greens tub

What is IT Works Greens?

The range of nutritional supplements and other products seems impressive. Their online shop also carries clothing and other branded products, however, I’m more interested in the range of Greens powders that aim to detoxify and alkalize your body by supplying much-needed vitamins, minerals, and other herbs and vegetables.

From on-the-go sticks of the Greens blend (IT Works Greens on the Go blend – more on this below) to the more standard-sized tubs or canisters of greens; there is also a chewable probiotic blend available.

The It Works Greens Blend currently comes in Berry and Chocolate flavor and the packaging seems to promise three things: Alkalize, Balance, Detoxify. These are not unusual claims for greens blends, and most customers will be looking for ingredients within the blend which are proven to restore body pH and gain a nutrient boost.

Below I will break down the ingredients and go into more detail about the blends, but from the outset, I am already a little disappointed in terms of what I can find on the list of the main ingredients on their product pages of the website.

It Works Greens appear to be using a proprietary blend which means they are not telling us how much of each ingredient they are including (therefore I can’t possibly know what is in each individual serving). As I said, I’ll go into detail below, but this is one aspect that definitely sounds the alarm on this product.

Background on It Works!

It Works! are clear from the outset on their website that they are a multilevel marketing ‘employer’, and as such part of their pitch is encouraging their customers to become brand ambassadors (read: distributors) and to run a home business to sell their products.

I’m not going to go into a huge amount of detail about MLM in this review as I am more interested in their products, hence this being a review more specifically of It Works! Greens products, but I will use this opportunity to say that I’m disinclined to buy anything through businesses structured like this.

I will use this opportunity to say that I’m disinclined to buy anything through businesses structured like this.

I don’t like the idea of loyal customers being encouraged to sell to friends and family and I think a company should be able to do this on the strength of their own marketing, values, and customer base.

The company has big claims on their website About us page, stating ‘It Works! is an industry-leading beauty and nutrition company that empowers people to live the life of their dreams’ (Mark B. Pentecost, Founder, and CEO).

Pentecost and his wife, Cindy, clearly have a mission to help (they are also the founders of the It Works! Gives Back Foundation), but I’m not sure that the business model is really something that resonates, personally, for me.

IT Works Greens Ingredients

As with all of my reviews, this It Works Greens blend review will delve a little into what’s available on the packaging to describe the contents.

Taking a look at the tub pictured on the website, it looks as though they have used a three-way blend to provide ingredients that claim to have an alkalizing, balancing, and detoxifying effect.

It Works have stated on the product pages of their website that the blend includes:

  • Acidity-fighting magnesium and potassium blend
  • 52 herbs and nutrient rich superfoods
  • 34 fruits and veggies
  • Matcha Green Tea

HOWEVER, if you want to find out the individual ingredients you either have to buy their product, click through on a tab which says ‘further product info’ and take a closer look at the packaging, or does as I do and google!

On another website I found the following:

Greens Proprietary Blend (1080 mg)

Blue-Green Algae (Spirulina), Parsley Leaf, Barley Grass, Spinach Leaf, Chlorella Algae, Alfalfa Extract, Matcha Green Tea Leaf, Watercress, Rosemary Leaf, Plantain Leaf, Dandelion Leaf, Lemongrass, Green Tea Leaf Extract, Dulse.

Whole Foods Proprietary Blend (1475 mg)

Pea Fiber, Apple Fiber, Eleuthero Root Extract, Fruit and Vegetable Blend (Apple, Carrot, Tomato Juice, Orange Juice, Blueberry, Rosehips, Beet, Amla, Kale, Plum, Ginger, Pineapple Juice, Cauliflower, Broccoli, Grape Juice, Grapefruit Juice, White Willow, Onion, Papaya Juice, Peach, Pear Juice, Brussels Sprouts, Lemon Juice, Raspberry Juice, Strawberry Juice, Pumpkin, Black Currant, Goji), Sunflower Lecithin, Astragalus Root Extract, Turmeric, Meadowsweet Herb, Blackberry Fruit, Acerola, Bilberry Fruit Extract, Cranberry.

They also do not state that their ingredients are organic, despite stating that their ingredients are Keto-friendly, non-GMO, soy-free, and Vegan.

As I have mentioned previously I really don’t like relying on having to google (or look at a review site) to find the ingredients list from the packaging to tell me more about the ingredients! Why not be upfront about what goes into your blend? I want to know from the outset what is going in any product I buy.

The suggested serving size is two scoops in an 8-oz glass of water or one sachet in a glass of water. I can tell that the sachet of On the Go Greens blend is 4g, but I struggled to find information on the scoop size.

How Does IT Works Greens Taste?

IT Works! Greens superfoodReviews tell me that people are happy with the taste, however, it’s clear that the company have tried a variety of flavors before settling on the Chocolate and Berry varieties available on their site (there are reviews of an orange flavor blend).

It Works products also don’t have customer reviews directly on each product page, which I take to be negative. I’ve searched around and am assuming that overall the taste is similar to other Greens products.

One or two customers state that the flavor isn’t the best, however at the same time they admit that they find it to be working for them.

This stuff tastes so nasty but get tolerable after a week or so. The reason to continue using it is that it helps with mental energy and I am losing weight. – Amazon customer.

This is perfect in a morning green smoothie. Don't put more than a scoop or the sweet taste can be overwhelming. – Amazon customer.

Side Effects of IT Works Greens

As with all proprietary blends, it is really difficult to tell if you would get any ill effects from taking the It Works Greens. They are hardly transparent about the ingredients so it takes a bit of digging to find out if there are any particular ingredients that could cause you discomfort or side effects.

The serving sizes are also relatively small so it’s hard to say whether anyone ingredient would be large enough in portion size to cause any issues. The amount of fiber, for example, in each serving is only around 1g.

Obviously, you should not take this product if you have known allergies to any of the listed ingredients, and I can only assume that if you already have suffered ill effects from ingredients such as dandelion, plantain leaf, pea, or apple fiber, that you would probably be better off giving this product a miss.

Does IT Works Greens Actually Work?

The reviews online in the Amazon shop and on the It Works! website seems to be very positive, but once again I am going to refer to the serving size in my assumptions here. The serving recommended in the tubs is two scoops. The tubs come in 125g (Berry) and 180g (Chocolate), with a suggested 30 servings per tub, and the individual sachets are 4g each.

Therefore if we extrapolate down, the Greens Proprietary Blend (1080 mg) must only include a minute amount of each of the ingredients, as it is combined with the Whole Foods Proprietary Blend (1475 mg) to make a complete serving.

Taking what I would expect to be the most potent ingredients (algae has a proven beneficial effect on the body) the recommended amount of, for example, spirulina (on examine.com) is between 1-8g per day.

…the blend could be losing effectiveness through such small daily portion sizes.

So we can see that through ‘padding’ out the ingredients with a fruit and vegetable blend, or legume proteins, the blend could be losing effectiveness through such small daily portion sizes.

IT Works Greens Customer Reviews

Some of the questions asked about the It Works Green blend products mention that the current blend is a vast improvement from previous blends which included Soy isolate and Soy protein products as ‘filler’ and to improve protein content.

However, the reviews online are fairly balanced and you take what you will from the individual comments:

This tastes good and I feel like I'm getting the greens I need. Amazon review

Awesome greens gives good energy. I would recommend it to my friends, which I have already. Amazon review.

Money Back Guarantee / Returns Policy

It Works have an It Works! promise – offering a 30-day returns policy, however since I didn’t want to read through a 17-page returns policy I’m not sure exactly what this entails. Presumably, as they state the products must be returned unused this is a bit of an issue.

It Works also encourages its ‘distributors’ and loyal customers to bulk buy products together, therefore presumably cutting down on the amount of returned products, once loyalty has been established.

Where to Buy IT Works Greens?

Probably the best place online to buy these products is through their official website. Alternatively, you can find a distributor (or become one!).

An amazon store is also available and looking at the reviews here is often useful for choosing which products you would like to try.

Is It Worth the Price?

I’ve already said that I was disappointed in the lack of transparency about ingredients AND the serving size. While not the most expensive brand on the market, It Works Greens blend is neither the cheapest, the biggest serving nor can it (to my mind) therefore be the most effective.

IT Works Green blend is very expensive at $1.83 per small 4g servings over 30 days or $1.96 for Greens on the Go.

It Works! Greens on the go sachet

I have to say I do like the idea of the on-the-go sticks and this would be the perfect way to take your greens with you when traveling, or just on your commute to work.

That being said the serving size of the individual It Works! Greens on the go blend are very small so I am already questioning the effectiveness of taking such a small daily dose.

Can you really get enough of your daily greens in a 4g serving?

IT Works Greens FAQs

Here are some of the frequently asked questions about IT Works Greens.

Is IT Works Greens a meal replacement?

In short no. As with most greens drinks, IT Works is to be taken alongside a healthy and varied diet.

Is IT Works Greens Blend gluten free?

The product is formulated with only gluten-free ingredients however it is not currently tested to detect gluten that may or may not be introduced during the manufacturing process. So, if you're particularly sensitive to gluten then this superfood product may not be suitable for you.

Is IT Works Greens safe for breastfeeding?

The advice for all dietary supplements is to seek medical advice if pregnant or breastfeeding. The manufacturer recommended guidelines typically state it's not suitable as one or more ingredients may have an adverse reaction. I am not a medical doctor so I would urge you to speak to your doctor.

Does IT Works Greens on the Go have caffeine?

It does in the form of “Matcha Green Tea” and “Green Tea Leaf Extract”, both of which contain natural caffeine. So, if you're looking for caffeine-free or are particularly sensitive to caffeine then I suggest you look at alternatives.

Does IT Works Greens expire?

Yes, every supplement should have a clear “expiration” or “manufactured” date on the box or tub. Typically the expiration period is two years from the manufactured date.

Does IT Works Greens cause diarrhea?

Some ingredients within the formula have been shown to cause stomach upsets and diarrhea, but this doesn't necessarily mean you will.

The Bottom Line

I’m already very transparent about the things I like to see when reviewing Greens powders.

I like the company to have a mission or vision that chimes with my own, a personal story for example, and I want to see transparency in their ingredients list.

The individual ingredients in these products may well be proven to have nutritional benefits, but I remain unconvinced that the serving sizes and therefore potency of each ingredient would be enough to be truly beneficial to your health in the long term.

These two points are so crucial for me in determining whether I wish to take a supplement that I won't personally be taking IT Works Greens!.

There is no shortage of Super greens supplements on the market, and with such a choice a brand really needs to stand out. For me, IT Works Greens is not so much superfood but more like a super dud!

Adam Author

About the LifeHacker Guy

Hi, I'm Adam the founder of the LifeHacker Guy.

I have a First Class Honours degree in Sports Science from Brighton University, specialising in exercise physiology and nutrition. In my youth I was a competitive Triathlete and long-distance runner placing top 10 in most triathlon races I completed.

Since suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, I moved into web development, after a couple of years I then moved onto developing a number of online businesses. I've recently taken a sabbatical and I'm now looking to make big changes in my life, hopefully this may resonate with you - join me in my journey!

8 comments

  1. Does this have an expiration date. I have the greens blend chocolate it has. Mfg date of 11/18. Is it still ok to use?

  2. As a new distributor, I appreciate your review because it helps me know what questions are out there. I would say that promoting your brand right after seems a little “interesting.” I do like the way the company runs because it increases the testimony power when it is from someone you know. I became interested by It Works because of the positive rules by personal friends and family. I think the thing people forget is that a supplement is meant to add to, not replace. I rarely incorporated vegetables in my diet. Using this product allows me to add more to my diet, but it is not meant to replace my eating better. Instead of grabbing chips or candy I can drink this mixture and receive hunger relief….and increase likelihood of reaching optimum vegetable intake…and shed pounds in the process. I take a LOT of medications for health issues and I loved that this product does not interact poorly with any of them. I’ve tried others and it caused a lot of problems (especially the Keto specific ones).

    1. I am looking around at It Works again as I was given the Energy Stick, but have use the Greens for a long time. The Greens have helped my cholesterol numbers. My heart doctor complained Every year until one year I had been on the It Works Greens and after the appt. the doc said ok, see you next year. I said you are not going to complain about my numbers as you have for 4 years. He looked back on his chart and said, no, the numbers are good. I got off the Greens and the next year he complained again – that experience made me a believer!

  3. Hi Lifehackerguy:
    I like the fact that their are people like yourself who take the time to research and review products such as It Works Green Blend. I read a couple of other sites that reviewed it as well and no one had anything bad to say about it about the only thing that was agreed upon was the face that there were not exact quantities of the ingredients on the packaging however they all showed positive reviews from current customers.
    The one thing that they did stress is that these are supplements only and that we have to remember that so we have to make sure that we are making up for what they lack with a healthy diet regardless whether it is their product or your product which you advertise on your website. I have done a lot of research on the topic and I currently am a Multiple scoliosis sufferer. I have been a customer of It Works for 2 years and have been contemplating on being a distributor. Before I decide to join any business venture I go on line to see what people are saying. Because you and other critics have not had anything that would convince me that the company is doing any thing underhanded I think I’m going to sell their products because I believe in them. I do thank you for all of your hard work and research.
    Sincerely,
    Terri

    1. Hi,

      Unfortunately it seems you cannot simply just order online as they are only sell via their independent distributors you would need to find one in your country.

      The super greens market is competitive and their are lots of choice although not all I would necessarily recommend. You can try some alternatives that deliver the same, if not, more benefits.

      Adam

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