If you want to get into a routine of drinking green juice first thing in the morning, there are many things to consider, such as buying fresh produce and adding supplements or superfoods.
This all takes time and a whole lot of effort.
Reaching for a green powder drink is can be so much easier, especially if you lead a busy life and are always on the go.
But the question remains - should I use a green powder drink? And if so, which one? And what do I look out for in the ingredients?
Read on to find out more…
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Are powdered green drinks good for you?
There are hundreds of greens powders on the market. It pays to take the time to select the most appropriate green drink for you because -
Not all green juice powders are equal.
If you choose a plant-based raw greens powder that is entirely natural (like pHresh Greens), then you’ll be drinking digestive enzymes and nutrients.
But how can green powder be raw when it’s clearly been altered?
This is a question I used to ask before I understood how you could dry out greens at low temperatures to lock in the goodness.
Some cheaper alternatives don’t use gentle low-heat dehydration. Therefore the greens powder will be less effective at boosting your energy levels.
You also have to look out for products that use fillers, chemicals, additives, or GMOs.
Green juice powder should be consumed as part of a healthy diet and can be substituted for your morning meal or part of a detox plan.
What is a greens powder?
Greens powder refers to a powdered drink that you add to water or a detox smoothie.
A good greens powder will be bursting with nutritional benefits.
The best greens powder will contain probiotics, antioxidants, B vitamins, carotenoids, phytonutrients, enzymes, dietary fibre and essential fatty acids.
As well as other raw greens like wheatgrass powder, barley grass powder, spirulina, chlorella, and selected green vegetables.
It's true that greens powders seem expensive (at first) – and some people ask if green powders are a waste of money.
But if you purchased all of the ingredients individually, you’d be paying a hell of a lot more.
Green juice powder is a quick and easy way to consume your greens. Plus, when you do the math, green juice powder is less than £1 per day.
Related: Spirulina – A Blue Green Algae That Boosts Immunity
What’s the best green drink powder?
The best green drink powder should be raw, organic, and bursting with concentrated nutrition.
If you also add a convenient sachet of probiotics to your green juice, then you’ll be getting even more nutrition in just one drink.
Additionally, it’s essential to ensure that the water that you use to mix your green drink powder should be clean, high quality, and ideally alkaline.
We’ve scoured the market to ensure that we only provide the cleanest and highest quality green juice powder.
It’s tempting to add sweet fruits into the mix. However, the idea of drinking green juice powder is that we fill our body with green leafy vegetables and alkalise the system.
Green juice powder can take time to adjust to, especially when we’ve all been accustomed to eating for taste. But stick with it; in time, it will become an essential part of your healthy lifestyle routine.
The best time to drink green juice
When you drink green juice, it’s important to prioritise it as a breakfast replacement.
Green juice is best consumed first thing in the morning when your digestive system is still waking up.
Gently introduce plant-based nutrition without the heaviness of consuming a meal at breakfast time.
If you still want to eat a light breakfast or drink a cup of coffee, wait a few hours. That way, your body can digest the alkaline-based nutrition before anything acidic gets a chance to interfere.
The common adage “breakfast is the most important meal of the day” has been challenged a lot in the past few years, with many health advocates opting for intermittent fasting and missing breakfast altogether.
Green juice is a middle ground in a way; they offer you heaps of nutrition in an easy-to-consume package.
One last thing on timing: proponents of intuitive eating suggest waiting until your body is ready and asking for breakfast rather than robotically consuming it.
However, I’m not convinced that this will work when a person’s microbiome is out of whack.
Related: Microbiome Health: The Right Environment, The Right Microbial Strains
6 green juice powder do’s and don’ts
Although green juice powder is a fantastic addition to your daily routine, there are a few things you need to look out for.
1. DO: Green powder shouldn’t be a substitute for all of your greens because green powder is low in fibre. It’s important to also eat a big hearty salad to boost your vegetable intake.
2. DON’T: Add in fruits (fresh or dried) as they will alter the pH level of your green juice. It’s a good idea to stick with green leafy vegetables and green powder, at least in your morning juice.
3. DO: Some people suggest that juicing can raise blood sugar. This can be true for lots of fruits, but not for green powder as it's only made from veggies. If you’re concerned in any way, then speak to your health care provider before adding green juice to your daily routine.
4. DO: Always check that your green juice is raw and doesn’t contain any added sugars or artificial sweeteners.
5. DO: There have been some reports of negative effects on the kidneys when consuming too much green juice. Always ensure that you drink your green juice as part of a healthy diet and lifestyle.
6. DON’T: Expect that green juice powder is a miracle cure. You need to ensure that you have a balanced healthy lifestyle that includes daily exercise, relaxation and healthy relationships.
What happens when you drink green juice daily?
No two people are the same, not even identical twins. As such, your experience will most likely be different from others.
I’ve found that drinking green juice first thing in the morning helps me start the day on the right foot.
I’m a proponent of intermittent fasting, so I have my green juice a bit later, between 11am and noon.
When I consume green juice, either in powder form or from my garden, I feel lighter and full of energy.
Also, I don’t feel the need to reach out for processed or acidic snacks when I start the day with green juice.
Conclusion
Don't expect that green juice powder is a miracle cure. You need to ensure you have a balanced healthy lifestyle that includes daily exercise, relaxation and healthy relationships.
Drinking your green juice powder (and alkaline water) first thing in the morning ensures that you start your day in a healthy, nutritious way.
It's way faster than juicing lots of vegetables, so green juice powder is ideal for a hectic lifestyle.
Make sure that you check the ingredients of your green juice powder to make sure that it's free from nasty additives or toxins.
Choose green juice powders that have either a high probiotic or high nutrition profile. Drinking green juice first thing in the morning is a perfect way to start your healthy lifestyle journey.
Written by best-selling author and integrative nutrition health coach Rowanna Watson, who has a passion for natural health. Rowanna is an expert in all areas of holistic health, plant-based nutrition, detoxification and personal development.
Water for Health Ltd began trading in 2007 with the goal of positively affecting the lives of many. We still retain that mission because we believe that proper hydration and nutrition can make a massive difference to people’s health and quality of life. Click here to find out more.
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