Rankings – Nutrition & Diet News

Superfood powders can help a person fill the nutrient gap caused by questionable dietary choices. They’re loaded with vitamins and minerals, rich in antioxidants, and have the dietary fiber needed to maintain a healthy digestive tract. For one reason or another, many people these days have deviated from a healthy diet. This is a troubling development that has contributed to the obesity epidemic, as well as increases in incidents of heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure and more. Superfood powders, when combined with other healthy lifestyle choices, can get a person back on the road to sustainable good health. Below are the best superfood powders of 2021. 1. Country Farms Super Green Drink Mix Check Price on Amazon There were several superfood powders we could have led off our list with. We ultimately chose Country Farms Super Green Drink Mix because of its combination of more than 50 superfoods, its robust antioxidant profile, its affordability, and its taste, which was a pleasant surprise. The fact that it includes a robust complement of probiotics to ensure gut health is just icing on the superfood cake. We say the flavor is a “pleasant surprise” because this particular powder is unflavored. And often times that means you have to grin and bear it. Not here though. The flavor is delightfully neutral which made the process of drinking it a relative walk in the park compared to some others. Country Farms Super Green Drink Mix is also free of animal products. Meaning it’s safe for vegetarians and vegans. 2. Orgain Organic Green Superfoods Powder Check Price on Amazon Orgain Organic Green Superfoods Powder contains more than 4 dozen superfoods, so we’re not going to spend time listing them all. Basically, if it’s in the superfood category - anybody’s superfood category - it’s probably in this superfood powder. That includes probiotics, which are so important to proper digestion and nutrient absorption, and fiber to keep make sure things keep moving. No matter what you hope to gain from a superfood powder, there’s a decent chance you’ll get it from this one. If there is a downside it’s that there are so many superfood ingredients that you likely won’t be able to tell which ones are doing right by you and which are just along for the ride. But as long as the end result is a healthier you, that shouldn’t make any difference. 3. Nested Naturals Supergreens Check Price on Amazon Nested Naturals Supergreens is, as you can imagine, heavy on things like broccoli, spinach, wheatgrass, collard greens and other such foods. The emphasis here is squarely on the antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, and probiotics. With the goal being to enhance your body’s ability to effectively process the food you eat so you can glean greater nutritional value from it. And to set you up with a potent immune system that’s ready for all comers. Nested Naturals Supergreens also provides an energy boost to help power your workouts. And there’s protein as well to help you build bigger muscles as a result of your workouts. While the superfood blend here is not as inclusive as some others, that can actually be a good thing. For instance, because it does not contain any nuts, it’s safe for those with peanut allergies. This powerful superfood powder is also very affordable. 4. Amazing Grass Green Superfood Antioxidant Check Price on Amazon Amazing Grass is all-in on the superfood powders. They were, in fact, something like pioneers in the superfood space, with decades of experience promoting the benefits of greens even before they became widely popular. Today, the company produces a couple of dozen variants on the superfood powder idea, and for our money, this is their best. Amazing Grass Green Superfood Antioxidant is formulated to provide an impressive antioxidant dose. In the short run, that imposing cargo of antioxidants helps with things like dermatitis. In the long run, it may help you avoid things like heart disease. Amazing Grass Green Superfood powder is free of gluten and other food allergens, GMOs, and sugar. It’s also Kosher, vegetarian and vegan-friendly. 5. Orgain Organic Protein+ Superfoods Powder Check Price on Amazon Orgain Organic is back for a bow with their Protein+ Superfoods Powder. Like the company’s earlier entry on our list this superfood powder contains more than 4 dozen ingredients. The main difference is that this powder contains an added amount of protein. Presumably, for the athletically inclined. Vegans shouldn’t let that scare them off, however, as the protein is plant-based. Despite the presence of so many ingredients, Orgain Organic Protein+ Superfoods Powder manages to be gluten, soy and dairy free and contains no genetically modified organisms. The powder is doctor formulated and provides a potent nutrient load. It also boosts energy levels without relying on sugar or caffeine to do so. Nice trick that. If workouts are your thing, take this half an hour before or right after you hit the gym. 6. Biopharma NanoGreens Superfood Powder Check Price on Amazon Biopharma NanoGreens Superfood Powder contains 55 ingredients that piggyback on one another to provide almost the entire nutrient profile as well as outstanding antioxidant benefits. The ingredients in Biopharma NanoGreens are sourced from half a dozen countries and brought together in the US in a GMP facility under the watchful eye of the FDA. Biopharma takes a slightly different approach to superfood powder, one that may not appeal to purist but is effective nonetheless. You see they add a touch of caffeine into their powder to provide an energy boost. And they toss in some stevia to make things a bit more palatable. The result is a superfood powder that’s antioxidant and nutrient-rich, while at the same time tasting pretty good and setting you up for the day or your workout. 7. Garden of Life Raw Organic Superfood Powder Check Price on Amazon Garden of Life Raw Organic Superfood Powder is vegan, allergen-free, dairy-free and relatively tasty. Exactly how the company managed to make is so palatable without adding sugar, or even stevia, is anyone’s guess. But they did. Beyond the taste, there are dozens of ingredients here, all of them are certified organic and many of them are rich in antioxidant value. We expect a high quality product from Garden of Life and we get it here with this superfood powder. It contains essential amino acids, omega-3 fatty acids, probiotics, digestive enzymes, and much more. And maybe best of all, it mixes very well with almost any kind of non-carbonated beverage. Not something that can be said of all its competitors. 8. Grown American Superfood Check Price on Amazon All of the two dozen or so ingredients in Grown American Superfood Powder are, you guessed it, grown in America. Why is that important? Because verifying compliance with things like organic farming techniques is not always a straightforward proposition when ingredients are sourced from other countries. And for some folks that organic label should mean something. Besides containing all ‘locally grown’ ingredients Grown American Superfood Powder relies much more heavily on fruits than some other powders. Which, if you’re a fan of antioxidants, should be music to your ears. Besides being nutrient-dense and antioxidant-rich, Grown American Superfood Powder is also free of sugar, soy, dairy, gluten and GMOs. 9. Super Greens Premium Superfood Powder Check Price on Amazon Super Greens does not have the name recognition of Orgain Organics or Garden of Life but they aspire to quality and that’s what counts. Their Premium Superfood Powder contains 40 recognized superfoods, along with probiotics to promote digestive integrity and a bit of Stevia to make things palatable. Super Greens Premium also mixes very well with most non-carbonated beverages. Which means it doesn’t sink right to the bottom and form a layer of clay. If there is a downside here it’s the price, which is among the highest of the best superfood powders. 10. Nature Fuel Power Beets Superfood Supplement Check Price on Amazon The last of our best superfood powders is also the simplest. Nature Fuel Power Beets is derived from organic beet root juice and fermented beet root juice. It’s packed with antioxidants, vitamin C, and magnesium and provides both long-term protection against a multitude of potential health problems, and a short-term energy boost that will help you get more from your workouts. Each serving boosts nitric oxide levels, increases blood flow and ensures your muscles (and brain) get the oxygen they need. It’s recommended that you mix it with a glass of water half an hour before a workout to enjoy optimal benefits in that regard. FAQs What Are Superfoods? More than a few people are wary of so-called superfoods because the name implies these foods have been genetically altered in some way to increase their nutrient levels. But while genetic manipulation of crops has become commonplace, superfoods were pretty super already and don’t really need to have their DNA manipulated in a lab. In fact, most superfood powders go to great lengths to emphasize they contain no genetically modified organisms, or GMOs. So what is a ‘superfood’? The superfood umbrella created by marketers is pretty large. But in essence the word refers to any food that is nutrient-rich and possesses antioxidant and, ideally, anti-inflammatory properties. These include beans, greens, nuts, mushrooms, seeds, fish and more. And example of a non-superfood would be something like pizza, which contains lots of empty calories (1). And celery, which has almost no nutritional value. What are the Benefits of Superfood Powders? Superfood powders are convenient. Many people do not eat nutrient-rich foods on a regular basis. Often that’s because they simply don’t have time to squeeze food shopping and preparation into their busy schedule. Instead they default to fast food that tastes great and fills them up but does more long-term harm than good. Superfood drinks are an easy and convenient way to make up for a nutrient-poor diet. Superfood powders are rich in antioxidants. Antioxidant content is one of the most important factors in determining whether something is a genuine superfood. Antioxidants take numerous forms. Some are nutrients like vitamin C or vitamin E. Others are complex compounds that do not have any specific nutritional role, but have the ability to counteract the activity of free radicals (2). Free radicals are responsible for oxidative stress which, in turn, is behind the onset of numerous chronic and deadly diseases. Antioxidants are crucial to maintaining proper health and superfoods have them in abundance. There are lots of different superfood powders. There are so many different superfoods, and so many different superfood powders, that you’re sure to find one that agrees with you. From simple to complex there’s a multitude of different formulations with different tastes and different characteristics. So if you don’t like one, just try another. They’re affordable so you won’t break your bank shopping around a bit. Superfood powders are contain lots of important nutrients. Superfoods got that designation because they are rich in important nutrients and largely devoid of empty calories. Important nutrients include magnesium, iron, calcium, B-vitamins, vitamins A, C and E, potassium and more. Whereas that pizza we mentioned above contains virtually none of these, a good superfood shake contains most of them, plus others. Superfood powders can help ward off chronic diseases. As we mentioned above true superfoods are rich in antioxidants. And antioxidants fight oxidative stress (3). Oxidative stress is believed to play a major contributing role in the development of neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s (4) and certain types of cancer, as well as atherosclerosis and other forms of cardiovascular disease (5). Superfood shakes rich in antioxidants may well improve your chances of warding off these debilitating conditions. Superfood powders can help boost your immune system. A nutrient deficient diet reduces the effectiveness of the immune system. In turn, an immune system operating at less than full capacity leaves a person susceptible to colds, flu, infections, and the above-mentioned chronic diseases and other health problems. Incorporating superfood shakes into your diet can make up for a nutrient deficient diet and help restore your immune system to its optimal state of preparedness. Superfood powders may help manage blood sugars. While there has not been a ton of research conducted on the topic, many health professionals believe superfoods have the ability to stabilize blood glucose levels and promote their use for diabetics (6). If it is true that superfoods (and by extension, superfood powders), can help control blood sugars it probably comes down to these foods having a low glycemic index (7) rating. Hopefully there will be some significant research forthcoming on this issue to provide guidance to diabetics. Superfood powders taste pretty good. Taste is a subjective thing. A food that sends one person to flavorful nirvana causes another to rue the moment they agreed to open their mouth. But, on the whole, superfood shakes tend to taste much better than their protein shake counterparts. If there’s a caveat it’s that in order to ramp up taste, some manufacturers add artificial flavorings. So if that sort of thing concerns you, make sure to read the label carefully before buying or using a particular superfood powder. Superfood powders are good for people trying to lose weight. Weight loss has become a $72 billion industry (8) and is expected to keep growing in the coming years. The thing is, it’s not always necessary to join a gym or sign up to have low cal meals delivered to your door in order to lose weight. Superfood powders are typically low in calories and high in energy producing, muscle-building, appetite-suppressing nutrients like protein, potassium and omega-3 fatty acids. Superfood powders may help lower high blood pressure. High blood pressure affects millions of Americans and is a major cause of premature death. The treatment of high blood pressure, or hypertension, typically involves prescription medications. But it may be possible to lower blood pressure by eating the same type of foods recommended on the DASH diet (9)(10). That means lots of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fish, poultry and nuts. Which, if you read the label of your superfood powder, is a list that will look familiar. Superfood powders may help lower cholesterol. Anyone looking for a reason why they have high levels of ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol in their blood need look no further than what’s on their plate. The link between high cholesterol and diet is irrefutable (11). So if you want to get LDL cholesterol under control it would behoove you to replace some of the current unhealthy foods you’re eating with superfood drinks. Superfood powders are affordable. Gym memberships are not cheap. Diet programs that deliver healthy food to your door can cost well over $100 per week. Organically grown, pesticide and GMO-free fruits and vegetables get expensive as well. (If you can find a market near you that sells them.) One of the best ways to combat the high cost of good health is to make superfood drinks a part of your regular dietary routine. Which is easy, because superfood powders are very affordable. Do Superfood Powders Produce Side Effects? Some superfoods may interfere with some medications - The average superfood powder contains quite a few ingredients, so it’s important that you make sure none of them will interfere with any medication you might be taking. For instance, it is believed that goji berries, a very popular ingredient in superfood powders, are also potentially beneficial in treating type 2 diabetes (12). While that sounds like good news it also raises the possibility that a superfood powder with goji berries could interfere with other diabetes medications. If you are currently taking any prescription meds talk to your doctor before you add superfood powder to your diet. They may cause diarrhea in some people - Many superfood powders are high in fiber. And that’s important because it helps keep things moving. In some cases, though, it may get things moving a bit too fast and cause diarrhea. If the superfood powder you’re using is causing you to visit the bathroom more often than normal you should probably try a different powder that goes a little lighter on the fiber. They’re out there. They may cause bloating - There is no doubt beans and fiber are good for your health. However, some folks have a negative reaction that includes bloating and gas when they use superfood powders that contain high quantities of these foods. If you feel bloated and uncomfortable after having a superfood drink, try a different one with less beans and fiber. Some people complain of odd smelling pee - It may seem strange but the same thing happens to some people who take multivitamins or eat certain vegetables like asparagus. If it happens to you, you can either switch superfood powders, or drink lots of water after having your shake to dilute the odor-causing compounds. Is There a Downside to Superfood Powders? Whether something is a negative or not is often a matter of opinion. But if you are a stickler for documentation then superfood powders may leave you a bit frustrated. That’s because, although a particular powder may proudly proclaim itself ‘organic’, there is typically no way to confirm this. Also, how can the user be sure that all the ingredients used were grown without pesticides? And who exactly is checking to make sure that a particular berry or leafy veggie doesn’t have a genetically modified ancestor? After all, many of the foods we eat regularly have been altered either by selective breeding (13) or outright genetic manipulation (14). So how can we be absolutely sure there isn’t a GMO somewhere in the family tree of some ingredients? Also, if ingredients are grown on overseas farms (which they sometimes are) what were the health conditions on those farms? You see, if a person really wants to dig they can come up with a number of questions that do not have easy answers. The Bottom Line Many of us have wandered so far off the nutritional farm that we run the risk of developing a compromised immune system that could leave us susceptible to all kinds of short and long-term health problems. Not only that, but if you are not getting enough antioxidants in your diet you’re inviting oxidative stress to have its way with you. Superfood powders can fill the nutrient gap and help restore balance to your system. They are affordable, convenient, and loaded with vitamins, minerals, proteins, antioxidants and more. Making a superfood drink part of your daily routine could also help you lose weight, manage your blood sugars, lower your blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart attack and help you ward off numerous chronic diseases.