UPDATED April 4, 2009
The number of green superfood powders that have sprouted up lately is astonishing. Now there are more than 150 brands on the market and they all have different formulas and offer different health benefits. But not only are there numerous products…but the number of herbs, veggie powders, grasses and grains used in these mixtures is nearly endless. So this article is your first stop for making some sense of this chaos. Here, you’ll get a bird’s eye view of the green drink market and what you should look for in a product. See the list of related articles at the end to take your investigation to the next level.
I’m including only those products I have determined to be among the best in this category and which contain the most robust mixtures of natural ingredients. Simple, single-ingredient drinks (like a simple wheat grass juice) did not make the cut. Products with a substantial amount of fillers or chemical ingredients will also not be included. I will add new products to this comparison as I become aware of them and if they are as good or better than those listed here.
Key Ingredients
Let’s begin with how these products overlap. Most green superfood drinks all contain some amount of the following ingredients:
- Land Vegetables (such as beets, spinach, grasses, dandelion, etc.)
- Sea Vegetables (kelp, purple dulse)
- Algaes (mainly spirulina and chlorella)
- Probiotics and Enzymes (the type and source differs)
- Fibrous Meal (flaxseed meal, brown rice solids, apple pectin, lecithin, and others)
The amounts of each of these ingredients may vary substantially from product to product. Some are heavy in the algaes while others favor land veggies. I look for at least 2 grams per serving being comprised of land vegetables, sea vegetables, and/or algaes, with a under 2 grams of fibrous meal, which is used like a natural filler to bulk up the product in most cases (not that lecithin or flax meal is not healthy, but I give more points for the better, more expensive, ingredients). Beyond this basic list, products may feature certain ingredients that add flavor or special qualities, such as energy enhancement or intestinal cleansing.
Special Additions
There’s nothing that says a green drink formula must have healthy herbs and extracts in addition to the key ingredients listed above. But those that include some well-chosen botanicals often rank a little higher in my book, depending on the way they are formulated and the overall cost. Some of the herbs I look for include:
- Nettle, Milk Thistle and Dandilion Leaf
- Green Tea Powder
- Mushroom Powders
- Olive Leaf Extract
- Pine Bark Extract
- Echinacea, Ginko Biloba, and Astragalus
Obviously, the more of these expensive ingredients in a green drink, the higher the price will be. So a great alternative to getting these in your green drink formula is to get a basic formula that’s strong in the key ingredients and then add your own herbs that you purchase separately.
Basic Formulas
Basic formulas are those with a focus on the key ingredients and not too many additions. They are the least robust of the green drinks and should be less expensive as a result. These are great for those on a budget or for those who like adding their own herbs to a basic mixture…or those wanting just the basics.
A good example of a basic formula is Dr. Shulze’s Super Food. This product is a simple mixture of the most basic ingredients with nothing noteworthy to help it stand out from the crowd. The land vegetables are minimal and the product focuses on spirulina and chlorella as its key ingredients — giving it an especially horrible taste. The good news is that it has one of the lowest price points on the market at only $2.43 per ounce. I suppose you can take the money you save and buy the flavoring ingredients you’ll need to disguise taste of this product. Dr. Shulze has a deluxe formula, called Super Food Plus, which has a much more competitive list of ingredients, including grasses, seaweed, beet and spinach leaf, orange peel and lemon peels. The product is still among the least expensive at $2.57 per ounce and this makes it a great value, even though it’s not the most robust formulation.
Other products that are comparable to this formula include Amazing Grass, EnerFood, Green Defense, Greenergy, and Mighty Greens.
Well Rounded Mixtures
The “well rounded mixture” is a formula that contains all of the basics ingredients with plenty of veggies to balance out the greens. Plus, these mixtures include extra ingredients to make the overall formula more directed toward a particular need. Some add protein, some add antioxidants, some add fruit blends, and most add a selection of healing herbs and extracts.
A perfect example of a well rounded mixture is Green Vibrance. It has a very nice and well rounded formulation, plus it contains a decent amount of green tea powder, which I personally like in a green drink because it adds anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory qualities (among other things). I don’t mind the little bit of caffeine that comes with the tea. Green Vibrance has some other very nice ingredients for additional antioxidant power and it’s got an extremely fair price tag at only $3.70 per ounce.
Another well rounded mixture is Macro Greens, which was among the first on the market and is still among the best. Its land veggies include beets, cactus, barley grass, and carrot. It has large doses of herbs, including ginger, horsetail, suma, astragalus, Echinacea, milk thistle and others. It includes a few fruits (berries, cintrus, acerola cherries) and offers green tea, watercress, royal jelly, and aloe vera as special ingredients. It has the usual algaes and contains a lot of fibrous meal, which is a mixture of lecithin, apple pectin and flax seed meal, but overall, it’s among my favorites and costs $4.00 per ounce.
More products in this category include New Greens, a formula that includes a little of everything, with a focus on algaes and alfalfa. Land veggies include carrot, spinach, tomato, kale, broccoli and others. Some special herbal additions worth highlighting include royal jelly, pollen, green tea, milk thistle, tumeric, and ginko biloba. It has a small amount of fibrous meal in the form of flaxseed meal, apple pectin, and brown rice solids. Also look at Delicious Greens, Go Greens, Greens First, Greens Pak, Boku Super Food, NanoGreens 10, and ProGreens.
Super Robust Formulas
The products in the super robust category are those that go the extra mile and offer more than the basics…more than extra veggies and herbs, but unexpected quality of ingredients. They also tend to have few or no fillers and, of course, they tend to be the most expensive of the bunch, but you get what you pay for.
My favorite super robust formula is Vitamineral Green, which has a lot of grasses, and some kelp and sea veggies. To compliment the grasses and kelp is a healthy dose of Nettle and juices of alfalfa, dendelion, broccoli, kale and other veggies. It is high in spirulina too, so you can bet you’re getting a quality blend here. There are no fruits, but honestly, most green products don’t have enough fruits to make them a substitute for the “Red” products (see RedDrinkReviews.com), so the lack of a fruit blend is not a huge negative on my list. Vitamineral Green clocks in at $3.06 per ounce, which makes it one of the best values among the super robust formulas.
Ben Kim’s Greens, Billy’s Greens, and Sun Is Shining are all formulated at the Vitamineral Green laboratory — by expert formulator Jameth Sheridan. All these products are top quality in terms of the source and freshness of ingredients and excellent formulations.
Berry Green and Vital Greens are also on the high-end of the spectrum. They both have excellent formulations and approximately the same cost per ounce (above $5). They are heavy in spirulina and grasses, while also offering substantial amounts of fruit powders. In the case of Berry Green, this comes in the form of red berries. In the case of Vital Greens, it comes in the form of apple powder, Billberry and acerola. If you want your berries and fruits along with the green superfoods, then these are worth looking at.
Other super robust products include Udo’s Green Blend, Pure Synergy, Perfectly Healthy Mega Greens, LifeForce, Emerald Balance, and Berry Green.
Summary
So, there you have it, some of the top contenders in the main green superfood drink categories. Which one you choose depends on your reason for taking the stuff in the first place — and your budget. If you’re looking for the most nutrition per spoonful, then look at the Super Robust formulas. But remember that these are also the most expensive. If you want a good, well-rounded formula that doesn’t cost too much, or you like getting some special herbs together with your green drink, then look at the products in the Well Rounded Mixtures category. If you are on a budget or prefer to just get the basics and add to it, then check out the Basic Formulas category.
I hope this helps you decide on how you’re going to “go green” and increase your nutrition and overall health.
Related Articles
Why Take a Green Drink
Get More from your Green Drink
Green Super Foods, Drink to your Health
Green Superfood Products: How to Read the Labels
April 4th, 2009
by Annmarie Kostyk
Chocolate is good for your heart! Surprised? Among its many healthy attributes, chocolate is rich in flavonoids, just like apples, cranberries, peanuts, onions, tea and red wine. Dr. Carl Keen’s research at the University of California Davis says that the best way to get benefits from the heart enhancing effects of chocolate are to consume cocoa powder and a moderate amount of dark chocolate. Dark chocolate gives the highest amount of chocolate solids in a bar and possesses the lowest percentage of both fat and sugar. Dark chocolate is a natural heart protector.
In comparing dark chocolate with red wine, both full of rich phenols for your heart, Dr. Andrew Waterhouse finds that one and a half ounces of dark chocolate is the equivalent of phenols found in a glass of red wine. You get similar results from cocoa powder which contains 75 percent the amount of phenols found in red wine. Chocolate protects the development of heart disease by oxidizing LDLs (bad cholesterol) which protects them from damaging artery walls and helps reduce the chance of heart disease.
Dr. Joe Vinson, a chemistry professor at the University of Scranton says that one cup of black tea is the equivalent of antioxidants to one dark chocolate bar. Pennsylvania State’s nutrition department shows that even after elimination of other foods rich in flavonoids such as tea, coffee, onions, apples, wine, beans, soy, and apple and grape juices, both cocoa powder and dark chocolate has a significant effect on the LDL levels.
Don’t forget about the cocoa when you incorporate this incredible food into your diet. Studies are further supported by The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment in Bilthoven, Amsterdam. The research studies how cocoa affected the mortality of 1,000 elderly Dutch male subjects. The men who consume the highest amount of cocoa had a 50 percent less chance risk of cardiovascular diseased than those consuming less cocoa. Researchers at Cornell University found that the highest antioxidant levels are in the hot chocolate. It is almost two times stronger than the red wine, two to three times stronger than green tea, and four to five times stronger than black tea. Avoid the extra sugar and calories found in hot chocolate by using skim or soy milk for regular milk and using an artificial sweetener. Another option is to use water and flavorings such as cloves, vanilla and a spot of honey the way the ancients liked to drink theirs. Cocoa can be consumed either hot or cold, but hot chocolate releases more antioxidants than cold chocolate.
Chocolate reduces blood pressure too! Dr. Dirk Taubert and his colleagues of the University Hospital of Cologne in Germany finds that dark chocolate consumption reduced the average systolic blood pressure by -2.9 and diastolic blood pressure by -1.9. There are no changes in the participants’ body weight, plasma levels or glucose. Hypertension declines from 86 percent to 68 percent. The participants in the white chocolate group have no changes in either the systolic or diastolic reading. The conclusion of this study shows that eating about 30 calories a day of dark chocolate can lower blood pressure without any side effects. How fantastic is that? Dark chocolate and cocoa can lessen your chance of cardiovascular disease through lower LDLs, bad cholesterol, bring more flavanols into your diet and lower your blood pressure.
Even though chocolate has a high fat content and most of that fat comes from saturated fat, chocolate is still good for your heart in healthy people with a balanced diet. It doesn’t raise cholesterol levels, actually helps decrease bad cholesterol and keeps those arteries running clear by thinning the blood. Cocoa and chocolate have the same life saving properties as an aspirin a day. To keep your diet balanced, the University of Michigan Integrative Medicine Department recommends up to seven ounces of dark chocolate per week averaging one ounce per day. Don’t forget, you can also get your servings from pure, unsweetened cocoa powder. So eat up! Dark chocolate and cocoa are considered a great addition to a balanced diet to help your heart.
Want to get 72% or 88% pure chocolate and help save endangered species at the same time? Make your next chocolate purchase from Endangered Species Chocolates. You’ll feel good about eating it on soooo many levels!
November 17th, 2008
Not everyone takes a green drink for the same reason. And to argue that there is only one formula or “set of criteria” that defines a good green drink is completely absurd. The fact is, there are many reasons for adding a green drink to your food choices and each has its advantages. Plus, a green drink is only one part of a healthy diet program — not the entire thing. So you need to COMBINE your green drink with the other supplements and food choices you make.
For example, I often say that it’s good to have both a green drink AND a red berry drink to give you the green superfood nutrition and the purple antioxidant berries that you need to get a rainbow of foods and their benefits. If you, in fact, get a lot of red antioxidants in your diet (from berries or berry juice drinks), then your green drink probably does not need to provide a lot of antioxidants; at least not from berries (perhaps from the non-berry antioxidants, such as those from green tea and herbs like milk thistle). This may affect which green drink you choose.
So here’s a quick review of the seven primary reasons for taking a green drink and what you should look for in a formulation to achieve each of these goals.
Better Nutrition
Nutrition from green leafy vegetables and other greens is a major part of taking green drinks. For some, it’s the only reason to drink green. If this is your primary motivation for adding green to your diet, then look for products that focus on spirulina, chlorella, kelp and other seaweed, grasses, and grass juices (including alfalfa and watercress if possible). The most nutrient-dense of these ingredients are the kelps and seaweeds with spirulina coming in close second. Other nutrient-rich ingredients include bee pollen and royal jelly.
Alkalizing Effect
There is a growing movement in enhancing the alkalinity of your blood pH. An alkaline blood pH is an unfriendly environment for disease and sickness, including cancer. In general, disease thrives on acid pH. Green leafy vegetables can help make your blood pH more alkaline. But not all of them. If alkalinity is your primary goal, then look for formulations that DON’T contain berries or fruits, green tea, and oils. The best ingredients for alkalinity are the veggie powders and leaf powders.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants come in many colors and types and they generally work together for best results. So if you’re looking for a green drink with a complete antioxidant formulation, then look for green tea powder, milk thistle, and berries of all colors. Of course, there are others, but these will get you most of the way there.
Weight Loss
Weight loss is a very popular reason for taking a green drink and some formulations are optimized for this purpose. In some ways, adding nutrition from green superfoods alone can help with weight loss, because feeding your body better nutrients will help to curb your appetite over the long run. However, there are other factors at work in a person’s eating habits, so if you want a green drink that helps you lose weight, then look for appetite curbing ingredients, such as artichoke powder and green tea powder (not extract); plus energy and metabolism enhancers, such as cayenne, ginger, ginseng, astragalus. Finally, certain bulking ingredients also help with elimination and weight control. These include lecithin, quinoa, and guar gum.
Immune Support
Really, good nutrition and alkalinity are already immune supporting conditions. But if you want to focus even more on immune support, then look for green drinks with plenty of antioxidants and special herbs like pine bark extract, milk thistle, Echinacea, olive leaf extract, and dandelion leaf or juice. Exotic mushrooms also help the immune system, but not too many green drinks include them (sadly, due to their high prices).
Energy Enhancement
If you want more energy, a green drink can be a wonderful substitute for a caffeine-loaded energy drink. Look for formulations that include green tea powder, Acai, cayenne, ginger, ginseng, pure cocoa, and/or loads of kelp and spirulina.
Substitute for Meals
A substitute for meals is a lot like “Better Nutrition” but with more of a focus on variety of nutrients, plus calories and protein. Look for green drinks that have protein sources, such as chick peas, hemp powder, brown rice and broccoli. Also look for calories from seeds, nuts, and grains.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are several reasons for taking a green drink and each one changes the way you shop for and compare these products. Here at greendrinkreviews.com, we try to take a neutral and balanced approach to the subject — and help people choose what’s right for them. Like we humans, not all green drinks are created equal.
August 24th, 2008
UPDATED August 24, 2008
In this third installment on green superfood powders, I’ve prepared a handy comparison chart that shows the ingredients of several products side-by-side. This makes it easier to compare and contrast the different products. Although this completes my series on green superfood powders for the time being, I will update these various comparisons and listings as needed, so check back from time to time to see the new additions and updates.
As for the chart, you can view it in pdf format (Adobe Reader required) or download it using this link: Green Superfood Comparison Chart or the link in the right column at the bottom of the list of green drinks.
I’ve also created a quick-view Green Drink Price Comparison Chart. When viewing this chart, remember that this only shows the price and does not compare the quality. You can see this chart using the link: Green Drink Price Comparison Chart. More to come.
Send me your comments and additional information about green drinks you want added to the chart (use the response form on the About page).
August 24th, 2008
Got Green?
Since the list of green drink products continues to grow with both impressive and disappointing products arriving all the time…I’ve decided to review each and every product individually to present here at Natural Cures (the blog). I’ll be including my impressions of the products’ formulations, pros and cons of each, product labels, manufacturing information, prices and photos.
I intend to review every product on the market. The list is growing every few days, so be sure to return to see the latest additions.
Round-Up Article
Don’t forget to check out my product round-up, where I discuss the best of these products and compare them to each other. The article is: Comparing Green Superfood Products.
Your Suggestions
If you know of a product that is not in any of my articles or lists, please send me the company information or web site address and I’ll check them out. Oh, and if you know something about any of these products, please add your comments to its review by clicking on the headline of the review (the comments box should appear below the article).
June 21st, 2008
UPDATED May 9, 2008
A good way to get more umph from your green superfood drink is to doctor it up — add extra ingredients for your own, personal taste and needs, thus giving the basic formula an extra bit of power. Here are a few things to consider adding to your green drink…
Green Tea
Not all green drinks have green tea in them and, if you’re not opposed to a little caffeine, you can add a huge array of nutrients and antioxidants to your green drink mix by adding a bit of powdered green tea to it. Be sure to purchase a quality, organic, green tea powder and add only as much as you would to make a cup of tea.
Liquid Vitamin B
Adding some extra liquid vitamin Bs is a great way to tune up your green drink. A teaspoon of liquid B complex two times per week will give you extra energy and immune support. And it won’t change the flavor of your green drink mixture.
Mushrooms
Rishi, cordyceps, and shitake are three of the more popular mushrooms from the orient that enhance the immune system, help with blood pressure, reduce plaque and cholesterol, and help with digestion, brain activity and more. Try adding a bit of powdered mushroom to your green drink mixture. Strong flavors of chocolate or berries will disguise the bitter, earthy mushroom taste. You can get powdered mushrooms at well stocked health stores, or try online at this great site: mushroomharvest.com.
Olive Leaf Extract
Olive leaf extract is in my top three botanical extracts. It has powerful immune boosting powers, and helps with the liver, blood cleansing and much more. Get liquid extract and squirt a dropper-full of the green gold into your superfood smoothie for an extra boost.
Chocolate Powder
If your green drink of choice is not too grassy tasting, you can turn it into a yummy chocolate shake with some pure cocoa powder, agave nectar or maple syrup for sweetener, and rice, soy, hemp or almond milk. The pure cocoa powder helps with blood pressure, antioxidants and more.
Maca Root Powder
Maca is a relatively flavorless botanical that goes well with green drinks. If yours does not already have it, consider purchasing some separately to add to your mixture. It’s great for the libido, immune system and provide healthy and stable energy. Test your maca powder with just a little bit at first, as it can upset the stomach.
Vitamin C
You can’t get too much vitamin C, and I mean that literally. Scientists have not yet found a “toxic” level of vitamin C. The more the merrier, it seems. So consider adding some extra to your green drink smoothie — especially if you’re making a fruit-flavored version by mixing your green drink with frozen berries, fresh fruit or the like. A packet of Emergen-C or similar product will go nicely.
Oils and Fatty Acids
A great place to get extra essential fatty acids is in your green drink smoothie. Add a few tablespoons of fresh, chilled flaxseed or hemp oils (or both) as you blend the rest of the ingredients. You’ll probably not even know the extra oil is in there when you drink it down.
Protein
The best green drinks are not super high in protein. They shouldn’t be. They should be focusing on giving you high levels of nutrients and not on increasing protein. So one way to enhance your green drink is by adding a protein source…and one of the best is from organic hemp milk or hemp protein powder. The hemp goes very well with fruit smoothies or chocolate mixtures and adds a very digestible form of protein to your concoction. You can find hemp protein online at manitoba harvest.
Another great source of protein is from chick peas (also known as garbanzo beans). You can find them dried and powdered in well stocked natural food stores.
Going green can be a lot of fun and your green drink mixture has the potential for a lot of variety. Try some of these additions one at a time or in combination for optimum results.
May 11th, 2008
How to Judge the Quality of a Green Superfood Product
There are more and more green superfood products hitting the market all the time. What you should know as a consumer of these products is that the quality of these products varies greatly and it can be difficult to judge one from another just by looking at the label.
There are two things that affect quality of a green superfood product. The first is the quality of the ingredients themselves:
- Are they organic?
- Do they come from reliable sources?
- Are they handled and stored properly?
- Are they fresh?
Second, the formulation of the product — that is, the mixture of ingredients — can greatly affect its quality:
- Are there any additives or artificial ingredients?
- Are there any fillers or bulking ingredients?
- Are the majority of ingredients the ones with the highest nutrient values?
- Are there any ingredients that are added in “token amounts” just to get them onto the label?
- Is there a variety of ingredients and is the variety well planned and executed?
These are the questions I’ll answer in this article…and give you an idea of how to read between the lines when looking at the labels. In fact, the first thing to look for when studying a label is the way ingredients are listed. Are they listed one by one or are they listed in groups. If they are listed one by one, then you can assume that they appear in order of quantity in the mixture (based on percent of the total mixture). If they appear in groups (Land Vegetable Blend, Fruit Blend, Etc.), then you can assume that the groups are listed in order of quantity of the mixture they represent and within the groups themselves, the ingredients are listed in quantity order. Between one group and another, it’s impossible to know how much of each ingredient is part of the mixture — only that the mixture higher on the list represents more of the product.
Tip: Make special note of the ingredient that appears first within any group or blend. It’s quite likely that this represent up to 80 percent of the group.
So, a fruit blend that lists banana or apple first, is probably hiding the fact that the blend is mostly banana or apple. Why? Because banana and apple are two of the least expensive fruit ingredients and most formulators will bulk up the blend with the cheapest ingredients. If berries and exotic fruits are last in the list, then you can bet that these are added in small or even token amounts.
A land vegetable blend that lists grasses first is probably giving you a good helping of the cheap stuff. If vegetables like tomato powder, spinach powder, dandelion juice and broccoli powder are high on the list, then you’re getting a lot of the good stuff.
Caveat: Placement on the list is not always a perfect indicator of value, due to the potency of certain ingredients. For example, Blueberries are very potent in antioxidants and it does not take a lot them to make a difference in a blend. So even if blueberries appears lower in the “Fruit Blend” list, it could be sufficient to make a valuable contribution to the product.
The bottom line is that you need to know a bit about each of these ingredients to know what you’re getting — even when you read between the lines of the label. So, here’s a little summary for you. Here are the ingredients that add super nutrition to a blend…
- All berries including gogi and Acai
- Kelp and seaweeds (kelp more so than exotic seaweeds like laver)
- Nettles
- Dandelion juice
- Horsetail
- Vegetables like broccoli, spinach, parsley, and kale
- Spirulina
- Green tea powder or extract
Now here’s a list of ingredients that should not be too high on anyone’s list…
- Apple pectin
- Banana powder
- Brown rice solids or juice
- Whey or Soy protein
- Lecithin
Ingredients that are average in terms of nutritional value and are perfectly ok to have in fairly large quantities include…
- Grasses
- Exotic kelps and seaweeds
- Flaxseed meal
- Fruits like grape, papaya, mango, and citrus
- Maca root
So, I hope that helps you make better decisions about the quality of your super green drink formula. Don’t forget to check the Green Superfood Comparison Chart regularly for updates to the listings. Also, be sure to read the recently updated article Comparing Green Superfood Products. I’ll be updating it again soon.
photo credits
March 8th, 2008
If you’ve read a few of the posts in this blog, you’ll see that I’m a fan of certain super foods and health formulas. There are certain health supplements (or non-supplement enhancement products) that I think benefit just about anyone who might adopt them. One of these is a good green superfood drink. A good green drink is made from freeze-dried plants and vegetables (and often fruit or fruit juices) and is actually a food product — not a supplement, like a vitamin or mineral supplement. Green drinks are basically food in concentrated, powdered form. The best ones use organic ingredients and combine a variety of food sources, which may include the following super ingredients:
- Spirulina
- Chlorella
- Spinach, kale or other green leafy vegetables
- Maca Root
- Nettles & Milk Thistle
- Gooseberry
- Green tea or extract
- Bee pollen
- Olive leaf
- Wheatgrass, barleygrass or other grasses
- Alfalfa
This is not a complete list, but is a good list of some of the best ingredients to look for in a good green drink. Many green drinks also include probiotic ingredients that help to balance your intestinal flora, reduce yeast infection, and help with digestion and elimination. These are excellent to add to your diet and getting some extra culture can never hurt. If you don’t take a probiotic supplement or eat plenty of live cultures, then getting this in your green drink is a good strategy.
Many of these drinks must be refrigerated for the live cultures to remain live. However, some plant-based cultures can be stored outside of the refrigerator without a problem (although the best require refrigeration and come from animal sources, such as yogurt).
Depending on the green drink you choose, you may be adding more than just vitamins and minerals to your diet. Many green drinks have blood cleansing, blood pressure balancing, diuretic and energy enhancing properties. Here’s the key: By taking a green drink every day, you’ll be giving your body more nutrition and, therefore, you will require less food to nourish your body. Most likely, you will lose weight as a result because you will eat less. Many people report that certain cravings go away when they take green superfoods regularly.
Find a drink that works for you. Experiment with different brands and read the labels to compare ingredients. Some drinks have fillers. Some have more variety of ingredients. Others have organic ingredients. Most have certain key ingredients that come first on the list — and each of these offers something different. Experiment with recipes and methods of taking the powder. Most people combine these with juice and drink in the morning. I find that being able to “shake” the mixture is important, as it really mixes the powder with the juice and eliminates that lumpy texture.
Next article, I’ll compare some of the popular brands and make some recommendations. Stay tuned…
Related Articles:
Comparing Green Superfood Products
My Favorite Power Foods & Super Foods
landscape image credits
August 14th, 2007
The health benefits of spirulina were not discovered at Klamath Lake in Oregon, but some of the first companies to offer spirulina products, under the name of “Blue Green Algae” came from this unique location. That was back in the late 70s and early 80s. Since then, companies have been raided by the FDA for “false claims” and other companies have sprouted up around the edge of the lake. Now there are four or five companies wild harvesting the algae from the lake for sale directly to consumers, through health food stores, or through network marketing structures.
The popularization of these early products brought about a heightened awareness of the health benefits of algae and a recognition of its primary constituent, spirulina. Since spirulina is, essentially, blue-green algae, the Klamath Lake entities further distinguished their products with the designation “Super Blue Green Algae,” pointing out that the Klamath algae is higher in a particular strain of algae called AFA, which normal spirulina has in only small amounts.
So far, however, there is no research to support that AFA algae is a “better” strain than normal spirulina. On the contrary, other forms of spirulina have been shown to contain more proteins and minerals than AFA, with the exception of vitamin B12. They are also thought to be “cleaner” than the “wild harvested” Klammath algae, since they are grown in controlled environments. However, as far as I can tell, there have been no conclusive studies to prove that the Klammath algae is somehow contaminated with “foreign matter from the lake.” Wild harvesting was, after all, the accepted method of gathering plants and herbs for consumption long before controlled environments were created.
One Klamath Lake company, known as StemTech, claims to have invented a process for isolating a chemical in the AFA algae, a chemical that enhances stem cell production in adults. They say that they are the only ones with this technology and only Klamath AFA algae can be used. Could this be another ploy to make people believe that Klamath algae is the “super” algae?
My guess is that they DO have a special process to isolate something from the algae, although I doubt that only Klamath algae can be used. But since they have the process and their labs are located on Klamath Lake, then it’s no surprise that they would try to favor their own strain. Most likely, if their stem-cell-enhancing technology is valid, then someone else will find a way to isolate the same element from normal Spirulina or AFA that is not from Klamath Lake. I’ve seen that happen over and over. Remember Willard Water–the special water that is more hydrating than normal water? Well, Willard Water is still around, but Dr. Willard, who invented (or discovered) the process of enhancing water, is today one of many suppliers of what is now known as Carbon Activated Water (CAW). And Willard’s carbon, which is from lignite matter, is now recognized as the least effective type of carbon for activating water. It’s still a great product and maybe his special touch does in fact make his CAW slightly better than the competition.
My guess is that the Klamath Lake companies are pretty much like Willard Water. Wait a minute…Dr. Willard was originally from Oregon too. Maybe there really is something in the water out there.
May 9th, 2007
There are many great foods that are high in nutrients, antioxidants, or other substances and they all deserve their day in the sun. But these are my all-time favorites, foods that are really special—not just for health, but for many reasons. Check up on these power foods:
Bee Pollen 
Pollen is one of the natures most amazing products. These little globules contain more nutrients than almost any other food source. They have many times more protein than meat, being almost 30% protein. Pollen contains over 16 different vitamins and minerals (including trace minerals), and is rich in enzymes and amino acids. It is also extremely low in fat. In fact, pollen enhances the production of HDL cholesterol (the good fat) and decreases the production of LDL cholesterol (the bad fat). It acts as a powerful antioxidant (containing flavonoids, rutin in particular), has antibacterial and antiviral qualities, and helps to increase the production of blood cells (both white and red), while balancing white/red blood counts. Is it even necessary to go on?
Bee pollen goes great in so many things. Sprinkle it on your cereal or peanut butter toast, add it to juices or just eat it plain. I do.
Pure Cocoa 
Cocoa is primarily a powerful antioxidant, being extremely high in flavonoids. Flavonoids reduce risk of heart disease and help clean the bloodstream and arteries of fat and other toxins. Cocoa also helps keep blood pressure down and regulates blood flow, not unlike a low dose of aspirin. One of its sexier qualities is that it helps the body process nitric oxide, which give it its famous aphrodisiac qualities. For a comparison, Viagra achieves its special erectile effects by blocking a chemical that inhibits nitric oxide in the system. Cocoa encourages production of nitric oxide. Either way, you end up with the right substance in the right place. Plus, cocoa is found to promote the brain’s production of endorphins and natural opiates.
Of course, sweetened cocoa, or chocolate, contains much of these benefits, but pure cocoa is, by far, the best. You can add pure, unsweetened cocoa to your breakfast oatmeal, or hot coffee. Try adding it to the already chocolaty Mexican Mole sauce.
Spirulina & Chlorella
I put these together, because they are often sold together. But it’s important to note that spirulina is “blue-green algae” and chlorella is “green algae.” Spirulina is rich in carotenoids (including beta-carotene), which are among the most important antioxidants around, and high in vitamins and minerals (including B vitamins and iron). Chlorophyll is just one of the many phyto-chemicals found in spirulina and it is high in protein and essential fatty acids (particularly GLA, a fatty acid that is more difficult to find). Chlorella, also rich in enzymes, minerals and chlorophyll, is also found to chelate certain heavy metals from the blood, liver and intestines, including aluminum and mercury. The combination of spirulina and chlorella is a winner!
September 27th, 2006
