(NaturalNews) There's increasing awareness today about the health benefits of drinking superfood powders. Anyone who has been reading NaturalNews for very long knows that cruciferous vegetables prevent cancer, berries protect the nervous system and prevent heart disease, chlorella cleanses the liver and blood, curcumin prevents cancer and arthritis, cherries ease inflammation, pomegranates prevent prostate cancer, and so on. But many people who are new to superfood products are a bit put off by the intense tastes of the more potent powders (after all, they're not sugared up like soda, and they contain no artificial sweeteners). Not surprisingly, I'm constantly being asked what's available on the market that actually tastes good.
For this review, I'm sharing the details on the top seven superfood products that I'm familiar with. This is not an exhaustive review, and I apologize to any company that should be included on this list, but isn't. (Send some product samples to my office and that will help me learn about your product for the next update!)
Also, this is not a review about protein powders such as the outstanding hemp protein products from Ruth's Hemp Foods or Nutiva, or the LivingFuel Rx Super Greens product (
www.LivingFuel.com). It's also not about omega-3 superfood products such as Jon Barron's "Private Reserve" product, which is quite remarkable in its own right, or the Active Greens product (
http://www.activegreens.com) from the Organic Food Bar company, which is also outstanding. Instead, it's about green
superfood powders that provide concentrated forms of disease-fighting fruits, vegetables, microalgae, probiotics and sea vegetables.
Taste vs. Nutritional Density
General speaking, the better a superfood product tastes, the lower the nutritional density. Why is this? Because the most nutritionally dense superfoods -- such as
chlorella, spirulina, broccoli sprouts, etc. -- often have very strong tastes that seem unusual to people used to drinking sugary beverages like sodas or processed fruit juices.
People who are new to
superfoods should begin by drinking the better-tasting brands (see below) for at least 60 - 90 days. After they are used to those tastes, they can experiment with more nutritionally dense brands.
Over time, any person can become accustomed to even the most nutritionally dense superfoods. For example, the sharp
taste of the I3C phytonutrients from broccoli seems very strange to new people, but after a few days of drinking broccoli juice or extracts, the tongue is desensitized to the taste, and what once seemed offensive can come to taste rather mild or even pleasant in a relatively short period of time. (Note that in junk
food consumers, this taste desensitization effect works in a negative way by making people crave more and more sugar or salt in their foods because they're no longer sensitive to such tastes. Then, when they taste something healthy, they can't stand the taste!)
Here are the seven superfood products included in this review, presented in the order of their taste: From the best-tasting to the most potent-tasting. All of these powders are simply mixed with water and sweetened to taste using stevia, agave nectar, raw honey or other natural sweeteners. You may also want to experiment blending them with a banana, apple or pear, but remember that using such fruits greatly increases the insulin response to consuming those drinks. It's healthier to stick to a low-glycemic superfood meal whenever possible (and for diabetics, it's essential to avoid drinking sugars!).
Disclaimer: Neither myself nor Natural News has any financial relationship whatsoever with the companies mentioned here. We earn nothing on the sales of these products, and we have not been paid in any way to write about these products. Any statements about the ability of these products to prevent or cure disease are our own opinions and do not necessarily represent the official position of the manufacturers (thanks to FDA censorship of superfood labeling, of course).
Earth's Promise
Taste: Earth's Promise is available in several different flavors and has a tangy, tart flavor. It combines citric acid and inulin with many different superfoods, including fruits, vegetables, sea vegetables and other items. It has a delicious taste that even kids can immediately enjoy, but the high acidity of the beverage means I don't recommend it for long-term use. It's great as an entry-level superfood product, however.
Nutritional Density: Earth's Promise is not very nutritionally dense, compared to the other products mentioned here. Still, it's way better than drinking processed juices or soft drinks.
Price: Very high. Per ounce, Earth's Promise is very expensive, and given that it doesn't offer the nutritional density of other products mentioned here, it's not the best value long term. Still, given the extremely beneficial ingredients it contains, it's worth the cost, even at a high price per ounce. I openly recommend Earth's Promise to lots of people, and it remains a great way for anyone to get started in superfoods without getting smacked by the extreme taste of hard-core green powders.
Learn more at:
http://www.enzy.comMiracle Reds and Macro Greens
Taste: Miracle Reds taste really good. It doesn't have the tart "candy" taste of Earth's Promise, but it's really delicious, especially when blended with a banana, apple or other sweet fruit. The company that makes Miracle Reds (Macro Life Naturals) also makes "Macro Greens," a product that used to be called "Miracle Greens" before the idiotic, tyrannical U.S. government sued the company and forced them to change their name, claiming the word "miracle" was illegal to use in the context of a health product literature. In any case, the taste is really great for both products, but I think the "Reds" taste better (more fruits).
Nutritional Density: Good. The density is higher than Earth's Promise, and these products provide really strong nutritional benefits, including heart disease prevention, nervous system protection, cancer prevention and much more. Definitely a solid product loaded with highly nutritious ingredients.
Price: Good, but not great. The price per ounce is somewhat high for this product, mostly because it's sold through retail channels and therefore has quite a bit of markup. It's an unavoidable side effect of distributing through retail. Also, part of the reason the price is high on this product (and all the products reviewed here) is because they use quality, genuine ingredients! These aren't junk products made by Coca-Cola. These are superfood products made with real food. That costs money (but it's worth every penny in terms of the health benefits you receive).
Learn more at:
http://www.macrolifenaturals.comAmazing Grass
Taste: This is a superfood product for kids and adults, and I have to admit that the taste of the chocolate-flavored Amazing Grass is so good that I had a hard time (at first) believing it really contained the nutritional ingredients claimed on the label! The taste is accomplished with a small amount of cane juice (cane sugar), which I don't really have a problem with, given the nutritional density of the other supporting ingredients. If you're trying to get your child to drink superfoods, this is a great product to start with (and you'll love it, too!).
Nutritional Density: Good, but not great. The cane juice crystals take away from the overall nutritional density. Still, it's a highly recommended superfood product, and I've given it to lots of kids who otherwise would never eat or drink many of the ingredients found in this product. While there are other products with stronger nutritional density, they don't have anywhere near the great taste of Amazing Grass.
Price: Although prices are always floating around a bit in the industry, my impression is that Amazing Grass products are priced in line with other superfood supplements sold in retail outlets. It's not the best price in the world, but again, given the outstanding ingredients it contains, it's a great investment in your health!
Learn more at:
http://www.AmazingGrass.comEmerald Balance and X Balance
Taste: Simply outstanding! In terms of overall taste vs. overall nutritional density, the Emerald Balance and X Balance products earn my highest recommendation. These products taste remarkably great, even to folks who are new to superfoods. (If you're brand new to superfoods, go for the chocolate-flavored X Balance product first. You'll love it!) The Emerald Balance product, in contrast, has a bit of a minty flavor to it, which I find mixes really well with avocados and almond milk. (Really, it tastes like a mint ice cream shake!)
Nutritional Density: What really impressed me about the Emerald Balance and X Balance products is how they manage to taste so incredibly good even when they have such high nutritional density. It's an art (and a science) to make that magic happen, and the formulator of Emerald Balance (Jan Lovejoy) has done a masterful job of creating a winning recipe. I strongly recommend this product to anyone who wants to experience an abundance of nutritional benefits from superfoods, but who doesn't want to stomach something that taste really strong (like some of the other products reviewed below). By the way, they've just released a new product called
Chocolate Emerald Balance Plus, which I haven't tried yet, but I'm confident will be delicious!
Price: Good value. The Emerald Balance products are sold in larger containers than many other products, so although the total expenditure may be higher, the price per ounce is a very good value. Given the nutritional density of the product, I think the price is quite reasonable. This is a superfood product I consume on a regular basis.
Learn more at:
http://www.SGNnutrition.comBOKU Superfood
Taste: With BOKU Superfood, we're getting into a higher class of nutritional potency. In all the products that follow, taste is not the primary selling feature. None of these products taste as good as Emerald Balance or Earth's Promise, for example (except to a few hard-core raw foodists who have retrained their taste buds over a period of decades). Among these high-density nutritional products, however, I think BOKU Superfood tastes very good. I sometimes drink it straight with nothing but water. But I don't eat any refined sugar, either, and I've been consuming superfoods for about ten years now. Definitely do not try BOKU Superfood as your entry-level product if you're new to superfoods. Start with something a little less potent.
Nutritional Density: Superb! Simply outstanding! I place this product among the top three most nutritionally dense superfoods products on the planet. It's really outstanding. (Read my full review of the product here:
http://www.naturalnews.com/022566.html ) This product is absolutely loaded with anti-cancer nutrients, anti-heart disease nutrients, anti-diabetes, anti-obesity, etc. It contains natural medicines that scientific literature has clearly shown to prevent Alzheimer's disease, colon cancer, depression, osteoporosis, and so much more. This is the product to choose if you're looking for hard-core
nutrition for curing or preventing serious disease. Chug several heaping spoonfuls each day!
Price: Surprisingly, the price of BOKU Superfood is actually quite good. It's astonishingly good through our NaturalNews special discount, which may or may not still be valid by the time you read this, but you can try it at the following URL:
http://store.bokusuperfood.com/newstargetpage.phpIf that URL is still valid, it's flat out the best offer of any high-density superfood product on the market today, and it's a huge discount off the normal price for this product. This is accomplished in part because the product is sold directly to consumers and doesn't go through retail distribution channels, but it's also because NaturalNews negotiated a huge discount on the product as a service to our readers. (That discount is available exclusively to NaturalNews readers, not to the general public.) Click the URL above to see if that offer is still good...
Learn more at:
http://www.BokuSuperfood.comSpecial NaturalNews offer at:
http://store.bokusuperfood.com/newstargetpage.phpVitamineral Green
Taste: The Vitamineral Green product from HealthForce Nutritionals is legendary in the raw foods community. Formulated by raw foods pioneer Dr. Jameth Sheridan, it's a top-of-the-line, high-density superfood product that's also among my top three choices. The taste, however, is intense. I don't drink this straight. I add it to other blends to improve the taste. It's strong, even for people who drink a lot of fresh vegetables juices (like me). David Rain (from
www.JuiceFeasting.com) drinks it straight with water, however.
Nutritional Density: Outstanding! This is one of the most nutritionally dense superfood products on the market today. If you're seriously looking to reverse cancer, heart disease, diabetes, depression or other chronic conditions, and you want support from a genuine superfood product, I strongly recommend you check out Vitamineral Green.
Value: A solid value, but still quite a bit more expensive than BOKU Superfood (because of the retail distribution channel issue). The nutritional density makes it worth every penny, of course. Simply phenomenal ingredients. The food of Kings!
Learn more at:
http://www.Healthforce.comPure Synergy
Taste: Let me be blunt: Pure Synergy tastes pretty wicked to those who are new to superfoods. But it's similar to Vitamineral Green and the taste is tolerated quite well by hard-core nutritionists. I routinely use Pure Synergy in my Juice Feasting beverages, and while the taste seemed a bit strong the first time I consumed it, I quickly got used to it and now use the product regularly. Definitely not for beginners.
Nutritional Density: Very high. Similar to Vitamineral Green. Absolutely packed with disease-fighting nutrients. This is the kind of product you want to take if you're serious about beating diseases like cancer. There are literally thousands of phytonutrients (natural, plant-based medicines) in this product and the others reviewed here. This is the best medicine in the world for preventing disease and enhancing health.
Price: High. This product seems to be priced higher than some other high-potency superfoods, but again, it's still a fantastic value considering the quality of the ingredients you're getting. Even at $100 a bottle, it would be a bargain, and it's far less than $100 a bottle. When considering the prices on all these products, you have to ask yourself this question: What's the cost of being sick? When you look at health as an investment in your own quality of life and longevity, then the prices of these products seem almost irrelevant.
Learn more at:
http://www.TheSynergyCompany.comWhat's the best superfood product?
I don't have a "best" product overall. I recommend various superfood products depending on the situation. Here's what I currently recommend:
Best superfood for traveling: Earth's Promise (easy package size is good for luggage or airplanes, can be quickly mixed with water)
http://www.enzy.comBest taste with high potency nutrition: Emerald Balance
http://sgnnutrition.com/emerald-balance/Most nutrition per dollar: Boku Superfood
http://store.bokusuperfood.com/newstargetpage.phpBest product for children: Amazing Grass (chocolate) or X Balance
http://www.amazinggrass.comhttp://sgnnutrition.com/X-Balance/index.shtmlMost potent nutrition for purists and raw foodists: Vitamineral Green or Pure Synergy
http://www.healthforce.com/product-vitamineral.htmlhttp://www.thesynergycompany.com/pages/home.htmlBest fruit formula: HealthForce Fruits of the Earth (was not reviewed here, but is worth mentioning)
http://www.healthforce.com/product-fruits.htmlBest greens +
protein formula: Living Fuel Rx Super Greens
http://www.LivingFuel.comAlso worth mentioning: Superfood Food Bars! (Really outstanding ingredients, real nutrition, no junk...)
http://www.organicfoodbar.comWhat about The Ultimate Meal? In my opinion, the
Living Fuel Rx Super Greens product is far superior to The Ultimate Meal (for many reasons which I don't have time to go into right here). Check out Living Fuel at
http://www.LivingFuel.comDid you enjoy this article? I wrote it in response to the reader survey results. If you participated in that recent survey, thanks for your participation! I'll keep working to bring you more of the information you're looking for, such as product reviews and recommendations.
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About the author: Mike Adams is a natural health researcher, author and award-winning journalist with a mission to teach personal and planetary health to the public He has authored and published thousands of articles, interviews, consumers guides, and books on topics like health and the environment, and he is well known as the creator of popular downloadable preparedness programs on financial collapse, emergency food storage, wilderness survival and home defense skills. Adams is an honest, independent journalist and accepts no money or commissions on the third-party products he writes about or the companies he promotes. In 2010, Adams co-founded NaturalNews.com, a natural health video sharing site that has now grown in popularity. He also launched an online retailer of environmentally-friendly products (BetterLifeGoods.com) and uses a portion of its profits to help fund non-profit endeavors. He's also a noted technology pioneer and founded a software company in 1993 that developed the HTML email newsletter software currently powering the NaturalNews subscriptions. Adams also serves as the executive director of the Consumer Wellness Center, a non-profit consumer protection group, and enjoys outdoor activities, nature photography, Pilates and martial arts training. Known as the 'Health Ranger,' Adams' personal health statistics and mission statements are located at www.HealthRanger.org
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