Green Vibrance vs Athletic Greens

Wednesday 28th February 2024

We all know that we should be eating our green veggies. Getting the nutrition you need from food will always be my first recommendation.

But what if you just can’t stand vegetables or find it hard to make time to cook and eat a healthy meal?

Plus because of poor farming methods, the soil just isn’t as healthy anymore, so produce isn’t as nutrient-dense as it once was.

This is where green powders come in. There are quite a few brands available and all of them promise the world.

But are they really that good? If you use these powders, are you now free to never consume or cook a green veggie ever again?

The brands up against each other today? Green Vibrance vs Athletic Greens.

I’ll be looking at nutritional content, taste, and convenience.

Are Green Powders Really Healthy?

These green powders can be so pricey and after all, wouldn’t taking a multivitamin have the same effect?

Well, it seems there may be something to these powders.

Because they are made from finely ground dried whole foods, they contain phytonutrients and antioxidants not necessarily available or even good to take in a multivitamin or pill.

In some cases, taking antioxidants in pill format can actually lead to the opposite effect. Instead of improving health and preventing cancer, it can fuel cancer and affect overall health negatively.

Actual fruit, vegetables, herbs, spices, tea, and coffee are the perfect vehicle for antioxidants.

So if you are going to take a supplement that contains antioxidants, choosing one formulated from actual produce is the better way to go.

Green powders sadly can’t substitute all your veggies or greens.. They only fill in nutritional gaps and make it easier to get the nutrients you need.

As with all supplements, check with your doctor first. Vitamin K, for example, interferes with blood thinners like Warfarin.

If you enjoy taking green powders and feel the benefits, as long as they’re safe for you, they are a healthy nutritional supplement.

Quick Compare

  • Green Vibrance has 12 strains of probiotic bacteria as opposed to only 2 in Athletic Greens
  • Both brands have prebiotics
  • Green Vibrance has more enzymes than Athletic Greens
  • Both brands contain adaptogens, you just need to see which is best for your particular needs
  • Green Vibrance has more cereal grasses
  • Athletic Greens has slippery elm which may be useful for IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)
  • Both brands have a range of fruit, vegetables, and herbs to provide vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants
  • Green Vibrance contains iron (albeit only a small amount) and vitamin D whereas Athletic Greens doesn’t
  • Athletic Greens contains zinc and copper whereas Green Vibrance doesn’t
  • Green Vibrance is a bit cheaper than Athletic Greens
  • Green Vibrance is available in two flavors
  • There is only one flavor of Athletic Greens and it’s sweetened with stevia
  • Green Vibrance is available in powders and capsules
  • Athletic Greens is available in 30-day supply powder and travel sachets

Read on for a more in-depth look into these two products.

What is Green Vibrance?

3 new from $50.40
Amazon.com
as of February 19, 2024 2:26 pm

Green Vibrance is a mostly plant-based green powder produced by the company, Vibrant Health.

It’s free from added sugar and full of natural ingredients. It’s suitable for people with gluten, egg, and shellfish allergies.

It does, however, contain a trace amount of milk in the natural flavoring (Vanifolia™) as well as soy bi-products produced by the probiotic bacteria.

If you are a very strict vegan or completely lactose intolerant, this product may not be suitable for you.

Despite having the Vanifolia™, most people say the product tastes slightly sweet and grassy. There is a chocolate-flavored version too.

Drink it between meals mixed in water or add it to your smoothies.

There are capsules available if the powder isn’t to your liking.

About the Company

The company was founded by nutrition scientist Mark Timon in 1992. He started this supplement as an attempt to address some health issues that he had that were unsuccessfully treated before.

As it turned out, this product helped to treat those health issues, and he then produced it to help more people look after their health.

In 2007, Ted and Paige Parker took over in 2007 and have continued to develop and sell health products.

The company is still going strong and there are a lot of good reviews about their products.

The Ingredients

Green Vibrance Nutrition label (2)

Green Vibrance is not simply a blend of leafy greens. There are 75 ingredients that are all things you can read and understand without being a scientist. A good sign.

The ingredients are listed under what their purpose is or under the category of food they fall under.

You get cereal grasses which include wheatgrass, oat grass, and barley grass. Cereal grass is essentially the baby version of a cereal grain plant.

They have been proven to have a host of health benefits such as high antioxidant content, vitamins, immune-boosting properties, and alkalizing effects.

The plant-based micro-nutrition section lists veggies like broccoli, parsley, kale, spinach, carrot, and seaweed.

When eaten as whole foods, dark green veggies provide calcium, iron, beta-carotene, fiber, and chlorophyll.

Some of the nutritional value is lost during the processing and because the serving size is small. This is especially evident in the mineral content.

So I would still recommend that you eat some greens.

You also get antioxidants and liver, stress, and immune support provided by berries, green tea extract, dandelion root, and adaptogens.

6 Digestive enzymes and 12 probiotic strains cater to your gut health, which if you keep up to date with health news, you likely know that your gut health impacts your overall health too.

The Vitamin and Mineral Content

Green Vibrance isn’t meant to be used as a meal replacement, but rather to boost your vitamin and mineral intake or fill in the nutritional gaps.

There are seven vitamins and nine minerals. Vitamin A, D, and E are all present in over 100% of the RDA (recommended daily allowance).

The B-vitamins and vitamin C all provide over 50% of the RDA. Vitamin K comes in at 45% of the RDA.

The mineral content falls short, however. With the exception of chromium, selenium, and iodine, all the other minerals provide less than 12% of the RDA.

In contrast, a cooked cup of spinach, for example, provides 24% of your calcium and potassium RDA, 36% of your iron RDA and 39% of your magnesium RDA.

This is why I recommend that you still include some greens in your diet. A decrease is better than full portions if you hate them right?

What About Macros?

Since it isn’t a meal replacement, the protein, fat, fiber, and carbohydrate content are very low. There is 0% fat, only 2g of fiber, 7g of carbs, and 2g of protein.

On the upside, there is only 2g of sugar, that’s half a teaspoon, and none of it is added sugar.

Pros:

  • Contains antioxidants and other healthy phytochemicals
  • Fills in nutritional gaps
  • May boost the immune system
  • May assist in stress management
  • Supports gut health
  • It May have anti-inflammatory properties
  • Suitable for those with gluten, egg, and shellfish allergies
  • It’s also available in capsule form
  • There is no added sugar
  • It’s suitable for vegetarians and those on the keto or DASH diet
  • Non-GMO

Cons:

  • Despite claiming to be vegan, strict vegans may be disappointed to find this product contains trace amounts of milk due to the flavoring.
  • The mineral content is rather low compared to actual veggies
  • The fiber content is low compared to actual veggies
  • The protein content is low too compared to actual veggies
  • Some people don’t enjoy the taste
  • It has to be stored in the fridge which may be inconvenient for some
  • Pricey

Who Should Take Green Vibrance?

  • Those who don’t like to or aren’t able to eat sufficient green veggies
  • Those who require more nutrition such as pregnant and lactating women (check with your doctor first), athletes, and those who are ill
  • Anyone who struggles with digestive issues. The probiotics and enzymes may help
  • People who feel run down due to chronic stress and being overly busy

What are Athletic Greens?

2 new from $119.54
Amazon.com
as of February 19, 2024 2:26 pm

Athletic Greens Ultimate Daily is the green powder produced by Athletic Greens.

It’s free from added sugar and is sweetened by stevia. This green powder is made from 75 natural ingredients and is completely plant-based.

It’s suitable for people with gluten, egg, shellfish, dairy, corn, and peanut allergies. While the lecithin is derived from soy, there are no soy proteins or soy trypsin inhibitors.

But if you have a severe soy allergy, it may be best to steer clear to be on the safe side.

It tastes earthy and slightly sweet to most people, although some people have described it as bubblegum or chocolate. There is very clearly a stevia taste.

It’s recommended by the company to take this powder with water on an empty stomach first thing in the morning and waiting half an hour to eat or drink anything to maximize absorption.

You can take it at any time, however, use it in smoothies or mix it with juice. It is true that tea and coffee block the absorption of nutrients, so avoid these.

About the Company

The founder of Athletic Greens is Chris Ashenden. I looked at three different sites that give info on companies and they all three had a different founding date, 2009, 2010, and 2011.

But in the grand scheme of things, the founding year doesn’t matter as long as the product is good and does what it claims to.

Chris started this product as he had gut issues that no other treatments worked for.

As with Mark Timon and Vibrant Greens, Athletic Greens Ultimate Daily worked for him, and he produced it to help others too.

There are many good reviews about this product.

As part of giving back, Athletic Greens also has a charity program to help out the underprivileged in Algeria.

The Ingredients

The ingredients in Athletic Greens are laid out in four categories.

The Alkaline, nutrient-dense raw superfood section lists foods like spirulina, chlorella, wheatgrass, green tea extract, papaya, and bilberry.

These superfoods are high in nutrients and antioxidants and slippery elm may protect the mucosal layer of your gut. A godsend to anyone with IBS or leaky gut.

The nutrient-dense extracts, herbs, and antioxidants include pea protein isolate, Rhodiola and ashwagandha (adaptogens), milk thistle seed extract, hawthorn berry extract, and coenzyme Q10.

These ingredients may help with stress response, keep your liver healthy and provide antioxidant protection.

The digestive enzyme and super mushroom complex includes astragalus (adaptogen), reishi mushroom (also an adaptogen), bromelain (an enzyme derived from pineapple), and burdock root.

These ingredients are packed full of antioxidants, have traditionally been used as digestive health aids, and have a beneficial impact on overall health.

There are two strains of dairy-free probiotics to aid gut health.

The Vitamin and Mineral Content

Vitamins C and E are all over 100% of the RDA as are the B-vitamins with the exception of pantothenic acid which is at 40%. Vitamin A is at 62%. There is no vitamin D.

With the exception of zinc which is at 100% of the RDA, all the other mineral levels are below 30%. There is no iron.

As with Green Vibrance, I would recommend that you still eat a few green veggies and use this rather as a supplement to your diet and not a replacement for all your veggies.

What About Macros?

There is only 2g of fiber, 2g of protein, and 6g of carbohydrates. The fat content is not listed.

Pros:

  • Contains antioxidants and phytochemicals
  • Fills in the nutritional gaps
  • It’s suitable for people with peanut, dairy, egg, shellfish, gluten, and egg allergies
  • May boost endurance thanks to the reishi mushrooms
  • It may help with improved stress response
  • Supports gut health
  • May strengthen the immune system
  • It’s suitable for vegans and those on the keto or DASH diet.
  • It’s also available in travel sachets
  • Non-GMO
  • No added sugar

Cons:

  • The 30 serving pack needs to be stored in the fridge which may be inconvenient for some
  • The mineral content is rather low compared to actual veggies
  • The fiber content is low compared to actual veggies
  • The protein content is low too compared to actual veggies
  • Some people don’t enjoy the taste
  • Pricey

Who Should Take Athletic Greens Ultimate Daily

  • Those who can’t or won’t consume enough green veggies
  • People who need more nutrients such as athletes and the ill
  • Anyone who struggles with gut issues like IBD (Irritable Bowel Disease), IBS, leaky gut, and ulcerative colitis (check with your doctor first), thanks to the slippery elm
  • People who feel run down due to chronic stress and being overly busy

Athletic Greens doesn’t recommend taking this during pregnancy or lactation, this is likely due to some of the adaptogens. Always speak to your doctor before taking supplements during this time.

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Primal Greens vs Athletic Greens

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