Anything considered “super” sounds like something that belongs in your diet. Want an example? Look no further than supergreens. These unique superfoods can have a wide range of potential health benefits with their long list of vitamins and nutrients.
Including supergreens in your diet is an excellent way to maintain your health and boost your overall nutrition. Discover what sets supergreens apart from just any vegetable and how you can potentially benefit your health by including them in your daily routine for a balanced diet.
What Exactly Are Supergreens?
Supergreens are types of plants that provide an abundance of vitamins and nutrients. Supergreens are often known as alkalizing foods, which help balance the number of acidic foods we have in our diet.
There are many different types of supergreens, including green veggies, leafy greens, and even freshwater algae. It will be no surprise that these superfoods are easily recognized by their bright, unmistakably green pigment.
Supergreens are often found in the form of greens powders. Although supergreens are great on their own, they can often be combined with other fruits and veggies like blueberries, beets, and beyond.
Which Greens Are Considered Supergreens?
Not just any green can be considered super. This special title is reserved for only the most nutrient-dense greens and veggies. Because of their surprising number of vitamins and nutrients, supergreens are more beneficial than just any green vegetable.
The most popular supergreens are:
- Wheatgrass: The young grass of the wheat plant
- Barley grass: Young barley plants that have not started making seeds and are nutrient-rich
- Leafy greens: Greens like spinach, kale, and collard greens
- Chlorella: A type of micro-algae known as cyanobacteria
- Spirulina: Another type of micro-algae, rich in protein and omega-3.
You can eat any of these supergreens on their own to gain the benefits, but an easier way to enjoy all they have to offer is through greens powder supplements. These powders offer a high level of convenience by allowing you to add them to your smoothies and yogurts or mix them with water.
What Nutrients Do Supergreens Contain?
The easy answer to this question is “a lot.” Supergreens contain many vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. Some of the many nutrients you can find in supergreens include:
- Calcium
- Vitamin A, aka beta-carotene
- B vitamins
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin K
- Magnesium
- Potassium
- Selenium
The list just keeps on going. In addition to these nutrients, supergreens are also known for their high protein and iron content, making them a great nutrient source for those on a plant-based diet.
Another key nutrient is one you might not recognize: chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is a natural compound unique to green plants and is responsible for giving them their color. You can find chlorophyll in everything from algae to spinach. Chlorophyll is the pigment that converts sunlight into energy for plants.
Like any other plant food, supergreens are full of phytonutrients, which are natural compounds with a range of health benefits. Phytonutrients may also be called phytochemicals or antioxidants. Antioxidants help support healthy cell function and aging.
Because they pack so many nutrients into just one source, supergreens can be an excellent answer for anyone looking to support their overall health and wellness.
What Are the Benefits of Supergreens?
Since they contain so many nutrients, it is nearly impossible to point out all the potential benefits that supergreens can have. The most significant benefits of supergreens can be boiled down to six main areas.
1. May Help Support Overall Energy Levels
When your body is missing important nutrients, you are going to feel it. Your body relies on various nutrients that combine to keep your systems working and working well. Since supergreens contain so many different nutrients that can benefit your body, they can provide an easy source for keeping your systems sharp.
In addition to their many vitamins and minerals, supergreens are also rich in chlorophyll, which may support improved energy levels. This dense combination of foods means that eating supergreens consistently might help support your overall energy levels on a daily basis. Supergreens aren’t high in calories, so they won’t replace all the foods in your current diet, but they can be a great addition or supplement.
For example, a daily option like L’Evate You greens drink allows you to leverage supergreens to give you sustained energy.
2. May Help Support Gut Health
You may not be aware that you have an entire civilization in your gut, which is full of living bacteria that help you digest food. On top of potentially boosting your energy levels, supergreens might be a great way to support these communities and maintain gut health.
Supergreens are high in fiber, a substance in plant foods that your body can’t absorb. A high-fiber diet is connected to healthier bowel movements and digestive health. Fiber may also play a role in keeping you full longer, which can help you avoid overeating. As a result, many people turn to supergreens like chlorella as a supplement to support their weight-loss journey.
Regardless of your health goals, you can’t go wrong with more fiber. Some supergreens formulas may also have probiotics and digestive enzymes, which can further support the thriving life in your gut.
3. May Help Support Immune Health
The immune system is one of the body’s most impressive and important systems, fighting outside invaders from entering the body and causing illnesses. The immune system is made up of cells that attack germs and pathogens that can make you sick. There is no secret diet or food to prevent or cure disease, but eating the right nutrients can support the immune system as it works to keep you sniffle-free.
For example, vitamin C plays an important role in the immune system, helping to promote the healthy growth of immune cells. Selenium, iron, and protein are other nutrients that can support growing immune cells — and supergreens are rich in each of these vital nutrients.
4. May Help Support Healthy Aging
As we age, the body gets overcome with little intruders called free radicals. These free radicals are compounds in our body that undergo oxidation. In other words, they are metal particles in our bodies that rust. These particles can speed up the aging process in our bodies in a process called “oxidative stress” that leads to cell damage.
The solution to combatting and neutralizing these free radicals is a type of compound called antioxidants. Antioxidants may help support cell health during exposure to free radicals, and as we age. In doing so, they can help promote healthy skin, brain function, and overall wellness. Since supergreens contain a heavy profile of phytonutrients and antioxidants, they may be a great addition to your diet and support healthy aging.
5. May Help Support Athletic Performance
A powerful athletic performance relies on a few key ingredients — energy, strong muscles, and motivation. Supergreens may support your athletic performance by providing the nutrients your body needs for healthy muscle function.
For starters, greens contain potassium which plays a key part in muscle contraction, the process that happens every time you exercise and put your muscles to work. Alongside potassium in supporting healthy muscle function is calcium.
Thanks to their calcium content, greens can also support muscle growth and recovery. After all, they are rich in protein and amino acids, which are the building blocks of muscle. Whether you’re trying to build muscle or stay active, you can benefit from supergreens.
6. May Help Support a Healthy Heart
Your heart deserves all the love you can give it. Supergreens are a great way to show appreciation for your body’s engine and provide it with the support it deserves. Greens are high in vitamin K and potassium, which support key bodily systems, specifically the cardiovascular system.
As a result, supergreens may help you maintain healthy blood pressure and support healthy cholesterol levels. These benefits may also be magnified due to the high fiber content of supergreens. This fiber content can also help support healthy blood sugar levels, playing a role in maintaining overall cardiovascular health.
The Bottom Line
If you’re looking to level up your nutrition, supergreens are a great way to do it. However, including supergreens in your diet is easier said than done. Fortunately, L’Evate You offers a solution. Steve Harvey’s L’Evate You packs nine — yes, nine — supergreens into one simple greens drink formula. Combined with a probiotic blend and a powerful mushroom blend, the proprietary M-Charge formula helps to support healthy energy levels so you can take on your day, no matter what your schedule entails.
Boost your energy levels and support your body’s overall health and wellness by including L’Evate You in your routine.Explore our complete collection of L’Evate You Vitality Daily Greens supergreens powders to start supporting your health with an easy dietary supplement.
Sources:
Antioxidants: In Depth | NCCIH
Potassium - Health Encyclopedia | University of Rochester Medical Center
Nutrition for Muscle Repair and Recovery | NASM
Preventing Heart Disease | The Nutrition Source | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health