Imagine if you could take a quick shot of a pleasant-tasting, miracle liquid each day, to be able to give your body a healthy boost to sharpen your mind, energize and detoxify your body, while strengthening your immune system? Well, you can.
There are a number of different products on the market around the world, but one in particular that I’m hooked on is the Australian product by Martin & Pleasance, Vital Greens, which is a balanced blend of “greens,” such as vegetables, fruits, herbs, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, probiotics, essential amino acids, digestive enzymes and fiber. Labeled the “complete superfood,” it contains 76 nutrients essential to delivering optimal health, energy and vitality to all cells in the body. If you’re wondering what exactly those 76 nutrients are, and how each and every one can benefit you, check out the comprehensive guide to each ingredient on the Vital Greens website.
After about a month of taking Vital Greens, I feel fantastic and cannot go a day without a dose of this miracle green powder. Since I started taking it, I’ve noticed a clearness to my skin, and I’ve felt so energized that I actually made it to the gym every morning before work while in Europe covering the PokerStars EPT — quite a rarity for me when away from home.
Another popular product in the U.S is called Macro Greens®. A nutritional supplement that was created by fitness expert Sylvia Ortiz to help her son lose weight. They claim this has since become one of the most popular products in the rapidly growing nutritional supplements market. This concoction contains 38 ingredients, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing having half that of Vital Greens, as the body will only absorb as much as is needed. I am yet to try Macro Greens, but will be buying it as soon as I arrive in Las Vegas next week, so I will update this blog then.
Update, August 2012: I took Macro Greens for the two months that I was in the US (bought it in Wholefoods, my absolute #1 favourite store in the WORLD, literally), and I must say, while I don’t think Vital Greens tastes bad, Macro Greens tastes a lot better. Although, that is the only difference I noticed. They felt like the same product in terms of energy and overall wellness. No more, no less. So Macro Greens and Vital Greens seem to be (for me) the perfect substitute depending where on the world you may be.
So, what exactly are the benefits? Virtually the same benefits are said to come from Vital Greens and Macro Greens, but Macro Greens marketing focuses a lot on the assistance with weight-loss by reducing cravings for the naughty foods that we often crave that are highly processed with sugar or salt. Although, while they don’t promote it, that is something I find comes with Vital Greens also – if I have any sort of craving, taking a shot of Vital Greens will rid it – immediately!
Other key benefits include:
- Mental Acuity Sharpener - Lecithin, rosemary and co-enzyme Q-10 are said to help increase mental acuity, focus and concentration.
- Detoxifies/Cleanses - Assistance for your body to progressively eliminate waste, which builds up on the bowel walls. It cleanses the liver, which is the body’s main filter organ, and it emulsifies fat, helping to maintain healthy cholesterol and blood pressure levels.
- Energiser/Alkaliser - Consuming so many “superfoods” will help give you more energy, feel more vibrant and less sluggish or stressed. Alkalinity is promoted by balancing the pH factor thanks ingredients such as Barley Grass, which results in feeling more balanced and alive — helping you through those bad beats!
- Well-Being Promoter – Potent antioxidants and adaptogenic herbs boost stamina, endurance and the immune system. Powerful phytonutrients build health from the very basics of the cell. There are no less than two probiotics in Greens.
An important factor for me in taking something daily is that it must taste nice, and Vital Greens does this for me because it is sweetened with thaumatin — a natural protein with no calories — which is extracted from a West African fruit. While taking supplements in capsule or tablet form seems much easier, (although you would have to take handfuls of them to get this level of goodness), consuming nutrients in liquid form helps you absorb up to three times more of the goodness. With Vital Greens and Macro Greens, you can dissolve the powder into a small amount of water, taking it like a shot, or you can mix it into a freshly squeezed juice for a super tasty and healthy snack.
Recipe for Vital Greens
Wondering how to take Vital Greens? While the standard shot if 50-100ml of water with one-teaspoon is fine (according to two naturopaths I’ve spoken with, you don’t need two teaspoons, as the packet recommends), I’ve found that a 50/50 split of apple juice and water are a great mix. Adding straight apple juice is a little too sweet. However, lately I’ve been taking my shots of Vital Greens with 100% natural coconut water which is INCREDIBLE. I’m addicted to Dr Martins Coco Juice, Pure Organic Coconut Water.
Have you tried these products or something similar? Please leave a comment below if you have – I would like to hear your thoughts.
More from Lynn on PokerNews: Fitness & Health | Travel
Tagged: antioxidants, energy and vitality, essential amino acids, food, health, healthy-living, nutrients, nutrition, on the go, supplements, vital greens, vitamins minerals, wellness
Your style is unique compared to other folks I’ve read stuff from. Thanks for posting when you’ve got the opportunity,
Guess I will just book mark this site.
Hi,
I reside in Queensland, Australia, and have been taking Vital Greens for nearly three months. I am disappointed because, unlike other positive reviews I’ve read, I haven’t felt any better, my skin is no clearer and my energy levels are just as low as they were prior to starting the product. I do take quite a bit. I don’t use the metric teaspoon which you are supposed to – I just use two heaped metal teaspoons in water. I’m still going to persist with taking it, as a few people have recommended it to me, and all of the glowing reviews are rather encouraging. I have had my thyroid tested, and that was fine. I do suffer from deep depression and chronic anxiety/insomnia, so perhaps I need to give it more time. I enjoyed reading your review though – Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Hi Kathryn, thanks so much for stopping by my blog, I really appreciate you leaving your comment. I’m sorry to hear that you’re not feeling the effects yet. I’m certainly no doctor, but I’m learning a lot about stress and depression and the impact it can have on our body, and the power that our mind has over any goodness we may put in our mouths. While it’s still necessary for you to be eating well and really beneficial to be taking things like Vital Greens, the cortisol that is being overproduced by the stress is likely to be what’s holding you back from feeling as energising as you should. One of my favourite beliefs is that the words that come out of our mouth are just as, if not more, important than the food that goes in it. I’m learning all about holistic health at the moment, and while I’m not yet a certified coach, I would love to keep in touch. Please feel free to email me at lynn@lynngilmartin.com if you would like to chat further. LG xx
I find vital greens to be absolutley amazing!!! i have been focusing on consuming as many vegetables i can a day (after watching Fat, Sick and nearly Dead), i have it with v8 veggie juice, and if i make my own juices i add it to that. it helps give me that extra serving of vegetables and its great to help digest food, and help clean your system out, resulting in much better health
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I love hearing this! Thanks a lot for stopping by
xxx
Hi Lynn. Great article on Vital Greens. Your writing style is excellent and very informative. Vital Greens is amazing! We love it so much we created a website focusing on informing others about the benefits of Vital Greens and selling Vital Greens at very affordable prices in Australia. We need more leaders in the health industry like you spreading the word about such a excellent product. Thanks. Linden
What a great site you have! Thank you for stopping by and sharing your kind words
Hi Lyn,
Great blog, do you know if taking Vital Greens is okay if breast feeding?
Karen.
Hi Karen, thank you! You’d be best to contact the folks at Vital Greens directly, or ask a naturopath at a health food store that stocks it. I don’t want to misadvise! Please let me know what you do find out
xxx
helo.. im ivana and im from indonesia..
first of all.i m sorry for my english isnot good enough..but i hope u can help me.. my auntie is now at sydney . i ask her to help me buy vitamineral green (because i have cancer and i tr be a vegan from jan 2013).. the facebook friend (veganism) ever said this vitamineral green health force is very good. but the drugstore keeper give my auntie this vital green . they said the ingredients is same.. wat u think about it??
Hello Ivana, thanks for stopping by! I had never heard of Vitamineral Green before, I just searched for it, and it does look very similar. The main difference that I can see is that Vitamineral Green advertise being 100% vegan, whereas I cannot see anything about this on the Vital Greens site. In terms of nutritional value, I’d assume they are the same – but I cannot say. I would suggest contacting Vitamineral directly, and purchasing online if you can? And perhaps contact Vital Greens directly and ask them how they differ from Vitamineral? If your aunt cannot find Vitamineral anywhere before she leaves Sydney, I would suggest that she purchases Vital Greens so that she doesn’t come home empty handed. They are all great products. I hope that helps, I wish you all the best with it! xx