The Best Greens Powder Without Wheatgrass
Drinking your nutrition and protein has become an easy and popular way to improve your health without forcing you to dramatically change your eating or cooking habits, because, let’s be real, who has time for that?
Greens powders are an incredible source of vitamins, minerals, and other phytonutrients and, when added to your favorite juice or smoothie, can taste great too.
So what is the best greens powder without wheatgrass? Our absolute favorite greens powder without wheatgrass is Vega’s Protein & Greens formula, though there are some very close runner’s up.
Keep reading to find a greens powder that will work for you and to learn why you might want to opt for a wheat grass-free version.
Why You Might Want to Avoid Wheatgrass
We all know we’re supposed to eat more green vegetables, but that can be hard to do in a very busy life, especially if you aren’t a fan of eating your vegetables.
Greens powders can help you get all the nutrition from your recommended daily intake of green vegetables – and often much more – in a single serving of juice.
Wheatgrass was nominated as a life-changing superfood many years ago now, and there are plenty of studies showing its impressive array of health benefits. So why would you want a greens powder without it?
It’s certainly not conventionally bad for you and has few side effects, however, it can still present a danger to your health. Some people do report symptoms of nausea and headaches if they take concentrated shots of wheatgrass or use it for prolonged and consistent periods of time, though even this isn’t the primary concern.
The two primary concerns hinge on hay fever and contamination.
More and more people are being diagnosed with seasonal allergies, and wheatgrass is grass. A very concentrated grass.
There is a lot of evidence suggesting allergies stem from the bacteria (or lack of) in your gut, so if you’re pouring an allergen directly on the bacteria triggering an allergic reaction, you can experience severe hay-fever allergy symptoms.
Wheat is also one of the most highly contaminated crops when it comes to drenching the fields in chemical fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides and more. If you’re not worried about any of the above effects, please at least always choose organic when it comes to consuming wheatgrass.
Health Benefits of a Greens Powder
Every greens powder will have a different nutritional profile, depending on the ingredients used and their concentrations, however, there are some general health benefits that you can assume all greens powders will contribute to.
Greens powders are usually very low calorie, with few carbs and many vitamins. Some of the most prevalent vitamins and minerals you can expect to find in your greens powders include:
- Vitamins A, C, K and potentially some B vitamins
- Calcium
- Iron
- Potassium
- Selenium
- Chromium
- Iodine, though this can be slightly controversial
The combination of all of these vitamins, minerals and many various antioxidants and phytonutrients work together to keep your entire being healthier.
Thanks to improved immune support, reduced oxidation (free radical damage) and inflammation and other positive effects, your risk of all chronic diseases are decreased significantly by adding more greens to your diet.
Many of the compounds also improve your energy levels without leading to a crash in a few hours. Healthy bodies naturally have more energy, as well, because your natural biological operations can spend more time keeping you alert and less time combating illness.
Green powders are not a cure-all, however. They typically don’t have a lot of fiber, fat or protein, unless it’s specifically added to the powder, so it’s important to use powders as a supplement to an otherwise well-balanced eating plan, not as a complete nutritional substitute.
Eat your veggies and drink your greens.
The 5 Best Greens Powders without Wheat Grass
Greens powders come in a lot of different forms, with a very drastic difference in quality levels. Finding a great greens powder that doesn’t have wheatgrass can be tricky, so we’ve done the research for you and come up with our 5 best solutions.
Rank | Product | Key Features |
---|---|---|
1. | Vega Protein & Greens Vanilla | Variety of flavors, gluten-free, no added sugar |
2. | Super Greens Powder Organic Blend | Probiotics and digestive enzymes |
3. | Vegansmart Plant-Based Vegan Protein Powder by Naturade | Protein and fiber rich, 14 greens |
4. | Supreme Green Blend by Changing Habits | Extra-fine powder, organic |
5. | Organic Greens Powder by Herbal Nutrition | Probiotics, non-GMO, gluten-free |
1. Vega Protein & Greens Vanilla
Vega is one of the leading producers of vegan nutritional supplements. We like this product because it gives us all the greens along with a great dose of protein, covering multiple bases with one shake.
Key features:
- Offers a variety of flavors, including an unsweetened option for those who can’t get over the Stevia aftertaste
- Certified to be gluten-free, and there are no added sugars or artificial preservatives, colors or flavorings
Biggest drawbacks: The product is non-GMO, but it’s not organic, which is a bummer, but not a deal-breaker. It’s also a bit more expensive than some alternatives, but most users think it’s worthwhile for the taste and quality.
2. Super Greens Powder Organic Blend
Nature Plus You believes in high-quality ingredients, which is why every ingredient in their greens powder is organic and locally source in the USA.
Key features:
- Includes probiotics and digestive enzymes, which can be very helpful, especially when you’re just starting to add more greens and vegetables to your diet
- Fantastic way to get all the nutrients you need on a daily basis while still being very conscious of your calorie and carb count – this powder works well in just water, so you don’t have to add a bunch of carbs using a smoothie or juice
Biggest drawbacks: It uses natural blue raspberry and grape flavors which some people find off-putting and unnecessarily sweet. No sweetener will please everyone, so if you’re used to Stevia, this might not be the best blend for you. On the other hand, if you can’t stand Stevia, this might be just the product for you.
3. Vegansmart Plant-Based Vegan Protein Powder by Naturade
This is another greens plus protein powder that was made to help make overall nutrition easier and more efficient in everyone’s life, regardless of how busy you may be or what dietary plan you might follow.
Key features:
- This blend can be used as a complete meal replacement, giving you the calories you need along with the boost of nutrition, protein and even fiber
- Incorporates a whopping 14 different greens and vegetables along with a bonus supply of 40 different roots and fruits for a wide range of nutritional benefits
- Includes 22 different vitamins and minerals, as well as prebiotics and omega 3s
Biggest drawbacks: Include coffee bean extract and matcha, which can be a huge benefit if you’re looking for a caffeine boost, but if you’re trying to eliminate caffeine from your life or are sensitive to it, having it in your greens powder can be a dealbreaker.
4. Supreme Green Blend by Changing Habits
Changing Habits is a company that doesn’t just want you to eat your greens because they’re trendy, they want you to eat your greens because their nutritionists and researchers and they know exactly how each ingredient can positively influence your health.
Key features:
- Ingredients are sourced from New Zealand, reputably one of the cleanest environments to grow pollution-free plants free from radiation and other impurities
- The powder is extra-fine, making it really easy to dissolve into your juice, smoothies or even sauces without a visible trace of clumps or grit
Biggest drawbacks: The taste is very green. The company is actually proud of this, as it proves that there are no added sweeteners and allows you to use the powders in a wider variety of food options, like savory sauces or dips. But it can definitely shock your taste buds if you’re not used to truly natural green flavors.
5. Organic Greens Powder by Herbal Nutrition
The Herbal Nutrition company is truly dedicated to quality, working only with FDA certified GMP manufacturers to make sure each product is tested for safety and quality, even though that’s not required for nutritional supplements in the US. They just go above and beyond.
Key features:
- Not just a greens powder, but a superfoods powder, complete with veggies, fruits, probiotics and digestive enzymes for very well-rounded nutrition
- Contains none of the ingredients often avoided, including gluten, caffeine, dairy, artificial flavorings and it’s also non-GMO, which isn’t an ingredient, but it’s important
Biggest drawbacks: Not available everywhere, even when being shipped from Amazon, which is hugely unfortunate for international readers because there really aren’t any other significant drawbacks.
Related Questions
How do you make super greens taste better?
Most people add their super greens powders to either fruit juice or smoothies.
It’s best to pair with flavors you like that tend to have a lot of power, like bananas, ginger, lemon and maybe some natural sweetener like honey or pure maple syrup.
Do super greens help with bloating?
This will depend on your blend.
Some green veggies, mostly those in the cruciferous family like Brussels sprouts, broccoli and cabbage, can contribute to bloating, but luckily they’re not very common in greens powders.
On the other hand, most leafy greens like kale and spinach and other super greens such as matcha and chlorella will actually help ease water retention and improve overall digestion.
If you choose a greens powder that has an ingredient that you’re sensitive to, such as wheatgrass if your gluten intolerant, you might experience bloating as a reaction to the sensitivity.
Are green powders a waste of money?
As with most things in life, not all greens powders are created equal.
There are some poorly made powders that are likely not only a waste of money but potentially containing harmful ingredients.
However, if you take the time to find a greens powder produced by a conscientious, reputable manufacturer, they absolutely have the ability to provide a great deal of nutrition that you might be otherwise missing.
You shouldn’t rely on them to provide all your nutrition or completely take the place of vegetables and other plants in your diet, but they can be a positive supplement to an otherwise mostly balanced eating plan.
Thank you Jaron for this list. I am gluten intolerant, and wheatgrass has gluten properties. I didn’t know this until it made me very sick.
Actually, none of those are really gluten-free. Any kind of grass is very close to gluten. I guess I’ll have to make my own green powder. I just bought a dehydrator on Amazon. I think this would make an excellent blog post for you.