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Superfoods, or nutrient-dense plant-based foods, have been the holy grail of fitness and health enthusiasts across the world for a while now.
They provide a range of health benefits unparalleled by a regular diet and are a gamechanger when it comes to reaping the benefits of your fitness routine fast and effectively.
But here’s the thing- while some of these natural superfoods are pantry staples, some others can be quite expensive if not obscure. Add to that the hassle of planning and making a meal incorporating enough of these superfoods to actually make a tangible difference. Here is where superfood supplements come to the rescue.
Superfood supplements are a safe and organic way to conveniently meet all your nutritional requirements to complement your workout routine. Rich in a plethora of micronutrients, phytonutrients, and with antioxidant properties, not only do superfood supplements keep your mental and physical health optimized, but they also keep you at the top of your game when it comes to athletic performance.
Athletic Greens Ultimate Daily: Your Best Bet
Athletic Greens Ultimate Daily, as the name suggests, is THE ‘ultimate’ daily superfood supplement you should be incorporating into your routine.
I have tried a lot of these green mixes available in the market at the moment, each showing varying results. But Athletic Greens definitely stands a cut above the rest. The formulation, the benefits, the brand value, and the palatability make this superfood supplement a league of its own.
This all-rounder supplement is targeted at high performers and athletes to enhance their physical as well as mental fortitude.
The blend of 75 premium quality and highly absorbable ingredients tackles a variety of issues including inadequate diet, inefficient sleep schedules, stress, low energy or poor immunity, to enhance your overall performance and endurance.
Ingredient List
As an all-in-one supplement that addresses most of your nutritional concerns, the ingredient list of Athletic Greens is definitely its highlight. The brand, in keeping with their policy of complete transparency, lists all their ingredients on the box. Despite the extensiveness of it, you will find that each ingredient add value to the composition to make it the powerhouse product that it is.
Here are the major categories that the ingredients in this superfood supplement can be classified into:
● Vitamins and Minerals
One of the primary functions of any nutritional supplement is to deliver optimum doses of vitamins and minerals that you miss out on in your diet. Extremely rich in all essential nutrients, the Athletic Greens Ultimate Daily formula is tailored for the nourishment and optimization of the functioning of your nervous system as well as building your immunity.
● Superfood Complex (7388 mg/ Serving)
Definitely the clinching factor of any superfood supplement, let’s have a look at Athletic Greens’ superfood complex. Athletic Greens has a potent raw superfood complex that is packed with antioxidants to reverse the impact of free radical damage on your body. Along with being alkalizing, anti-inflammatory, and anti-carcinogenic, the blend provides a vast range of other health benefits. Some of the most notable ingredients in Athletic Greens’ superfood complex would be the organic Spirulina, lecithin, organic chlorella powder, organic wheatgrass leaf powder, spinach leaf powder, and organic apple powder.
● Adaptogens (2732 mg/ Serving)
Adaptogens are an interesting ingredient you will find in most superfood supplements worth your while today. Athletic Greens definitely keeps up with this trend, packed as it is with quality adaptogens like Ashwagandha root extract, artichoke leaf extract, Rhodiola Rosea root dry extract, etc. Adaptogens are essentially herbs, often popular in indigenous medicine across the world, that reduces stress and anxiety, regularizes your sleep schedule, and cuts down on mental as well as physical fatigue.
● Digestive Enzymes and Mushroom Complex (154 mg/ Serving)
Athletic Greens includes organic digestive enzymes and mushroom complex, including Astragulus root powder, burdock root powder, bromelain, Reishi mushroom powder, and shiitake mushroom powder, to facilitate better digestion and improve the absorption of nutrients.
● Dairy-free Prebiotics and Probiotics (38 mg/ Serving)
Here’s the thing- prebiotics and probiotics are indispensable for nudging your immune and digestive systems towards performing their best. The issue that some of us face, whether with wholefoods or superfood supplements, is that most sources of prebiotics and probiotics are derived from dairy or dairy products. Athletic Greens comes in as a savior is this aspect. The prebiotics and probiotics of Athletic Greens are dairy-free, and help improve your gastrointestinal health, nutrition absorption rate, and immunity, without compromising on your dietary restrictions.
● Flavoring Components
People are often put off by the unpalatability and grassy flavour of regular run-of-the-mill superfood supplements. To combat this you might find a lot of brands using artificial flavoring agents, which compromises on the safety and organic nature of these blends. Athletic Greens is a cut above the rest in this regard. They incorporate organic flavoring and sweetening agents such as natural pineapple flavor, cherry powder, stevia, and natural vanilla flavor, to ensure an appealing taste without cutting down on quality.
What’s So Great About Athletic Greens?
I prefer Athletic Greens over most other supplements, particularly the generic pill-based ones, because not only does it have a stellar bioavailable formulation, but it is much more potent and deliver on all their claims.
Here are a few features that make Athletic Greens such a great addition to your daily routine:
Quality Ingredients
The ingredient list is what makes or breaks a supplement. Of course, it is the primary reason for consuming a nutritional supplement, and Athletic Greens has its ingredient list down pat! Its 75 ingredients are of stellar quality and whole-food sourced, meeting all your vitamin, mineral, amino acid, antioxidant, and phytonutrient requirements. Its superfood complex is perhaps one of the best in the market at the moment.
Additionally, all the ingredients are in tandem with FDA guidelines and they undergo stringent lab tests to ensure the highest qualities.
Manufacture Process
The manufacturing process of a superfood supplement can prove to be a decisive factor, not only in terms of safety but also environmental consciousness. Athletic Greens has state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities that are completely safe and environment-friendly. The manufacturing facilities are GMP certified and every detail of the product at various stages of the manufacturing process are carefully monitored and kept note of for complete transparency. The raw ingredient suppliers and manufacturers are also kept on their toes to assure premium quality through annual audits.
Organic and Diet-Friendly Formulation
When you are consuming a nutritional supplement, you usually want all the goodness without pumping yourself full of sugar-heavy artificial or harmful substances. Additionally, your diet may require you to go off dairy, eggs, or gluten. Athletic Greens is perfect for anyone with dietary restrictions since it does not contain eggs, yeast, corn, wheat, or nuts. The product is compatible with most diets, including vegan, keto and paleo. It is completely plant-based and free of dairy or gluten. You won’t find any preservatives, artificial sweeteners or flavoring agents, and of course no GMOs, toxic chemicals, herbicides or pesticides.
Certified for Sportspersons
Athletic Greens has been certified safe for the use of sportspersons by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) and contains none of the over the 270 substances banned by the World Anti Doping Agency. The formulation meets up to all the stringent industry regulations and intensive testing procedures mandated by these two organizations, and is perfect for the use of athletes and sportspeople to naturally boost their stamina, endurance, strength, and mental fortitude for performance.
Alternatives for Athletic Greens Ultimate Daily
While I love Athletic Greens, and it really is one of the best superfood supplements you can get your hands on, there are those of you who might want to check out alternatives available in the market.
Why Explore Alternatives?
Maybe you want to weigh in your options and check out a few similar products in the market to confirm whether Athletic Greens really is the best bet for you. Maybe you have reached a plateau in your progress and want to experiment a bit with your diet and nutritional supplements as well as your workout routine.
Of course, children and the elderly have different requirements which Athletic Greens is not specifically targeted at. Those of you who are specifically trying to boost up your immunity or gut health may want a more targeted formula. Perhaps you are looking for a green mix that will complement your weight loss routine better. The reasons why you want to explore alternatives to Athletic greens may vary.
The market is brimming with superfood supplements at this point. While some of them are all-in-one superfood blends that give broad-spectrum results, like Athletic Greens, there are others that are targeted to tackle more specific issues. There is no doubt that you will definitely find a superfood supplement that addresses your needs. However, a major concern that crops up when there is near-saturation of any product in the market is compromise on quality.
Keeping that in mind, I have assembled a list of the best alternatives to Athletic Greens in the market that are safe for use and fetch the results they promise on the box.
5 Best Athletic Greens Alternatives in the Market
1. Detox Organics
Detox Organics is not only the best alternative to Athletic Greens in my opinion, but also a stellar all-round superfood supplement by its own right. With a superfood complex 25 organic plant-based powerful ingredients, it comes close to Athletic Greens’ promise of being an all-in-one nutritional supplement. Detox Organics may keep its constituent list fuss-free and limited, but it is a potent 3-phase blend that tackles digestion, energy boosts, and detox specifically. All things considered, Detox Organics is possibly the best alternative in the market to Athletic Greens.
Ingredients: Detox Organics has a simpler formulation than Athletic Greens, and they maintain the same stringent attention to transparency. Every ingredient is mentioned on the box for you to peruse, but I am listing out the major categories of these below:
- Digestive Aid Blend (3.6 g): Including organic wheatgrass powder, organic barley grass powder, and organic alfalfa leaf powder.
- Alkalizing and Energy Boosting Blend (2.5 g): Including organic spinach leaf powder, and organic spirulina powder.
- Detox and Cleansing Blend (1.7 g): Including organic carrot root powder, organic beet root powder, and organic dandelion root powder.
- Other Ingredients: Including organic stevia leaf powder, organic cocoa powder, organic Guar Gum, and organic Luo Han Guao.
If you compare the ingredient lists of both Detox Organics and Athletic Greens, you will find they share a lot of their key ingredients, particularly their digestive aid blend and alkalizing blend. The detox and cleansing blend of Detox Organics is an added bonus that makes the product live up to its name.
Who Is It For: While it is an all-rounder superfood supplement that anybody would benefit from, Detox Organics would be a particularly good bet for anyone who has digestive issues or is trying to lose weight.
Pros: The formula of Detox Organics blends the benefits of a superfood supplement and a weight loss powder. It is certified 100% organic by the USDA and contains no artificial ingredients or additives. It targets three major concerns, that is, alkalization and energy boost, detox and cleansing, and digestive health, through its gluten-free 3-phase blend. To add to that, this superfood powder is also stackable with other nutritional supplements.
Cons: One major area where Detox Organics falls short of Athletic Greens’ benchmark is the palatability. While both of them are devoid of artificial flavoring agents and rely on natural ones, Detox Organics is definitely not as tasty as Athletic Greens. Another major con of this superfood supplement is that it is squarely on the pricier side. But then again, you get what you pay for when it comes to the benefits of Detox Organics’ benefits, and Athletic Greens itself is premiumly priced.
2. SuperGreen Tonik
SuperGreen Tonik is an exceptional superfood supplement which facilitates better health and mental fortitude.
Ingredients: SuperGreen Tonik contains a blend of 15 premium quality superfoods and adaptogenic herbs. Again, this product shares some of the most crucial ingredients of Athletic Greens, including organic Spirulina powder, organic Chlorella, organic spinach powder, organic barley grass, Ashwagandha root powder, Rhodiola Rosea, and stevia.
Who Is It For: SuperGreen Tonik is perfect for those trying to improve their immunity and overall health, and also find a need to work on their concentration and mental fortitude. It improves focus, productivity, and sleep, while combating fatigue, brain fog, and anxiety.
Pros: This superfood supplement offers a simple but premium formula, with quality ingredients that deliver effective results. The brand values transparency when it comes to their ingredient list, and avoids proprietary blends in their mostly organic formula. Additionally, like Athletic Greens, it is compatible with a paleo or keto diet.
Cons: It is not the most inexpensive kid on the block.
3. Green Vibrance
Green Vibrance is a superfood powder that facilitates improved nutrition, immunity, circulation, and digestion to fuel your body to run at its peak efficiency.
Ingredients: Green Vibrance is a potent superfood blend packed with antioxidants, adaptogens, immunity boosters and probiotics which are also the main ingredient classifications of Athletic Greens. The product boasts of not only a hefty dose of plant-based micronutrients, but also 25 billion probiotics per serving.
Who Is It For: Green Vibrance is a great superfood supplement for those looking to improve their nutritional intake. It is also a great post-workout drink to restore your energy levels, or a snack to pull you through your hectic day.
Pros: Green Vibrance has an extensive ingredient list which supports the promise of improved nutrition, immunity, circulation, and digestion. Consumers have lauded the product for improving their gut health and bowel movements.
Cons: Green Vibrance contains trace amounts of milk and soy, which not only becomes an issue for lactose-intolerant people and vegans, but soy is also a common allergen. Another major cause of concern with this superfood supplement is that it contains higher levels of arsenic than the recommended dose. It is also quite an expensive nutritional supplement.
4. Amazing Grass Green Superfood Powder
Amazing Grass Green Superfood Powder is a very popular superfood supplement that contains a blend of fresh greens, fruits, and vegetables to ensure overall health and improved energy levels.
Ingredients: Amazing Grass Green Superfood Powder contains four major blends amongst its constituents, that is, a grass antioxidant blend, grass green food blend, digestive enzymes, minerals and vitamins, and an EFA fiber blend. Amongst its key ingredients features Spirulina, Chlorella, barley grass, and probiotics, which also feature prominently on Athletic greens’ ingredient list.
Who Is It For: This is a great superfood supplement for those looking to boost their immune and digestive systems while also boosting their overall energy levels.
Pros: Amazing Grass Green Superfood Powder has a huge range of flavour options, as opposed to the limited variety provided by most superfood supplement brands. All the ingredients in Amazing Grass Green Superfood Powder are natural, except some flavoring agents in the flavored varieties. However, there are stringent tests conducted on these to ensure there are no adverse reactions. It is gluten-free and quite affordable compared to most superfood supplements. In comparison, Athletic Greens definitely costs a bomb.
Cons: The taste ofAmazing Grass Green Superfood Powder is a definite drawback for the product. Like a lot of other superfood supplements in the market, this too has a very noticeable grassy taste to it. While this is particularly noticeable in the ‘original’ version of Amazing Grass Green Superfood Powder, even the ones with fancy and supposedly enticing flavors such as berry, pineapple, vanilla, etc. retain the slightly obnoxious grassy aftertaste.
You may also experience nausea, upset stomach, or excessive gas in your first few weeks of trying the product as your body gets used to this new addition to your diet. Another pitfall of Amazing Grass Green Superfood Powder is that the brand does not mention the quantity of each ingredient on the box or the website.
5. Vitamineral Green
Vitamineral Green is a superfood supplement that is very ‘now’. Not only does it have all the regular features appreciated in nutritional supplements such as being vegan, raw, non-GMO and without toxic artificial additives, Vitamineral Green sets a precedent for eco-friendly manufacture and packaging. They say that their product provides “energetic enhancements”, both magnetic and vibrational, which is definitely a unique feature to keep your eye out for.
Ingredients: Vitamineral Green describes its ingredients as ‘Truganic’, which is their stringent benchmark of quality right from the sourcing of the raw ingredients to the manufacture and production process. It contains a wide range of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, essential amino acids, chlorophyll, fibers, and phytonutrients, which are all natural, non-toxic, and absorbable.
Who Is It For: Vitamineral Green provides a wide range of health benefits, and is perfect for anyone looking to optimize the functioning of their kidney, pancreas, liver, bones, blood, muscles, digestion, immunity, or brain. It also helps with overall energy boosting and detoxification. As you can tell, it shares a lot of Athletic Greens’ broad spectrum benefits.
Pros: It contains a host of probiotics and enzymes, which is great for your digestive system. The product has a lot of unique claims which you would probably not come across anywhere else. Given the ingredient list, quality, and manufacture process, Vitamineral Green is priced remarkably low.
Cons: My primary issue with Vitamineral Green is that I don’t know the quantity or concentration of any of the ingredients. Given the vast ingredient list and intimidatingly lucrative claims, I would hope that the brand would offer a bit more transparency in terms of the formula on the box. Given Athletic Greens’ policy of full disclosure, which most superfood supplements in the markets are trying to match up to, Vitamineral Green concerns me a bit on this front. Another issue is the overwhelmingly pungent grassy taste. While it is great that they did not incorporate any artificial flavorings to mask the taste, it is a task to conjure up enough enthusiasm to chug a glass of the product.
Concluding Thoughts
Athletic Greens may cost a bomb, but if you can make the investment, definitely go for it. The quality, consumer service, and brand value is unparalleled.
However, if you don’t wish to go for the OG superfood supplement and are looking to experiment a bit, save a bit of money, or find something more specific to your needs than something as broad-spectrum as Athletic Greens, these are my suggestions for alternatives.
Detox Organics and SuperGreen Tonik definitely come out on top with their premium formulation and benefits, but all these products bring something unique to the table and are definitely worth a try.
