Powdered fruit and vegetable supplements — sometimes referred to as “greens powders” — contain various blends of dehydrated fruits, vegetables, grains, and grasses. Other ingredients like probiotics, digestive enzymes, vitamins, minerals, plant extracts, and fiber are often added, as well. In many cases, the formulations are proprietary, which means that only the manufacturer knows how much of each ingredient has been added.[1]
These supplements are often marketed as an equal alternative to whole fruits and vegetables, but that claim hasn’t been substantiated. They do contain small amounts of absorbable nutrients that would be found in fresh fruits and vegetables – like vitamin C – but their actual nutrient content is rarely disclosed, they’re more expensive than fresh produce per equivalent serving, and they may be contaminated with harmful or banned substances.[2][3]