The Utah-based IdealShape has a wide range of supplements on offer that we’ve reviewed before, including their meal replacement and one of their protein powders, but when they sent us their green superfood drink IdealGreens, we were excited to try it out.
They make a few bold claims: it can protect your DNA, detox and alkalize the body, boost your immune system… even though there are no vitamins on the label. But despite that, it’s one of the best greens powders on the market, providing a range of ingredients that many people covet in these products like antioxidants, enzymes, and adaptogens. Let’s take a closer look.
A phenomenally inexpensive greens powder that contains a variety of adaptogens and antioxidant sources. Use the code BARBEND15 for 15% off your order.
IdealGreens Superfood Blend Nutrition
One scoop weighs 12 grams and provides the following:
Calories: 35
Protein: 2g
Carbohydrate: 6g (3g fiber)
Fat: 0.5g
Vitamin D: 0% RDI
Calcium: 6% RDI
Iron: 40% RDI
Potassium: 6% RDI
There’s no nutrition here, really, besides the not-too-bad 40% of your daily iron. But the real emphasis with greens powders is the ingredients.
[Don’t miss our complete list of the best green superfood drinks!]
IdealGreens Superfood Blend Ingredients
Spinach, kale leaf, coconut water powder, apple fiber, enzyme blend (cellulase, fungal lactase, alpha-amylase, fungal protease, lipase 8), dandelion root extract, acerola cherry, wheat grass, beet leaf, chlorella (broken cell), spirulina (broken cell), broccoli, ashwagandha, rhodiola (3% rosavins, 1% salidroside), and ginger root extract.
IdealGreens Superfood Blend Benefits & Effectiveness
The most disappointing aspect of the product is that it delivers its ingredients in a proprietary blend, so we don’t know the precise weight of the ingredients — and therefore it’s hard to know how effective the product is.
This isn’t especially uncommon for a green superfood drink, though, and the ingredients themselves are pretty impressive. They cover the three main categories people tend to look for in one of these products: antioxidants, digestive health, and adaptogens.
Ingredients like wheat grass, spirulina, and chlorella, which are very common in greens products, are known for being antioxidant dense and therefore may help to combat inflammation to an extent.(1) Meanwhile the digestive enzymes like amylase, protease, and lipase may help you to break down and absorb nutrients from carbs, protein, and fats respectively.(2) Research in the Journal of Sports Science even suggests that protease enzymes may help to facilitate muscle healing after working out.(3)
Then there are the adaptogens. Rhodiola is an important one here, an Arctic plant that some studies have found may help you to react to stress and fight off fatigue.(4)(5)(6)(7) The ashwagandha is another very popular adaptogen that could be useful for helping to reduce anxiety, manage fatigue, and boost focus.(8)(9)(10)
With all that said, again, we don’t know how effective the dose is in IdealGreens. Now, the serving size here is quite large at 15 grams. Studies have seen effective dose of ashwagandha, for example, at 50 to 500 milligrams and it’s the third last ingredient on the label so you’re probably getting an effective dose. I just would have liked to know for sure.
[Want more protein? We tried IdealShape’s Superfood Blend Whey!]
IdealGreens Superfood Blend Taste
There are no artificial flavors or sweeteners here, but there are also no natural flavors or sweeteners — it’s a little bitter. But it’s far from the worst tasting greens powder on the market, as man of them actually taste like a cup of dirt. IdealGreens tastes more like an herbal tea, and for that I’m grateful.
IdealGreens Superfood Blend Price
The cost of one tub of 30 servings varies from $15 to $30, but usually it’s about $15. That comes to 50 cents per scoop, which is extraordinarily inexpensive. Every other greens powder we’ve seen at this price contains far fewer ingredients, and your average greens powder is between $1 and $2. This makes IdealGreens one of the best value greens powders on the market.
IdealGreens Superfood Blend Pros & Cons
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Provides digestive enzymes
- Contains adaptogens
- Source of antioxidants
Cons
- Proprietary blend; dosages unclear
- Nutrition label doesn’t show any vitamins
- Made on equipment that processes dairy, soy, wheat, peanuts, eggs, fish, shellfish, and tree nuts
The Takeaway
I wouldn’t put this on par with the best of the best greens powders — there simply aren’t enough vitamins and minerals. But given the remarkable cost, it is among the most notable of these products. It’s got most of the ingredients that people expect from greens drinks: spinach, wheat grass, spirulina, adaptogens, and digestive enzymes. If you’re looking for an inexpensive greens drink, this is among the best of the best.
References
1. Arulselvan P, et al. Role of Antioxidants and Natural Products in Inflammation. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2016;2016:5276130.
2.Oben J, et al. An open label study to determine the effects of an oral proteolytic enzyme system on whey protein concentrate metabolism in healthy males. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2008 Jul 24;5:10.
3. Miller PC, et al. The effects of protease supplementation on skeletal muscle function and DOMS following downhill running. J Sports Sci. 2004 Apr;22(4):365-72.
4. Darbinyan V, et al. Rhodiola rosea in stress induced fatigue–a double blind cross-over study of a standardized extract SHR-5 with a repeated low-dose regimen on the mental performance of healthy physicians during night duty. Phytomedicine. 2000 Oct;7(5):365-71.
5. Edwards D, et al. Therapeutic effects and safety of Rhodiola rosea extract WS® 1375 in subjects with life-stress symptoms–results of an open-label study. Phytother Res. 2012 Aug;26(8):1220-5.
6. Spasov AA, et al. A double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study of the stimulating and adaptogenic effect of Rhodiola rosea SHR-5 extract on the fatigue of students caused by stress during an examination period with a repeated low-dose regimen. Phytomedicine. 2000 Apr;7(2):85-9.
7. Shevtsov VA, et al. A randomized trial of two different doses of a SHR-5 Rhodiola rosea extract versus placebo and control of capacity for mental work. Phytomedicine. 2003 Mar;10(2-3):95-105.
8. Chandrasekhar K, et al. A prospective, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study of safety and efficacy of a high-concentration full-spectrum extract of ashwagandha root in reducing stress and anxiety in adults. Indian J Psychol Med. 2012 Jul;34(3):255-62.
9. Cooley K, et al. Naturopathic care for anxiety: a randomized controlled trial ISRCTN78958974. PLoS One. 2009 Aug 31;4(8):e6628.
10. Andrade C, et al. A double-blind, placebo-controlled evaluation of the anxiolytic efficacy ff an ethanolic extract of withania somnifera. Indian J Psychiatry. 2000 Jul;42(3):295-301.
11. Khyati, S et al. A RANDOMIZED DOUBLE BLIND PLACEBO CONTROLLED STUDY OF ASHWAGANDHA ON GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER. IAMJ. 2013 Sep-Oct;1(5):1-7
