From mushroom tea to ‘super soup’ – we test new green health products
GREEN health products have flooded the market in the past year.
From supergreen powders to green teas, people are going mad for the antioxidant-rich items that are packed full of health-promoting vitamins.
Today, Jane Atkinson looks at the new way to get some of your healthy greens . . .
Soup
MADE from a broccoli variety called GRextra, SmarterNaturally’s “super soup” is rich in glucoraphanin – a natural molecule that research suggests can help lower blood sugar, a key risk factor for type 2 diabetes.
Clinical trials have shown the soup need only be eaten once a week to help make a difference to health.
Glucoraphanin turns on antioxidant genes in our cells to keep the metabolism healthy and working efficiently.
To make the soup, simply open a sachet and add boiling water.
It tastes amazing.
But I like broccoli flavour anyway.
Just 148 calories per 290g serving, I would buy this vibrant green soup for the taste alone.
But the benefits of having it once a week are great and you know you’re getting vitamins C and K plus iron and potassium, too.
From £5 a week, smarternaturally.com.
Green tea
DIRTEA makes a range of teas and coffees with mushroom powders to help with energy levels, immunity, better skin and sleep.
I tried the Matcha Superblend, which combines ceremonial-grade Japanese matcha with 2,500mg of the mushrooms lion’s mane, tremella and turkey tail.
These are said to give calm all-day energy, a clear mind and better focus.
It also has moringa, a plant that is a source of vitamins A, B, C, D and E, calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, copper and amino acid.
This tasted sweet and rich thanks to the fact it includes coconut sugar and coconut milk powder.
Plus it has keto-friendly MCT oil, giving it a creamy richness.
I was amazed it contains just 25 calories per cup.
You pay the price for it, though.
£59.99 for a 180g bag with 30 servings (£2 per serving), but currently 20 per cent off, dirteaworld.com.
Gummies
RECENTLY launched by Nutriburst, NutriGreen gummies contain a mix of 22 fruits, vegetables, herbs, mushrooms and essential vitamins – with big doses of vitamins B12, B6 and D3.
They also have live bacteria cultures called bacillus coagulans, a type of probiotic or “good” bacteria for your gut.
I am slightly baffled by these gummies.
They are super super sweet but there is absolutely no sugar or sweetener in the ingredients.
They have a mixture of things that are good for you, including turmeric, beetroot, broccoli, ashwagandha and extracts of pomegranate, elderberry, cranberry and tart cherry plus green tea, lion’s mane, moringa, spirulina, chlorella, spinach and broccoli.
Twelve calories for two gummies.
£15.99 for 60 gummies, nutriburstvitamins.com.