While fruit and vegetable supplements can’t replace the real deal, they can be complementary, used to up your intake of certain nutrients, fiber, and phytochemicals and help you achieve that “just finished a green smoothie” feeling—in a convenient, affordable, and tasty way. Here’s how to find the right one for you, plus eight high-quality options that meet mbg’s standards. There are a few reasons to take a fruit and vegetable supplement daily—even if you already eat a plant-forward diet. For starters, each and every plant comes with its own nutritional profile and health perks. So if you love kale and sweet potatoes, you might be missing out on the benefits of, say, the vitamin B9 in watercress or iodine of kelp. In an age when industrial agriculture is stripping farm soil of key microorganisms, many of our crops are also not as nutrient-dense as they once were. Given these constraints, taking a fruit and vegetable supplement daily can help you fit a wider array of plants, nutrients, and phytonutrients into your diet. Before you take this as your sign to swear off broccoli forever, know that a supplement can’t replace your daily serving of whole fruits and vegetables. Supplements don’t have quite as much fiber and nutrients as the real deal, and they won’t leave your body feeling as full or satiated. So you’ll have to have your greens powder and eat your veggies too. Most fruit and vegetable supplements can be taken at any time of day, whenever you remember. Capsules can be consumed with water while powders can be combined with water or milk, added to a sweet smoothie or savory soup, or snuck into your go-to guacamole or dressing recipe. The benefits of increasing your intake of key plant nutrients include: We also fortified this vegan formula with prebiotic fibers, digestive enzymes, and probiotic strains to ensure it goes down easy and packs a punch for gut health. Antioxidant-rich herbs like turmeric and ginger complete the well-rounded formula. The resulting powder has a pleasant earthy flavor that we didn’t want to mask with any additives or sugars. Take one scoop out of the recyclable amber glass jar to make your soups, stews, and smoothies all the more nutritious. Read what health experts and home cooks alike have to say about organic veggies+ here.* Just beware that with a serving size of six large capsules daily, this option is a bit of a tough pill to swallow. The veggies mix is also not suitable for people with soy allergies. Add one teaspoon to your plant-based milks, smoothies, or coffee for a kick of cocoa flavor with no added sugar or artificial flavors. You can sip easy knowing that Your Super—a certified B Corp sustainable company—is super transparent about where its ingredients are sourced from.
