"Are Daily Greens Supplements Worth the Hype? The Top 5 Reasons You Need to Know"

In the world of supplements and nutrition there are myriad options available to us. This is a benefit in many ways, it allows us the opportunity to pick and choose what we take to target our own specific goals and needs. It can also be a detriment when trying to pick a supplement regiment that we can continue taking with minimal effort, that fits our busy on-the-go lifestyles, and that meets the highest number of our needs.

Greens powders are an increasingly proper type of supplement that are meant to shore up the holes in our diet and make sure our nutritional foundation is covered. While whole food sources and comprehensive diets are the ideal, life often gets in the way. We may have a hectic day at work or be traveling away from home, and it can be difficult to nearly impossible to make sure we get the proper servings of vegetables and fruits in our diets, let alone stay on top of our supplementation regiments.

In taking a good greens powder, you will know that you are getting a proper amount of nutrients from vegetables and fruits in your diet in one easy drink. In addition to this, you’ll be getting many other beneficial plants and plant extracts, vitamins, minerals, probiotics and more.

The goal is to supply all nutrients and supplements you need to elevate your health, fuel your ideal lifestyle, and take the headache and worry out of an expansive diet and nutrition plan. All of this is done quickly in one scoop easily mixed in a glass of water and downed in the morning.

We created our own greens powder in Graveyard Greens because, although we loved many of the major powders on the market, we felt that there was something missing from each one. We wanted a product that was transparent in its formula, so you know how much of each ingredient you are actually getting and can decide for yourself if there is enough. We wanted a product that contained ingredients that provide real benefits, backed by studies showing they work. And we wanted to include the important components that are missing from most people’s diets but also missing from most greens powders. After all, the goal of this product was to be the one supplement to rule them all. One container that you can take anywhere you go and know that you’re providing your body to perform at its highest potential.

Below is a list of the 5 reasons we think you should try our greens powder supplement.

1. Daily Dose of Leafy Green Vegetables.

       It can be extremely difficult to get the proper amount of leafy green vegetables in your daily diet. I often struggle to keep on top of the large amount of shopping and prep that is required to meet these targets daily, and this is when I am in a comfortable routine at home. If you travel frequently like I do or have a busy lifestyle, this becomes next to impossible.

       With one scoop of Graveyard Greens per day you’ll be getting more than four servings of leafy greens from a variety of sources like spinach, kale, and collards. This ensures you stay well rounded and don’t just enjoy the benefits of one vegetable.

2. Antioxidants, Adaptogens and Plant Compounds.

       Unless you’re eating a true cornucopia of plants, seeds, roots, mushroom and fruits or taking 20 servings of different supplements a day, you are likely missing out on many of the amazing compounds and micronutrients produced by flora around the world.

       Antioxidants are molecules that help prevent or slow damage to cells caused by free radicals. These are unstable molecules both produced naturally in your body as a byproduct of metabolism and introduced from the outside by pollution, chemicals and radiation. They cause oxidative stress which damages cells and leads to health problems like increased aging, inflammation, and chronic disease.

       Antioxidants neutralize free radicals and help you fight these negative effects. Common antioxidants include vitamins like C and E and phytochemicals (found in fruits, vegetables and other plants). Fruits like blueberry and bilberry contain an antioxidant called anthocyanin, which has been shown to protect against DNA damage (1, 2) and improve memory (3). When combined with the antioxidant powerhouse spirulina, green tea and Vitamin D, all included in Graveyard Greens, these compounds can work synergistically and provide a benefit greater than expected. One study showed a 50% greater benefit than expected on the function and growth of mitochondria (cells that produce energy in the body) (4).

       Adaptogens are compounds that help the body adapt to stressors. Extracts from herbs like Ashwaganda (5, 6), Eleuthero (7) and Rhodiola Rosea (8) contain different forms of adaptogenic compounds that can help promote a sense of calm, smooth your body’s response to stress, and reduce fatigue under stressful conditions.

       In addition to these, plants contain a host of other bioactive (produce an effect in the body) compounds. We’ve included potent anti-inflammatories like the curcumin-piperine combo, the immune boosting and life extending sulforaphane, heart and liver supporters like grape seed, milk thistle extract and many more.

3. Eliminates the Needs for Other Supplements.

Cost of Graveyard Green vs Buying Individual Supplements

       We designed Graveyard Greens to eliminate the need for multiple supplements by packing in all the ingredients we think are needed for you to reach optimal health. Keeping track of a full supplement routine can be time consuming and costly. When you are occupied with work, family, leisure, or more important things, opening 5 different bottles and counting out the different number of capsules in each one gets annoying and tedious. It gets easy to skip one or all of them, thinking that you’ll just do it tomorrow. But when you are busy and on the move is when you need to stay on top or your nutrition the most.

       By condensing everything you need to cover your nutritional bases into one single serving a day we’ve made staying on top of it quick and easy. Sure, you might not have the time to take a cabinet full of supplements a day, but can you put one scoop of Graveyard Greens in a glass of water, mix it with a spoon and drink it on your way out the door? Of course.

4. Micronutrients, Vitamins, and Minerals.

Seeing as a good greens powder is supposed to eliminate the need for other supplements, it needs to contain all the components that a proper supplement routine would. We love many of the top greens powders on the market, but felt that each one was missing some crucial ingredients that stopped them just short of achieving that goal.

First, we made sure the plant and fruit side were covered. But there are still essential vitamins you don’t get in high enough doses from those sources, things like vitamin D (of which 41% of the population is deficient) (9), K2 and E.

       We then included crucial minerals like magnesium and boron. An estimated 50% of the US population does not get enough magnesium (10), and it is essential for energy production, muscle and nerve function, glucose metabolism, protein synthesis, cardiovascular function (and more). Boron is essential for healthy hormone production, bone health, absorption of magnesium, prevention of vitamin D deficiency and more (11).

       While some of our ingredients including adaptogens and nitric oxide boosters (like cocoa flavanols (12)) produce effects you will feel in a short time frame, the effects of proper levels of vitamins, mineral and beneficial compounds are felt more subtly and most important for long term health. We wanted to include something that provides you with energy and alertness immediately in the form of a caffeine and L-Theanine combo. A dose of 70mg of caffeine is just enough to get the brain power benefits and replace the need for a caffeinated drink in the morning. It’s also low enough that if a coffee or tea is part of your morning routine you want to keep, you won’t feel overstimulated. L-Theanine is an amino acid found naturally in tea leaves that helps smooth out the effects of caffeine, reducing the jitteriness and anxiety that some people feel. On its own, L-Theanine may help reduce stress and anxiety, increase relaxation (without causing drowsiness), increase cognitive function, and enhance sleep quality.

       We then included one of the most effective and well-researched supplements on the market, one that is missing from all greens powders we’ve seen, creatine. Creatine is an incredibly safe substance that is naturally produced in the body. It helps with the production of ATP, which is the fuel source of your body’s cells. It increases strength and power output during exercise, so you can get more out of your workouts (13, 14, 15). It may also have powerful effects on cognitive functions like memory and focus (16, 17), as it helps produce fuel for your brain’s neurons.

       Finally, we included some ingredients that will help your gut and digestion, specifically probiotics, inulin fiber, and enzymes. Probiotics are small amounts of healthy bacteria that are already present in your gut. Your gut microbiome gets damaged through stress, poor diet, alcohol, and other factors. Probiotics replenish this microbiome, which has a beneficial effect on nutrient absorption, mood, the immune system, mental clarity and brain health. Inulin fiber is prebiotic fiber which serves as a food for beneficial gut bacteria and supports digestion. As a bonus, it gives the powder a creamier consistency when mixed. Enzymes are a class of molecules that help or speed up various chemical reactions in living organisms. We included a few digestive enzymes which break down various macro and micronutrients, helping you digest and absorb the most nutrients out of our product and your food. Cellulase helps break down the cellulose found in plant walls, amylase helps digest carbohydrates, and lipase helps you digest fats.

5. Perfect for Everyday Use, Regardless of Where You Are.

One of the main reasons we created Graveyard Greens was to fuel our lifestyles. Traveling is a huge passion of ours, whether that be flying to other countries to surf, driving cross country to snowboard, or spending days in the backcountry hiking. We also lead busy day to day lives, balancing gym and exercise time with demanding work schedules and social events. To get the most out of every day, it is essential to stay well fed and maintain proper nutrition. This can be extremely difficult while in the car, in a different country, on a mountain, or just during a busy day.

With Graveyard Greens we wanted to have one small tub that we could easily fit in a carry-on bag or in the glove box and know that we’d have access to a proper nutritional foundation no matter where we went or what we were doing. This way we wouldn’t have to worry about eating all of our vegetables and fruits while also taking six different supplements and could put more of our focus on living how we want.

For these reasons and many more we think you should consider taking a daily greens supplement. We recommend doing your own research and digging into different products to see which one best fits your unique needs. Taking a comprehensive supplement to level up your health will not only make you feel better but spill over into other areas of your life. Having more energy, mental clarity and less inflammation, you’ll be able to put more into your family, work, exercise routine, and getting out into the world to have fun. With Graveyard Greens you’ll rise from your grave and get back to living your most fulfilling life, one scoop at a time.

Written by: Merrick Kovatch

April 2nd, 2024

References:

1: Del Bó C, Riso P, Campolo J, Møller P, Loft S, Klimis-Zacas D, Brambilla A, Rizzolo A, Porrini M. A single portion of blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L) improves protection against DNA damage but not vascular function in healthy male volunteers. Nutr Res. 2013 Mar;33(3):220-7. doi: 10.1016/j.nutres.2012.12.009. Epub 2013 Feb 1. PMID: 23507228.

2: Riso P, Klimis-Zacas D, Del Bo' C, Martini D, Campolo J, Vendrame S, Møller P, Loft S, De Maria R, Porrini M. Effect of a wild blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) drink intervention on markers of oxidative stress, inflammation and endothelial function in humans with cardiovascular risk factors. Eur J Nutr. 2013 Apr;52(3):949-61. doi: 10.1007/s00394-012-0402-9. Epub 2012 Jun 26. PMID: 22733001.

3: Krikorian R, Shidler MD, Nash TA, Kalt W, Vinqvist-Tymchuk MR, Shukitt-Hale B, Joseph JA. Blueberry supplementation improves memory in older adults. J Agric Food Chem. 2010 Apr 14;58(7):3996-4000. doi: 10.1021/jf9029332. PMID: 20047325; PMCID: PMC2850944.

4: Bachstetter AD, Jernberg J, Schlunk A, Vila JL, Hudson C, Cole MJ, Shytle RD, Tan J, Sanberg PR, Sanberg CD, Borlongan C, Kaneko Y, Tajiri N, Gemma C, Bickford PC. Spirulina promotes stem cell genesis and protects against LPS induced declines in neural stem cell proliferation. PLoS One. 2010 May 5;5(5):e10496. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0010496. PMID: 20463965; PMCID: PMC2864748.

5: Salve J, Pate S, Debnath K, Langade D. Adaptogenic and Anxiolytic Effects of Ashwagandha Root Extract in Healthy Adults: A Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo- controlled Clinical Study. Cureus. 2019 Dec 25;11(12):e6466. doi: 10.7759/cureus.6466. PMID: 32021735; PMCID: PMC6979308.

6: Chandrasekhar K, Kapoor J, Anishetty S. 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. doi: 10.4103/0253-7176.106022. PMID: 23439798; PMCID: PMC3573577.

7: Kuo J, Chen KW, Cheng IS, Tsai PH, Lu YJ, Lee NY. The effect of eight weeks of supplementation with Eleutherococcus senticosus on endurance capacity and metabolism in human. Chin J Physiol. 2010 Apr 30;53(2):105-11. doi: 10.4077/cjp.2010.amk018. PMID: 21793317.

8: Ivanova Stojcheva E, Quintela JC. The Effectiveness of Rhodiola rosea L. Preparations in Alleviating Various Aspects of Life-Stress Symptoms and Stress-Induced Conditions-Encouraging Clinical Evidence. Molecules. 2022 Jun 17;27(12):3902. doi: 10.3390/molecules27123902. PMID: 35745023; PMCID: PMC9228580.

9: Cui A, Xiao P, Ma Y, Fan Z, Zhou F, Zheng J, Zhang L. Prevalence, trend, and predictor analyses of vitamin D deficiency in the US population, 2001-2018. Front Nutr. 2022 Oct 3;9:965376. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.965376. PMID: 36263304; PMCID: PMC9573946.

10: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2022, June 2). Office of dietary supplements - magnesium. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-HealthProfessional/#h8

11: Pizzorno L. Nothing Boring About Boron. Integr Med (Encinitas). 2015 Aug;14(4):35-48. PMID: 26770156; PMCID: PMC4712861.

12: Petrone, A.B., Gaziano, J.M. & Djoussé, L. Effects of Dark Chocolate and Cocoa Products on Endothelial Function: A Meta-Analysis. Curr Nutr Rep 2, 267–273 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13668-013-0058-y

13: Rawson ES, Volek JS. Effects of creatine supplementation and resistance training on muscle strength and weightlifting performance. J Strength Cond Res. 2003 Nov;17(4):822-31. doi: 10.1519/1533-4287(2003)017<0822:eocsar>2.0.co;2. PMID: 14636102.

14: Candow DG, Chilibeck PD, Burke DG, Mueller KD, Lewis JD. Effect of different frequencies of creatine supplementation on muscle size and strength in young adults. J Strength Cond Res. 2011 Jul;25(7):1831-8. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181e7419a. PMID: 21512399.

15: Burke DG, Chilibeck PD, Parise G, Candow DG, Mahoney D, Tarnopolsky M. Effect of creatine and weight training on muscle creatine and performance in vegetarians. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2003 Nov;35(11):1946-55. doi: 10.1249/01.MSS.0000093614.17517.79. PMID: 14600563.

16: Prokopidis K, Giannos P, Triantafyllidis KK, Kechagias KS, Forbes SC, Candow DG. Effects of creatine supplementation on memory in healthy individuals: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Nutr Rev. 2023 Mar 10;81(4):416-427. doi: 10.1093/nutrit/nuac064. PMID: 35984306; PMCID: PMC9999677.

17: Forbes SC, Cordingley DM, Cornish SM, Gualano B, Roschel H, Ostojic SM, Rawson ES, Roy BD, Prokopidis K, Giannos P, Candow DG. Effects of Creatine Supplementation on Brain Function and Health. Nutrients. 2022 Feb 22;14(5):921. doi: 10.3390/nu14050921. PMID: 35267907; PMCID: PMC8912287.