Greens Powder in World Cuisine: A Cultural Comparison
You may have heard about the benefits of greens powder, but it is far more than just a fitness trend in the States. It may seem like Americans are always looking for different health benefits to help them maintain a healthy diet, especially in the form of greens powders, but other countries have been harnessing the power of super greens for centuries.
While many greens powders are organic, many use artificial sweeteners. Some may use vegetable juices in their dietary supplements, but not all greens powders have an amazing grass greens blend with ingredients such as barley grass or wheatgrass.
In the States, superfoods tend to be taken as supplements, but in other parts of the world, they are a dietary staple. Countries like India, Italy, and South Korea are known for incorporating lots of hearty greens into their dishes. These greens aid in healthy digestion, with no added sugars. Fresh produce is used in cuisines, and there is no artificial flavoring.
Learning how other cultures view super greens may inspire you to use them even more in your daily cooking!
What Is in Greens Powder?
Super greens powders contain plenty of leafy greens and grasses, herbs, and vegetables. The stars of the show are greens like spinach, kale, and spirulina. In powdered form, they contain higher concentrations of their vitamins and nutrients. Incorporating one scoop in a smoothie or bowl of yogurt can give you a day’s worth of nutritional value.
A good greens powder is designed to boost your vitamin and nutrient intake with great taste and no hassle. The best greens powders can help support the immune system by helping gut health. Most powders are available in a fruit and vegetable blend to help with taste, rather than using artificial sweeteners. Many greens powders have digestive enzymes and offer fat-soluble vitamins.
While greens powders have gained popularity in recent years, countries such as China and India have been using herbs and vegetables in traditional medicine for thousands of years.
For example, spinach is recommended by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to support overall health in the liver and spleen. The liver aids the body’s natural detoxification process. So, eating more leafy greens can help improve your overall physical and psychological wellness.
The best greens powders can be a benefit for those who have a busy lifestyle. Some greens powders are available in a variety of flavors, such as vanilla bean powder, peppermint leaf, or matcha green tea, to help those who need dietary supplements with the bitter taste of greens. Some people add the greens powders into smoothies to take on the go, along with some almond milk and/or half a frozen banana and other fruits.
Greens Powder Benefits
In countries where they are part of the staple diet, greens are prized for their flavor and accessibility. They are easy-to-grow whole foods, and they provide a large dose of essential vitamins and nutrients without requiring extensive preparation.
Here are just some of the potential health benefits of super greens powder:
- Immune support
- Sustained cognitive function
- Gut health support and nutrient absorption
- Regulated energy levels
- Skin health support
How Greens Are Used Around the World
The actual preparation and inclusion of greens varies from culture to culture. In the U.S. and UK, we tend to see greens reserved for salads and sides. In other countries, they often serve as primary ingredients in everyday dishes.
Let’s take a look at how super greens are enjoyed around the world.
Mediterranean Cuisine
Countries that border the Mediterranean Sea are home to the world-renowned diet of the same name. Relying heavily on healthy oils, seafood, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, the Mediterranean Diet is praised for its simplicity and health benefits.
In Greece, greens are prominent in dishes like Horta, where they are boiled and topped with feta cheese. Spanakopita is a hearty Greek spinach pie made with phyllo dough. Other popular greens in Greece include arugula, chard, cabbages, and collard greens.
Over in Italy, cabbage and Swiss chard are commonly eaten in a cooked greens salad called “verdure verde.” In Italy, fresh vegetables are a staple, and most families eat at least two servings of greens every day.
Meanwhile, in Egypt and Lebanon, you’ll find people enjoying their greens in sauces, soups, and stews. Egyptian molokhia is a soup made with green jute mallow leaves, fresh coriander, and fresh garlic.
Vegetables are a staple of Lebanese cuisine. Hindbeh is made with cooked dandelions, olive oil, lemon juice, and sometimes onions.
Asian Cuisine
Asian countries are very different from each other, but they all tend to eat local greens. In countries like China, Japan, and South Korea, seaweed is an extremely common ingredient you’ll find cooked into stews, soups, and other dishes. It can even be enjoyed dried and lightly seasoned with salt. Bok choy and other types of cabbages are also prevalent.
In India, spiced greens are made into soups, curries, and stews. Sarson ka Saag, for example, is a dish of stewed greens like spinach, mustard leaves, and fenugreek leaves seasoned with ghee, turmeric, cumin, and chili pepper.
African Cuisine
In Africa, root vegetables are more common than greens in the Western world. Their leaves are turned into soups and seasoned with local spices.
The Akan tribe in Ghana prepares a soup called abunuabunu, which literally translates to “green green.” This soup (also spelled ebunu ebunu) includes cocoyam leaves, onions, ground peanut paste, and smoked fish. You’ll typically see it served with fufu, a starchy, doughy side dish made from cassava.
Ayurvedic Diet
The Ayurvedic diet is part of Ayurveda, an Indian health system based on the idea that illnesses are caused by imbalances in the body.
Dark leafy greens, such as alfalfa grass, collard greens, and other organic greens are a staple of the Ayurvedic diet; they are enjoyed naturally without artificial flavors or excessive seasoning. People who practice Ayurveda believe that eating greens helps with gut health and ridding the body of toxins.
These green vegetables should be at least 40% of a meal and cooked until they are soft and tender so they are easy to digest.
Final Thoughts
While not everyone in the world cooks with greens or greens powders, many cultures do see the health benefits of greens and incorporate them into their regular diets.
Enjoying a greens powder in your own life may help boost digestive enzymes, aid gut health, and support your immunity and energy levels as well. Some greens powder blends are gluten-free and organic and work as a dietary supplement for those who are looking to up their daily vegetable intake without added sugars. Greens powders may also be dairy-free, and most are a greens blend that uses whole foods with digestive enzymes, such as barley grass.
As far as greens powders versus actual fruits and vegetables, greens powders expire much slower than raw fruits and vegetables. This can also be a deciding factor on whether you choose greens powders or raw, nutrient dense foods.
When searching for the ideal addition to your daily nutrition, it's paramount to identify the best super greens powder on the market. Amidst a plethora of options, the best super greens powder stands out not only because of its quality ingredients, such as kale, spinach, kelp, and wheatgrass, but also due to its seamless blend of taste and efficacy.
While fresh greens have always been a cornerstone of healthy diets worldwide, a superior super greens powder ensures that you receive a concentrated dose of nutrients, even during the most hectic days. So, next time you're contemplating a nutrient boost, remember to reach for the crème de la crème of green powders to truly elevate your health game.
As the world becomes more health-conscious, green powders like Live it Up Super Greens and Athletic Greens are finding their way into global routines. Not only are they nutritious, but they also offer a unique flavor profile. For those curious about its nutritional benefits, this AG1 review provides a dietitian's perspective.