Milk Thistle extract - Used to treat a host of diseases and health problems, milk thistle extract has verified health benefits. It is often used to help repair and support the liver, particularly in people with alcoholic liver disease. Milk thistle is also linked to brain function and has been considered as a treatment for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, milk thistle is likely to be a neuroprotective and will generally prevent age-related brain function decline. The 200mg amount included in Beyond Greens is significant enough to experience its benefits and does support Beyond Greens’ claim to support liver health.
Rhodiola Rosea (root) - This herb has roots that are considered to be adaptogens, which means they help the body to adapt to and cope with stress. It has been used to treat a range of problems, from anxiety to depression. Studies into its effect on stress have demonstrated significant improvement in participants. In one study, stress-related symptoms, including depression, noticeably decreased after 12 weeks of supplementation. However, the participants took a daily dose of 400mg, which is far, far higher than the 50mg dose included in Beyond Greens. Clearly, the dose in Beyond Greens is too low to be effective.
Echinacea - Commonly thought out as an immune-boosting herbal extract, echinacea is also linked to pain relief and has antiviral and antioxidant properties. Typically, people use echinacea to treat the symptoms of the common cold and reduce its duration (although this particular benefit is not proven). While the benefits of echinacea are clear, recent evidence suggests the quality of the echinacea affects the results. It depends on the environment where the echinacea was grown, including the quality of the soil [1]. We have no way of assessing this in the Beyond Greens formula.
Matcha (200mg) - A powerful supplement, matcha carries many health benefits. The most proven benefits of matcha are its antioxidant capabilities. Studies also indicate that it can improve liver health. That said, these studies are still small in number and more research is needed to confirm their findings. Be aware that matcha does contain caffeine—roughly half the amount of your average cup of coffee—so if you’re off stimulants this isn’t a good choice for you.
Chlorella - Another known antioxidant, chlorella contains omega-3, carotenoids, and vitamin A and vitamin C. It’s an all-around healthy ingredient and its inclusion in Beyond Greens makes sense. Chlorella was initially considered a potential source of protein for feeding the world after the Second World War as it contains roughly 50% protein. However, it cannot be considered a source of protein when taken in the amounts it is included in Beyond Greens, which is just 500mg per serving.
Lactospore Probiotic - Probiotic blends such as Lactospore are common in greens powders. Probiotics are great for improving gut health, and Lactospore seems reasonable and is likely to be effective. However, it is included at a very low dose in Beyond Greens. There are many greens powders with much higher doses for probiotics if improving gut health is one of your aims.
FOS, XOS, and Acacia gum - These are prebiotics. Prebiotics basically feed your gut bacteria and help useful microbes to grow. Some experts have referred to prebiotics as fertiliser for the gut because they help beneficial bacteria to flourish. Not a bad ingredient to include in a greens powder, but not uncommon either.
Ceylon Cinnamon (314mg) - A decent source of antioxidants, cinnamon is often touted as a superfood of sorts. The main claim is that it can help to control blood sugar levels. However, studies into its effects are few and generally inconclusive. There are many different types of cinnamon and it is currently unclear which types might offer blood sugar benefits, if any. Studies we have seen actually suggest it is cassia cinnamon (the common variety), rather than ceylon cinnamon that carries the benefits, but again, the evidence is inconclusive.