If you’re looking for a comprehensive Primal Harvest Primal Greens review, you’re in the right place.
As a Registered Dietitian, I am constantly bombarded with new products claiming to be the “next best thing” for our health. The latest product that caught my attention is Primal Harvest Primal Greens – a popular greens powder that claims to provide all the essential nutrients and antioxidants our body needs.
Let’s explore the research and claims about this product so you can decide if they’re a good fit for your goals and budget.
What’s inside Primal Greens?
A glance at the ingredient list from their official website reveals a blend of a whole lot of so-called superfoods (BTW – superfoods is just a marketing term with no legal definition).
“Superfood, Antioxidant and Mushroom Blend”: This includes alfalfa leaf, carrot, wheat grass, spinach, spirulina, banana, coconut juice, broccoli, tomato, beet, cucumber, brussels sprout, cabbage, celery, kale, asparagus, green bell pepper, cauliflower, parsley, pomegranate, blueberry, blackberry, raspberry, cranberry, pineapple, concord grape, cherry, apricot, orange, strawberry, chlorella (cracked cell wall), camu camu fruit, reishi mushroom, and maitake mushroom.
“Nutrient Dense Natural Herbs and Extracts”: Acacia gum, acerola cherry extract, turmeric root, green tea leaf, cinnamon bark, eleuthero root, ginger root, enzyme treated stevia extract, mangosteen extract, ashwagandha root, korean ginseng root, and chlorophyllin.
“Digestive Complex”: Apple fiber, inulin (chicory root extract), fungal amylase, fungal protease, glucoamylase, lipase, and cellulase.
“Probiotic Blend”: bifidobacterium longum, lactobacillus acidophilus, and lactobacillus rhamnosus.
Vitamins and minerals: A serving will cover your vitamin C, vitamin B12, and zinc needs for the day.
Flavor: Primal Greens is sweetened with Stevia.
One of the biggest things that sets this greens powder apart from other products is its prebiotic and probiotic additions. One serving of Primal Greens includes digestive enzymes and a 3.5 billion CFU serving of a probiotic blend.
Primal Greens Claims
Probiotics for digestion and gut health
The primal greens formula contains a 3.5 billion CFU serving of probiotics, digestive enzymes, and prebiotics. For some people, this may support gut health and digestion.
Keep in mind though, that some people may actually have worsened digestion from these ingredients, everyone is different! (PS- most people do not need digestive enzymes, and if you do, you need to be working with a GI doctor).
Supports immune system
Another health benefit claim of their powder is that it supports the immune system through “essential vitamins and nutrients” in their super greens formula.
The reminder you need: you can also get essential vitamins and nutrients through the food you eat. And, if you’re in need of a particular nutrient, you could just use a singular supplement, which would be a lot cheaper.
Promotes energy and performance
They also claim that their powder promotes energy and performance through “wellness-supporting vitamins and minerals” and the mushroom blend of reishe and maitake.
Reishi mushroom has been shown to have potential benefits like boosting immune system and reducing fatigue, but it’s also been shown that it may cause minor side effects and has also been linked with liver problems in some people.
When it comes to product claims on most green powders, there’s one important note to keep in mind. Most claims are around the benefits of specific ingredients that exist in their formula, but, because there are so many ingredients in their formula, the amount you’re actually getting may not be effective.
And because most formulas are a “proprietary blend” aka a secret formula where we don’t know ingredient quantities, there’s no way to know.
The Pros and Cons of Primal Greens
As with any product, there are pros and cons, and this greens powder is no exception.
Pros of Primal Greens
- Packed with diverse nutritious ingredients: Primal Greens powder contains a wide variety of nutrient-rich superfoods, providing an array of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber to support overall health.
- Includes probiotics: gut health is the basis of all health; the inclusion of digestive enzymes and probiotics adds to the possible benefits of this drink for gut health.
- Convenient option: this powder is simple to prepare and drink and won’t be spoiling anytime soon.
- Less packaging: the plastic sleeve that this powder is packed in uses less plastic than a tub.
Cons of Primal Greens
- Proprietary blend: while all of the many ingredients in Primal Greens may offer a benefit, we don’t know if the amount of each ingredient is enough to actually make an impact. While keeping the recipe a secret protects their product from getting duplicated, as a healthcare professional, it leaves me without the important details to evaluate if these are worth the hype.
- Cost: greens powders are an expensive supplement to keep up with!
- Not a replacement for eating fruits and veggies: while most of us are not getting enough fruits and veggies on a regular basis, please don’t think of these kinds of powders as a substitute for them. Greens powders can be a tool in your nutritional toolbox, but they don’t have the same benefits as eating fresh, frozen, and canned fruits and veggies.
Third Party Testing
Third-party testing is essential for supplements because it ensures that what they’re claiming is in the supplement is actually in the supplement. Fun fact: the Food and Drug Administration does not regulate supplements like greens powders.
I messaged them to ask if their product is 3rd-party verified for quality and this “We use a variety of third-party accredited labs to test our products. All raw ingredients and finished products are tested for heavy metals and ingredient efficacy.”
For some reason, that information is not readily available on their website or packaging.
Primal Greens vs Athletic Greens: The Key Differences
While Primal Greens and Athletic Greens might appear similar at first glance, some key differences distinguish these two products.
Ingredients: Both are packed with diverse superfoods, but the specific formulations and ingredient proportions vary.
- Athletic Greens contains 75 ingredients, including vitamins, minerals, probiotics, prebiotics, and a whole lot of tiny servings of greens, fruits, and veggies. Athletic Greens contains more vitamins and minerals per serving than Primal Greens.
- Primal Greens focuses on a blend of about 50 superfoods, and the formula also includes digestive enzymes, a probiotic blend, and a mushroom complex similar to Athletic Greens.
- Both contain probiotics, but Athletic Greens contains a higher amount. Both contain digestive enzymes, but Primal Greens contains more of them.
Taste: In terms of taste, Athletic Greens has a smooth, tropical flavor that many users find pleasing. Primal Greens, as per user reviews, leans towards a more “earthy” flavor, which may not suit everyone’s palate.
Cost: Another important factor to consider is the cost. Athletic Greens comes with a heftier price tag compared to Primal Greens. However, given the number of ingredients and the all-in-one approach of Athletic Greens, some may find the cost justified.
Third Party Testing: Athletic Greens is third-party tested, which in my opinion, is a huge necessity when you take any supplement. According to Primal Harvest, they use “a variety of third-party accredited labs to test our products.” Again, that information is not available on their website, but is the response I received from customer service.
Ultimately, the choice between Primal Greens and Athletic Greens boils down to your specific nutritional needs, taste preferences, and budget.
To read my full review of Athletic Greens, click here: AG1 Athletic Greens Review from a Dietitian.
Cost of Primal Greens
An important factor to consider in this Primal Greens review is the cost. A single tub of Primal Greens (containing 30 servings) can be purchased from the official Primal Harvest website for $39.95. This breaks down to approximately $1.33 per serving.
If you subscribe to purchase the greens on a recurring basis or buy several packages at once, they offer a discount.
When factoring in the convenience and comprehensiveness of the nutrient profile it provides, it may be worthwhile for some people. As always, it’s important to consider this cost within the context of your overall food budget and nutritional goals.
Do You Need Greens Powders?
The short answer is no. Greens powders, like Primal Greens, are not a necessity for a healthy diet. A balanced diet that includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats generally provides all the essential nutrients our body requires.
I have a full article on whether or not greens powders are worth it here: Are Greens Powders A Waste Of Money? A Dietitian Review
This doesn’t mean that such supplements like greens powders don’t have their place. If they fit into your budget and you enjoy drinking them, they can be a part of your wellness routine. They’re just not required!
Are Greens Powders a Good Option?
Maybe! Like many things in nutrition, it depends.
Greens powders can be a useful addition to your diet, especially if you struggle to consume enough fruits and vegetables. They are a quick and convenient way to boost your nutrient intake, particularly for people with busy lifestyles, dietary restrictions, or specific health conditions.
You can think of them as an insurance policy to fill in the nutritional gaps in your diet.
But, it’s important to remember that they are supplements – not substitutes – for a healthy diet. They should be used in conjunction with a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle, rather than replacing whole foods.
As always, it’s advisable to consult with a healthcare professional before adding any new supplement to your regimen
In the end, the decision to incorporate a greens powder like Primal Greens into your diet will depend on your individual nutritional needs, lifestyle, and budget. The key is to choose a product that aligns with your health goals and budget, and Primal Greens could be one such option.
More product reviews
I would love to help you keep your hard-earned money and not waste any of it on scams. Sometimes supplements are a nutrition boost and sometimes they’re a waste. Here are a few other products that I’ve reviewed:
- Do Keto ACV Gummies Work? A Dietitian Explains.
- Is Celsius Bad for You? The Truth from a Dietitian
- LMNT vs Liquid IV: Which Electrolyte Drink is Best?
- An Honest Kiala Greens Review (2024): Is it Worth the Hype?
- Are Greens Powders A Waste Of Money? A Dietitian Review
That’s a wrap
Primal Greens is not a miracle food product that will entirely cure your health woes. The truth is that it’s more complex than that.
Even though the product has some good qualities, like potentially closing the daily nutritional gap, it’s also relatively expensive and probably not something that everyone needs. PS- if you’re considering any greens powder, always run the ingredients by your doctor first.
Whatever lifestyle changes you decide to make, consider your “why” behind them; if greens fit into your budget, you enjoy them and you’re considering them to be a tool in your tool belt – great!
But if you’d prefer to focus on eating real fruits and veggies and prioritizing your spending elsewhere; that’s also great! There are a lot of right ways to nourish your wellness.
Consider trying to get your nutrition from a wide variety of whole foods with a balance of healthy fats and proteins for long-term health. If you’re looking for sustainable habits that feel good and taste great, consider grabbing my e-book, The Balanced Basics Handbook, which will provide you with practical tips for maintaining wellness without relying on “magical” tonics like Primal Greens.
