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Homemade Super Greens Powder Recipe: Ingredients & Benefits

Reading Time: 7 minutes
QUICK SUMMARY

This Homemade Super Greens Powder Recipe combines 17 ingredients, including spirulina, chlorella, hemp protein, chia seeds, cacao, and botanicals, into a make-ahead blend for smoothies and other foods.

The ingredients provide a variety of plant nutrients and bioactive compounds, although research on individual ingredients does not prove that this finished blend prevents disease or treats health conditions. Because it contains bee pollen, caffeinated guarana, iodine-rich kelp, and concentrated herbs, the blend is not appropriate for everyone.

Inspired by my longtime mentor Enoch DeBus, this bulk recipe is one of my favorite ways to prepare a convenient, nutrient-rich smoothie addition while potentially saving money compared with buying commercial greens powders.

This amazing immune-boosting powdered super green mix is an adaptation from a recipe my mentor Enoch DeBus put together while he was deep in the throes of Beating Cancer God’s Way! It’s full of bioactive ingredients that take any smoothie to another level.

While this recipe isn’t for everyone, I consider it one of my best money-saving hacks. It costs considerably less than purchasing a commercial greens powder. Whether you invest in your health or decide to split the cost with a few friends, it’s sure to give you the boost you need!

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Using Super Green Mix for Health Benefits

Here are some of our favorite ways to utilize this superfood.

  • Mix 2-3 tablespoons in one of my breakfast smoothies
  • Add it to a refreshing smoothie bowl
  • Stir a tablespoon into dairy-free yogurt
  • Add a tablespoon to healthy pancakes
  • Stir a tablespoon into your morning oatmeal
  • Make your favorite smoothie, as usual, but add a tablespoon of super greens powder and freeze into healthy popsicles
  • Stir a tablespoon into your matcha tea or add it to your matcha latte

There’s no end to the creative ways you can use this super greens powder! It’s easy to incorporate into everyday meals. Because this particular blend includes caffeine-containing guarana and several concentrated botanicals, however, it isn’t a one-size-fits-all mix for the whole family.

Immune Boosting Ingredients

Ingredients for DIY Super Green Mix Powder: A Nutritional Immune Powerhouse

Purchase organic ingredients when you can find them! We prefer to purchase our ingredients in bulk from Nuts.com or Amazon. From experience, I’ve found that you can’t buy most of these ingredients in quantities of less than a pound without paying significantly more per ounce for smaller amounts.

There’s no doubt that this recipe contains a few ingredients you aren’t familiar with. Here’s why I selected each component and what the research does (and doesn’t) tell us. Remember that evidence for an individual ingredient doesn’t establish that this exact combination produces the same result.

Organic Bee Pollen: Bees are good for more than just honey! Bee pollen has an interesting nutritional profile. It contains over 200 components, including antioxidants and fatty acids (1).

Laboratory research has explored compounds in bee pollen and their effects on cells (2), but that does not demonstrate cancer prevention in people. Its composition also varies with the plants bees visit. Bee pollen can trigger serious allergic reactions in susceptible people, particularly those with pollen allergies.

Organic Raw Cacao Powder: Cacao is filled with antioxidants. Cacao contains antioxidant polyphenols that researchers study for their effects on oxidative stress (4). Chronic inflammation is involved in many health conditions, but adding cacao alone has not been shown to prevent those diseases (5). You’ll love the delicious chocolate flavor this ingredient gives your smoothies!

Organic Chia Seeds: Chia seeds are unique because they start small but expand when wet. Their fiber can contribute to fullness, although eating chia does not guarantee weight loss (6). This has made them a popular pudding ingredient, but they are also lovely in shakes.

Organic Chlorella Powder: This gorgeous powder is made from algae. It’s an ingredient I enjoy including in this mix. Chlorella powder has been studied for interactions with certain heavy metals, largely in experimental research (7). That is not proof that a smoothie removes lead or other metals from the human body. Chlorella also contains pigments and compounds with antioxidant activity (8).

Organic Ginkgo Leaf Powder: This ingredient comes from the ginkgo Biloba plant. Ginkgo has a long history of traditional use, and researchers have studied standardized ginkgo extracts for cognitive and other outcomes (9)(10). Those extract studies do not necessarily apply to ordinary leaf powder. Ginkgo can interact with medicines, including blood thinners.

Organic Gotu Kola Powder: This ingredient is an everyday staple in Ayurvedic medicine. It has a long history of traditional use, and preliminary research has examined its plant compounds and potential effects on inflammation (11). That is different from showing that this powder detoxifies the liver or treats joint pain.

In traditional wellness practices, this herb is associated with healthy aging, although clinical evidence remains limited.

Organic Guarana Powder: Guarana is included for its natural caffeine, which can increase alertness.

Guarana powder contains caffeine, but the amount in your finished serving depends on the powder and batch proportions. Being plant-derived does not make its caffeine free of jitters, sleep disruption, or other stimulant effects (12).

Organic Hemp Protein Powder: To keep this recipe dairy-free, we forgo whey protein powder in favor of a plant-based variety. You’ll love how creamy hemp protein powder is!

Hemp protein contains all nine essential amino acids, although the amount of each depends on the product and serving size (13). Plus, it tastes incredible.

Organic Kelp Powder: This sea vegetable is a source of iodine, which your body needs for normal thyroid function. Some seaweed compounds have been studied for effects on fat digestion, but that does not establish that kelp powder causes weight loss in people (14). Iodine levels can vary widely, and too much iodine may be a concern, particularly for people with thyroid conditions.

Organic Red Maca Powder: Maca is part of the cruciferous family. It contains plant compounds of interest to researchers. Small human studies have explored whether maca powder may support sexual well-being, but findings are limited and it is not an established cancer treatment (15).

Organic Noni Powder: Natives consider this Polynesian fruit a superfood. They juice noni fruit to create a drink rumored to cure whatever ails them. While that claim may be a stretch, laboratory and preliminary studies have explored noni compounds for antimicrobial and other biological activities (16). These findings do not establish that noni powder treats infections or boosts immunity in people.

Organic Pumpkin Seed Powder contributes nutrients and plant compounds to this blend. Some experimental studies have investigated pumpkin seed extracts and cancer-related cell pathways (17)(18), but that does not show that eating pumpkin seed powder prevents cancer or slows an existing tumor.

I like pumpkinseed powder as a practical addition to a nutrient-diverse mix.

Organic Spirulina Powder: Supporting gut health matters for overall well-being, and diet is one part of that picture. Spirulina powder has been investigated for effects on intestinal bacteria, with much of the evidence coming from preclinical studies (19).

Organic Stevia Powder: My Super Greens Powder contains so many elements that it has to have a hint of sweetness. To keep this recipe sugar-free, we use stevia powder. This potent sweetener is low-glycemic, and it tastes fantastic. A little goes a long way! 4 ounces sweeten the entire batch.

Organic VitaCherry Powder: This brilliant powder is made from tart cherries. Even if you’re not athletic, you can benefit from this ingredient! VitaCherry powder is popular among athletes because some human studies of tart cherry preparations suggest possible benefits for post-exercise recovery; results vary, and findings may not apply to every powder (20).

Organic Ceylon Cinnamon: Oxidative stress is one reason researchers study antioxidant-rich spices. Cinnamon contains antioxidant plant compounds (21). Bonus: It makes this recipe taste amazing!

Make Super Green Mix Powder

This recipe contains many ingredients, but it is easy to put together. The original recipe is designed to provide 365 servings, so even when life gets wild, you have a convenient smoothie addition ready to go. It is not a complete meal on its own.

Before you make a batch: This is a concentrated blend, not a greens powder I would automatically recommend to everyone. Bee pollen can cause allergic reactions; guarana contributes caffeine; kelp can provide substantial iodine; and herbs such as ginkgo and gotu kola may not be appropriate with certain medications or during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Check the ingredient labels, caffeine and iodine amounts, and any relevant interactions before using the blend regularly. Choose reputable products with appropriate contaminant testing, especially for algae and seaweed powders. The caffeine and iodine amounts per serving cannot be verified from the recipe text alone.

Super Greens Powder

Mama Z's Cancer-Fighting Super Greens Powder

Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Author Mama Z

Servings

Supplies

Instructions
 

  • Place the bee pollen, cacao, chia seeds, chlorella, ginkgo leaf, Gotu kola, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, guarana, hemp protein, kelp, noni, pumpkinseed, red maca, spirulina, stevia, and VitaCherry in a large cooler or tote. Stir with a whisk or slotted spoon until the ingredients are combined.
  • Divide the mixture into fifteen 1-pound packages and store in food-grade plastic or glass containers away from sunlight and heat. Use 2 tablespoons in my breakfast smoothies or other 15-ounce shakes.

Step One: Combine Super Greens Ingredients

DIY Super Green Mix Powder: A Nutritional Immune Powerhouse

Place the bee pollen, cacao, chia seeds, chlorella, ginkgo leaf, Gotu kola, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, guarana, hemp protein, kelp, noni, pumpkinseed, red maca, spirulina, stevia, and VitaCherry in a large cooler or tote. Stir with a whisk or slotted spoon until the ingredients are combined.

Step Two: Divide Super Greens Powder

DIY Super Green Mix Powder: A Nutritional Immune Powerhouse

Divide the mixture into fifteen 1-pound packages and store in food-grade plastic or glass containers away from sunlight and heat. Use 2 tablespoons in my breakfast smoothies or other 15-ounce shakes.

References:

  1. sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0924224417301681
  2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17639562/
  3. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/jf000635h
  4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4696435/
  5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5805548/
  6. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26904622/
  7. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12781705/
  8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3131561/
  9. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14602503/
  10. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24389028/
  11. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25484009/
  12. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0963996917306397
  13. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10681-004-4811-6
  14. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4018670/
  15. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12472620/
  16. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12466051/
  17. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22293856/
  18. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22591208/
  19. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5490612/
  20. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20459662/
  21. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10641152/
  22. NCCIH: Seasonal Allergies at a Glance (bee pollen allergies)
  23. NCCIH: Energy Drinks (guarana and caffeine)
  24. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: Iodine
  25. American Thyroid Association: Risks of Excess Iodine

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