Alright, listen up, folks, we need to talk about the best fruit and vegetable supplements. Now, I know some of you are all about those apples, chomping away like you’re in a cheesy rom-com. And then there are those of you who swear by potatoes like they’re the kings of the vegetable world.
But here’s the thing: neither of these tasty treats can give you all the necessary nutrients. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, we need to chow down on 1 to 2 cups of fruits and 2 to 3 cups of veggies every day. And guess what? 9 out of 10 adults in the US aren’t getting enough. And don’t even get us started on those kids, with only 4 in 10 getting enough fruit and a measly 1 in 10 getting their veggie fix.
Some of you might be thinking, “no worries, I’ll just pop a supplement.” But hold on there, partner, those pills can’t replace the real thing. But if you’re still looking for a boost, here are the top 5 best fruit and veggie supplements to give you a kick in the right direction.
The Rundown
- Best Overall: Brightcore BrightGreens + Antioxidant Reds
- Best for Kids and Adults: Orgain Organic Green Superfoods Powder
- Best for a No-sugar Diet: Your Super Magic Mushroom Mix
- Best Budget: Carlyle Fruits and Veggies Supplement
- Best for Kids: NaturesPlus Animal Parade KidGreenz
Table of Contents
Major Nutrients in the Best Fruit and Vegetable Supplements
Carbohydrates
According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, you should consume between 225 and 325 g of carbs per day to maintain healthy digestion, regulate bowel movements, and, most importantly, have sustained energy.
Dietary Fiber
Fiber helps you feel full, fight off constipation and heart disease, and even reduce your risk of certain cancers. Your body doesn’t digest fiber very well on its own—it can’t break it down into smaller pieces that your body can absorb.
Instead, fiber helps you digest food by moving it through your digestive tract quicker. Mayo Clinic has it in the books that adult women should consume 21 to 25 g of fiber daily, while men need around 30 to 38 g.
Sugars
Did you know that sugars are the ultimate fuel for our cells? There are two types of sugars: natural sugars and added sugars. You can find natural sugars in fruits and milk, but added sugars can be any kind of natural sugar (like white sugar and honey) or artificial sweeteners (like high-fructose corn syrup) that you add to your food or drink.
The thing is, added sugars don’t give you any nutrients but they do add extra calories, like weight gain and poor nutrition. So, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on how much added sugar you’re eating. Some fruit and veggie supplements don’t have added sugars, but still check the labels just to be sure.
Vitamin C
Only a few dietary supplements offer vitamin C, which is sad, if you think about it. One of the primary benefits of vitamin C is its ability to strengthen our immune system, helping to ward off colds, flus, and other infections.
It also acts as an antioxidant, neutralizing harmful free radicals that can damage our cells and contribute to the development of chronic diseases.
In addition, vitamin C also plays a crucial role in collagen synthesis, which is essential for healthy skin, hair, and nails. Therefore, taking the recommended daily dose of this vitamin can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, leaving your skin looking youthful and radiant.
Protein
According to Healthline, the volume of protein you should eat each day shouldn’t be more than 8% of your body weight. For example, if you weigh 6000 g, you need around 48 g of protein daily.
Meanwhile, the National Library of Medicine recommends that you consume 0.4 g protein per 1000 g of your body weight after exhaustive exercises to maximize how well your muscles utilize the proteins for growth.
Back in 2004, a clinical trial on 148 male and female adults proved that an increase in protein intake by 20% could result in a 50% increase in fat-free mass.
In 2005, another trial involving 19 subjects was carried out to examine how protein affects weight loss. According to the results of the trial published in the National Library of Medicine, protein reduced appetite and made the participants lose about 4.9 kg.
Iron
Male adults over 18 years and female adults over 50 years require 8.7 mg of iron per day. Meanwhile, female adults under 50 need 14.8 mg of this viBrightcore BrightGreens + Antioxidant Reds
BrightGreens +Antioxidant Reds not your average Joe of fruit and vegetable supplements. No, it goes the extra mile by including essential nutrients that other supplements can’t even dream of. Talk about raising the bar!
This powerhouse supplement is made from extracts of 20 different greens and antioxidants, including vitamin C, turmeric, and whole mushroom, all designed to give your immune system the boost it needs to stay strong and healthy.
And it also supports your digestive system with lipase and protease, providing a natural energy boost that’ll keep you going all day long.
Number of servings: 30
Weight: 270 g
Nutritional Values of this Best Fruit and Vegetable Supplement
Carbohydrate
Many reputable fruit and vegetable supplement powders have a carbohydrate content of 2 g to 11 g per serving. BrightGreens + Antioxidant Reds falls somewhere in the middle of the spectrum, as each scoop of it contains 7 g carbohydrate.
Dietary Fiber
Among all the fruit/veggie supplements we reviewed, BrightGreens + Antioxidant Reds topped the charts in the fiber arena. Five whole grams of each serving of this dietary powder are dedicated to meeting your daily fiber needs.
Vitamin C
BrightGreens + Antioxidant Reds offers 119.2 mg of vitamin C in an average 5 g serving! This is well above the recommended daily dosage of 75 to 90 mg per day, but lower than the upper limit of 2000 mg daily.
Sugars
Containing less than 1 g of sugars per scoop, Brightcore BrightGreens is a pretty safe choice.
Protein
Unfortunately, the protein content of this supplement is a bit low (less than 1 g). But you can easily buff up on your protein intake with eggs, chicken, or almonds and lentils if you’re vegan.
Pros
- Has a delicious berry flavor.
- Includes enzymes to aid digestion.
- 60-day risk-free guarantee.
- Free of gluten, soy, dairy, GMOs, artificial binders, fillers, and colors.
Cons
- Low in protein.
- Pricey.
Best for Kids and Adults: Orgain Organic Green Superfoods Powder
Packed with all kinds of good-for-you stuff like kale, spinach, and wheatgrass, this powder is like a one-stop-shop for all your daily vitamin and mineral needs. And let’s not forget about the probiotics and digestive enzymes that keep your gut in check. But the best part? It actually tastes good.
Number of servings: 20
Weight: 281.3 g
Nutritional Value
Carbohydrate
One scoop of Orgain Powder provides you with 11g of carbohydrates, which is equivalent to around 4 g of the recommended daily intake.
Fiber
With your daily dose of this fruit and vegetable supplement, you get 1 g of fiber. This is considerably lower than the amount of fiber you gain from eating a medium-sized banana (about 3.1 g).
Sugars
And since Orgain Powder contains no added sugars, it provides you with just a reasonable amount of just 1 g of sugars every day. That’s a pretty safe amount, especially if love apples (a medium apple gives you 19 g of sugars)!
Protein
When it comes to protein, Orgain’s Powder provides only 1 g of your total daily dose. A cup of guava gives you up to 4 times that amount of protein, which is closer to the recommended daily dose.
Calcium
Out of the about 1kg of calcium needed daily, Orgain Superfoods provides just 2%, or 20 mg. If you opt for this supplement, you may have to increase your intake of other calcium sources, like figs and broccoli.
Iron
4%, or 0.6 mg, of the recommended daily dose of iron, awaits you in each scoop of Orgain’s powder. Again, this goes a long way to prove that supplements can’t substitute natural sources of vitamins and minerals.
Pros
- Contains 11 fruits, 15 vegetables, and 1 billion probiotics.
- Zero added sugars, soy, gluten, dairy, lactose, GMO and artificial ingredients, or preservatives.
- Certified organic by the USDA.
- Suitable for men, women, and kids.
- Quite affordable.
- Blends with water, juice, and smoothies.
- Save 25% with an Origain subscription.
Cons
- Doesn’t come with a scoop.
- Tastes artificially sweetened.
Your Super Magic Mushroom Mix
Whether you’re looking for a natural way to calm your nerves, boost your brain power, or give your immune system a little extra love, Magic Mushroom Superfood Powder has got your back.
Just sprinkle this dark, chocolatey cinnamon Mix on your morning smoothie, your afternoon snack, or your midnight munchies (we won’t judge). You’ll be feeling like a superhero in no time.
Weight: 150 grams
Number of servings: 30
Nutritional Value
Carbohydrate
If you’re on a low carb diet, Magic Mushroom Mix might not really help. A scoop of this powder offers 1% (4 g) of the total recommended daily dose of carbohydrates.
Dietary Fiber
Magic Mushroom Mix provides a considerable amount of fiber, precisely 7%, which equals 2 grams of the recommended daily intake per serving. This is much higher than the fiber content of most fruit and vegetable supplements.
Total Sugars
For anyone with a condition that necessitates a no-sugar diet, like type 2 diabetes, hypertension, obesity, or dental cavities, fruit and vegetable supplements containing added sugars is a no-go. Thankfully, Magic Mushroom incorporates no sugars at all into their Mix!
Protein
Magic Mushroom compares favorably with Orgain Organic Superfoods in this respect. Each scoop of the former supplement offers 1 g of protein.
Calcium
25 mg of calcium is a lot to get from just a fruit and vegetable supplement.
Iron
You won’t believe it, but just one scoop of this powerful supplement contains a whopping one whole milligram of iron! Whoever is lucky enough to get their hands on this Mix is definitely getting a good deal.
Pros
- Made from ingredients that help you relax, like cocoa, cinnamon, lucuma, mushroom, and ashwagandha.
- Mixes with plant-based milk and maple syrup (yum!)
- No artificial sweeteners and fillers.
- Save 15% with a subscription.
Cons
- Doesn’t blend with cold milk. You have to heat the milk in a pot before stirring in two tsps of Magic Mushroom Mix.
- Low in carbohydrates.
- No proof of organic certification.
Carlyle Fruits and Veggies Supplement
Carlyle’s supplement is jam-packed with all the good stuff from 18 fruits and 14 veggies, it’s super cheap too! While we have no clue how they managed to source these ingredients ethically and make them all antioxidant-rich and wellness-focused, we highly recommend trying out these capsules.
Number of capsules: 250
Recommended dosage: 2 capsules twice or thrice a day.
Nutritional Value
This brand doesn’t break down which of its ingredients give what nutrients, but they make sure to give us the rundown of fruits and vegetables extracts included in the supplement. We’ve highlighted some these fruits and vegetables plus their nutritional values below.
Pros
- Good value for money.
- Vegan and non-GMO.
- No preservatives, gluten, lactose, wheat, artificial flavors, sweeteners, and colors.
Cons
- The capsules are a bit hard to swallow.
- Some customers reported feeling insomniac after usage.
NaturesPlus Animal Parade KidGreenz
Introducing the ultimate weapon in the fight against picky eaters: NaturesPlus Animal Parade KidGreenz! This green-licious supplement is like a secret agent, stealthily slipping all the good stuff your little ones need into their bodies.
It’s fortified with a super squad of broccoli, spirulina, and other wholesome fruits and vegetables, all disguised as cute little animal shapes. Say goodbye to the battle of the broccoli and hello to a happy, healthy kid with NaturesPlus Animal Parade KidGreenz.
Unit count: 90 animal-shaped tablets.
Pros
- Very affordable.
- Gluten-free.
- Wonderful tropical taste.
- Suitable for teens and adults too.
Cons
- Sweetened with fructose.
- Might cause kids to have bloated tummies.
Benefits of Best Fruit and Vegetable Supplements
Supplements are a convenient alternative to consuming excessive amounts of veggies or juices. They can aid digestion and enhance your energy levels, allowing you to maintain good health even on your busiest days. In addition to being convenient in terms of preparing them, supplements are also more affordable than buying fresh produce at the grocery store every week.
Best Fruit and Vegetable Supplements: Conclusion
So it’s time to face the facts: our diets could use a little sprucing up. Fruit and vegetable supplements work wonders, but they don’t eliminate the need to consume natural fruits and vegetables.
Not only will you feel like a rockstar with all the extra nutrients, but you’ll also be boosting your immune system, improving your digestion, and even preventing chronic diseases.
Now let’s make a deal, folks, shall we? We prioritize a healthy and balanced diet, and when we need a little extra oomph, we’ll turn to the power of supplementing with fruits and vegetables.