Don’t you wish broccoli tasted as good as a juicy steak or a sugary doughnut?
Eating healthy would be SO much easier. *sighs*
I know, it’s not cool to say it. Being vegan is sexy now but you know what? I’m NOT a rabbit.
I like food and I can’t imagine anything worse than spending my life avoiding gluten, diary, meat, and whatever else some greedy marketer will decide it’s bad for you next week – just so they can sell you an alternative that’s even less healthy.
I can only do the low-glycemic diet because it allows those forbidden fruits – like honey and pasta (which, according to the health food Nazis are the devil too) – in moderation.
Truth bomb: what makes a food good or bad is often how much of it you eat*. Moderation is key.
The only exception? Vegs. Your body needs A TON of them to function. It particularly loves green vegs – you know, those that taste the WORST. Life is unfair. 🙁
I try to include as much of them as possible into my diet, but it’s not always easy, especially when I’m travelling, I have lots of meetings in Central London, or my mum comes to visit and starts cooking all my fave dishes (for some reason, none of them include broccoli…).
That’s why I went down the supplement route. Over the past year, I tried my fair share of green supplements, but 90% of them made me want to vomit. Ugh.
When I was offered a sample of Perricone MD Super Greens supplement at the launch event, I was scared that’d happen again. Especially because the green powder was mixed with only water and I can barely deal with green supplements in a smoothie (you know something is horrible when it makes a berry smoothie taste like feet).
Whatdya know, I liked it. Sure, it’s no cup of hot chocolate, but it tastes good enough even this broccoli-hater (in case you haven’t figured it out, there’s broccoli in here) can drink a glass every day.
But should I? Does it do anything for your skin and overall health? I drank a glass every day for a month to find out:
WARNING!
If you’re one of those lucky ladies who has NO trouble getting your recommended daily intake of green vegetables, you DON’T need this. You can leave now. Supplements are only for people who, for one reason or another, can’t get enough vegetables into their daily diet.
The recommended daily amount of Vitamin C for women, for example, is 75 milligrams. If you exceed that (and this supplement has as much Vitamin C as 5 tangerines), you’ll get gastric discomfort and diarrhea. Yes, too much of a good thing is a bad thing.
If you’re experiencing any side effects from a supplement, chances are you’re exceeding one of your dietary requirements. Consult a doctor to figure out what your real deficiencies are and choose a supplements that only targets those.
What’s In Perricone MD Super Green Supplement?
LEAFY GREEN VEGETABLES TO FIGHT PREMATURE AGING
I could link to a million studies about why you should gobble down those green vegs. It’s pretty much the only thing everyone agrees on.
You think the skincare world is a minefield. Wait until you start delving into nutrition.
Experts say fats are the worst thing you can eat, yet that’s pretty much all Team Keto gobbles down. We thought whole grains were essential for our diet yet the Paleo brigade avoids them like the plague. Heck, even fruit is starting to get a bad rep in health food Nazi circles – forget about the vitamins and goodies we get from them, the tiniest drop of sugar (fructose) sends them into panic mode.
The only thing everyone agrees on is sugar = bad, leafy green vegetables = good.
Leafy green vegetables do all kinds of good things for you:
- They destroy the fight radicals that cause all kinds of ills, from wrinkles to cancer
- They up your body’s antioxidant defenses, protecting you from pollution and environmental damage
- They help detoxify your body from the inside out
- They give you fiber, vitamins, and other goodies you need to stay healthy and young
(I’m generalizing here because if I had to go into detail this list would be 3 pages long).
Perricone MD Super Greens contains its fair share of greens, including spirulina, kale, spinach, broccoli, alfalfa, green cabbage, and water cress.
It also has green tea, olive oil, and turmeric, which are loaded with antioxidants that fight premature aging. Green tea is a fave because it also boosts sun protection and reduces sun damage.
Struggling to create an antia-aging routine that really works? Download the “Best Anti-Aging Skincare Routine” cheatsheet below. It features product recommendations + right application order:
PROBOTIOCS TO PROMOTE GUT HEALTH AND HELP TREAT ACNE
You’ll also find plenty of bacteria lurking in here. The good kind. Probiotics, I mean. Probiotics are all the rage since science has discovered we’re more bacteria than human.
Having more of the good kind of bacteria in your guts aids digestion and even reduces depression and anxiety. More interestingly for us skincare nerds, lactobacillus acidophilus (one of the 4 types of bacteria here) helps treat acne.
Now I don’t have acne so I can’t vouch for this personally but studies show this is true – and who am I to question Lady Science?
It goes without saying – but I’ll say it anyway – that taking this (or any other supplements, for that matter), is not a shortcut to healthy eating. Your body prefers when you get all your nutrients from food and I highly recommend that you try to include more green veggies and probiotics in your diet. Only when that isn’t possible – no judgment here – go for a supplement to fill in the gaps.
Related: The Truth About Probiotics In Skincare: Do They Work?
Texture And Taste
Perricone MD Super Greens Supplement is a green powder. You pour it in the water and mix well.
The taste is ok. Some reviewers online compared it to apples but I’m not sure that’s how I’d describe it. It’s more like a green tea with a hint of apples and leans on the sweet side.
The best thing is that I can’t taste the greens at all. I gag every time I accidentally put watercress into my mouth. The damn thing tastes like feet. Here, I can’t even notice it.
Sure, if you have a very sweet tooth and barely eat your greens, this will still be too bitter for you. You need to train your palate. But it really is the best green supplement I’ve tried so far.
Fragrance
Green and subtle.
How To Use It
So you decided that Super Greens may be the best option to fill the gaps in your diet. Cool. Here’s how you use it:
The box contains 30 single-serving sachets. You mix one packet with 8 fl oz of water once a day. You can also add it to a juice or smoothie (that’s what I usually do).
Performance & Personal Opinion
Perricone MD Super Greens is super convenient. If I know I’ll have a busy day full of meetings and will have to grab lunch on the go, I start the day with a smoothie filled with this powder to give me the energy and nutrients I need. Yes it’s cheating. But it’s also about doing your best with what you’ve got.
I can’t say that a month later my skin is completely transformed. But, I’ve noticed that during the month I took this, I had more energy. My bowel movements calmed down (TMI, sorry!). And my skin looked glowier.
Can it get rid of wrinkles, too? Too soon to tell. Antioxidants have a preventative action, so I’d need to drink it for years to see a difference there. But, there’s enough research to support they destroy free radicals so you’ll age more slowly.
Overall, I’ll definitely buy this again. I don’t think I want to use it every day as I am trying to be a good girl and get my green fix from foods, but it’s definitely handy to have it in the pantry for those days when you’re too busy to cook or are travelling.
Cos no one can be a good girl 100% of the time. 😉
Who Is This For?
Anyone who’s not getting their daily fix of green veggies.
Who Is This NOT For?
If you already have a healthy diet, you don’t need this.
Packaging
I like the supplement comes in sachets, so you know exactly how much powder you need for each dose. Plus, they’re so convenient for travelling. You can easily take a few with you anywhere.
Does Perricone MD Super Green Supplement Live Up To Its Claims?
| CLAIM | TRUTH? |
|---|---|
| A great-tasting, superfood greens drink powder that promotes general well-being, supports digestive and immune health, and provides powerful antioxidant protection. | True. |
| Provides powerful antioxidants and phytonutrients*. | True. |
| Promotes healthy hair, skin, and nails. | When your body has all the nutrients it needs, it can use them for creating healthy nail, skin, and nails. Keep in mind, though, that the majority of these nutrients will go towards more important organs and functions. |
Price & Availability
$80.00/£58.00 at Feel Unique and Nordstrom
Do You Need It?
If you struggle to get your daily dose of green vegetables from your diet, this can definitely help.
Notes:
*I say often because some foods may have a higher than normal amount of nasty hormones, pesticides or other toxic substance or you may have an allergy/intolerance to them. In this cases, it’s best to cut these foods out of your diet completely.
Ingredients
Greens Blend:
Spirulina, Kale, Wheat Grass, Parsley, Spinach, Broccoli, Barley Grass, Chlorella, Alfalfa, Green Cabbage, And Water Cress.
NRF2 Antioxidant Support Complex: Green Tea Leaf Extract (45% EGCG, 98% Polyphenols), Olive Leaf Extract (16% Oleuropein), Turmeric Rhizome Extract (Carcuma Longa) (95% Curcuminoids) (Carcumin C3 Complex), Broccoli Sprout Extract (Brocophane).
Methylsulfonyethane (MSM) 200mg.
Probiotic Blend: Bacillus Coagulans, Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Bifidobacterium Lactis, L. Reuteri.
Other Ingredients: Maltodoxin, Guar Gum, Malic Acid, Natural Flavors, Citric Acid, Sunflower Lecithin, Rebaudioside A, Silica, Spirulina (Colour) And Apple Fruit Powder.
is this gluten free?
Lily, this is what the brand says on their website: “There is no Gluten in the product , but due to the fact that the product is produced in an area where there may be wheat and dairy, we were obliged to put it on the carton due to regulations. I hope that makes sense.”
I am loving the taste and energy this drink brings. I am mixing it with a fruit smoothie drink and am wondering if this combo is what is giving me sharp gas pains. I did mix it with water and fruit to begin with but thought a thickerer bottled drink might be better. Could this be an allergic reaction? Thank you very much.