Examining the Carb Content of Athletic Greens
As an all-in-one greens powder packed with 75 vitamins, minerals and whole food ingredients, Athletic Greens aims to fill nutrient gaps in modern diets. But with growing concerns over excess refined carb intake, what's the deal with carbs in Athletic Greens?
Understanding the source and quality of carbohydrates in supplements like Athletic Greens can help you determine if the formula aligns with your nutritional needs and goals.
Breaking Down the Carbs in Athletic Greens
According to the supplement facts label, Athletic Greens contains a total of 7 grams of carbohydrate per serving. This carb content comes from three main sources:
Fruit and Vegetable Extracts
Over 20 fruits and vegetables like apple, carrot, beet and tomato provide nutrient-dense extracts. These whole food sources contribute a portion of the total carb amount as natural sugars.
As intact plant foods, these carbs deliver vitamins, minerals and antioxidants for optimal nutrition.
Grasses, Herbs and Mushrooms
Ingredients like organic wheatgrass, rhodiola rosea root and cordyceps mushroom also supply carbohydrates, mainly as dietary fiber. Fiber passes undigested to feed healthy gut bacteria.
These functional whole food carbs enhance digestion and deliver unique protective compounds.
Natural Flavors
Small quantities of natural flavors containing sugars or starch raise the carb total by a few additional grams per serving. The exact sources arent disclosed.
However these represent only a minor fraction compared to carbs from the main fruit, vegetable, herb and mushroom ingredients.
Evaluating the Carb Quality of Athletic Greens
Rather than just looking at total carb numbers, assessing carbohydrate quality provides greater insights on a supplements nutritional merit. Several factors determine higher quality carbs:
Whole Food Sources
Carbs naturally occurring in fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, herbs and whole grains deliver fiber, protein, beneficial fats and essential micronutrients unavailable from refined grains and sugars.
These intact plant foods offer superior nutrition and health promotion properties.
High Fiber Content
Fiber-rich carbs feed gut microbiome diversity for optimal digestion and absorption. The indigestible portion provides few calories for better weight regulation as well.
Adequate fiber content indicates less processed, more satiating carbohydrate sources.
Low Glycemic Response
Carbs that break down more slowly to release sugar stabilize blood glucose and energy levels. This reduces fat storage and high triglycerides.
Intact whole food carbs elicit gradual glycemic responses compared to refined grains and sugars.
Antioxidant Activity
Many fruits and vegetables contain antioxidant compounds that combat cellular damage from unstable molecules called free radicals. This helps lower inflammation and risk of related chronic diseases.
Vibrantly colored produce provides antioxidant-rich carbohydrate sources.
How Athletic Greens Carb Sources Stack Up
Evaluating these evidence-based quality indicators for carbohydrates shows that the sugars and starches found in Athletic Greens rank well:
Derived from Whole Foods
As a greens powder focused on fruits, vegetables and mushrooms, Athletic Greens provides primarily intact plant carbohydrates without heavily processed or refined additions.
This maximizes nutrient benefits beyond just the carbs.
Good Fiber Content
At 5 grams of dietary fiber per serving, approximately 70% of the total carbs come from fiber. This promotes satiety, gut health and steady energy release.
The formula derives meaningful fiber content from numerous plant ingredients.
Low Glycemic Impact
Natural sugars encased within fiber-rich cell walls results in a relatively gradual release into the bloodstream. The powder is unlikely to spike blood glucose and insulin the way pure sugars do.
This provides stable, sustained energy formation from the quality carbs.
High in Antioxidants
Inclusion of deeply pigmented berries, veggies and herbs supplies an array of antioxidant phytonutrients that enhance the benefits of the total carbohydrate content.
The functional compounds add bonus protection.
Calculating Your Carb Needs
As a high performance supplement rather than meal replacement, Athletic Greens provides supplemental nutrition without needing to supply large quantities of macronutrients like protein or carbs.
The modest 7 grams of carbs mostly from fibrous fruits and vegetables fits into varied diet templates:
Ketogenic Diet
Very low carb diets permitting only around 5% of total calories from carbs can still incorporate Athletic Greens. It only utilizes 2-3% of a 2000 calorie allotment.
The nutritious carb sources integrate well without disrupting ketosis.
Paleo or Primal Diets
Whole food-based eating plans emphasize produce, meat, fish, eggs, nuts and seeds. The carbs in Athletic Greens align perfectly with unprocessed plant food principles.
The formula provides an antioxidant and phytonutrient boost on top of carb-containing staple foods.
Vegetarian/Vegan Diets
Plans centered around vegetables, fruits, legumes, grains and plant proteins rely more heavily on quality carbohydrate sources. Athletic Greens makes achieving daily nutrient needs easier for those eliminating animal products.
The low-carb profile requires little adjustment to existing meal plans.
Optimizing Athletic Greens for Your Goals
At just 7 grams of carbohydrate from natural real food sources, Athletic Greens can integrate into varied diet frameworks. Its nutrient density and antioxidants provide well-rounded nutrition without spiking calories or blood sugar.
Use the greens powder as an additive to amplify nutritional quality rather than primary fuel source. Allow your individual health objectives and macronutrient distribution needs to guide optimal carb intake across your total dietary intake.
FAQs
How many carbs are in Athletic Greens?
There are 7 grams of total carbohydrates per serving, with 5 grams coming from dietary fiber and around 2 grams from naturally occurring sugars in the fruits, vegetables and herbs.
What are the sources of carbs in Athletic Greens?
The carbohydrates come mostly from the fruit and vegetable extracts, grasses, medicinal mushrooms, herbs and natural flavors used to create the formula.
Are the carbs from quality sources?
Yes, the carbs derive almost entirely from whole food plant ingredients without refined or heavily processed additions. This means more nutrients and antioxidants alongside the sugars and fiber.
Can I take Athletic Greens on a low carb or keto diet?
Most likely - the powder only contains around 7 grams carbs per serving, so it can generally fit into a ketogenic diet by occupying just 2-3% of your daily carb limitation.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.
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