Udo's Choice Beyond Greens – Organic Fermented Greens Powder

Every 8g serving starts as 33g of fresh ingredients — fermented, dried and powdered.

• High in fibre, protein, vitamin K, vitamin B12 and chromium
• Chromium at 112% of your daily reference intake per 8g serving
• Source of iron, iodine and molybdenum
• Certified organic throughout — every plant ingredient
• Fermented grasses, green vegetables, algae, sea vegetables and seed meal
• 125g and 255g · Vegan · Dairy free · Contains cereals containing gluten

Read this first if you take an anticoagulant

Beyond Greens is high in vitamin K — 67µg per 8g serving, which is 90% of the daily reference intake.

Vitamin K directly affects how warfarin and other vitamin K antagonist anticoagulants work, and consistency of vitamin K intake is something people on those medicines actively manage with their clinician. If that applies to you, speak to your doctor or anticoagulation clinic before adding this or any greens powder to your routine. It is not a reason not to take it — it is a reason to tell someone you are.

This product contains gluten

The grasses in this blend include barley, wheat, oat and rye, and the label declares them as cereals containing gluten. It is not suitable for anyone with coeliac disease or gluten sensitivity.

It also contains sesame and almond, and may contain traces of mustard.

What fermentation actually does here

Most greens powders are dried and milled. This one is fermented first, using Lactobacillus plantarum and Saccharomyces boulardii cultures, before drying.

Fermentation begins breaking down tough plant cell walls before you ever consume the powder — a process that would otherwise fall entirely to your digestion. Grass and algae are structurally difficult material; that is precisely why they are not a normal part of anyone's diet.

The 33g-to-8g ratio is worth noting too. Each serving is the dried, concentrated residue of roughly four times its weight in fresh plant material.

What is in the blend

Fermented grasses — barley, wheat, oat and alfalfa grass, with rye grass powder alongside them.

Green vegetables — broccoli and kale.

Algae and sea vegetables — chlorella, spirulina and dulse. The dulse is where much of the iodine comes from.

Seed meal — flax, sunflower and sesame, which is where most of the fibre and protein originate.

Warming botanicals — ginger root, cinnamon and liquorice root, with natural almond and vanilla flavourings.

The number worth knowing: chromium

An 8g serving delivers 45µg of chromium — 112% of the daily reference intake. That is the single highest nutrient figure in the product, higher even than the vitamin K, and it goes largely unmentioned elsewhere.

Chromium contributes to the maintenance of normal blood glucose levels and to normal macronutrient metabolism.¹

What the nutrients contribute to

Using the authorised wording:

• Iron and vitamin B12 contribute to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue, and to the normal function of the immune system¹
• Iodine and vitamin B12 contribute to normal energy-yielding metabolism¹
• Vitamin K contributes to the maintenance of normal bones¹
• Iodine contributes to the maintenance of normal skin¹
• Chromium contributes to the maintenance of normal blood glucose levels¹

How to compare greens powders

Two things are worth checking on any greens powder before you buy.

Does it declare nutrient quantities and %RI? Many list an impressive-sounding roll-call of plants and no figures at all. Without quantities you cannot tell whether an ingredient is present meaningfully or as a pinch for the label. Beyond Greens declares seven nutrients with their reference intake percentages.

Is it organic throughout, or in part? Every plant ingredient here is certified organic, not a subset.

How to take it

Mix 8g — two teaspoons — with a glass of water or juice, or add it to a smoothie or food.

Start smaller than the full serving. As with other high fibre products, initial consumption may cause gastrointestinal upset — bloating, gas or nausea — in some people. Build up gradually and drink plenty of water throughout the day.

Storage: keep refrigerated after opening for optimum freshness, and consume within 90 days of opening. The pack is resealable.

Before you buy

This product contains liquorice root. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have high blood pressure, or are taking medication, consult a healthcare professional before use.

It is also a meaningful source of iodine (26.3µg per serving). If you have a thyroid condition or take thyroid medication, speak to your clinician first.

And as above: high in vitamin K — relevant if you take an anticoagulant.

Common questions

Is it gluten free?
No. It contains barley, wheat, oat and rye grasses, declared on the label as cereals containing gluten. Not suitable for coeliacs.

Is it vegan?
Yes. Every ingredient is plant-derived and certified organic.

What does it taste like?
Green, with natural almond and vanilla flavourings and a warmth from the ginger and cinnamon. Most people mix it with juice or into a smoothie rather than water alone.

Why does it need refrigerating after opening?
To preserve freshness in a fermented plant powder once air reaches it. Ninety days from opening.

How many servings in a pack?
The 255g pack is 31 servings of 8g. The 125g is roughly 15.

Does it replace vegetables?
No. It is a food supplement, not a substitute for a varied and balanced diet — which is also what the pack says.

Can children take it?
The serving and nutrient levels are set for adults. Ask a healthcare professional before giving it to a child.

Ingredients

Fermented grass powder* [Barley (Hordeum vulgare) grass*, Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) grass*, Wheat (Triticum aestivum) grass*, Oat (Avena sativa) grass*], Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) powder*, Blended meal powder [flax (Linum usitatissimum) seed*, Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) seed*, Sesame (Sesamum indicum) seed*], Barley (Hordeum vulgare) grass powder*, Oat (Avena sativa) grass powder*, Rye (Secale cereale) grass powder*, Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) powder*, Ginger (Zingiber officinale) root powder*, Liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) root powder*, Chlorella (Chlorella vulgaris) powder*, Dulse (Palmaria palmata) powder*, Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) powder*, Dried powdered kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala) leaf*, Cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia) powder*, Natural flavourings (Almond)*, Natural flavourings (Vanilla)*.

*Certified organic

ALLERGY ADVICE: For allergens, including cereals containing gluten and nuts, see ingredients in bold. May also contain traces of mustard.

Nutrition Information

RI = Reference Intake. Servings per pack: 31 x 8g (255g).

Where it is made

Made in Canada, manufactured by Flora Manufacturing & Distributing Ltd, Burnaby, British Columbia. The Udo's Choice range was created by Udo Erasmus, whose signature appears on every pack.

¹ Iron and vitamin B12 contribute to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue and to the normal function of the immune system. Iodine and vitamin B12 contribute to normal energy-yielding metabolism. Vitamin K contributes to the maintenance of normal bones. Iodine contributes to the maintenance of normal skin. Chromium contributes to the maintenance of normal blood glucose levels and to normal macronutrient metabolism.

High in fibre, protein, vitamin K, vitamin B12 and chromium. Source of iron, iodine and molybdenum.

Food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a varied, balanced diet or a healthy lifestyle. Do not exceed the recommended daily intake. Keep out of the reach of children.