Why everyone should travel with a green powder
Plus, 7 carry on-friendly options that won't make you gag.
You arrive at a far-flung destination eager to dive head-first into local culture. But somewhere between whizzing across town on a bare-bones moped and standing naked in front of a room full of strangers as you get a full-body scrub down, you have the realization that you haven’t eaten any greens in days. (In fact, you’re not even quite sure the last time you saw a piece of lettuce.)
No matter how high up on your bucket list a spot might be—and how gung-ho you are about not being that traveler who insists on having certain creature comforts around the world—there are few things that throw your body off quite like suddenly removing the foods you’re most used to. And if you’re a salad-a-day kind of person, cutting out your kale and collard greens can do a number on your system. (Cue the emoji grimace face that accompanies going days without taking a number two.)
Is a green powder here to answer your healthy away-from-home prayers?
“The main issue when you travel is if you’re not getting enough vegetables,” says certified nutritional practitioner Kelly Maia Agnew. That’s because you’re missing out on a slew of crucial minerals, antioxidants, and fiber. Plus, adds Agnew, “a lot of vitamins in fruits and vegetables have immune system support.” (Which you’ll probably be thinking about while you’re sitting next to that person sneezing his way through an eight-hour flight.)
Because of that, she’s a big fan of stocking your suitcase with a green powder. “Make sure you’re supplementing well, so you’re covering in case you aren’t getting your daily intake,” Agnew says. Among her favorites are Amazing Grass (which comes in flavors like chocolate and berry) and Genuine Health (whose products include fermented greens). “Throw those in a bottle with water and shake it up.”
But if you can’t get your hands on the green stuff when you’re away from home, there’s one absurdly simple (and cheap) way to get a boost: get some sun. “Vitamin D is good for the immune system, so just being outside in the sunshine is awesome,” adds Agnew. Good thing you did remember to pack that extra-large bottle of SPF….
Here are 7 green powder options that are supremely portable—and won’t make you gag.
Amazing Grass Green Superfood, $16.088 Greens, $14 Hum Nutrition Raw Beauty To-Go Superfood Powder, $25
Perricone MD Super Greens Dietary Supplement, $80
Philosophie Green Dream, $14.99