Why use powdered veggie/fruit mix

bigbeardiver

I got into a debate recently about using powdered mix to meet fruits and veggies. A trainer recommended putting powder veggie mix into my shakes to meet the minimum recommended fruits and veggies. Mixes such as: Greens First. However when I look at what is contained for fat, carbs and proteins I have to wonder why would you introduce these at all? The seem to provide no caloric (energy) needs. Aside from vitamins, minerals and fiber and assuming you get those through other sources, why would you ever use a mix?

Eating natural/real fruits gives you carbs that you need for energy, veggies provide different "agents" to your health that you can't get in other foods, meaning green veggies provide nutrients that block xyz and blue provide antioxidents and yellow/orange provide vitamin C, etc, etc. I don't believe that the powder mixes provide the same benefits.

rileysowner

I have no idea if they provide it or not. Having said that, other than the enzymes that would probably not survive the drying process, the nutrients should still all be there including all the anti-oxidants and other compounds.

becoming_a_new_me

I use juice powder, and have to say that there are good quality and bad quality sources. Spray drying or cold-pressing retains the nutrients of the juice. When you juice veggies and fruits fresh, you are getting 90%+ of the key nutrients of the sources vs. around 70-75% raw and 30-40% cooked. The powder I use has about 90% of the nutrients of freshly juiced vegetables.

You do not absolutely need juice powder to get your nutrients if you are already getting all that you need from your servings. I personally use the juice powder when I am low on veggie intake, but I also use a beet powder and a leaf greens powder to help boost my iron as I am anemic. I also use a barley grass and carrot powder to keep my immune system strong.

bigbeardiver

With the help of MFP I've learned where my vitamin and mineral issues are. I've also introduced Iron and Magnessium. I was getting below 10% of the DRA for both so I started taking extras. As for the power I guess there is no harm in just adding a scope to my morning whey shake along with my peanut butter and banana.

becoming_a_new_me

With the help of MFP I've learned where my vitamin and mineral issues are. I've also introduced Iron and Magnessium. I was getting below 10% of the DRA for both so I started taking extras. As for the power I guess there is no harm in just adding a scope to my morning whey shake along with my peanut butter and banana.

I see it that way...it isn't going to hurt to get more nutrients

pucenavel

When I was doing some browsing looking for ideas to replenish proteins, etc. after long workouts, my intent was to get some information on which protein bars, drink mixes, or whatever would be the "best". Somewhere in there, I found a trainer who said,

"Have a turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread"

That made a lot of sense to me.

Real food, IMO, is always better than a mix, bar, paste or gel.

I'm actually working on creating my own energy mixes using REAL FOOD and a food processor. They are sooooooo much tastier and I know what's in them (oatmeal, honey, almond butter, citrus juice, etc.).

bigbeardiver

I'm also trying to figure out the best pre and post workout sources of calories. Real food protein is always a better source than whey mixes. However it takes your body longer to get food protein broken down and available to your body. For post workout the recommendation is to get the protein into your body within 30-60 minutes because studies show that doing so helps provide your recently torn muscles the energy they need to build and if you happen to be burning too many carbs versus fat which can cause muscle loss eating protein post workout will help reduce the risk of muscle loss. So a post workout whey mix, may get your body what it needs sooner. I still think eating carbs and protein a few hours later is great too.

bigbeardiver

The questions I've been trying to research are
a) pre-workout food, how long it takes to digest the food to be available for your workout

b) my workout routine is 1 hour of strength followed immediately by 1 hour of cardio. So for post workout do I drink my shake after my strength or after my cardio or both in order to get protein in fast enough