When we are under stress, our bodies use up our nutrient stores faster, and therefore we may need even more than usual. An adequate supply of these important nutrients will allow you to endure stress more easily, increasing your resistance to mental and physical disease.
We all understand that one of the keys to sound nutrition is a highly varied diet. But during times of emergency and survival we will no doubt be restricted in the variety of foods that we have available to us. In fact, we might be eating a lot of the same foods over and over. These factors, along with the fact that our bodies need more vitamins and minerals when under stress, mean that it will be even more important to take supplements during times of emergency than during normal times. Receive the nutritional benefits of multiple servings of fruits and vegetables through greens and whole food powder supplementation.
For optimal health, keep a one-year supply of greens or whole food powder in your emergency food stash. It might even be a good idea to start to use the powder on a daily basis to obtain the USDA 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables. You won’t have a problem keeping the stock fresh if you start now. Just remember that when you empty a bottle/container and purchase a new one that it has to go to the back of the shelf and every other bottle has to be moved forward. Take the product off the shelf and be careful to grab the oldest one, which will be the one in the front. That way all of green and whole food powders remain as fresh as possible.
Powders have a shelf-life of around 2-years. After the recommended two-year shelf-life has been exceeded, the powder is still viable, but will have lost some of their potency. The older they are the more potency they will lose. You do not have to discard your powder after the expiration date and can continue consuming the greens and whole food powder. They may not be as potent as when you purchased them but they will be better than nothing, especially in time of emergency and survival!
Home Cures That Work has reviewed green and whole food powder products to be considered (safe or not safe) supplements essential to any emergency food stash.
Two products that were tested exceeded limits for lead and/or cadmium. They are:
- InnerLight SuperGreens contained 19.6 mcg of lead in a 4-scoop daily serving.
- Nature’s Way Alive! Whole Food Energizer Ultra Shake Vanilla contained 4.3 mcg of lead and 12.8 mcg of cadmium in a 1-scoop daily serving.
Powders made from “whole foods” and “greens” can be an alternative to eating fruits and vegetables on a daily basis in a crisis or survival situation. They may help to increase energy levels, improve digestion and improve overall health and well-being. Below are five greens and whole food powders that are generally safe, listed with the top listed food ingredients, any caution if present, and high-ranking vitamins and minerals within each product.
PinterestAmazing Grass Green Superfood
- Contains wheat grass and barley grass
- With flaxseed powder and pectin powder to help aid in digestion
- Great for Vitamin A (as Beta-carotene) and Vitamin C
PinterestGreen Foods Magma Plus
- Contains barley grass juice
- With bee products that may provide “immune enhancing” benefit. The probiotic cultures may have digestive benefit although the viability and enzyme activity it may be difficult to maintain.
- Great for Vitamin A (as Beta-carotene)
PinterestNatural Factors Enriching Greens
- Contains alfalfa juice extract and barley juice extract
- Includes many herbal ingredients which may have antioxidant support. The mount of ginkgo may not be enough for therapeutic benefit and the probiotic count is not specified.
PinterestNew Chapter Organics Probiotic Berry
- Contains spinach, blueberry and kale
- Lists 1 billion probiotic organisms, which is a potentially therapeutic amount if viable throughout the shelf life of the product.
- Great for Vitamins A (as Beta-carotene) and C
PinterestVibrant Health Green Vibrance
- Contains spirulina, alfalfa, barley, oat, wheat grass juice powders
- Lists several billion probiotic organisms, helpful if viable throughout the shelf life of the product. Would require more milk thistle for clinical dosage.
- Great for Vitamins D and B-12
Staying healthy in a survival situation should be at the top of your preparation to-do list. By maintaining health in an emergency and extreme circumstances you can better insure your own survival and that of your families. Greens and whole food powder is the ideal foundation for thriving health in a survival situation or for everyday use.
For long term preparation, rotate a 12 month supply from your survival or emergency food stash to your pantry, enough for each person in your family. This way you will be receiving a good amount of fruits and vegetables and vitamins and minerals every day no matter what the circumstances may be.
