What's in that packet of Activ Greens?
While we aren't allowed to say Activ Greens, being a nutritional or dietary supplement, is intended to "diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease"*(1), there exists a long history of traditional uses, noted in peer reviewed PubMed.gov studies of the individual product ingredients uses in medical applications. This publication lists many of these with sources acknowledged. There are many related PubMed.gov studies and I encourage everyone to research them as well.
We can say with all confidence, specific ingredient(s) are shown in PubMed.gov studies to have a specific effect within the body when relating to any specified medical condition(s) that may exist or that said ingredients have a long history of traditional use(s) according to the source(s) acknowledged.
It's not enough for me that any particular thing is having a positive impact on my health. I want to know why and how. So I research PubMed.gov studies to learn why and how. It's the best source to learn from non-biased publications. They publish the findings, positive and negative.
Here we have a standard Supplement Facts Product Label. Manufacturers are required by law*(1), to place this information on the product and it must be correct or they are in deep doo-doo. They must register with the FDA prior to manufacturing and any disclosures about the product be made and the product must be GRAS or Generally Regarded As Safe.
At the top descending we see the typical analytical vitamin and mineral content per serving, moving on down into the ingredients section. This is where I go to work and dissect a product bit by bit to learn what's going on in my body as it relates to the results I'm personally experiencing.
AAO Greens Biome Matrix Blend
Organic Alfalfa Grass Juice Powder. "Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) leaves and sprouts contain saponins, estrogenic isoflavonoids (e.g., daidzein, genistein), vitamin K, and the amino acid L-canavanine". https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30000890/
Vitamin K "May help to prevent fractures due to osteopenia and osteoporosis", "May help to prevent liver cancer and death in patients with liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma", "May help to prevent vascular calcifications (especially in patients on warfarin)", "May reduce the risk of Coronary Heart Disease, CHD mortality and all-cause mortality", "May help improve insulin sensitivity", "May help to stabilise INR in patients on warfarin". https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4600246/
Organic Barley Grass Juice Powder. "Barley grass is rich in functional ingredients, such as gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), flavonoids, saponarin, lutonarin, superoxide dismutase (SOD), K, Ca, Se, tryptophan, chlorophyll, vitamins (A, B1, C, and E), dietary fiber, polysaccharide, alkaloid, metallothioneins, and polyphenols. Barley grass promotes sleep; has antidiabetic effect; regulates blood pressure; enhances immunity; protects liver; has anti-acne/detoxifying and antidepressant effects; improves gastrointestinal function; has anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hypolipidemic, and antigout effects; reduces hyperuricemia; prevents hypoxia, cardiovascular diseases, fatigue, and constipation; alleviates atopic dermatitis; is a calcium supplement; improves cognition; and so on. These results support that barley grass may be one of the best functional foods for preventive chronic diseases and the best raw material of modern diet structure in promoting the development of large health industry and further reveal that GABA, flavonoids, SOD, K-Ca, vitamins, and tryptophan mechanism of barley grass have preventive and therapeutic role for chronic diseases. This paper can be used as a scientific evidence for developing functional foods and novel drugs for barley grass for preventive chronic diseases." https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5904770/
Organic Oat Grass Juice Powder. "Oat is among the food crops and ancient grains cultivated and consumed worldwide. It is gaining in popularity owing to its nutritional composition and multifunctional benefits of select bioactive compounds. Beta-glucan is an important component of dietary fiber found in oat grains. It is the major active compound in oats with proven cholesterol-lowering and antidiabetic effects. Oats also provide substantial levels of other bioactive compounds such as phenolic acids, tocols, sterols, avenacosides, and avenanthramides. The consumption of oats has been determined to be beneficial for human health by promoting immunomodulation and improving gut microbiota. In addition, oat consumption assists in preventing diseases such as atherosclerosis, dermatitis, and some forms of cancer. While much has been published in relation to oat nutrients and oat fibers and their impact on major diseases, the oat industries and consumers may benefit from greater knowledge and understanding of clinical effects, range of occurrence, distribution, therapeutic doses and food functional attributes of other oat bioactives such as avenanthramides and saponins as well as other anti-inflammatory agents found in the cereal. This review focuses on the various studies relevant to the contribution of the consumption of oats and oat-based products in preventing human diseases and promoting human health." https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8625765/
Organic Kamut Grass Juice Powder. "Growing interest in ancient grains appears in recent literature, because of their nutritional and health properties, and in particularly on KAMUT® khorasan wheat. KAMUT® is a registered trademark used to market an ancient variety of wheat called khorasan wheat (Triticum turgidum spp. turanicum). Khorasan wheat is genetically similar to modern durum wheat with origins that are claimed to be much older. Any khorasan wheat sold under the KAMUT® brand must follow several quality specifications related both to nutritional characteristics and growing conditions (i.e. the grain must be grown organically) [5]."
"Some studies demonstrated that KAMUT® khorasan wheat has a high carotenoids content [6] and a unique nutraceutical value for its peculiar content in bioactive phytochemicals [7]. Furthermore, KAMUT® khorasan wheat is rich in selenium. It has been demonstrated that selenium content in KAMUT® khorasan bread was ten-fold higher than modern durum bread [8, 9]. Selenium acts in the active site of several enzymes involved in cellular protection from oxidative damage, such as glutathione peroxidase and other selenoproteins [10]." https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6424920/
Bacillus coagulans. Numerous PubMed studies indicate positive health effects of Bacillus coagulans, a spore producing beneficial gut bacteria, however there are many different strains attributed to specific studies and I'm not going to presume the Bacillus coagulans used in Activ Greens is any specific strain and therefore cannot comment further until positive identification of the particular strain is disclosed by the company.
Personally and according to many other Activ Greens consumers, we are experiencing increased bowel movements which aligns with product information relating to detox and cleanse effects. There is a period of time among most being defined as "gut health realignment" of 1-2 weeks. Some have split the daily serving into two portions for a time and others find it better to take with meals. After the "realignment" it is usually consistently predictable when one is going to need to take a restroom break and most like myself are able to take the full daily serving at once.
Here's the Google search results page for Bacillus coagulens Benefits Pubmed.
AAO N.O. Boost Blend
L-Citrulline. ". l-citrulline, found in high concentrations in watermelon, is a neutral alpha-amino acid formed by enzymes in the mitochondria that also serves as a substrate for recycling l-arginine. Unlike l-arginine, l-citrulline is not quantitatively extracted from the gastrointestinal tract (i.e., enterocytes) or liver and its supplementation is therefore more effective at increasing l-arginine levels and NO synthesis. Supplementation with l-citrulline has shown promise as a blood pressure lowering intervention (both resting and stress-induced) in adults with pre-/hypertension, with pre-clinical (animal) evidence for atherogenic-endothelial protection. Preliminary evidence is also available for l-citrulline-induced benefits to muscle and metabolic health (via vascular and non-vascular pathways) in susceptible/older populations. In this review, we examine the impact of supplementing this important urea cycle intermediate on cardiovascular and metabolic health outcomes and identify future directions for investigating its therapeutic impact on cardiometabolic health." https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6073798/
L-Arginine. "l-Arginine is a semi-essential amino acid that is particularly rich in certain foods such as meats and nuts. l-Arginine is the substrate for the enzyme nitric oxide synthase (NOS), which is responsible for the production of nitric oxide. Nitric oxide produced in the vascular endothelium by endothelial NOS is responsible for smooth muscle cell relaxation and essential for reducing blood pressure. Any improvement in endothelial function will help in the prevention of cardiovascular disease.1 l-Arginine is also used by the cells of the immune system where the enzyme inducible NOS produces nitric oxide for cell signaling or oxidative bactericidal actions.2 Therefore, l-arginine could help reduce infection rates, especially in situations that compromise immune function such as surgery or critical illness.3" https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5021928/
Beet Root Extract. "In recent years there has been a growing interest in the biological activity of red beetroot (Beta vulgaris rubra) and its potential utility as a health promoting and disease preventing functional food. As a source of nitrate, beetroot ingestion provides a natural means of increasing in vivo nitric oxide (NO) availability and has emerged as a potential strategy to prevent and manage pathologies associated with diminished NO bioavailability, notably hypertension and endothelial function. Beetroot is also being considered as a promising therapeutic treatment in a range of clinical pathologies associated with oxidative stress and inflammation. Its constituents, most notably the betalain pigments, display potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and chemo-preventive activity in vitro and in vivo. The purpose of this review is to discuss beetroot’s biological activity and to evaluate evidence from studies that specifically investigated the effect of beetroot supplementation on inflammation, oxidative stress, cognition and endothelial function." https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4425174/
Hawthorn Berry Extract. "Cardiovascular disease (CVD), especially atherosclerosis, is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally; it causes a considerable burden on families and caregivers and results in significant financial costs being incurred. Hawthorn has an extensive history of medical use in many countries. In China, the use of hawthorn for the treatment of CVD dates to 659 AD. In addition, according to the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, it acts on tonifying the spleen to promote digestion and activate blood circulation to dissipate blood stasis. This review revealed that the hawthorn extracts possess serum lipid-lowering, anti-oxidative, and cardiovascular protective properties, thus gaining popularity, especially for its anti-atherosclerotic effects. We summarize the four principal mechanisms, including blood lipid-lowering, anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and vascular endothelial protection, thus providing a theoretical basis for further utilization of hawthorn." https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7047282/
Coenzyme Q-10. "Oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction are hallmarks of heart failure (HF). Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a vitamin-like organic compound widely expressed in humans as ubiquinol (reduced form) and ubiquinone (oxidized form). CoQ10 plays a key role in electron transport in oxidative phosphorylation of mitochondria. CoQ10 acts as a potent antioxidant, membrane stabilizer and cofactor in the production of adenosine triphosphate by oxidative phosphorylation, inhibiting the oxidation of proteins and DNA. Patients with HF showed CoQ10 deficiency; therefore, a number of clinical trials investigating the effects of CoQ10 supplementation in HF have been conducted. CoQ10 supplementation may confer potential prognostic advantages in HF patients with no adverse hemodynamic profile or safety issues. The latest evidence on the clinical effects of CoQ10 supplementation in HF was reviewed." https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7287951/
AAO Adaptogen & Detox Blend
Reishi Mushroom Extract. "Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi) is a popular medicinal mushroom and has been used in oriental medicine because of its promoting effects on health and life expectancy. G. lucidum contains various compounds with a high grade of biological activity, which increase the immunity and show antitumour, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity. Several of these substances belong to the triterpenoids and polysaccharides classes. Proteins, lipids, phenols, sterols, etc. are also present. In the present review, an extensive overview of the presence of antitumour, antimicrobial, antioxidant and antiacetylcholinesterase compounds in G. lucidum extracts will be given, along with an evaluation of their therapeutic effects." https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6017764/
Organic Ashwagandha Root Extract. "The findings of this study suggest that a high-concentration full-spectrum Ashwagandha root extract safely and effectively improves an individual's resistance towards stress and thereby improves self-assessed quality of life." https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3573577/
Cassia angustifolia Leaf Extract. "C. angustifolia extracts revealed the presence of quercimeritrin (1), scutellarein (2), and rutin (3), all known to have useful bioactivities including antimicrobial, antioxidant and anticancer activities." https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5106795/
Astragalus Root Extract. "More importantly, this paper summarize pharmacological actions on immune regulation, such as enhancing the immune organ index, promoting the proliferation of immune cells, stimulating the release of cytokines, and affecting the secretion of immunoglobulin and conduction of immune signals; anti-aging; anti-tumor by enhancing immunity, inducing apoptosis of tumor cells and inhibiting the proliferation and transfer of tumor cells; antiviral effects; regulation of blood glucose such as type I diabetes mellitus, type II diabetes mellitus and diabetic complications; lipid-lowering; anti-fibrosis; antimicrobial activities and anti-radiation. It provided theoretical basis for the further research such as its structure and mechanism of action, and clinical application of APS." https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7105737/
Burdock Root Extract. "This review showed the potential of burdock roots as a source of prebiotic fibers, chlorogenic acids, cinnarine, lignans, and quercetin*. The extraction methods of burdock functional compounds are made with water, temperature and time variations only. Biological assays showed antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory, and hypolipidemic properties, and gastric mucosal defense mechanisms, among others. Therefore, the use of burdock roots as functional food should be encouraged in countries that have imported products derived from other roots of the same family for health benefits." https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0963996920309145?via%3Dihub
(*Quercetin. While quercetin is not listed as a main ingredient on the Activ Greens label, I want to point out it is shown in studies to have powerful antiviral properties and is found naturally in Burdock Root, Elderberry, Elderflowers and Prunella vulgaris "Self Heal". Google "Quercetin Antiviral Pubmed".)
Bromelain. "This chemical component of pineapple has the most extensive and complex spectrum of biological activity of all known and isolated chemical substances of this plant. Research has shown that this enzyme is characterized by anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, immunomodulatory, antioxidant, and anticancer properties." https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8709142/
AAO Optimum Absorption Booster
OmniMin AC Trace Mineral Blend. This is a commercial brand of Trace Minerals Supplement and therefore not listed in any PubMed study I can find.
Black Pepper Extract. "Black pepper, with piperine as an active ingredient, holds rich phytochemistry that also includes volatile oil, oleoresins, and alkaloids. More recently, cell-culture studies and animal modeling predicted the role of black pepper against number of maladies. The free-radical scavenging activity of black pepper and its active ingredients might be helpful in chemoprevention and controlling progression of tumor growth. Additionally, the key alkaloid components of Piper Nigrum, that is, piperine assist in cognitive brain functioning, boost nutrient's absorption and improve gastrointestinal functionality. In this comprehensive treatise, efforts are made to elucidate the antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, gastro-protective, and antidepressant activities of black pepper." https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23768180/
Other Ingredients:
Citric Acid. "Citric acid is used as an excipient in pharmaceutical preparations due to its antioxidant properties. It maintains stability of active ingredients and is used as a preservative. It is also used as an acidulant to control pH and acts as an anticoagulant by chelating calcium in blood." https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Citric-acid
Natural Flavor. AAO has not disclosed the source of natural flavor in Activ Greens, therefore I'm unable to comment other than I love it and so do most others who try it.
Stevia Extract. "In addition to its hypoglycemic property, the plant also exhibits antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, hypotensive, antiseptic, diuretic, anti-fertility and cardiotonic properties. It has also been documented to show good effects on treating skin diseases such as dermatitis, acne, eczema etc. " https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32031079/
L-Malic Acid. "Raising urinary pH and citrate excretion with alkali citrate therapy has been a widely used treatment in calcium nephrolithiasis. Citrate lowers ionized Ca(+2) concentrations and inhibits calcium salt precipitation. Conservative alternatives containing citrate such as fruit juices have been investigated and recommended. Any compound that induces systemic alkalosis will increase citraturia. Malate, a polycarboxylic anion like citrate, is a potential candidate for chelating Ca(+2) and for inducing systemic alkalinization." https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24059642/
Personal Comments
As with any herbal nutritional supplement, always consult your physician before consuming. They are well equipped to enter product information into a data base to determine if there are any possible drug interaction precautions that may affect you personally.
My personal health and pain management experience with Activ Greens has been very good results in a short amount of time. I have devoted much time and study into picking this product apart to learn why and how and have provided it here for anyone to see for themselves. The studies show. The studies tell. The studies don't lie.
Get back with the person who shared this information with you if you're considering becoming a Preferred Customer or Influencer. If that's me, I look forward to helping you get started.
Charlie Little, AAO Independent Qualified Influencer
My Activ Greens Website https://www.aaoww.com/charleslittle