Update 9/5/20. Secret “Green Drink” Once Reserved for Military Elite Restores Youthful Energy, Stamina And Pain-Free Movement.” That was the headline that grabbed my attention one day while reading the news on my PC. What was this “secret” green drink I wondered? Enter Patriot Power Greens, another in the long line of superfood green drinks that have become popular as of late. This supplement has some hype associated with it. In this review, I'll try to cut through that hype by answering some important (and not-so-important) questions about this supplement. Is Patriot Power Greens a scam? That's one of the questions I'll tackle. Let's see if Patriot Power Greens is right for you.
1. What Is Patriot Power Greens?
The name pretty much says it all. Patriot Power Greens is a dietary supplement designed to help improve someone's intake of vegetables and fruits. It also looks green too – as do pretty much all green drinks. In addition to fruits and veggies, Power Greens also contains many other superfood ingredients such as probiotic bacteria, enzymes and other exotic ingredients that are said to work together synergistically to improve the health of older people.
More on the ingredients in this supplement are listed below. Unlike other reviews, however, my goal here is to focus on the research and try to answer your questions. In other words, no fluff review here. Just the honest facts grounded in science and rational thinking.
2. How Does Patriot Greens Work?
One of the ways Patriot Greens is said to work by reducing inflammation. Inflammation in cells is linked to a variety of diseases like:
to name a few. This supplement also contains a variety of probiotic bacteria that may confer additional benefits (more on those below).
Green foods also contain nitrates. These compounds increase our production of nitric oxide, which relaxes the muscles in our blood vessels. By doing this, nitrates can increase blood flow and even help lower blood pressure. All this stuff about nitrates being healthy is at the heart of many supplements.
For example, you've probably heard about the health benefits of beet juice. Yep, nitrates are behind many of its effects too. But, are beets the highest source of nitrates? Despite the beet-hype, the answer is no. It turns out green vegetables have even more nitrates than beets. Unfortunately, as can be seen from the ingredients list below, Patriot Power Greens have more beets than green vegetables (because beets are listed before the greens).
Because Power Greens has so many ingredients, it's difficult to pin down its effects to any single compound.
3. Patriot Power Greens Nutrition Facts
So, what's in this product? According to the company's website, 1 scoop (5.4 g) has the following Supplement Facts and Ingredients:
| Amount Per Serving | Percent Daily Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 20 | |
| Total fat | 0 | 0% DV |
| Saturated fat | 0 | % DV |
| Trans fat | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 | 0%DV |
| Sodium | 30 mg | 1%DV |
| Total carbohydrate | 4g | 1%DV |
| Dietary fiber | 2g | 6%DV |
| Sugars | ||
| Protein | 1g | |
| Vitamin A | 1395 IU | 30% DV |
| Iron | 1 mg | 6% DV |
Each can of Patriot Greens has 30 servings which is a 1 month supply.
Each 1 scoop is to be mixed in 6-8 ounces of water and consumed once per day.
4. Patriot Power Greens Ingredients
There are 50 different ingredients in Patriot Power Greens. They are as follows:
| organic agave inulin | organic spirulina | beet juice powder |
| organic apple powder | organic kale | enzyme blend (see below for more) |
| kombu seaweed | acai juice extract | amal fruit |
| wolfberry/goji extract | wakame seaweed | nori seaweed |
| organic brocoli | organic spinache | prune powder |
| pinallpe powder | pear powder | organic cranberry |
| organic sweet potato | organic noni | organic pomegranate |
| organic papaya | organic lemon | organic grape |
| organic raspberry | organic charrot | organic blueberry |
| organic strawberry | organic parsley | organic tomato |
| organic green cabbage | organic beet | B. Longum |
| L.plantarum | strep thermophilus | lactobacillus acidophilus |
| blackberry juice | black currant | dragon fruit |
| mango juice | passion fruit juice | organic coconut water |
| organic cauliflower | orange juice | onion powder |
| bifidobacterium lactis | lactobacillus casei | L. rhamnosus |
| B. breve | B. adolescentis |
Read the table from left to right. This will tell you the order they are listed on the product. Ingredients listed at the top represent those present the most, while those at the end of the list are present in the smallest amounts. That said, because Patriot Power Greens is a powder, it's not possible to list the actual amounts of each ingredient.
5. What Are The “Other Ingredients?”
The other ingredients in the product are as follows: citric acid, natural berry flavor, stevia extract, silicon dioxide.
6. What Are The Enzymes?
As can be seen from the ingredients table above, there is a blend of several different enzymes. What are those enzymes? Here they are:
- Protease
- Amyloglucosidase
- Cellulase
- Amylase
- Protease lipase
These are all digestion enzymes. They help us break down and digest protein, carbs, and fats. Enzymes are popular in some circles but do we need them? Well, some might if they have issues with digesting food.
Because enzymes are basically protein machines, they likely get digested like any other protein and absorbed as individual amino acids.
Because enzymes are broken down, they are not absorbed as enzymes. But, that's OK, because healthy people make these enzymes as they need them.
7. How Does It Taste?
The sales page I saw, it's stated it has a berry flavor.
8. What Are The Sweeteners?
According to the product website, Patriot Power Greens contains the following sweeteners:
- acai juice
- apple juice
- goji berry juice
- stevia extract
- natural berry flavor
9. Why Does Power Greens Have Seaweed?
From the ingredients list above, we see Patriot Greens has 3 different types of seaweed:
- kombu seaweed
- wakame seaweed
- nori seaweed
Why does it have seaweed? While there are many compounds in seaweed, one that stands out is iodine. The mineral iodine is necessary for the production of thyroid hormone. Could this be where the claim of restoring “youthful energy” comes from? It's difficult to say for sure, but it's possible.
Each serving of Power Greens has 65% of the RDA for iodine. In someone who is not getting enough iodine, it's possible this might boost thyroid hormone levels, which, in turn, could raise energy levels.
In someone not lacking iodine, it's debatable if iodine would boost energy levels. It's worth noting most cases of hypothyroidism are not due to iodine deficiency but rather an immune system defect (an autoimmune disorder). Iodine doesn't correct this, unfortunately.
10. Any Relation To The New England Patriots?
No. Patriot Power Greens has no association with the Patriots football team. Tom Brady does sell his own line of supplements, though. Read this for more on his protein powder.
11. Who Makes Patriot Power Greens?
The company goes by two different names:
- Patriot Health Alliance LLC (PatriotHealthAlliance.com)
- 4Patriots LLC (4Patriots.com)
- Patriot Alliance
- Water4Patriots
- SurvivalSeeds4Patriots
- Aquaponics4Patriots
- Food4Patriots
See the BBB files for updates and more information.
12. Contact Patriot Power Greens
Call 800 230 8956 to reach the Patriot Health Alliance customer service department.
Another contact number is 615-988-4505.
13. Who Is Dr. Lane Sebring?
Lane Sebring, MD, is a physician in Texas. He runs the Sebring Clinic in Wimberly, Texas, which focuses on natural ways to help the body heal itself. His websites are DrLaneSebring.com and SebringClinic.com.
The Patriot Health Alliance website says that they teamed up with Dr. Sebring to formulate the ingredients in Patriot Power Greens. The product website states that “He has been compensated by Patriot Health Alliance for his hard work in helping us to research, develop and endorse Patriot Power Greens.”
So, he's had some hand in picking the ingredients. That's good. What cannot be determined is if there is any published clinical evidence showing that Patriot Power Greens:
- Reduces inflammation?
- Eases joint pain?
- Improves energy?
Research on the product cannot be located.
14. How Much Fiber?
Each serving of Patriot Power Greens has 2 grams of fiber. That's not too much, considering the first ingredient in the product is inulin – which is a fiber. The amount is similar to other green drinks too. Fiber reduces inflammation. That's one of its benefits. This is ironic because one of the big claims for Power Greens is that it's supposed to lower inflammation.
15. What About Probiotics?
Patriot Power Greens contains the following bacteria types:
- Bifidobacterium Longum
- Lactobacillus plantarum
- Streptococcus thermophilus
- Lactobacillus acidophilus
- Bifidobacterium lactis
- Lactobacillus casei
- Lactobacillus rhamnosus
- Bifidobacterium breve
- Bifidobacterium adolescentis
All this is great, but what are they for? Ultimately, we can't know this because there is a critical piece of information the label doesn't tell us – the strain of bacteria. If we knew the strain of bacteria, then we could search for proof for the exact type of bacteria used.
Supplement companies (and food companies) only have to tell us the genus and species of bacteria in their products. Take, for example, lactobacillus acidophilus, where lactobacillus is the genus and acidophilus is the species of bacteria. There are a bunch of different lactobacillus acidophilus bacteria.
They all might not do the same thing.
If we knew the strain of bacteria for each of the probiotics used, then we could get a better idea why they are used – and locate supporting research for them.
16. Patriot Power Greens: Any Proof?
Sprinkled throughout the sales page I saw were 9 different ways (“healing secrets”) – benefits – of how Patriot Greens is supposed to help people. They are as follows :
- Healing Secret #1: Easy Digestion: Less Gas, Bloating, and Constipation!
- Healing Secret #2: Healthy Blood Pressure And Cholesterol Levels
- Healing Secret #3: All Natural Joint and Muscle Pain Relief… At Last
- Healing Secret #4: Fight Those Dreaded “Senior Moments” And Keep Your Mind Sharp-As-A-Tack
- Healing Secret #5: Glowing, Younger-Looking Skin Without Dangerous Botox Injections…
- Healing Secret #6: Harvard School of Public Health Says Inflammation Could Be The Real Reason You’re Fat
- Healing Secret #7 : Blood Sugar Levels Your Doctor Will Love…
- Healing Secret #8: A Healthy Libido At Any Age!
- Healing Secret #9: Instant Energy! Spring Out of Bed Every Morning and Restore The Endless Energy You Had 20 Years Ago!
All these sound great. But clinical evidence showing Patriot Power Greens any of this is lacking. By clinical evidence, I mean research, published in medical journals. It might or might not. Without seeing clinical evidence, it's difficult to say.
17. Harvard University And Patriot Power Greens
The word “Harvard” was mentioned 9 different times on the web page ad I saw for this supplement. But, an association between the supplement and Harvard University, Harvard Medical School or Harvard School of Public Health cannot be located. At the bottom of the Patriot Power Greens web page, it states, “This product is not endorsed or affiliated in any way with Harvard University.”
18. Does It Contain Soy?
No. Patriot Power Greens contain no soy or any other major allergen.
19. Does It Contain GMO Ingredients?
The product website states there are no genetically modified (GMO) ingredients. Power Greens also has no gluten, soy, dairy, wheat, nuts, eggs, fish, shellfish or added sugars.
20. Is It 100% Organic?
There are many organic ingredients in Power Greens but it's not 100% organic. As can be seen from the ingredients list above, while many of the ingredients are organic, still others are not organic. I bring this up because it may matter to some and may not matter to others.
21. Is It Made In the US?
The product website states that Patriot Power Green is “made right here in America.” That's good.
22. Why So Much Vitamin A?
If you looked at the Supplement Facts label (see above) you may notice each serving (1 scoop) of Patriot Power Greens has 1395 IU of vitamin A. While that may seem like a lot, it's not. It's only 30% of the daily value for this vitamin.
So, while it does make up most of what you see on the label, it's not a toxic amount. Vitamin A can have a blood thinner effect though so that's a reason to speak to a doctor if you take blood thinners.
23. Is It The Same Thing As Fruits And Veggies?
No, it's not. One reason for this because fruits and vegetables have fiber. Each scoop of Power Greens only has 2 grams of fiber, which is far less than you'd get if you actually ate all the foods in the product. Fiber does more than make us go to the bathroom. It has many health benefits – and it's healthy food for our gut bacterial too.
This lack of fiber is something most all green drink powders are also lacking.
24. How Long Does It Last?
Patriot Power Greens have a pretty long shelf life. Each canister has an expiration date and when I called the company, I was told the product will last 2 years beyond that date. That's a pretty good shelf life. My guess is it might even last longer if stored in a cool, dry environment.
25. The Testimonies Are Real, But…
The sales page for the product I saw states that while the testimonials for Patriot Power Greens are from real, happy customers,
- The names/pictures of some of them have been changed for privacy reasons
- Some featured customers were given a free canister of Patriot Power Greens in exchange for their feedback
- The testimonials and customer letters represent exceptional results and don't apply to the average purchaser and are not intended to represent or guarantee that anyone will achieve the same or similar results
I can appreciate the company being forthcoming with this information. Not everyone in the supplement world is as honest as this.
26. Patriot Power Greens Cost
So what's the price of this stuff? Here were the prices I saw when this review was created:
- 1 canister: $59.90 (49.95 plus $8.95 shipping)
- 3 canisters: $149 (free shipping included)
- 5 canisters $149 (free shipping)
When purchasing 5 canisters, you get a free shaker bottle and a couple of free reports, too. In addition, when buying 3 or 5 canisters, the company makes a donation of Power Greens to active duty military.
27. How Long Does It Take to Receive Orders?
Typically, people get their products within 2-5 days, although shipping to Canada will take longer (10 more days)—currently, Patriot Power Greens only ships to the US and Canada.
28. Patriot Power Greens Side Effects
This supplement is likely very safe in healthy people. At the time this review was created, no negative side effects were known. Here's a short list of things to consider for those who are not healthy. This list is not complete:
- Those with heart or blood pressure problems
- People taking any medications like blood thinners
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women
- Stop taking the supplement (and others) at least 2 weeks before having surgery
When in doubt, if you are not “healthy” speak to a medical professional first. That's wise for all supplements too.
29. Will It Raise My Blood Sugar?
Elevated blood sugar is a concern for diabetics. So does it raise blood glucose levels? The sales page for the product says it won't and the reason given is because Patriot Power Greens has no artificial sweaters and only 1 gram of sugar. If you have diabetes check your sugar levels just in case.
30. Is It Safe For Blood Thinners?
Vegetables contain vitamin K, which can interfere with some blood thinner medications. So, can you take Power Greens if you also take blood thinners? There is a section on the Patriot Health Alliance website that deals with this. They quote Dr. Sebring who says this would only be a problem if someone where consuming more than 45 mcg of vitamin K per day.
They say Patriot Power Greens has less than this amount per serving, although they don't give an actual amount it contains. This also doesn't factor in vitamin K you might consume from other foods. All that said, speak to your doctor if you take blood thinner/anticoagulant medications. That is the safest option for you.
31. What's The Power Greens Guarantee?
There are 2 different guarantees. Here's what they are and how they differ from each other:
The 200% Guarantee (yes, really 200%!)
- Order 1 or 3 or 5 canisters of Patriot Power Greens
- Check with your doctor to make sure you are OK to use it
- Try it for 30 days
- If after 30 days you don't feel like you have “more energy, clearer thinking, better digestion, a healthier heart and less pain when you move” return it with a 1-page note saying giving back honest feedback. You can even handwrite the note too!
The 100% Guarantee
- Order 1 or 3 of 5 canisters of Patriot Power Greens
- Take as much time as you need to evaluate it (in other words, you're not limited to 30 days)
- If you're not happy, return the canisters (even empty ones) for a full refund
Both of these sound more than reasonable to me. I don't ever think I've seen a 200% guarantee before.
32. Patriot Power Greens vs. V8 Juice
Are Patriot Power Greens better than V8 Juice? The Power Greens web page I saw touches on this by proclaiming the Power Greens supplement has 40 fruits and vegetables while V8 Juice only has 8. It goes on to say V8 Juice has as much sodium as “an order of McDonald’s french fries!”
If we leave off the fact that Low Sodium V8 Juice has a lot less sodium (140 mg per 8 oz), it should be pointed out that V8 Juice has clinical evidence it reduces blood pressure. This may be partially due to the 900 mg of blood pressure-reducing potassium in V8 juice. Patriot power greens don't tell us its potassium content.
33. Power Greens vs. The Competition
There are a lot of superfood green drinks out there. Just a few of the competitors to Power Greens include:
- Athletic Greens
- Garden of Life Perfect Food
- Green Vibrance
- It Works Greens (read review)
- Texas Superfood (read review)
- Steve Havey Vitality Daily Greens (read review)
So how does Power Greens compare to these and other supplements? There appears to be no clinical testing that compares green powder drinks to each other. This makes a head-to-head comparison difficult. That said, I think all quality brands of green superfood drinks are probably pretty equal in their effects.
34. Make Your Own Power Greens?
It's not difficult to toss some fruits and vegetables in a blender. For example, try this quick and easy recipe:
- 1 orange (peeled)
- 1/2 cups of grapes
- 1/4 cup of spinach
- 1/4 cup Lima beans
- 1/4 cup of blueberries
- 2 strawberries
- Add water and if you like protein powder (I like chocolate)
Blend all this together and drink. I've made this. It tastes pretty good, has lots of fiber, and is full of nutrition.
The downside is real food has an expiration date. Patriot Greens will last longer because it has an expiration date of 2 years after the date printed on the canister. I bring this up for survivalists who might want to stockpile Power Greens for future use.
35. Does Patriot Power Greens Help Weight Loss?
I doubt this product has any special weight loss benefits. Yes, it has acai berry and goji berry which have been rumored to promote weight loss, but trust me; they don't.
Fiber is well known to help weight loss, but Power Greens has only a little bit of fiber (2 g per scoop). The only possible way I can see it might help is if someone drank Power Greens in place of breakfast or lunch.
But this is because they're cutting calories and not because of any magical weight loss benefits.
That's the same way any weight loss shake works too.
36. Patriot Power Greens And Prop 65
Proposition 65 (Prop 65), also known as Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 is a California law. Any company that sells products in California is obliged to mention this if their product tests high for natural or synthetic compounds known to increase cancer and/or birth defects.
The levels of natural and synthetic compounds deemed safe by California are much lower than FDA levels. California regulations are more stringent than even federal standards. This is why some products mention prop 65 while others don't. Prop 65 covers a LOT of natural and synthetic compounds. You can see them all here.
One problem with Prop 65, however, is that it does not mandate companies to tell us which compound they tested high for. So what compound in Patriot Power Greens is requiring them to mention the Prop 65 warning? Lead sometimes causes this warning. Lead is a naturally occurring metal that often triggers Prop 65 in supplements. Remember that Power Greens is derived from food, many of which are vegetables.
The dirt that vegetables are grown in can collect lead. This might transfer to the vegetables themselves – and to us when we eat them. Since Power Greens concentrate vegetables into a powder, this might cause a higher lead level than if the foods were consumed in their native state. Again, that's just speculation. I have no idea what compounds in the Greens might be higher than California law deems safe.
37. Is Patriot Power Greens A Scam?
If you're like me, your first introduction to this supplement was a very long web page that seemed to go on forever. The more you scrolled down the page, the more stuff you saw. These are called “squeeze pages.” The idea is keep you interested long enough to squeeze you down the page until you get to the bottom, where you find the “buy” button.
Also, when you try to click away from the page, a message pops up asking are you sure you really want to leave?
While squeeze pages are a type of sales page, they – along with that annoying pop up that tries to prevent you from leaving – have been used by scammers. Both are sales tactics and companies use them because they work. They generate sales. That doesn't mean Patriot Power Greens is a scam – and I don't think it is. I've called the company and spoken to their customer service people.
They seem real and honest to me.
Capitalism is good and I want companies to make money. It's just squeezing pages and pop-ups have garnered such a negative reputation that even reputable companies which employ them risk getting lumped in with bad apples.
38. Does Patriot Power Greens Really Work?
The allure of drinking Patriot Power Greens is it's a convenient way to provide us with the benefits of vegetables and fruits without actually eating them. But, evidence for food does not necessarily equal evidence for Patriot Power Greens or any other green superfood supplement. If you don't eat well to begin with, then using a green supplement can a step in the right direction. For best results, it should be followed by other steps.
Here it is on Amazon