Huel Daily Greens Review:

A Scientific Breakdown

When it comes to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, incorporating greens into your diet is a step many of us are eager to take. With a market flooded with various greens powders, it's essential to find one that not only delivers nutritional value but also fits into your everyday routine seamlessly. This brings us to Huel Daily Greens, a product that’s been launched by the popular meal replacement nutrition company, Huel. This might make you think it’s worth it because you trust the brand. But is this really the case? In this Huel Daily Greens review, we'll delve into what Huel is all about, and explore the ingredients and various considerations.

Huel Daily Greens: Overview

Spoiler:

Huel Daily Greens has a decent formulation of ingredients with over 170 health benefits, and (most) vitamins have high doses. However, it includes various ‘proprietary blends’ which makes it difficult for you to assess how beneficial it is when it comes to the other ingredients, and how it fits into your nutritional goals

About Huel

Huel has positioned itself as a brand synonymous with convenience and complete nutrition. 

Known for its meal replacement powders and bars, Huel aims to deliver nutritionally complete foods that are high in protein, rich in fibre, and provide a balanced macro profile. 

Their brand is built around making nutritionally rich food accessible for those with a busy lifestyle. 

But let’s explore Huel Daily Greens in a little more detail… 

What is Huel Daily Greens?

Huel Daily Greens is a nutrient-dense supplement designed to complement your daily intake of vegetables and fruits.

  • Product: Huel Greens Daily
  • Category: Daily Greens Drinks
  • Serving Size: 15g 
  • Price: £56.50

Its goal is to provide a boost of vitamins, minerals, and other beneficial nutrients derived from a blend of greens and plant extracts.

Essentially, it's a concentrated dose of goodness that aims to fill the gaps in your diet and ensure you're getting a broad spectrum of nutrients. However, as we’ll see later in this article, there are some things that you might not like about it.

Huel Daily Greens Review: Ingredients

Huel Daily Greens includes various blends, such as:
  • Plant-Based Protein and Superfood Blend
  • Organic Antioxidant Greens Blend
  • Organic Superfruit Blend
  • Organic Adaptogen and Super Mushroom Complex
  • Organic Botanical Blend
  • Probiotics
  • Other Ingredients (Natural Flavours, Sunflower Lecithin, Guar Gum, Organic Stevia Leaf Extract)
Huel Daily Greens Proprietary Blends

When navigating the ingredients on the Huel website, you’ll come across various great-sounding blends. But you’ll struggle to find the finer details such as dose per ingredient, even if you do a Google search.  

The best you’ll find is the nutritional values of macro & some micronutrients, but not the dose per ingredient (see adjacent):

This is because  Huel Daily Greens uses  ‘proprietary blends.’ 

This term is used by manufacturers to describe a combination of various ingredients that are mixed together under a unique formula. 

The blend is trademarked, and to protect the product's formula, companies are not required to disclose the exact amounts of each individual ingredient within the blend.

Here's what you need to know about proprietary blends:

  • Lack of Specific Quantities: The actual weight of the blend is listed, but not the specific quantities of each ingredient. This can be a concern for those wanting to know the precise amounts they're consuming, especially if they have dietary restrictions or are tracking their intake closely.
  • Possible Imbalances: Without individual dosages listed, it's challenging to determine if the blend provides an effective dose of each ingredient or if it's skewed towards one over the others.
  • Quality and Effectiveness: Some blends may contain high-quality ingredients in effective doses, while others may not. The lack of transparency makes it hard to assess the quality and potential effectiveness of the blend.
  • Consumer Trust: For some consumers, proprietary blends can be a trust issue. They may prefer products that provide full disclosure so they can make informed decisions based on their health needs and preferences.

Understanding what proprietary blends are is crucial when choosing a greens supplement. 

For example, in our Bloom Greens UK alternative article, we found that their entire adaptogenic blend had a lower weight than a recommended daily dose of Ashwagandha. 

But, let’s take a deeper look at the proprietary blends Huel Greens uses. 

Here’s the problem: It appears Huel doesn’t even tell us the total weight of each blend, which isn’t ideal.  

This makes it harder for us to analyse the effectiveness because we can’t even get an average dose per ingredient for each category. 

Another thing we noticed is that Huel’s formula for the UK, and US variants is slightly different. But we’ll take a look at the UK vs US formula after to give you an overview of some of the differences you might need to be aware of. 

That said, we still found every ingredient for you from their website (so you don’t have to), and will take a deeper look at it for you below:

Proprietary Blends Review

Plant-Based Protein and Superfood Blend

The Plant-Based Protein and Superfood Blend in Huel Daily Greens is designed to offer a comprehensive mix of proteins and superfoods. This blend includes a variety of plant-based proteins such as organic pea protein and organic mung bean protein, which are great for muscle repair and growth. 

Seeds like flaxseed, organic chia, and sprouted quinoa are exceptional sources of fibre and omega-3 fatty acids, supporting digestion and cardiovascular health.

However, since this is part of a proprietary blend, the specific doses of each protein and superfood are not disclosed, so it’s hard to determine if you’ll reap all the health benefits. 

Ingredients:

Tapioca Starch, Organic Gluten-Free Oats (UK variant uses non-organic), Pea Fibre, Organic Pea Protein, Flaxseed, Organic Mung Bean Protein (UK variant uses Faba Bean Protein instead), Organic Chia Seeds, Organic Sprouted Quinoa, Inulin

Organic Antioxidant Greens Blend

The Organic Antioxidant Greens Blend boasts a collection of some of nature's most potent greens and vegetables, known for their rich antioxidant properties. 

Ingredients like organic chlorella, spirulina, and various leafy greens contribute to detoxification and boost overall vitality. Included in this blend are unique ingredients such as organic nettle aerial part and organic green tea leaf extract, which have been celebrated for their health-promoting benefits.

While the inclusion of these ingredients is promising, the unknown quantities due to the proprietary blend format could mean that you might not receive the full potential benefits of each ingredient.

Ingredients:

Organic Chlorella, Organic Spirulina, Organic Broccoli, Organic Broccoli Sprouts, Organic Carrot, Organic Spinach, Organic Kale, Organic Nettle Aerial Part, Organic Green Tea Leaf Extract, Organic Sweet Fennel Fruit, Organic Artichoke Leaf, Organic Basil Leaf, Organic Black Garlic, Organic Green Coffee Bean Extract, Organic Mate Leaf Extract, Organic Calciferous Marine Algae (Aquamin F)

Organic Superfruit Blend

With the Organic Superfruit Blend, Huel Daily Greens aims to deliver a burst of vitamins and antioxidants through a variety of fruits. This blend includes a spectrum of berries, such as organic blueberry and cranberry, known for their high levels of vitamin C and antioxidants. Organic tomato and coconut nectar are also present for their phytonutrient content.

Again, the undisclosed doses might mean that the antioxidant power of these superfruits could vary.

Ingredients:

Organic Tomato, Organic Coconut Nectar, Organic Apple, Organic Lemon Peel, Organic Acerola Fruit Extract, Organic Red Grape Vine Leaf, Organic Small Plantain Leaf, Organic Bilberry, Organic Strawberry, Organic Raspberry, Organic Blueberry, Organic Tart Cherry, Organic Elderberry, Organic Cranberry 

Organic Adaptogen and Super Mushroom Complex

The Organic Adaptogen and Super Mushroom Complex is an exciting addition that caters to the body's stress response and immune system. Adaptogens like ashwagandha root and rhodiola extract are highly regarded for their stress-relieving properties. Super mushrooms such as reishi and cordyceps offer immune support.

However, the effectiveness of adaptogens and super mushrooms is again highly dose-dependent. For example, the popular supplement Ashwagandha has a recommended daily dose of 250-500mg, with Huel you have no idea how far away from it you are (which even makes it hard to bump up with other supplements). 

Ingredients:

Organic Ashwagandha Root, Organic Rhodiola Root Extract, Organic Siberian Ginseng Root, Organic Lemon Balm Leaf, Organic Marshmallow Root, Organic Maca Tuber, Organic White Ginseng Root, Organic Red Ginseng Root, Organic Ginger Root, Organic Maitake Mushroom, Organic Shiitake Mushroom, Organic Reishi Mushroom, Organic Cordyceps Militaris Mushroom

Organic Botanical Blend

The Organic Botanical Blend is a carefully selected mix of herbs and roots, each with a history of health benefits.

 From organic cinnamon bark, which helps in blood sugar control, to organic dandelion root with its liver support properties, the blend covers a variety of wellness aspects.

But again the true potential of these botanicals is closely tied to their dosages because every study that mentioned the benefits of them used specific doses. And with Huel Daily Greens you simply don’t know how close you are to that dose. 

Ingredients:

Organic Cinnamon Bark, Organic Burdock Root, Organic Dandelion Root, Organic Echinacea Aerial Part, Organic Hawthorn Flowering Top, Organic Hibiscus Flower Extract, Organic Lemongrass Leaf  

Probiotics

Probiotics like Bacillus coagulans MTCC 5856 and Bifidobacterium Bifidum 100B are crucial for gut health. They help maintain a healthy gut flora balance, which is essential for digestion and immune function.

The strains included are well-known, but the doses listed appear to be *heavily* underdosed: 

Bifidobacterium Bifidum 100B: 125 million CFU per serving. However, an ideal dose is 1-6 billion. 

Bacillus coagulans MTCC 5856: 25 Million Spores/CFU per serving. A recommended dose is 1-2 billion spores/CFU.

Other Ingredients

Lastly, other ingredients such as natural flavours, sunflower lecithin, guar gum, and organic stevia leaf extract are included for taste, texture, and stability of the product. 

These ingredients are common in many health supplements and are generally well-tolerated.

Other ingredients:

Natural Flavours, Sunflower Lecithin, Guar Gum, Organic Stevia Leaf Extract

Huel Daily Greens UK vs US Formula

One thing we noticed is that the UK and US formulas are slightly different from one another. This can be due to various reasons such as ingredient sourcing, national preferences, and marketing strategy. 


However, we wanted to highlight the key differences for you to ensure that you’re not disappointed or unaware if you do decide to pick up Huel Daily Greens. 

Mung Bean Protein vs Faba Bean Protein: It seems the UK variant uses ‘Faba Bean Protein’, compared to the US version using Mung Bean protein. This is most commonly due to ingredient-sourcing reasons, as they both fall into the plant protein category and have a similar role. 

Shiitake Mushroom vs Lion’s Mane: Interestingly, the UK version uses Lion’s Mane, while the US variant uses Shiitake mushrooms. Both are excellent ingredients, as Shiitake mushrooms have a high antioxidant profile, while Lion’s mane has been linked to memory and cognitive effects. Both are great inclusions, just slightly different effects. 

Oats: The US version lists "Organic Gluten-Free Oats," whereas the UK version lists "Gluten-Free Oats."

Huel Daily Greens Review: Pros and Cons

In reviewing Huel Daily Greens, it's crucial to consider both the positives and negatives to get a balanced view. Here's a quick rundown:

Pros:

  • 91 Ingredients (Lots of variety) 
  • Some vitamins included in high doses
  • Focus on providing a plant-based source of additional nutrients
  • Organic Ingredients

Cons:

  • Uses a proprietary blend, making it difficult to ascertain the exact dosage of each ingredient
  • Some B vitamins do not meet 100% of the Daily Intake/Daily Value
  • Probiotics appear underdosed
  • Lack of disclosure on doses of popular supplements like ashwagandha
  • Absence of certain ingredients such as ginkgo biloba, Gotu Kola, Alfalfa, Milk Thistle, Beetroot, Kelp, and more compared to competitors like Verve V80.

Don’t Rely on Blind Trust

Try Verve V80 Instead

Shop Verve V80

Transparency Is Everything

hand dropping fruit into bottle filled with fruit

If transparency in your nutrition is a top priority for you, then Verve V80 could be what you're looking for. 

Verve V80 is celebrated for its openness about what goes into its product, ensuring you know exactly what you're consuming with every sip. 

This is particularly significant for ingredients that many often supplement separately, such as Ashwagandha or Panax ginseng. You'll find the full dosages listed, so there's no guessing game. 

With Huel Daily Greens, this doesn’t appear to be the case. (see the screenshot, taken from the uk.huel.com website): 

You have NO idea how much of each ingredient you’re getting. 

And if you know a 500mg dose of ashwagandha is right for you, you don’t know whether it’s 100mg or 500mg. This also makes it hard if you do want to bump it up with supplements because again, you don’t know your starting point. 

Huel does have a 15g serving size, which could be a sign that the doses are high. 

However, Huel does not mention using concentrated extracts like Verve V80 does, which translates into more potent, due to using extracts with only active ingredients.

Because it appears Huel does not utlise concentrated extracts, it contributes to their high (potentially perceived) serving size.

Verve V80 vs Huel Daily Greens: Ingredient & Benefit Comparison

Verve V80 boasts over 200+ science-backed health benefits, surpassing Huel's 170, despite a slightly lower number of 80 ingredients. 

In terms of dose distribution, Verve V80 excels where Huel falls short.

It provides a more balanced spread of nutrients, ensuring that you're hitting the nutritional reference value (NRV) for essential vitamins (where Huel doesn’t) such as: 

  • Riboflavin (Vitamin B2): It plays a crucial role in energy production and the metabolism of fats, drugs, and steroids. It also helps maintain healthy skin, eyes, and nerve functions.
  • Biotin (Vitamin B7): Biotin is essential for the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. It plays a key role in supporting healthy skin, hair, and nails.
  • Thiamine (Vitamin B1): Thiamine is important for energy metabolism. It helps convert carbohydrates into energy and is essential for the proper functioning of the heart, muscles, and nervous system.

While Huel has these vitamins they are underdosed in both the US and UK formula. 

Below are all of the values and the percentage % of the nutritional reference value (NRV) 

Huel Daily Greens US Formula: 

  • Thiamin: 0.2mg (18.18% of the NRV)
  • Riboflavin: 0.2mg (14.29% of the NRV)
  • Biotin: 10 mcg (20% of the NRV)

Huel Daily Greens UK Formula: 

  • Thiamin: 0.23mg (20.91% of the NRV)
  • Riboflavin: 0.31mg (22.14% of the NRV)
  • Biotin: 7.5mcg (15.00% of the NRV)

Meaning: If energy production and metabolism, it’s better to go for Verve V80 than Huel Greens. However, all other vitamins appear to be dosed quite high with Huel, whereas Verve V80 gives you exactly 100% of your nutritional reference value (NRV). 

And let’s talk about probiotics. 

While Huel was heavily underdosed, Verve V80 contains Bifidobacterium Bifidum at 4 Billion CFU per serving (vs Huel’s 125 million), and Lactobacillus rhamnosus at 4 billion CFU per serving — both recommended doses to actually improve your gut health. 

Plus, here are some more reasons to go for Verve (even if you’re a Hueligan): 

  • UK-sourced ingredients
  • By the founder of Myprotein®, initially formulated for his own personal use. 
  • 100% transparency
  • Infused with real fruit for a naturally pleasant flavour

Huel Daily Greens Review: Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about Huel Greens. 

Is Huel as good as Athletic Greens?

Both Huel and Athletic Greens are designed to enhance your diet with a rich mix of nutrients. While they share a similar goal of providing a comprehensive range of vitamins, minerals, and other beneficial compounds, they each use proprietary blends. 

This means that the exact amounts of the individual ingredients are not fully disclosed. Consequently, it's difficult to make a precise comparison without detailed ingredient dosages. 

When should I take Huel greens?

Huel suggests that their greens powder is the perfect companion to your breakfast. Starting your day with Huel Greens can inject a boost of essential nutrients right from the outset, setting a positive health tone for the rest of your day. It's formulated to complement your morning meal by providing a concentrated dose of vitamins, minerals, and other phytonutrients that might be less abundant in your regular breakfast. 

Does green powder actually work?

Green powders can indeed work, provided you choose a product that's backed by solid science and delivers effective dosages of its ingredients. The key is to look beyond the marketing and investigate whether a green powder has transparent labeling that allows you to see the exact quantities of its components. Beware of proprietary blends which may hide insufficient dosages. 

Does Huel Daily Greens have probiotics?

Yes, Huel Daily Greens includes probiotics in its formulation. The specific strains used are Bacillus Coagulans MTCC 5856 and Bifidobacterium Bifidum 100B. Probiotics are an important inclusion as they help support digestive health by maintaining a balanced intestinal microbiota. However, based on our analysis, it appears they are underdosed. 

Final Thoughts

We hope you have enjoyed our Huel Daily Greens review. As we have seen throughout, Huel Daily Greens is a formula with many beneficial ingredients and high doses of most vitamins. 

However, due to the use of proprietary blends, it’s hard to understand the doses of individual ingredients that are commonly supplemented and important to you (Think: Ginseng, Ashwagandha, etc.)

In conclusion, if you don’t want to put blind trust in proprietary blends, Verve V80's transparent approach and comprehensive nutrient profile make it a standout choice. Its cost-effectiveness, superior taste with real fruit infusion, and an impressive list of health benefits position it as an ideal alternative to Huel Daily Greens. 

To experience the full spectrum of what Verve V80 has to offer, you might want to consider making the switch and discovering how it can support your wellness journey.

Disclaimer:
The mention of competitor products or companies in this article is for informational purposes only. All trademarks, logos, and brand names are the property of their respective owners. The inclusion of these names does not imply any endorsement or affiliation with our company, nor does it indicate any comparison or competition with our own products. All information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication.

Discover positive daily habits

Miss Nutritionist Breaks Down Verve’s New Products
Verve Naked Beauty: An In-Depth Look
Verve Transparent Greens V40 Powder: An In-Depth Look