Too Good to Be Food: Genesis Today Veggie Blast

Many veggie juices promise to fuel you with multiple servings of veggies in one little bottle and provide benefits similar to that of real produce. At the same time, many of them have too much sodium or added sugar. Veggie Blast is a fruit and veggie blend with a package that is plastered with all sorts of claims -- that it supports heart health, eye health, and antioxidant levels; is full of fiber, vitamins and minerals; and contains two servings of fruits and veggies per eight ounces, all while keeping the sodium less than other brands. Is it Too Good to Be Food? Let's check it out.

What's in It:
Ingredients: 100 percent vegetable and goji juice blend (tomato juice, goji berry juice, sweet potato juice, yellow carrot juice, red bell pepper juice concentrates) with filtered water, inulin (fiber), citric acid, natural flavors and spices, sea salt, Veggie Blast antioxidant blend (celery, spirulina, jalapeno, kale, chlorella, blue-green algae, broccoli, garlic, spinach powders), xanthan gum, vinegar, vitamins [ascorbic acid (vitamin C), niacin (vitamin B3), pantothenic acid, vitamin B6, riboflavin (vitamin B2), thiamin (vitamin B1), folate, biotin, vitamin B12, beta-carotene], plant-derived minerals

The first and thus most plentiful ingredient is tomato juice, which contains lycopene, an antioxidant-rich, cancer-protecting compound. Second is goji berry juice, a tangy superfruit from select parts of China, Tibet and Mongolia that is rich in vitamin A, which supports eye health. And it tastes delish! Third is sweet potato juice, another vitamin A-rich ingredient.

Yellow carrot juice is next, a lutein-rich juice that may decrease macular degeneration -- yet another eye benefit. Red bell pepper juice follows, an ingredient that is loaded with vitamin C and beta-carotene that may protect against cataracts -- wowee, just when you though you had your eyes fully protected!

Filtered water is next, which is an all-natural way to dilute the drink and create a smoother taste. After water comes inulin, a derivative of chicory root and a natural source of dietary fiber, which helps to support bacterial growth in your GI tract and aid bowel function. Great news!

The following ingredient is citric acid, a natural preservative found in fruits and vegetables. The next ingredients are natural flavors and spices; while we do not know exactly what natural flavors are added, I have faith in this product so far and all spices get the thumbs-up by me. They not only add great flavor, but they boost the antioxidant level as well. Sea salt follows, which is not much different than table salt, but because of its intense flavor, you end up using less, which lowers the sodium content.

Then comes the Veggie Blast antioxidant blend -- powdered forms of vegetables that are just condensed forms of the real stuff. The first veggie in this blend is celery, which is rich in phthalide and thus may lower stress hormones -- perhaps perfect for a 4 p.m. office snack?

The subsequent ingredient is spirulina, a blue-green algae, that is packed with vitamins and beta-carotene. Next up is jalapeno, which contains capsaicin, an active ingredient that adds a small thermogenic effect -- an added bonus to the blend. Then there is kale, a vitamin C antioxidant boost. Chlorella and blue-green algae follow, both of which contain high amounts of chlorophyll, adding more antioxidants and an energy boost!

After that there is broccoli, another superhero in its efforts to fight cancer; garlic, a great heart-healthy food that has been shown to reduce heart attacks and stroke; and spinach, which may help support all three things Veggie Blast is promoting -- heart health, eye health and antioxidant levels. After the veggies comes xanthan gum, a natural thickener. Then vinegar, which is rich in acetic acid, helping to absorb minerals such as calcium -- a great plus when you have so many green vegetables in one drink. The final ingredients are vitamins and plant-derived minerals -- as if the veggies are not already full of them? Bring it on!

This long ingredient list is actually a good thing! While the drink may not have the crunch that real vegetables have, it does have many of their superhero qualities. Compared to other vegetable blends, Veggie Blast has about half the amount of sodium; is beefed up with various vegetables; and even contains ingredients like chlorella and spirulina, which are usually found only at your local juice bar.

In fact, this lower-sodium, natural, veggie-loaded beverage is an energy and antioxidant boost waiting to happen. Get drinking! But don't forget: This slightly tangy, satisfying drink is a perfect between-meal pick-me-up or a great snack coupled with nuts such as pistachios, but don't use it as an excuse to give up the real thing. Veggies are a low-cal way to pack in nutrients and fiber, and the water volume helps fill you up so you are less likely to overeat at your meal.

[10 fl oz serving]

Calories: 50

Fat: 0

Sat Fat: 0

Trans Fat: 0

Cholesterol: 0

Sodium: 195
Potassium: 385

Total Carbohydrate: 12

Fiber: 3

Sugar: 9

Protein: 2