I've been a registered dietitian for more than 14 years and have a passion for nutrition and living a healthy lifestyle. Now that I am a mom as well, I've been trying to find easy ways to get my family to eat our veggies. I decided to give greens powder a try!
Last updated: 01/04/2024
I've been a registered dietitian for more than 14 years and have a passion for nutrition and living a healthy lifestyle. Now that I am a mom as well, I've been trying to find easy ways to get my family to eat our veggies. I decided to give greens powder a try!
Last updated: 01/04/2024
The 11 candidates!
I went on a journey to find the best greens powder in the market for my family. I applied a methodological approach and found the product that wins on the most important factors: taste, smell, texture, health benefits and ingredients.
Sometimes supplement brands are not very transparent and the most important information is hard to find. Read on to see how I scored the products I tried, discover the details behind each score and learn from how I found these hidden nuances — so you don't have to!
What I love:
The best tasting greens powder
Custom blend of 19 raw organic ingredients
All natural superfood ingredients
100% certified organic, vegan, gluten-free
Has probiotics and digestive enzymes for gut health
Easy to make
Supports immunity system
Made in California
No added sugars
30 day money back guarantee
What could be better:
Only available online (and runs out sometimes)
"Enso Supergreens checks all of the boxes for a super greens powder that is easy to use, tastes good, and has all of the organic superfoods needed to help aid with digestion, boost my energy levels and overall health, and promote immunity and longevity down the line"
— as reviewed by WiseGeek (2022)
All of my "greenies"!
Even as a Registered Dietitian with 14 years of clinical experience, finding the most well-rounded, healthiest and best-tasting super greens powder can be a challenging task, considering the wide variety of products available on the market. To make an informed choice, several factors need to be considered:
I purchased and carefully tested 11 products (in the picture above) that passed this test and would then go through the process below:
In action: my scorecard!
The 11 candidates!
Ingredients
Health benefits
Taste
Smell
Texture
Easy to make
Price
I wanted my greens powder to have the right ingredients from the best sources. My goal was to start thinking about health in a more preventive (vs reactive way). I didn't want to wait until I had a problem, but make sure I was getting what my body needs.
However, the best greens powder is the one you'll actually take everyday, and if it doesn't taste good, the likelihood of that happening decreases. At least I knew I wouldn't have a shot with my kids. Taste is a crucial factor!
I also wanted to make sure the powder was easy to make and I was comparing prices in the most effective way possible (per serving).
So, here are the nitty gritty conclusions I made during my experiment and I’ll give more information on the greens powder I ended up choosing. Dive in and feel free to leave any comments of your own if you’ve tried any of these brands!
There's a lot of BS around the terms green and superfood so it's hard to cut through the noise. I spent hours researching and speaking with nutrition specialists to convince my kids to give superfoods a shot. I'll share what I learned below and hopefully this helps you too!
Let's start with what "superfoods" are not. It is not a scientific term. Superfoods are not magical or meant to replace full fresh meals with whole foods.
According to Harvard School of Public Health, "a food is promoted to superfood status when it offers high levels of desirable nutrients, is linked to the prevention of a disease, or is believed to offer several simultaneous health benefits beyond its nutritional value". It might not be a scientific term, but it made its way to the dictionary. Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a superfood as “a food (such as salmon, broccoli, or blueberries) that is rich in compounds (such as antioxidants, fiber, or fatty acids) considered beneficial to a person’s health.”
Fitbit's Guide To Building A Balanced Plate - Fitbit Blog
What about greens powder? Well, greens powder -- which are made of superfoods -- are described by WebMD as a "dietary supplement that helps people reach their daily recommended intake of vitamins and minerals. The nutrient combination in greens powder is formulated to support your body’s immune system and energy levels while meeting the nutrition requirements for a healthy diet.".
Since Americans aren't anywhere close to reaching their recommended intake of fruits and veggies, greens powders started being endorsed by multiple doctors and nutritionists as compliments to a quality diet. Men's Health interviewed a few of them:
“I like a good greens product as a supplement for individuals who have an aversion to veggies, cannot consume enough veggies, or during travel. The best greens products have natural sources of vitamins and minerals, including key micronutrients that are often deficient in our diet." -- Abbie Smith, Ph.D., C.S.C.S., an associate professor of exercise physiology at UNC Chapel Hill.
“High quality greens powders are loaded with powerful plant nutrients and are a great way to supplement your diet with all the amazing compounds found in greens,” says Danielle Omar, M.S., R.D., an Integrative Dietitian at FoodConfidence.com.
What I love:
The best tasting greens powder
20+ superfoods
Made with organic vegetables
All natural and non-GMO
100% vegan, gluten-free, nut-free
Boosts immunity, digestion and energy
Probiotics and enzymes for gut health and bloating
Sugar free
No Stevia or artificial sweeteners
No caffeine
Easy to make
Made in the US
Third party tested
GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) certified
30-day money-back guarantee
Free shipping
What could be better:
Thin powder
Only available online
Only one flavor available (until fall 2023)
Just one note: this blog is reader-supported. When you purchase products through links on this site, I may earn a commission which helps keep the site free of ads. Live it Up was in fact my favorite and the highest-scoring greens powder I tried so BestGreenPowder is an affiliate of Live it Up. I did try all of them myself (as you can see!) so I encourage you to read through my detailed review and find what might be best for you and your specific needs. I may also earn commissions from these other products if you buy them through Amazon affiliate. Thank you for your support!
★ Overall Rating ️
My ABSOLUTE favorite! Live it Up checked all of my boxes:
(1) Ingredients and health benefits: made with organic vegetables (sourced locally and produced in the US) and the mix the product is what makes this really special. Packed with the micronutrients, vitamins and minerals that most diets lack due to the deficiency of greens, the product contains a wide variety of nutritious greens (from the 'trendy' algae chlorella and spirulina to the more popular moringa and spinach) that cover the health benefits we all expect to get from eating healthier.
(2) Taste: Super Greens actually tastes and smells good. It's fresh, refreshing and it dissolves really well with a spoon or a mixer. The taste was good by itself in its simplest form (with water only), but it was easy to combine it with other liquids like milk (or milk alternatives) and juices.
(3) Price: all right, this wasn't the cheapest product I tried, but it is definitely on the most affordable side of the spectrum, especially when compared to its competitors at the same level of quality and variety of ingredients -- Athletic Greens sells for $99!
★ What I love ️
OK, did I say already how good this actually tastes? It was by far the best tasting product I tried. I would even categorize it as delicious when you mix it with milk and make a smoothie out of it. The freshness of the mint comes across in its taste and smell. Taste wasn't as much of a priority for me (as ingredients and health benefits were) but if you're seriously considering making a habit out of it, this has to be a pleasant drink. So, for those who want to think of their health in a more preventive (vs reactive) way and have a safety net of greens in your life, Super Greens is what I recommend after my research and tasting journey. I felt really great after drinking it daily for 30 days in my breakfast: more energized, focused, and ready for my day!
★ What could be better
Super Greens is one of the thinnest powders, which can be good and bad. Even though this makes it easier to mix and less chunky, it can also make it messier if you're a bit clumsy like me. Also, this product only sells online and, if you're not part of their subscription, it can run out quickly. As of now, the product is currently available on the Live it Up website!
★ Description
“Boost your greens to transform your health! Made with organic vegetables, all-natural and packed with 20+ superfoods, probiotics and digestive enzymes to improve your digestion, immunity and energy. Trust us, your body will thank you."
My husband preparing my Live it Up
My kids tasting Live it UP!
★ Ingredients
Live it Up is a mix of 20 all-natural superfoods like spirulina, chlorella and kale -- but don't worry, I promise you it doesn't taste like kale. Nothing against kale, but its taste comes from peppermint leaf, another green superfood.
I spent quite some time examining this nutrition table and going through ingredients one by one. I wanted to make sure I knew and understood could get behind all the ingredients I was consuming.
You can see all the vitamins (A, C, B6 and B12) and minerals at the top (calcium, for example, is known to provide support to the bones and teeth, as well as heart, muscles and nerves). You'll notice that all the vitamins are derived from the whole food on their natural form -- unlike Centrum and Athletic Greens, for example, that add synthetic vitamins to their product.
The certified organic ingredients (all listed at the bottom), as well as the probiotic and enzyme complex contained in the formula that promote gut health benefits.
You can also notice how low in calories (only 31) one serving actually is. Also, compared to others I tested, the level of carbohydrate is on the low range (4.8g or 1% of the estimated daily value).
There is so much history, research and data around each of these superfood ingredients and their holistic benefits to our health. I spent hours just studying and analyzing one of the 20 superfoods in Super Greens, spirulina.
Spirulina is a tiny blue-green algae (curiosity: it is believed to be one of Earth's oldest forms of life!) packed with nutrients. WebMD says Spirulina is an an endurance-booster, an all-in-one source of nutrients including protein levels comparable to eggs.
The Aztecs are known to use Spirulina to treat various diseases. Research ties Spirulina to potential powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, anti-cancer properties, muscle strength and endurance, and even brain-protective properties.
Update 09/2022: I became such a believer in – and unofficial ambassador of – Enso Supergreens that I decided to purchase the company and its formulas to further expand its mission to make it easy for everyone to live a healthy life! Bestgreenpowder.com is now an affiliate of Enso Superfoods!
What I love:
Wide variety of ingredients
Diverse health benefits
Comprehensive Supplement Facts
Probiotics and digestive enzymes
GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) certified
Third party tested
Caffeine-free and nut-free
Non-GMO
Money-back guarantee
Subscriber welcome kit
Very nice and easy-to-use website
What could be better:
The most expensive greens in the market
Not organic
Not 100% all-natural product (this is a deal breaker for me!)
Has stevia
Has sugars
Didn't taste or smell very good
Texture was too sandy
Didn't dilute very well
Not manufactured in the US (might be an important factor for some)
Focuses too much on athletes
Does not offer free shipping
★ What I love ️
At first, this is an impressive product. The marketing and high investments on a beautiful package, brand and website help build trust and the best first impression out of all the products I tried. This ingredient list is in fact quite extensive and very complete. The advertised health benefits cover energy, recovery, digestion and immunity. If you're interested in subscribing, getting the subscriber's kit makes you feel very special and further encourages you to turn your greens into a new daily habit.
★ What could be better
There's a lot of hype around Athletic Greens with all their advertising and endorsements lately. This leads to the inevitable question of whether the premium is worth it and how much of this is hype. No doubt AG1 is a great product and the health benefits are there (therefore the high score of this runner up), but the $99 price (almost an extra $60 compared my first choice, Live it Up) just didn't make up for it. To be clear: it wasn't just the price. The list of cons can't be ignored: the product is not organic, not 100% natural (you can notice added synthetic vitamins listed on the ingredients side of their Supplement Fact Panel), has stevia listed as an ingredient, it's not sugar-free and it's not manufactured in the US. I also personally didn't like the smell, the texture (too sandy and didn't dilute very well) and the taste (exactly like a diluted pineapple juice).
★ Description
"75 vitamins, minerals, and whole-food sourced nutrients in one convenient daily serving. One Scoop, 8 ounces of water. It's all you really need, really."
AG1 powder
What I love:
All-natural product
Probiotics and digestive enzymes
GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) certified
Third party tested
Vegan, gluten-free and nut-free
Sugar-free
Ingredients focused on energy and immunity
Has a really good smell
365-day money back guarantee
What could be better:
Not enough variety of superfoods
Not organic
Has stevia (sweetener)
Taste felt a bit artificial to me
The powder is a bit "sandy"
Not as easy to make
Not manufactured in the US
Does not offer free shipping
★ What I love ️
Honestly, the 365-day money back guarantee. It's the best available in the market. Greens companies usually don't offer money-back and when they do, it comes to 30 days. The lower price of this product and the really competitive money-back guarantee really make Beyond Greens stand out from the competition. This is a great option for those who are looking for a product on the cheaper side. This would be my top choice of the lower end products. Both Live it Up (#1) and Athletic Greens (#2) are on the higher end of the premium spectrum when it comes to quality and variety of ingredients and superfoods.
★ What could be better
The variety of superfoods killed it for me. It's not a very comprehensive product and the much smaller serving size (3.8g vs 8-10g average) makes me doubt if this product is cheaper only because there's less product in it. I also didn't love the taste as much as their smell. It felt a bit artificial, even though they don't seem to have artificial ingredients. I didn't like that their formula has stevia, which is a (somewhat controversial) natural sweetener. This super greens blend is a bit "sandy" and not frothy at all, which makes it look and feel more like a green juice than a smoothie.
★ Description
"Beyond Your Average 'Green' Drink: Beyond Greens by Live Conscious supports a healthy immune system, harmonious gut health, whole-body detoxification, and clean energy."
Beyond Greens powder
What I love:
Variety of greens and superfoods
Gluten-free, non-GMO, vegan
Probiotics and digestive enzymes
Has more probiotics and fibers than the average product
Helps strengthen digestion and immune health
How the nutrition facts are organized
Produced in the US
Third party tested
Smells really good
Comes in 30 and 60-serving packages
What could be better:
Not organic
Not a sugar free product
Not GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) certified
Wasn't the best price
Free shipping only for subscribers
No money-back guarantee
It was very hard to open
Texture was too earthy
★ What I love ️
Their nutrition facts/label is the best I've seen among superfood companies. It's really well organized and easy to understand for those who are not nutritionists. The product is one of the most complete ones, with more probiotics and fibers than the average product. I also liked that it is third-party tested, produced in the US and has a wider variety of superfoods.
★ What could be better
This doesn't taste good! I didn't like it at all, and didn't even have the courage to ask my kids to try. It's a light taste, but it does taste like a mix of veggies in a juice. This by itself almost ruled Green Vibrance out for me as an option. The product also wasn't sugar-free and organic, which made it lose some points as well. The pricing was too high for a product like this and given that there wasn't free shipping and money-back guarantee, Green Vibrance one wasn't a very competitive option for me overall.
★ Description
"America's #1 Superfood.* Green Vibrance is packed with micronutrients and 25 billion probiotics that support all four pillars of health: nutrition, circulation, digestion, and immunity—improving biological requirements to run at peak efficiency, increase energy, and boost your immune system."
Green Vibrance powder
What I love:
Organic superfoods
All-natural product
Gluten-free, non-GMO
Probiotics and digestive enzymes
Has adaptogens
Really sweet, for those who like it
Money-back guarantee
Offers a variety of flavors (I tried the mint one, which smelled really good)
Focuses on stress, food cravings, hydration and balance
What could be better:
Not enough variety of superfoods
More on the expensive side
Has stevia and sugars
Has caffeine
Didn't like the taste at all
Had a strong aftertaste
Texture is very grassy and sandy
Really hard to open
Didn't come with a scoop
Contain nuts
★ What I love ️
I liked the certifications that Organifi presents, some of them are pretty unique to the company, like "Glyphosate Residue Free" and "Vitamin Angels". I liked how their benefits are focussed on stress, food cravings, and hydration/balance.
★ What could be better
First of all, this was a really expensive product for the variety of superfoods it contained (only 11!). It also has stevia and sugars as well as caffeine. In addition, I really did not enjoy how sweet it was. It made me think that there's an additional ingredient in there that's making it outstandingly sweet. I couldn't identify what it was, but something is making this product the sweetest one in the category.
★ Description
"Stress, cravings, and hormones can all be connected to cortisol levels. Since having a healthy cortisol pattern throughout the day is essential, a daily glass of green juice first thing can support: responses to stress, food cravings, hydration & balance - bringing the body back to its naturally-balanced state."
Organifi powder
What I love:
Organic superfoods
Vegan, non-GMO and gluten-free
Wider variety of superfoods
Probiotcis and digestive enzymes
More fibers than the average greens
Third-party lab tested
Lifetime guarantee
Supports immunity and digestion
Has two different flavors
Manufactured in the US
What could be better:
Has sugars
Expensive product
No free shipping
Not my favorite taste
Smells terrible
Hard to open
Powder is very sandy and didn't dilute well
★ What I love ️
We obviously don't buy a product thinking that we'll need to return it, but it happens. Nested has one of the most return-friendly options in the market. I also love when the product is third party lab tested -- it definitely adds a lot of credibility to the product. Nested organizes their supplement facts in a really easy way. The scoop with the longer handle is also a nice touch, since it's always hard to have to dig into the bottom of the powder to find it when your powder is almost all gone.
★ What could be better
It wasn't my favorite taste at all; the smell was the worst out of all the products I tested. I couldn't get past it. I also thought the product was a lot more expensive than what it should be, especially considering that it does not offer free shipping. I would not recommend Nested.
★ Description
“Nested Naturals Super Greens helps promote healthy energy levels, healthy detoxification and immune function.”
Nested powder
What I love:
Organic superfoods
Wider variety of superfoods
Non-GMO, vegan, soy-free
Probiotics and digestive enzymes
Focuses on digestion, immunity and energy
Competitive price
Available in stores (not only online)
Third party tested
Has fruits
No stevia
What could be better:
Less probiotics than the average
No free shipping
No money-back guarantee
Doesn't smell good
Texture is very earthy and sandy
★ What I love ️
I like the price. This product is definitely on the cheaper end of the spectrum. They still have a diverse set of nutrients, and all the important certifications, and no stevia or added sugars. I also appreciate the fact that Garden of Life can be found not only online, but also in brick and mortar stores accross the country.
★ What could be better
Every time I notice a cheaper greens product, I wonder why it is lower than the average. In this case, first of all, the probiotic count was really low (5x lower than the average greens). The company also does not offer additional benefits like free shipping or 30-day money-back guarantee. Taste-wise, I really didn't like this one! It really smells and tastes like a juice of veggies. Not for me.
★ Description
"This greens powder is packed with raw organic greens, sprouts and vegetable juices for raw energy."
Garden of Life powder
What I love:
Organic superfoods
All-natural superfoods
Non-GMO, vegan, gluten-free
Tastes fresh, but very matcha-heavy
Transparency about ingredients and source
Price is competitive (even though ingredients are much more limited)
Ingredients that benefit immunity and oxidative stress
30 day money back guarantee
Your Super is a B Corporation
What could be better:
Very few ingredients (only 6)
More limited health benefits
Taste is not as good
Missing probiotics and other key ingredients that other greens offer
Powder was a bit chunky
Doesn't come with a scoop
★ What I love
The transparency of Your Super is what I loved the most. Their greens powder is a veggie powder supplement with a few but powerful ingredients, and their website explicitly mentions which these are, where they come from, and their benefits. I love that Your Super is a B Corporation, a certification that comes with all sorts of environmental and social requirements. Also, the price!
★ What could be better
Well, we cannot deny that the ingredient list is significantly more restricted than all the other greens powders I tried. If you're looking for a simple product, this is for you -- but if you're hoping to get a daily intake of a variety of greens, this product won't do it and you're better off paying a bit more to get more out of your greens. In addition, Your Super's greens powder really feels, tastes and smells like matcha, so for those who don't like or even love matcha (or green tea, really), taking it everyday can be an issue. I don't have a particular problem with it, but it wasn't my absolute favorite taste. I didn't like that it doesn't come with a scoop -- makes the whole process less practical.
★ Description
"The easiest way to get more greens! This powerful superfood smoothie mix combines 6 nutritious greens to support your health. Provides a portion of your daily greens. Contains nutritious superfoods like moringa and spirulina. Add daily to your green smoothie or juice."
The Your Super powder
What I love:
Ingredient transparency
Wider variety of superfoods
Probiotics and digestive enzymes
Made in the US
Free shipping
Multiple Flavors
No chemicals
What could be better:
Seems like a copy of Athletic Greens
Expensive product
Constantly runs out
Little ingredient transparency
Didn't taste very good
Texture was too sandy
Not organic
Didn't dilute very well
★ What I love ️
Like Athletic Greens, this product offers a wide range of superfoods and benefits. Their website mentions energy and focus, immunity, digestion, hormonal support, and skin clarity. All the ingredients are listed and clear in the label and website.
★ What could be better
Honestly, this seemed like a copy of Athletic Greens. It tasted and smelled the same (not great!). The visual identity is very similar, the packaging is almost identical -- but worse. If you're willing to pay this much for a greens product, there's no reason why you wouldn't go with Athletic Greens over this one.
★ Description
“Meet your daily scoop of gut health goodness! Made with 30+ good-for-you ingredients, Greens help relieve bloat, support digestion, and promote energy in the most delicious way.”
Bloom powder
What I love:
Price
Gluten-free, non-GMO, plant based
Probiotics and digestive enzymes
No sugars added
Supports digestion and immunity
Also comes in flavored options
Has more fibers than the average greens
Also available in stores
What could be better:
Nor organic
Fewer ingredients
More limited health benefits
Has caffeine (green tea)
No free shipping
No money-back guarantee
Both taste and smell were bad
★ What I love ️
I liked that the product comes with two different flavored options (chocolate and berry). The price is very competitive and the product is also available in stores. The product covers digestion and immunity as health benefits, even though it's unclear how many probiotics (CFU count) there is in the product since they do not disclose it.
★ What could be better
Every time a greens has a more competitive price than average, something's gotta give. In this case, the product doesn't seem to have enough probiotics and has a very limited variety of superfoods. Also, I've never eaten grass, but this is how I imagine it tastes like -- not good. In addition to the grass taste, it has a smoked element to it that I couldn't figure out where it comes from. None of the other powders tasted like this one. This one really wasn't for me. Its smell and texture also reinforced the grassy element of this powder.
★ Description
“Our most popular powder blend thoughtfully combines our alkalizing farm fresh greens and wholesome fruits and veggies with nutrient-rich superfoods for a delicious way to feel amazing everyday. It’s a simple way to support your overall health and wellness.”
Amazing Grass powder
What I love:
Variety of superfoods
100% natural
Vegan, non-GMO, soy-free
Caffeine-free
Transparency with ingredients
365 money-back guarantee
Texture is good, thin and easy
Offers two flavors
Offers package deals
What could be better:
Not organic
Taste was very very sweet
Does not contain probiotcis
Contains stevia (sweetener)
Contains nuts
No information about where the product is manufactured
Expensive product
★ What I love ️
I always appreciate when a company (especially a superfood company) is transparent with its ingredients. I like the 365 money-back guarantee and the texture of the powder was also really good here. For those who prefer having a sweet taste (at the expense of stevia as an ingredient), this can be an option.
★ What could be better
First of all, this is the second most expensive product after Athletic Greens. There were definitely less certifications than other companies and the lack of probiotics made this a no-go for me. In addition, the taste was too sweet for me and stevia is not ideal. I'd rather go with a lighter powder that uses mint to make it taste and smell better. If you're considering spending this much money on a greens, I'd consider going with Athletic Greens over Tonik.
★ Description
"No day is ever the same. Bad food, stress, and poor sleep make it impossible to fuel correctly. Supergreen TONIK is the world's first brain and body formula that adapts to your body's needs, keeping you fuelled and ready to go every day."
Supergreen Tonik powder
So to recap, I was looking for a greens powder because life gets crazy sometimes and I wanted to make sure I had a safety net of greens I could count on. To be honest, I didn't go into this thinking I'd fall in love with any of them, let alone start a subscription and create a new morning ritual.
My comparison chart with the final scores
Live it Up checked all of my boxes. It has a wide range of high quality nutritious ingredients with multiple health benefits, from energy to digestion to immunity, it actually tastes delicious (like a smoothie with fresh mint) and has a very competitive price.
Their ingredient list is as transparent as it can be, front and centered on their site and packaging. These are all superfoods with high nutrient density and certified organic ingredients that our body needs to function in the best way possible. Elso also checks the box for all the main allergies with a nut, gluten, dairy, caffeine and sugar-free product.
Overall I'm thrilled that I found a greens powder that is healthy and tastes good. I hope you found this review helpful and that you also find your daily organic greens powder that can help make sure you're getting what you need every day!
My Research Links:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/precious-metals-and-other-important-minerals-for-health
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-proven-benefits-of-spirulina#TOC_TITLE_HDR_11
https://www.webmd.com/diet/spirulina-health-benefits#1
https://medcraveonline.com/MOJFPT/chlorella-and-spirulina-microalgae-as-sources-of-functional-foods-nutraceuticals-and-food-supplements-an-overview.html
https://www.freshspirulina.com.au/spirulina-benefits/what-is-spirulina/
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/superfoods/
https://www.webmd.com/diet/greens-powder-are-there-health-benefits#1
https://www.menshealth.com/nutrition/a36119554/best-green-powders/
I've been a registered dietitian for more than 14 years and have a passion for nutrition and living a healthy lifestyle. Now that I am a mom as well, I've been trying to find easy ways to get my family to eat our veggies. I decided to give greens powder a try!
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