Kencko is a wellness brand that makes plant-based smoothie packets. The brand describes their products as “the easy way” to eat more plants.
But does Kencko contain research-backed ingredients? Does it contain any unhealthy additives? What was our honest experience trying Kencko for a month? And is Kencko better or worse than popular nutrition supplements like Grüns gummies?
In this article, we’ll answer all of these questions and more, as we analyze the ingredients in Kencko Smoothies to give our take on whether or not they’re healthy.
We’ll also share our experience trying Kencko for a month, analyze medical research on whether fruit and vegetable powders are actually healthy, and compare Kencko to other popular fruit and vegetable supplement brands to pick our winners (and losers).
Key takeaways:
- All Kencko products reviewed are nutritionally-rich
- We tested and liked the taste and convenience
- We currently recommend Kencko
We Tested Kencko
As one of the authors of this article, I wanted to try Kencko myself to share my thoughts on the taste and overall product experience.
I got a box with almost every smoothie flavor and had one per day for a few weeks.
I liked the taste of almost every flavor. Yellows was my favorite flavor, because the pineapple and mango gives it the perfect blend of tanginess and sweetness.
The individual packets are easy to open with either your hands or scissors, and there's enough space in the packs that none falls on the floor or sink which is convenient.
The texture of the smoothies was slightly thick for my liking. I'd prefer if they were a bit smoother and blended a bit better, but I recognize that this is probably due to how much plant matter is really in each pack.
These products are extremely convenient for those who are busy and trying to follow a healthy lifestyle, and I really enjoyed not having to go out to buy groceries when all I was missing was a fruit or vegetable item to add to my meals.
I like the idea of having these Smoothies around as a "failsafe" incase there are no fruits and veggies in the house, or if you're traveling.
Overall, I rate Kencko Smoothies 9/10 and consider this brand the best combination of taste, healthiness and convenience that I've come across to date in an Illuminate Health review.
Smoothies Ingredient Analysis
Kencko sells 30 different varieties of smoothies, and customers can mix-and-match their order. Their smoothies are entirely plant-based and free of questionable or unhealthy additives.
As an example, Kencko's “Ambers” smoothie contains the following ingredients: passion fruit, banana, dates, apple, baobab powder, yellow beetroot, chia seeds, turmeric.
We’ve reviewed every smoothie formulation currently offered by Kencko and we would recommend all of them from a health perspective.
One of the benefits of Kencko’s smoothies is they include nutrient-dense and exotic ingredients that many American consumers may not include in their diet, such as rhubarb, acai and maqui berries.
Rhubarb has been proven in medical studies to help regulate intestinal function and provide anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor activity.
Acai has been shown in a clinical trial to normalize cholesterol levels due to its high polyphenol content. It’s also rich in Vitamin C.
Maqui berries have been shown to improve memory and decrease oxidative stress in an animal study, due to their high antioxidant content. More research is emerging annually about this fruit.
It's beneficial to eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables because increased dietary diversity is tied to optimal gut health, as documented by medical research.
Are Fruit And Veggie Powders Actually Healthy?
Consumers are often curious about whether fruit and veggie powders are actually healthy, and how they compare to whole produce consumption.
As we outlined in detail in our Balance of Nature reviews article, there is significant medical research proving that fruit and vegetable powders can improve health outcomes. Most of the research focuses on cardiovascular benefits and reduced mortality.
A medical review published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine concluded that fruit and vegetable concentrate supplementation “would result in the reduction of the burden of [cardiovascular diseases]”.
A 2022 meta-study found that higher fruit and vegetable intake was associated with lower mortality (which means a lower risk of dying over the study period), and there was no specification that consumption of whole fruits and veggies had more optimal results than consumption of other forms of fruits and veggies such as dried or powdered.
The only slight downside of Kencko Smoothies compared to consumption of whole produce in our opinion is that the smoothies are lower in fiber.
Kencko smoothie packets contain around 3 grams (g) per serving of fiber, while the equivalent number of servings of whole fruits and veggies would contain more fiber. As an example, one medium apple contains around 4.4 g fiber according to the USDA.
Fruit and veggie powders (including those sold by Kencko) are healthy and can significantly improve the nutritional status of most consumers, but may be slightly less healthy than whole produce consumption.
Is the Packaging Healthy?
Kencko products are shipped in biodegradable packaging:
image source: https://www.kencko.com/
The shipping box and individual meal packets are made from cardboard, which is safe and easily recycled.
The brand also claims to have carbon-neutral shipping, which means they invest in environmentally-friendly projects such as reforestation to offset carbon emissions from their product shipping.
The only aspect that we wish Kencko would improve in regards to environmentalism is their reusable bottle for the smoothies.
They sell a plastic bottle, and we’d prefer if this was silicone or stainless steel.
Plastic, no matter what type, is be harmful to the environment and human health according to extensive scientific research.
Containers made of plastic that hold liquid may cause plasticizing chemicals to leach into the drink.
We recommend that consumers using Kencko smoothies invest in a plastic-free shaker bottle rather than the bottle sold by the brand.
Overall, we still consider Kencko to be ahead of most wellness brands in regard to environmentalism and non-toxic packaging.
Kencko vs. Fruit and Veggie Brands
Here’s how Kencko compares to other popular fruit and vegetable supplement brands, in terms of formulation quality, in our opinion:
VitaHustle
VitaHustle is a meal-replacement shake brand founded by celebrity Kevin Hart that contains “natural flavors,” a broad descriptor that may include synthetic processing aids, according to a 2017 regulatory review published in the Food and Drug Law Journal.
Kencko Smoothies contain no natural flavors, and are made entirely from whole-food fruits and vegetables.
Kencko is the winner from a health perspective.
Winner: Kencko
Grüns
Gruns gummies are one of the most popular fruit and veggie gummy brands.
Because this is a gummy supplement, it contains unhealthy inactive ingredients like manufactured citric acid and refined sugar, which Kencko packets are free of.
Kencko is the winner from a health standpoint.
Winner: Kencko
Welleco Super Elixir
Welleco Super Elixir is a greens powder that contains carotene powder and green tea extract at an unspecified dose, both of which we consider potentially harmful at higher intakes.
Kencko Smoothies contain neither of these ingredients and are formulated entirely from whole foods.
Kencko is the winner from a health perspective.
Winner: Kencko
Kencko Pros and Cons
Pros:
- All whole-food ingredients
- Made with freeze-dried fruits and vegetables
- No added sugar, natural flavors, or artificial dyes
- Compostable, plastic-free packaging
- Carbon-neutral shipping
- Healthier than competitors
Cons:
- Lower in fiber than equivalent whole produce
- Texture can be slightly thick after blending
- Shaker bottle is plastic
- Doesn’t appear to have been studied in clinical trials
