Essential Health Supplement Powder: Is It Worth It?
£82 for a pouch of powder is a fair amount of money, and it's reasonable to ask whether a superfood blend earns its place or is just an expensive way to drink your vegetables. Here's how we'd judge any supplement powder, including our own Essential Health + Protein.
The short answer: a good powder is worth it if it fills specific gaps in your diet that you aren't filling with food, and if you'll take it every day. It isn't worth it if you already eat well and varied, or if it ends up at the back of the cupboard.
What's in Essential Health + Protein
According to the product page, it's a plant-based blend of 30 superfoods and greens with 13g of plant protein per serving, plus vitamins, minerals, adaptogens, fibre, prebiotics and probiotics. It has no added sugar and no artificial sweeteners. You take one serving a day, shaken into water or milk.
The key ingredients are:
- plant-based protein
- 30 superfoods and greens
- vitamins A, B1, B12, C and D
- magnesium, iron, calcium and iodine
- lion's mane, reishi and cordyceps mushrooms
Per 30g serving (mixed with 300ml of water), the label lists:
| Nutrient | Per 30g | % NRV |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | 13g | n/a |
| Vitamin A | 800µg | 100% |
| Vitamin D | 25µg | 500% |
| Vitamin C | 500mg | 625% |
| Thiamin (B1) | 0.33mg | 30% |
| Vitamin B12 | 0.75µg | 30% |
| Calcium | 240mg | 30% |
| Magnesium | 250mg | 67% |
| Iron | 4.2mg | 30% |
| Iodine | 454µg | 303% |
What those nutrients do, in the product page's words:
- Vitamins C and D contribute to the normal function of the immune system.
- Protein contributes to the maintenance of muscle mass.
- Calcium and vitamin D contribute to the maintenance of normal bones.
- Magnesium and iron contribute to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
- Vitamin A contributes to the maintenance of normal skin and vision.
- Vitamin B12 contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism.
Six questions to decide if it's worth it for you
1. Are you hitting 5 A Day?
Most people aren't. In the latest National Diet and Nutrition Survey, adults ate around four portions of fruit and vegetables a day on average, and only around three in ten met the 5 A Day target. A greens blend doesn't count as a portion, but it can add vitamins and minerals you'd otherwise be missing.
2. Are you getting enough vitamin D?
The NHS advises everyone in the UK to consider taking 10 micrograms of vitamin D a day in autumn and winter, when sunlight isn't strong enough for your skin to make it. If you'd otherwise buy a separate vitamin D, that's worth factoring into the cost.
3. Do you eat enough protein?
EFSA puts the population reference intake for adults at 0.83g of protein per kilogram of body weight per day, so around 58g for a 70kg adult. Most people who eat meat, fish, eggs or dairy get there easily. If you're plant-based, train hard or have a small appetite, 13g of protein in a daily shake is useful.
4. Are you plant-based?
The NHS advises people on a vegan diet to pay attention to B12, iodine, iron, calcium and vitamin D. Essential Health + Protein includes all five.
5. Are you short on iron or iodine?
Women of childbearing age need more iron than men (14.8mg a day against 8.7mg), and intakes often fall short. Dairy and fish are the main UK sources of iodine, so people who avoid them can run low. Essential Health + Protein provides 4.2mg of iron and 454µg of iodine per 30g serving.
6. Will you actually take it?
The best supplement is the one you take consistently. If you like a morning shake, a powder is easy. If you hate the texture of powders, capsules may suit you better, even if they can't carry protein or fibre.
What a superblend can and can't do
A well-made superblend is an efficient way to add several nutrients at once. It has limits, though. A scoop of greens powder doesn't count towards your 5 A Day, and it won't give you the volume of fibre, water and texture that whole vegetables do. The NHS makes the same point: most people can get what they need from a varied and balanced diet, and supplements help where that's difficult. Build your meals roughly around the Eatwell Guide and use the powder as a top-up.
When it probably isn't worth it
- You already eat a wide range of vegetables, fruit, wholegrains and protein every day.
- Your GP has prescribed specific supplements. Check with them before adding a multi-nutrient powder, so you don't double up on vitamins A or D or on iron.
- You're pregnant or breastfeeding. Speak to your midwife or GP first; vitamin A in particular needs care in pregnancy.
- You want a meal replacement. It's a nutrient top-up, not a meal.
Essential Health + Protein or Essential Woman + Collagen?
Essential Woman + Collagen is our blend designed for female health. It contains 7g of bovine collagen, 18 superfoods, vitamin B6, biotin, folic acid and iron, with KSM-66 ashwagandha, tremella mushroom and feijoa. The product page describes it as supporting the female cycle and gut health, with antioxidant protection. Because the collagen comes from cows, it isn't vegan. If you want both, The Essential Collection pairs the two blends for £137.
What it costs
Essential Health + Protein is £82 as a one-off purchase. On subscription it's 30% off (£57.40), or 40% off (£49.20) if you choose delivery every 12 weeks, with free delivery either way. The Twin Pack is £147. Prices were checked on dailyhiro.com on 28 October 2026.
To compare fairly against separate supplements, add up what you'd otherwise buy: a vitamin D, a multivitamin, a plant protein and perhaps a probiotic. For some people that comes to more than a superblend. For others it's one vitamin D tablet, and a powder is overkill.
How to get the most from it
- Take it at the same time every day. Breakfast is easiest for most people.
- Shake it. Powders with fibre and greens mix best in a shaker, not with a spoon.
- Use milk or a plant milk if you find greens taste strong in water.
- Keep eating your vegetables. Whole foods bring fibre and compounds a powder can't fully replace. The NHS says most adults eat only about 20g of fibre a day against a recommended 30g.
Our verdict
Essential Health + Protein is worth it if you want one simple daily habit that adds protein, vitamin D, B12, iron, iodine and greens, and you'll take it every day. It's a poor buy if your diet already covers those bases or if you're unlikely to stick with it. Every order comes with our 60-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it for a month and decide. You can compare all our blends in the Superblends collection.
Frequently asked questions
Is Essential Health + Protein vegan?
Yes, it's a plant-based blend. Our other superblend, Essential Woman + Collagen, isn't vegan, because it contains bovine collagen.
Does it contain sugar?
It has no added sugar. It's sweetened with stevia, and any sugars come naturally from the fruit and plant ingredients.
How long before I notice a difference?
Give it at least four weeks of daily use. Nutrient top-ups work gradually, and consistency matters more than any single day.
Does a greens powder count as one of my 5 A Day?
No. It can add vitamins and minerals, but it doesn't replace whole fruit and vegetables.
Can I take a superblend with other HIRO products?
Yes. Many customers take a superblend alongside our electrolyte tablets or Clean Creatine. Our guide to supplement bundles covers which combinations work well together.