As a registered dietitian, I often get asked if AG1 (previously called Athletic Greens) is worth the hype. So I decided to put it to the test. I’ve been using AG1, on and off (but mostly on) for just over a year now and my husband has been a consistent drinker of it for almost two years. Jess’ husband, Dean, plus Ana (our social media coordinator) and Molly (our community manager) are also devoted fans, while Jessie and her husband drink it about once a week.
If you’re wondering whether or not AG1 might be a good fit for you, read on to get my take on what is reportedly one of the best greens powders out there. I’ll walk you through how I tested this product, what I—as a dietitian—think of the ingredient list, possible benefits, the cost, who should not use AG1, and possible alternatives (including other dietary supplements), and what I think of the brand new AG1 Flavors (spoiler alert: they’re good!).
This post is sponsored by our friends at AG1.
My Verdict
Everyone on the RFD team (plus our spouses) has tried AG1. Some of us found it a good fit and have been using it consistently for almost two years, while others drink it just every once in a while. We all found AG1 to be surprisingly really tasty and an easy way to boost our intake of most essential vitamins, nutrients, and even a few extra “superfoods” like adaptogens and probiotics. Those of us who drink it only sparingly notice it’s an easy add-on to our daily routines and has helped us stay on top of our nutrient intake.
What Is AG1?
Pros | Cons |
Convenient. I just mix it with cold water, shake, and drink. I was surprised at the pleasant, even slightly sweet, flavor with notes of chocolate, mint, pineapple, and cucumber. And the new AG1 Flavors introduce even more tasty Berry, Citrus, and Tropical notes. The Berry is my favorite, and I switch up which one I take daily. | Breastfeeding and pregnancy precautions. Due to adaptogens like ashwagandha and licorice root, it may not be appropriate for pregnant or breastfeeding individuals. |
Nutrient-dense. I appreciate that a scoop provides a comprehensive list of vitamins, minerals, plant compounds, and probiotics that may help fill gaps created by nutrient deficiencies, food preferences (like picky eaters), or travel | Interactions. AG1 may not be appropriate for those pregnant or breastfeeding. |
Long shelf life. The travel packs do not need to be refrigerated. And the pouch, once opened, stores well in the refrigerator for several months. | Allergies. AG1 is free from most major allergens (gluten, dairy, eggs, nuts), however it does contain soy. It also contains matcha and alfalfa, ingredients that some people are allergic or sensitive to. |
Portable. The travel stick packs make it easy for me to take AG1 on the road. | Cost. If you already eat a variety of foods, including plenty of vegetables, then the cost of AG1 may not be worth it for you. |
Clinically tested. I spoke with AG1’s nutrition team and learned that AG1 NextGen is backed by four clinical trials. It is clinically shown to close common nutrient gaps — areas where the average diet may fall short — and support gut health, two critical factors for overall health, energy, and daily function. | Not a complete multivitamin. Does not contain vitamins D3. However, AG1 does sell a tincture of D3+K2 that they recommend you take when drinking AG1 (and it comes along with the Welcome Kit). |
What Is AG1?
AG1, made by Athletic Greens, is one of the most talked about greens powder supplements out there. I know because so many of you have asked me if AG1 is worth it. Almost weekly in our inboxes and DMs on social media, someone was asking us what I thought of AG1 and what benefits it provides, so I decided to test it myself and write this review.
Each scoop of this greens powder has 75+ vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients (plant compounds sourced from whole foods), probiotics, prebiotics, fiber, antioxidants, and adaptogens.
The purpose of these proprietary blends of superfoods, adaptogens, and essential nutrients is to support optimal health and well-being in those who don’t eat an optimal diet and who use it regularly. And even consistent healthy eaters do have nutrient gaps, as nutrient status can be impacted by more than just what we eat. External factors like stress and lack of sleep are also common reasons for needing nutritional support.
Some of the most popular claims made by the company and its devoted users is that daily use of AG1 Next Gen supports:
- Brain health
- Immune health
- Supports energy production
- Gut health
Here’s How I Reviewed It
When I first tried AG1, our team of three dietitians and our social media team (Ana and Molly) were all provided a complimentary one-month supply of AG1 to try for ourselves.
The goal was to consume one serving per day for 30 days and note any changes in how we felt. I paid the closest attention to changes in appearance of my energy level, immune system, and digestion.
Here’s what I noted*
- I, as well as Ana, our social media coordinator, Molly, and Dean, Jessica’s husband, all reported that it definitely seemed to give us more energy, especially in the afternoon lull. And also that it helped improve our digestion.
- Molly and I also noticed that I felt more evenly balanced, having a calm, healthy mood, when taking AG1 daily as one of my personal goals of our team’s 30-Day Healthy Habits Challenge.
- As a group, we are pretty healthy eaters and we don’t get sick very often, so it was hard to know exactly if drinking AG1 positively impacted my immune system.
*I enjoyed the experience and think AG1 can be a beneficial addition to a healthy diet. My results weren’t surprising, as I am to eat a balanced diet with many whole foods on a regular basis. If you’re here and already know you’d like to try AG1, use this link to make your first purchase and get a free welcome starter kit (including a refillable canister, shaker bottle, metal scoop, 5 travel packs, and free Vitamin D3+K2 dropper) when you start a flexible subscription at 60 servings per month.
How I Use It
For the most helpful AG1 review, I tried to stick to exactly how Athletic Greens recommends the supplement be consumed. I added a single (13-gram) scoop of the green powder to 8 ounces of cold water in the provided shaker bottle (which fills up half of the water bottle that comes with the starter kit).
I’ve also tried adding AG1 to smoothies, juice, yogurt, and even mixing it into my oatmeal. There are many smoothie recipes featuring AG1 if you want to branch out!
According to the company, you should not mix this greens powder with:
- Foods that contain excessive amounts of fiber (such as psyllium husk or another fiber supplement)
- Beverages that are hot or highly acidic
They warn that not following these guidelines may affect the integrity or efficacy of some of the ingredients or reduce the ability to absorb some of the ingredients.
I did, however, find that the amount of water added to make the powder most palatable varied from person to person depending on their tastes and preferences. I, for example, prefer to mix it into 16 ounces of water (the full AG1 water bottle), whereas my husband and Jess’ husband stick to the 8-ounce recommendation. This tracks, as they both tend to be rule followers 🙂
AG1 is meant to be consumed daily. Some of our team and their spouses found it easy to create a daily habit of drinking AG1 in the morning. My husband, Shane, is known for having a pretty “picky eater” type of a diet. When he doesn’t eat many veggies, I’m happy knowing that he’s getting more nutrition from AG1, in addition to eating his regular meals.
Jessie finds it hard to take nutritional supplements every day. So her use of Athletic Greens is more like once or twice a week. She likes that she can quickly take it on days when she doesn’t plan ahead and realizes that she needs more support.
AG1 can be taken any time of the day. Ideally, you would drink it mixed with 8 to 10 ounces of cold water, on an empty stomach to optimize the vitamin, mineral, and probiotic absorption. If you are someone who forgets to take your vitamins once your day is underway, it may be best to drink AG1 first thing in the morning so you have one less thing to remember later on.
What Does It Taste Like?
Since everyone experiences taste differently, it’s hard to say for sure if you’ll love the taste. But I will say that most of us were pleasantly surprised by it. When my husband tried it for the first time, he even said, “Oh wow!” It’s really not like other greens powders that taste grassy.
Here are the tasting notes that I picked up on when trying AG1 for ourselves:
- Overall, the taste is pretty pleasant with a slight sweetness. There are not any strong flavors of broccoli or kale, as you might expect in a greens powder.
- I get subtle hints of pineapple, cucumber, apple, and even a bit of chocolate and vanilla.
- Levels of perceived sweetness from the added stevia varied from ‘not very sweet’ to ‘pleasantly sweet’. Keep in mind that it’s a supplement with 75 different ingredients, and it’s meant to be consumed rather quickly rather than be sipped all day.
- AG1 is now available in four flavors: Original, Berry, Citrus, and Tropical. I think all of them are good, and the flavors do taste different from the Original, but in a subtle way. In the Berry flavor, I mostly taste something like strawberry and maybe some blueberry. It’s not a “tart” berry flavor, but more of a sweet berry flavor. The Tropical flavor doesn’t hit me over the head with pineapple, like I thought it would. Instead, it has a subtle mango flavor. And in the Citrus flavor, I was expecting a strong lemon flavor. Instead, the orange flavor really comes through. I like to switch up the flavor daily, and I recommend all of them.
Will you like the taste? That depends on what you like, but overall, I can say that the taste was not unpleasant or gross (yes, I’ve tasted some greens powders that I just couldn’t stomach). I didn’t need to hold my nose and chug it to get it down, but instead found it pretty easy to drink. The only way to find out if you like the taste is to try it yourself.
Nutrition Facts
One serving of AG1 Next Gen (1 scoop or 13 grams) provides the following:
- Calories: 40
- Total Carbohydrates: 6 grams
- Dietary Fiber: 2 grams
- Total Sugars: < 1 gram
- Total Fat: 1 gram
- Protein: 2 grams
- Vitamin A: 61% of the Daily Value (DV)
- Vitamin C: 556% DV
- Vitamin E: 133% DV
- Thiamin (B1): 250%
- Riboflavin (B2): 154% DV
- Niacin: 105% DV
- Vitamin B6: 294%
- Folate: 170% DV
- Vitamin B12: 16667% DV
- Biotin: 1100% DV
- Pantothenic Acid: 80% DV
- Calcium: 9% DV
- Iron: 6% DV
- Phosphorus: 130% DV
- Magnesium: 30% DV
- Zinc: 182% DV
- Selenium: 40% DV
- Copper: 22% DV
- Manganese: 17% DV
- Chromium: 71% DV
- Molybdenum: 100% DV
- Sodium: 2% DV
- Potassium: 5% DV
What’s in It?
You may have seen the commercials or heard podcasts saying that AG1 contains 75+ quality ingredients. And it’s true – there’s a lot in a single serving of this functional greens powder. When chatting with the AG1 nutrition team recently, I was so impressed by the quality sourcing and constant reformulating the team does in order to provide the most up-to-date research backed ingredients in AG1 Next Gen.
AG1 contains the usual vitamins and minerals I would expect to find in a high-quality multivitamin. But in addition to those, it also includes 3 proprietary blends that are made up of a variety of fruits, vegetables, plant extracts, functional mushrooms, probiotics, and adaptogenic ingredients, like ashwagandha.
Vitamins and Minerals
There are the usual suspects here like vitamins A, C, E, and an array of B vitamins and minerals such as phosphorus, zinc, and selenium. These micronutrients support a wide range of functions in the body such as supporting your immune system, bone health, and energy production. Some nutrients you won’t find in AG1 are vitamin D, vitamin K, or omega 3 fatty acids. However, when you start a flexible subscription at the 2-bags-per-month volume, AG1 sends a free bottle of their Vitamin D3+K2 tincture.
Active Superfood And Prebiotic Complex
The purpose of this nutrient-dense blend is to support a healthy gut microbiome and various other aspects of overall health with digestive enzymes and antioxidant plant compounds.
Ingredients:
- Organic apple powder
- Pea protein isolate
- Organic spirulina
- Lecithin (>65% phospholipids)
- Inulin (chicory root) powder
- Citrus bioflavonoids extract
- Organic chlorella powder
- Ginger root powder
- Cocoa bean powder
- Licorice root powder
- Bromelain
- Beta glucan
- Artichoke aerial parts (15:1) extract
- Slippery elm bark powder
- Rhodiola root (15:1) extract
- Astragalus root (4:1) extract
- Cocoa seed extract
- Organic matcha leaf powder
- Ashwagandha root (5:1) extract
- Dandelion whole herb (4:1) extract
- Eleuthero root (10:1) extract
Daily Phytonutrient Complex
AG1 Next Gen contains a blend of several plant compounds, including adaptogens, which may help our bodies better adapt to stress.
Ingredients:
- Broccoli powder
- Papaya fruit powder
- Beetroot powder
- Organic wheatgrass leaf powder
- Organic alfalfa leaf powder
- Organic barley leaf powder
- Carrot root powder
- Acerola fruit (4:1) extract
- Rosehip fruit (4:1) extract
- Pineapple fruit powder
- Shiitake mushroom powder
- Reishi mushroom powder
- Rutin (from Sophora japonica bud extract)
- Rosemary leaf (4:1) extract
- Bladderwrack whole plant powder
- Wolfberry (Lycium barbarum) fruit (4:1) extract
- Burdock root (4:1) extract
- Hawthorn berry fruit (10:1) extract
- Bilberry fruit (100:1) extract
- Milk thistle seed (70:1) extract
- Grape seed (120:1) extract
Dairy-Free Probiotics (10 billion CFU)
AG1 Next Gen includes 5 strains of clinically studied probiotics to support gut health:
- Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG
- Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM
- Bifidobacterium lactis HN019
- Lactobacillus casei LC-11
- Lactobacillus plantarum LP-115
Cost
Here I break down the cost of AG1 to help you decide if it fits your budget. All subscriptions can be paused or canceled at any time, and the company offers a 90-day money back guarantee if you find it’s not for you.
Order | Servings | Price | Extras You Get |
---|---|---|---|
One Pouch (One-Time Purchase) | 30 | $99 ($3.30/serving) | Free Shaker |
One Pouch (Single Subscription) | 30 servings shipped monthly, pause or cancel anytime | $79 ($2.64/serving) | Free Welcome Kit: Canister, Scoop, Shaker, 5 Travel Packs |
Two Pouches (Double Subscription) | 60 servings shipped monthly, pause or cancel anytime | $149 ($2.49/serving) | Free Welcome Kit: Canister, Scoop, Shaker, 5 Travel Packs PLUS Free bottle of Vitamin D3+K2 drops |
Three Pouches (Family Plan Subscription) | 90 servings shipped monthly, pause or cancel anytime | $223.50 ($2.49/serving) | Free Welcome Kit: Canister, Scoop, Shaker, 5 Travel Packs PLUS Free bottle of Vitamin D3+K2 drops |
Travel Packs (One-Time Purchase) | 30 sticks | $109 ($3.63/serving) | Free Shaker |
Travel Packs (Single Subscription) | 30 sticks shipped monthly, pause or cancel anytime | $89 ($2.97/serving) | Free Shaker + 5 Travel Packs |
Travel Packs (Double Subscription) | 60 sticks shipped monthly, pause or cancel anytime | $169 ($2.82/serving) | 2 Free Shakers + 5 Travel Packs PLUS Free bottle of Vitamin D3+K2 drops |
Travel Packs (Family Plan Subscription) | 90 sticks shipped monthly, pause or cancel anytime | $253.50 ($2.82/serving) | 3 Free Shakers + 5 Travel Packs PLUS Free bottle of Vitamin D3+K2 drops |
Shipping
All orders (one-time and monthly subscriptions) are charged a flat rate shipping fee of $9 in the U.S., Canada, and Australia. You’ll want to factor shipping into the total cost when deciding if this product is for you.
You can save 50% on shipping costs by having your order delivered every other month. To do so, you’ll need to sign up for a Double Subscription, then manually change the delivery date in your account so that you are skipping every other month.
This would save you up to $54 a year and help reduce your carbon footprint, but it also puts the burden on you to manage your subscription.
Potential Health Benefits
The makers of AG1 claim that consuming it daily could result in:
- Supported energy by improving nutrient absorption
- Calmermood thanks to vitamins, minerals, and adaptogens
- Improved digestion through the addition of 5 clinically studied probiotics plus enzymes that, together, promote regular bowel movements and less bloating
Of these listed benefits, I can attest to feeling a boost in my energy level, improved digestion, and even more ease with bouncing back from stress when taking AG1 consistently.
3 Benefits I’ve Gotten
While I can’t say that I’ve experienced every improvement on AG1’s list, after trying AG1 consistently for a year myself (though not every day), I came to a few conclusions.
1. It helps fill the gaps when my diet is less than optimal.
Even as a registered dietitian, I have days when my nutrition is less than optimal. Often, it’s when I’m traveling or in stressful, busy times of my life.
While the human body is incredibly resilient, I like the idea of having a “safety net,” if you will, to ensure I’m getting adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals and AG1 can help fill those gaps.
For example, while Jessie is not a daily user of AG1, she keeps some on hand for those times when optimal nutrition isn’t going to happen. Think: during travel.
Ana, Molly, and Dean, Jessica’s husband, are all healthy eaters on most days. Yet still, they choose to use AG1 and they report that it supports energy and metabolism. Shane, my husband, is probably the pickiest eater in our group of husbands. He takes AG1 almost daily at my request and tends to view it as a “drinkable multivitamin.”
2. It helps create healthy habits in other areas of my life.
As mentioned above, I incorporated AG1 in my 30-Day Healthy Habits Challenge, along with challenging myself to eat more protein and drink enough water daily. I find that healthy habits tend to multiply. For example, when I spend time meal planning on weekends, then I find myself eating more healthfully throughout the week. When I stick to my daily movements (walking, Pilates classes), then I also find myself getting better and longer quality sleep.
I think the same is true of taking supplements that are beneficial to me.
With that said, starting my days off with AG1 sets the intention for following through with other healthy habits throughout my days. These might include daily movement or exercise, meditation, and creating and enjoying well-balanced meals and snacks that keep me feeling energized.
3. It’s compatible with most special diets and uses high-quality ingredients.
I only use and recommend supplements that are made from high-quality ingredients, and AG1 fits that requirement for me. I also appreciate the fact that I can use it and recommend it for any of these diets:
- Keto
- Low-carb
- Vegan
- Vegetarian
- Gluten-free
- Dairy-free
- Nut-free
- Egg-free
- Grain-free
Though AG1 is not certified organic or non-GMO Project certified, it does contain many organic ingredients. It is free of GMOs, herbicides, pesticides, artificial colors, and flavors, added sugar, and artificial sweeteners. AG1 is also free of gluten, dairy, nuts, egg, and peanuts, and it’s made without animal byproducts, lactose, sucrose, or dextrose.
I appreciate that AG1 is NSF Certified for Sport, meaning it has undergone exhaustive third-party testing to verify that it’s free of unsafe levels of heavy metals, contaminants, and free of over 280 banned substances by major athletic organizations.
I trust that, since AG1 is made in NSF certified for sport facilities, so that what I see listed on the bottle is what’s inside the bottle
Are There Drawbacks?
Ana and I both initially reported some bloating. This, however, eventually subsided as our bodies adjusted to the new supplement regimen. Because AG1 contains fiber from the non-digestible fiber inulin, it’s not surprising that we experienced this temporarily
Remember, AG1 (formerly Athletic Greens) does offer a 90-day money back guarantee. If you’re not completely satisfied, contact the company anytime within 90 days of your first order to initiate the return process.
If you are unsure whether or not AG1 is appropriate for you, we suggest you talk to your doctor or healthcare provider before trying it.
Who Should Not Use It?
AG1 is likely NOT the best choice for you if:
- You eat vegetables daily and at nearly all meals (then it may not be necessary, though AG1 Next Gen is clinically shown to fill common nutrient gaps even in healthy eaters.)
- You’re on a tight budget (AG1 is not cheap, so if you’re already spending money on healthful ingredients to make nutritious meals at home, then it’s not necessary to spend more money on a greens powder supplement)
- You already take a quality multivitamin and/or probiotic
- You’re pregnant or breastfeeding
Frequently Asked Questions
Of those on our team who use it most consistently (myself, Ana, Molly, and two of our husbands), our personal reviews match those on the AG1 website where the average overall rating is 4.5 stars (out of 5).
Ana and Molly each give AG1 a 4.5 star review. They like the taste and say it mixes into water much better than other greens powders they have used. Jessica’s husband, Dean, gives it a 4.5 star review, as well. He likes the taste, his improved digestion, and how easy it is to take. The one prohibitive factor for him is the cost. My husband Shane drinks it daily because he knows it’s an easy way to get more daily vitamins and minerals.
On the AG1 website, positive reviews cite ease of use, convenience, great taste, energy, and improved digestion.
Negative reviews most often cited the cost and displeasure with the taste and/or slightly grainy texture at the bottom of the bottle, though I can’t agree – I enjoy the taste and think it dissolves well in water.
Honestly, that’s something only you can decide for yourself. As a team, our experiences ranged from:
– Five people who absolutely love it and plan to continue our daily habit to support whole body health
– Two who thought it was a helpful tool that can be used as needed to supplement their diet from time to time.
The best way to know if AG1 is for you is to give it a consistent try for 30 days. I will say that the cost is high, so if you eat vegetables daily or wouldn’t make AG1 part of a healthy habit, then it’s probably not the best choice for you.
AG1 is a comprehensive supplement and contains more ingredients than many other greens powders, offering 75+ vitamins, minerals, and plant compounds per serving. Other brands offered 50 or fewer active ingredients and some are certified organic.
The most notable difference between AG1 and other greens is that AG1 is clinically studied and, I believe, it offers the utmost quality standards of any greens powder I’ve tried. It is more expensive than other options, so to get the best value, I recommend utilizing the subscription option.
The double or triple monthly subscription provides the lowest per serving cost. But if you don’t need 60-90 servings per month in your household, it’s on you to remember to modify your delivery dates so that you only get a shipment every other month.
AG1 is available online from drinkAG1.com or amazon, and at some retailers, including Costco.
No, you should still eat your vegetables (your mom was not wrong about that!). But AG1 can help fill in the gaps that can happen.
AG1 works to help fill in dietary gaps, but it shouldn’t replace whole foods in your diet.
According to the available evidence and my own personal experiences, AG1 does help support my overall wellness and optimizes my nutrient intake as part of my balanced diet.
I would have to say ‘yes’ to this — my philosophy is always “food first, supplements second” when it comes to nutrition.
However, I understand that not everyone can or wants to make a diet based on whole, real foods their priority. I also know plenty of adults who probably don’t get the nutrients they need through their diets alone, including my own husband. And for him, drinking AG1 does give him energy and digestion support. So for us, it’s worth the extra cost.
Yes, products like AG1 are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The Bottom Line: Should You Try It?
If you could benefit from a whole foods-packed punch in your daily routine and are looking for a quick and easy way to get it, give AG1 a try. You may find it’s the perfect new daily habit, or you might just keep it on hand for travel days or to help you fill in dietary gaps when your whole foods intake is low.
Like any supplement, it’s not going to completely revolutionize your health or transform your life. My overall opinion is that I think it generally tastes great, and as a dietitian, I definitely approve of the ingredient list and nutrient profile.
I do, however, recognize that AG1 is expensive, so if you’re already spending your money on healthful ingredients and eating a healthful and well-rounded diet on most days, then the cost of taking AG1 may not be worth it for you.
The only way to know for sure if you like it, tolerate it, and feel it’s worth the cost is to give it a try.
AG1 offers a ‘try it once’ option in addition to several subscription options. To kick the tires on AG1 for a month to figure out if it works for you, then that’s the way to go. If you love it, then you can save some money later by starting a subscription.
This is a sponsored post. Although we received compensation for this post, the opinions expressed here are – as always – 100% our own. Thank you for supporting the great companies we work with thereby allowing us to continue creating high-quality recipes and content for you.
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Thank you ladies for all the research you have been doing!! It is refreshing to always get real test results on products which may be benefial or not to our health.
You are so welcome, Albert! Thank you for the feedback!
hi Brian here using ag1 since march 23 I enjoy it taste good I fill the bottle up with 300ml drink it then add another 100m to get the reminder I’ve recently bought ag1 omega-3 fish oils as a add on so far so good about 6months ago I started taking huel black edition as a food replacement supplement which is great now I see they have there own huel greens so I purchased a pack to compare I’ll keep yous all posted I am religious with my ag1 I take it every day very rare I miss a day any advices on other products anyone would recommend greatly appreciated
Thank you for the feedback, Brian. We are not familiar with Huel, so we’ll check it out. Stick around here, and we do offer product reviews several times a year (after we’ve tested the product in our own homes for at least 3 months).