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Athletic Greens have been grabbing headlines, mainly through word of mouth from fitness influencers over social media platforms. But is this product really worth the hype? Let’s get into the nitty-gritty of this powder supplement, from everything it has and has not to offer for your money.
What is Athletic Greens?
Athletic Greens, established in 2010, is a New York-based company. Their flagship product, Athletic Greens (AG1), is a nutrient-dense powdered beverage. Chris Ashenden, the CEO, and founder of Athletic Greens, conceived the idea for his company after a period of struggling to maintain his own body health [1].
Nutrients are the building block of our bodies and overall health. Therefore, a lack of nutrient absorption results in malnourishment and various health consequences [2].
Traditionally, various supplements and vitamins would be recommended to compensate for any lost nutritional value. This may be an unsustainable practice as it’s time-consuming and outright difficult for some—this is where Athletic Greens comes in.
The Athletic Greens drink aims to become a viable substitute for bulky capsules and multiple different pills. It’s formulated to help everyone meet their daily nutritional needs holistically and conveniently. The drink makes getting in various multivitamins, probiotics, and phytonutrients as easy as drinking a glass of beverage.
Benefits of Athletic Greens
Athletic Greens focuses on sourcing high-quality ingredients for its manufacturing processes. The manufacturing practices and records are also kept transparent, making their brand trustworthy and consumer-friendly. Moreover, their formula is regularly revised and improved through research to bring out the best standards.
Currently, the Athletic Greens blend contains an impressive number of 75 ingredients. The benefits of Athletic Greens drink can be zoomed in through three main lenses: immunity, digestion health, energy, and stress support. So let’s zoom in!
Immune Health
Our immune system heavily depends on nutrient-dense superfoods. Athletic Greens is formulated with superfood complexes such as spirulina, alfalfa, bilberry, and more. It also has “immune-supporting” enzymes and mushroom complexes, namely Shiitake mushrooms and Reishi mushroom powder. These mushroom compounds have protective effects against cell damage and anti-inflammatory properties, improving immunity [3].
Besides, Athletic Greens contain zinc citrate, an active and easy-to-digest variation of zinc element. It helps to strengthen our immune system, promote wound healing and support the growth of cells [4].
Digestion Support
Good digestion mostly contributes to gut microbiomes such as prebiotics and probiotics. They enhance nutrient absorption and assist the development of a balanced gut ecosystem [5]. Athletic Greens powder mix contains various strains of dairy-free gut microbiomes, including:
- Inulin: A soluble fiber that promotes consistent bowel movement, and regulates blood sugar levels
- Beta Glucan: Has strong antioxidant properties and enhances the activity of immune cells
- Bifidobacterium Bifidum: Competitively inhibits the growth of harmful pathogens in the gut and supports the optimal functioning of the gastrointestinal system
- Lactobacillus Acidophilus: Aids the breakdown and absorption of carbohydrates and proteins
According to their product label, each serving of Athletic Greens gives you approximately 7.2 billion CFU prebiotics. However, this amount seems to be below the recommended dosage range of prebiotics for adults, between 10 to 20 billion CFU per day [6].
Metabolism, Energy & Stress Support
Adaptogens and antioxidants are integral in regulating bodily responses to everyday stresses and fatigue [7]. Athletic Greens drink contains a long list of powerful adaptogenic plant extracts to stimulate positive responses in our bodies. Some of these ingredients include ashwagandha, astragalus, licorice, and Rhodiola [8], [9]. Regular consumption of these adaptogens has been shown to reduce anxiety and depression and combat the feeling of fatigue [10].
Athletic Greens Side Effects
While reviews on Athletic Greens that surface on the internet are mostly positive, they’re some complaints about this product too. It may cause side effects such as bloating, diarrhea, and stomach upset for some.
Athletic Greens are free of allergens such as gluten, dairy, peanuts, eggs, and more. Nonetheless, it would be best to look out for allergy symptoms such as flushing, redness, or rashes [11].
Athletic Greens Cost
Athletic Greens drink is safe to consume daily, at any time of the day. The recommended direction to consume AG1 is to mix one scoop (or one travel packet) into 8-10 ounces of cold water. You can take this drink on an empty stomach to optimize absorption.
Athletic Greens (AG1) powder mix comes in two different packages: the pouch (one whole bag of green powder) and travel packs (individually packed green powder that’s easy to carry when traveling). The cost breakdown of the packaging is as follows:
| Offer | Cost / Amount |
| The Pouch | $99 / 30 servings |
| Travel Packs (individually packed) | $109 / 30 servings |
If you commit to monthly subscriptions, you can get Athletic Greens at a slightly lower price tag. However, note that these price tags do not account for the shipping fees, starting from $9.
Apart from that, monthly subscribers also get some perks for their purchases; these include:
| Subscription | Perks |
| Single subscription (30 servings per month) | Free starter kit: canister, shaker and 5 travel packs |
| Double subscription (60 servings per month) | Free starter kit: canister, shaker and 5 travel packs A year supply of Vitamin D3 and Vitamin K2 |
Each of their monthly subscription plans has a 90-day money-back guarantee policy too. This means you can request a refund if you’re unsatisfied with the product within 90 days of your first order.
Athletic Greens AG1 Alternatives
There’s no denying that Athletic Greens is quite pricey and might not be an affordable option for everyone. So are there any alternatives? Yes!
Enso Supergreens Powder
COST / SERVING:
~ $60 / 30 servings
DIRECTION TO USE:
Mix one scoop of the powder with cold water, milk or smoothies.
Pros
- Has 4.9 stars ratings
- Made in USA
- Third party tested
Cons
- Has a thin texture
Enso Supergreens powdered greens consist of more than 20 beneficial ingredients; these include herbs, probiotics, and an array of leafy greens. These nutrient-dense ingredients function to improve gut health, immunity, and energy levels.
Super Green Mix
COST / SERVING:
~ $29 / 30 servings
DIRECTION TO USE:
Add 2 teaspoons of Super Green powder into 4 oz of water or your daily green smoothie.
Pros
- Gluten-free
- Non-GMO
- No additives or artificial coloring
Cons
- Some complaints of unpleasant taste
The Super Green Mix contains the finest ingredients from the USA, India, Portugal, Ghana, and Chile. Additionally, this mix includes spirulina, a high protein and natural energy source.
Their carefully curated ingredient list makes one glass of Super Green Mix similar to one serving of greens. Every batch of this product is also third-party tested to ensure the highest quality and safety.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Athletic Greens AG1 good for your body?
Yes. Athletic Greens is an all-in-one supplementation with a high nutritional value. It provides a comprehensive source of superfoods, vitamins, minerals, and more.
However, Athletic Greens lack iron (an integral element in the production of red blood cells) and vitamin D (crucial for bone health). Therefore, those vitamin iron or vitamin D deficiency may require additional supplementation on top of Athletic Greens [14], [15].
Furthermore, Athletic Greens may not be suitable for everyone as there’s a lack of research. People who should avoid or consult a healthcare practitioner before taking Athletic Greens include:
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women
- Individuals below 18 years old
- People with certain vitamin or mineral hypersensitivity
- End-stage kidney disease patients
- Those on prescription medications such as blood thinners, birth control, or thyroid hormones
Ask for expert opinion from your nearest healthcare provider to ensure the safety of Athletic Greens for yourself.
Do you lose weight with Athletic Greens AG1?
Athletic Greens does not make weight loss claims on its product, nor is it advertised as a weight loss product. Nevertheless, the Athletic Greens drink is only 50 calories per serving, making it diet-friendly and suitable for those on a journey to lose weight.
Bottomline: Is Athletic Greens Worth It?
In a nutshell, Athletic Greens is marketed as an approach to provide everyone with a solution to a body with optimal performance. It’s an excellent supplement for those looking to nourish their body without swallowing down a handful of pills.
However, it’s not necessary for everyone. Adding fruits and vegetables to your daily diet would do the same trick (minus the high price tag). So, the ball is in your court. Avoid buying supplements for the hype of it, but rather evaluate your need for it and invest accordingly.
Disclaimer: This article is only a guide. It does not substitute the advice given by your own healthcare professional. Before making any health-related decision, consult your healthcare professional. We have assembled this article through in-depth research based on the information available at the date of publishing. We may receive a small commission for purchases you make through our links, but this comes at NO extra cost to you. This commission allows us to continue doing what we love through Health Plugged, which is delivering evidence-based health information to our readers worldwide.
Editorial References And Fact-Checking
- Davani-Davari, D., Negahdaripour, M., Karimzadeh, I., Seifan, M., Mohkam, M., Masoumi, S. J., Berenjian, A., & Ghasemi, Y. (2019). Prebiotics: Definition, Types, Sources, Mechanisms, and Clinical Applications. Foods (Basel, Switzerland), 8(3), 92. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods8030092
- Dai, X., Stanilka, J. M., Rowe, C. A., Esteves, E. A., Nieves, C., Jr, Spaiser, S. J., Christman, M. C., Langkamp-Henken, B., & Percival, S. S. (2015). Consuming Lentinula edodes (Shiitake) Mushrooms Daily Improves Human Immunity: A Randomized Dietary Intervention in Healthy Young Adults. Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 34(6), 478–487. https://doi.org/10.1080/07315724.2014.950391
- Hall, C. (2022). Athletic Greens valued at $1.2B after bagging $115M to expand nutrition drink footprint. TechCrunch. Retrieved from https://techcrunch.com/2022/01/25/athletic-greens-valued-at-1-2b-nutrition-drink/#:~:text=The%20New%20York%2Dbased%20company
- Greens GeniusTeam., “Super Greens Powder Side Effects [Guide in 2023].” Greens Genius (2023). Retrieved from greensgenius.com/super-greens-powder-side-effects/
- Kligler, B., & Cohrssen, A. (2008). Probiotics. American family physician, 78(9), 1073–1078.
- Kunik, K. (2023). Athletic greens 2023 review: Pros, Cons, science, and more. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/athletic-greens-review#pros-cons
- Jong, S. C., & Birmingham, J. M. (1993). Medicinal and therapeutic value of the shiitake mushroom. Advances in applied microbiology, 39, 153-184.
- Markowiak, P., & Śliżewska, K. (2017). Effects of Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Synbiotics on Human Health. Nutrients, 9(9), 1021. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9091021
- Panossian, A., & Wikman, G. (2010). Effects of Adaptogens on the Central Nervous System and the Molecular Mechanisms Associated with Their Stress-Protective Activity. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland), 3(1), 188–224. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph3010188
- The Stress-Busting Power of Adaptogens. Dr. Axe (2021). Retrieved from draxe.com/nutrition/adaptogenic-herbs-adaptogens/#Top_9_Adaptogenic_Herbs.
- Zuvarox, Tyesha, and Chris Belletieri. “Malabsorption Syndromes.” PubMed, StatPearls Publishing, 2020, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK553106/.