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AG1 Athletic Greens review

Athletic Greens Review (AG1): My Experience After 30-Days

Athletic Greens (AG1) is a dietary supplement that claims to provide a wide range of nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, in a single serving.

Like 9 out of 10 Americans, I struggle with getting greens in my diet every day and so AG1 is marketed as a convenient way to help meet your nutrient needs, especially if you have a busy lifestyle or have difficulty getting all the nutrients they need from food alone.

AG1 is the first greens powder I ever drank. I tried it for 30 days and share my experience and thoughts on AG1 here. And, importantly, I reveal if AG1 is the best greens powder I have drank!

Athletic Greens (AG1) Verdict

The average rating of this product is calculated based on the evaluation of the following factors:

Coupons: None available

Rating:

4.0

  • Ingredients / Dosages:4.0
  • Ingredient Safety:4.5
  • Value for the Price:3
  • Brand Transparency:3.0
  • Taste:5.0

Did Athletic Greens make it into my best greens powders I recommend list?)

AG1 by Athletic Greens reviewed by Adam

September 2021 UPDATE: Athletic Greens has recently rebranded and is now called ‘AG1'. It's the same formula only the branding has had a significant refresh – it looks great!.

My Experience with AG1 Athletic Greens

I have purchased and tried Athletic Greens on three occasions – each time when they have re-branded.

The first time buying from Amazon (UK) in 2018 when it came it was surprisingly in a tub with the old Athletic looking branding. Checking the official United States website at the time showed Athletic Greens in a dark blue pouch instead of tubs.

It turns out that the company had recently rebranded (July 2018) to use much better and cleaner-looking pouches to look more healthy lifestyle brands.

In September 2021 Athletic Greens rebranded again to AG1 and they replaced the ceramic tub with a metal canister to store the powder in the fridge.

How Athletic Greens branding has changed over the years

It’s not easy buying supplements to send to Malaysia. So, the second time I purchased from the official USA website I had it shipped to me via a different company. This made it super expensive for me – I ended up paying $125 USD for one pouch that lasted just 30-days!

I was excited to try Athletic Greens, and immediately enjoyed the taste and experienced no side effects. After consuming for one month straight I didn't notice any massive changes to my well-being or necessarily in my energy levels.

This could be because I need to drink it for longer to notice many benefits.

PROS

  • Contains 75 ingredients, including probiotics
  • Tastes great in water or smoothies
  • Vegan friendly
  • Available in pouches or sachets

CONS

  • Expensive: $79 to $99 per month + shipping costs
  • Proprietary blend, no full disclosure of ingredient amounts
  • Probiotics can be unstable in these types of formulas

Athletic Greens ingredients and benefits

There are 75 ingredients in Athletic Greens, they claim this gives you the antioxidant equivalent of 12 servings of vegetables in one scoop.

Athletic Greens AG1 Label

There are some great ingredients in the formula but I am a little skeptical of the huge number of ingredients listed in each serving.

At best there may be one or two ingredients with two low amounts to having little benefit.

With supplement formulas containing many ingredients having sufficient dosages of every ingredient is difficult. There isn't enough room in the formula to have everything in a 10/12 gram serving!

Although Athletic Greens is not organically certified it does contain some organic ingredients.

Let’s take a look at each of the proprietary blends:

Alkaline, Nutrient-Dense, Raw Superfood Complex (7388mg)

Organic spirulina, lecithin (95% phosphatides), organic apple powder, inulin (FOS prebiotics), organic wheatgrass juice powder (leaf), organic alfalfa powder (leaf), organic chlorella powder, organic barley leaf powder, acerola fruit juice powder extract (4:1), broccoli flower powder, papaya (Carica papaya) powder (fruit), pineapple fresh fruit concentrate (9:1), bilberry fruit extract (100:1), beetroot powder (fruit), rosehip (Rosa Canina) fruit powder (4:1), carrot root powder, spinach leaf powder, cocoa bean polyphenol extract, grapeseed extract (120:1), green tea leaf extract (10:1), licorice root powder, Lycium berry fruit extract (4:1), ginger rhizome powder, slippery elm bark powder, kelp whole plant powder.

Nutrient Dense Natural Extracts, Herbs, and Antioxidants (411mg)

Alkaline pea protein isolate, citrus bioflavonoids extract, artichoke extract (15:1), citric acid, rhodiola rosea root dry extract (15:1), Eleuthero (eleutherococcus senticosus) root extract (10:1), gotu kola extract (10:1), rosemary leaf extract (4:1), milk thistle seed extract (70:1), R,S alpha-lipoic acid, ashwaganda root extract (5:1), dandelion root dry extract (4:1), hawthorn berry root extract (10:1), beta glucans, policosanol, co-enzyme Q-10, stevia rebaudiana leaf powder.

Digestive Enzyme & Super Mushroom Complex (154mg)

Astragalus root extract (4:1), bromelain (dietary enzyme), burdock root powder (4:1), reishi mushroom powder, shiitake mushroom powder, stevia.

Dairy Free Probiotics (38mg)

Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Bifidobacterium Bifidum.

[Ingredient profile correct as of September 2021 as new AG1 brand]

How Does AG1 Taste?

Drinking Athletic Greens is super easy because it tastes pretty good. Sipping a glass is pleasant without the grassy or chalky taste common with other green powder drinks.

I have even rated Athletic Greens the best tasting greens powder.

Any Side Effects?

I experienced no side effects with AG1 Athletic Greens powder in the morning drinking on an empty stomach.

This was to be expected as there isn’t anything in this powder that should cause a problem. I stuck to the recommended one serving of about 12g in a glass of 200ml of water per day.

Athletic Greens Health Benefits During and After 30-days?

Taking Athletic Greens is not going to give you superhuman strength overnight or even after a few weeks of taking it. So, understanding exactly how much healthier or vibrant you will be from taking Athletic Greens daily is hard to gauge.

Many of the ingredients in the formula will be difficult to consume in your average diet.

Taking a greens power is going to contain way more vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants than just a multi-vitamin.

The effectiveness of a greens powder is down to proper dosing and with so many ingredients in a serving it’s likely some ingredients are not in the right amounts.

As with ALL supplements, the effectiveness will come down to the nutritional breakdown of the formula.

This is where I was a little disappointed with Athletic Greens.

The use of proprietary blends in the AG1 formula means it's impossible to know precisely how much of each ingredient is present.

This is a big deal for me and should be for you too.

Ingredients don’t work just because they are present in a formula. They need to be in the right amounts, e.g. proper effective dosages.

I am confident in the vitamin and mineral content as this is clearly stated on the label (700% daily dosage of Vitamin C, 300% daily dosage of Vitamin E, etc).

Proprietary blends! Oh no!

Most of the ingredients in AG1 are in two main proprietary blends.

One simple example, the Reishi Mushroom powder in the “Digestive Enzyme & Super Mushroom Complex” is certainly going to in my opinion too low.

Picture of Reishi mushrooms

Why?

Well, the blend of six ingredients is only 154mg and according to Examine, Reishi needs to be consumed in quantities of 1.5g to 1.9g depending on the portion of the extract is used.

Another example is, that it’s unclear from the label if the organic Chlorella is of the “cracked cell” variety.

The cracked cell-wall version of Chlorella is more bioavailable, and the reason it's the preferred choice.

This is why I like taking supplements that fully show their formula on their label, you get to know this information. This was the main motivating factors behind me developing my own greens powder, Supergreen Tonik alternative and this one from Huel.

The last word on gut health, having both probiotics and prebiotics present may not be as effective as suggested. This is because combining probiotics within a greens powder can make them inert and therefore of little use.

So, if you’re keen on digestive health you may be best off buying a separate prebiotic/probiotic supplement.

AG1 order by Adam

Athletic Greens Reviews

I took a quick look online at reviews of Athletic Greens, this included their official website and Amazon.

As you would imagine the official site has glowing reviews, everyone rates the supplement a 4 or 5 stars.

Common statements like “great product”, “pricey but worth it”, “drink Athletic Greens every morning”, “amazing flavor” etc etc.

“pricey but worth it”….. “amazing flavor”

Checking Amazon feedback could be a little less biased shows an average rating of 4 out of 5 stars from 822 reports when I wrote my review. (AG1 is not available on Amazon).

I took a quick look at the one-star ratings to see what negatives come up.

Most of these consumer reviews reported “gastric problems”, “didn’t notice any difference”, “Ingredients are not worth 4x what similar products cost.” and “arrived with a hole in the bag”.

It tastes like forest droppings and vanilla whey procreated with some lawn clippings thrown in 😉

Interestingly a few customers reported they taste as having a “Very artificial flavor” and “tastes absolutely horrible and the aftertaste is even worse”.

The funniest one being “It tastes like forest droppings and vanilla whey procreated with some lawn clippings thrown in” – just goes to show that taste is very personal!

Money Back Guarantee / Returns Policy

There is a 60-day money-back guarantee but I found the information lacking on the site that outlines the conditions for this.

Reaching out to their support team they explained I could return my Athletic Greens within 60-days either opened or unopened.

That said, I see a number of customers seeing unopened AG1 pouches online and so ensure why this is the case.

AG1 monthly subscription

Where to Buy AG1?

The most obvious choice is from the official website.

They used to be available on Amazon but they appear to have stopped selling on there now (as of September 2021).

You can buy a one-off or monthly subscription to AG1 Athletic Greens or go for their handy travel-sized pouches.

Out of the Super Greens I have tried so far, Athletic Greens is on the high-price end.

Is Athletic Greens worth the price?

Super greens at super high prices!

This is one of the most expensive greens powders around.

At $99 , daily servings cost $3.30, with the subscription serving slightly better at $2.63 per day (excluding shipping).

You should also consider that shipping will also be added to the overall cost of one-off or subscription options, pushing the daily price to over $3.

These greens are not for those on a budget.

If the price is a factor, you may wish to check out Athletic Greens vs other green powders.

Frequently asked questions

What Does Athletic Greens Taste Like?

The stevia leaf gives you a faint taste of the main flavors of pineapple, vanilla, and papaya with a hint of sweetness.

I found the taste is good, but some customers struggle.

Am I Supposed to Put the Powder in the Container for Storage?

It is recommended to store Athletic Greens in a cool environment and so you should ideally put the greens powder in the canister & put the canister in the refrigerator.

When Should I take Athletic Greens?

It is recommended to take AG1 on an empty stomach 30 minutes before eating food in the morning.

Is AG1 a Meal Replacement?

Athletic Greens is not meant as a meal replacement. There is no reason you can't include your serving within a meal replacement shake though. You may need to experiment to see what tastes best.

Are Athletic Greens Safe?

Yes, for most consumers it will be 100% safe as long as you take in the recommended dosage. There is a caveat here though as we don't know the exact breakdown of the ingredients in the proprietary blend. If you have a particular allergy or sensitivity to any ingredients, you may need to choose an alternative.

Is AG1 Keto and Vegan Friendly?

The formula is 100% keto and vegan-friendly. Each 12g serving contains less than 1 gram of sugar.

Can I Easily Cancel my AG1 Subscription?

The cheapest way to buy AG1 is via their monthly subscription plan. Many consumers are concerned with auto-billing subscriptions. However, Athletic Greens makes it easy to cancel with a “click of a button”. The company is reputable, so I am confident in its customer service team.

Athletic Greens Verdict

I am a fan of Athletic Greens, the company focus on ingredients and not on overhyped marketing.

The greens powder is easy to mix and tastes great, but I have some reservations.

The formula uses proprietary blends which means we don’t get to see how each ingredient is dosed. Without a fully transparent label and ingredient list, we don’t get to see if the correct dosages are within the formula.

With the focus on so many ingredients in the formula, there will certainly be sacrifices in some ingredient amounts. Ultimately this means some ingredients will be less effective.

To pay out nearly $100 for a monthly supplement, I want to know exactly what you’re consuming. I need to be 100% confident the ingredients are clinically dosaged.

So, even though I am a fan of the taste of Athletic Greens (AG1) powder, it's not a greens that I would regularly use and this was the reason why I started my search for the most effective greens powder.

Adam Author

About the LifeHacker Guy

Hi, I'm Adam the founder of the LifeHacker Guy.

I have a First Class Honours degree in Sports Science from Brighton University, specialising in exercise physiology and nutrition. In my youth I was a competitive Triathlete and long-distance runner placing top 10 in most triathlon races I completed.

Since suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, I moved into web development, after a couple of years I then moved onto developing a number of online businesses. I've recently taken a sabbatical and I'm now looking to make big changes in my life, hopefully this may resonate with you - join me in my journey!

50 comments

    1. Hi Carla,
      Most supplements unless specified directly are aimed at adults (over 18 years old), and this is the case with AG1. You can reach out directly to their support team but believe they will echo this feedback.
      Adam

  1. Hi…was hoping athletic greens would be a game changer for me. Unfortunately my body doesn’t react well to it. I’ve been taking Athletic Greens now faithfully for 14 days in water on an empty stomach, first thing in the morning. Recently I noticed I’ve had a dull headache all day everyday. NEVER had this before. I started searching on line and found that green powders (not just athletic greens) can cause this side effect. So as much as I believe this is a good product, its not for me and it may not be for you, if this side effect plagues you. If anyone knows how to prevent it I’d be grateful as I have a lot left and I’d like to continue taking it.

    1. Hi Kathy
      Have you tried taking AG1 with a meal as opposed to early in the morning on an empty stomach?

    2. I asked my Doctor about this stuff and doctor said most likely you will pee it out. Multivitamin and Fruit and fresh Veggies will do more than that stuff. Plus its Expensive. Doc said sometime you can do more harm than good, your body can’t absorb the stuff so you Pee or Poop it out. fresh veggies are cheaper and I know what in them.

      1. You’ll never eat enough, daily, to match what is in the product, but yes fresh fruits and vegetables are definitely cheaper. Keep in mind that Doctors are not nutrients and not trained as such.

    3. This may or may not be the cause, but taking dandelion root/extract for an extended period of time can cause headaches. It is usually recommended that people don’t take it for more than 2 weeks at a time (like a 2 week on-one week off type of cycle). I believe AG1 has dandelion in it.
      Again, not saying that this is definitely the cause, but something you could look into if you wanted.

    4. *Also, licorice root (which is apparently also in the AG1 formula-though we don’t know in what amount) can increase blood pressure.

      Again, not stating that this is happening to you, but it wouldn’t hurt to check your blood pressure the next time one of these headaches occur, if you continue taking it.

  2. Good morning.. Ex NZrs & we live in Australia. We are pensioners & wondered if we are able to purchase 2 sachets just to try and see if we like the taste, before we spend money on something we cant tolerate..

    Kind regards
    Vicki Turner

  3. Hi Adam, I read Josh Schlottman’s (Trainer) review online, which was written on Dec. 26, 2021 and he said he’s now recommending MetaboGreens by BioTrust over AG1 at cost of 60% less (approx. $40) but more effective. Can you verify / validate this claim? Thank you.

    Luke

  4. Great article mate.

    Why makes me question how good this supplement is, is the fact it has a shelf life of 2-3 years.

    How does it last 3 years?

  5. Hi there,

    I have two questions about Athletic Greens that I hope you can answer (with all of your research). I find it hard to drink it first thing in the morning as all I want is coffee. Can I drink it mid afternoon between lunch and dinner and still gain the benefits?
    And my second question is do you know if I can mix collagen powder with athletic greens in one drink (like a smoothie and add yogurt and berries)? The powder I’m referring to it called Vital Proteins Collagen.
    Thanks!
    Sarah

    1. Hi Sarah,
      Thanks for your questions. You can drink AG in the afternoon that’s fine as long as you give it 30 minutes before eating. You can still get the benefits – I do exactly this with my greens brand.
      In terms of the collagen powder (check out my Vital Proteins Collagen Review), I can’t see any reason why you cannot mix this with AG.

      Let me know how you get on.
      Adam

  6. On your comments on knowing you are taking the “right amount” or “enough” of certain ingredients – I’m not sure what you are hoping for – the left side of the label lists the exact amount and %DV for 26 nutrients, vitamins and minerals for which there is an established recommended daily level. To the best of my knowledge there are no established daily intake levels for the ingredients on the right – what would you do differently if you knew there was 10mg or 50mg of rosemary leaf extract or slippery elm extract ?
    Also I do appreciate the time you took to write the review. Other than the point above if was useful, however, one recommendation to make it easier to read would be to take 10 minutes and proofread. There are many simple errors like leaving out words like of and at. Makes it hard to focus on what you are saying with so many errors.

    1. Thanks Jonathan for your comment and appreciate the heads up with regards to proofreading!

      In terms of ingredient amounts, I am referring to the proprietary blends (right-hand side of the label) and not trace vitamins and minerals that have established recommended daily amounts.

      I have given examples in my review, there is research that supports the minimum effective dosages of many ingredients, for example, Spirulina showing health benefits when consuming AT LEAST 1 gram per day. Any product using proprietary blends hides the individual ingredient weights. For me, and it should be for anyone looking for an effective supplement, should at least be able to confirm what they are taking to ensure it’s going to work.

      Athletic Greens is a solid brand and one that I took for a while and so I would hope that most of the ingredients are in the right dosages, but we need to give the company the benefit of the doubt here. The same cannot be said for many other brands that will cut corners and provide tiny dosages of the ingredients in favor of their bottom line.

      I have not the first to say this, there are brands out there that hate proprietary blends 😉

      At the end of the day, I would prefer to know what I am taking, in what dosage, and that I am getting a supplement that lives up to the claims.

      Adam

    2. Great review. I’ve been using Dr. Schulze’s SuperFood Plus for 15 years. Nothing else compares. I understand it’s not a multivitamin or a probiotic, but that’s not the intent. It is pure, concentrated nutrition.

      I used AG1 for a month and found it to be a quality product, but definitely underdosed and beyond overpriced. I’m also skeptical that it is being advertised on every podcast now.

  7. “This is one of the most expensive greens powders around – certainly from the products I have seen. At $97 (£84) from a daily serving costs $3.23 (£2.80) which is the cost of your latte from a well known coffee company!!).”

    I’m confused by your criticism of Athletic Greens price point. Your starter tub is $12 more that AG’s starter pouch ($77 vs, $89) and at regular price, is $8 less ($97 vs. $89). I wonder if you could speak to this?
    Thanks,
    -ashley

    1. Hi Ashley,
      Thanks for taking the time to comment.
      I can understand your point of view however this is slightly inaccurate for the following reasons:
      1) Supergreen Tonik includes free shipping versus Athletic greens charges for shipping
      2) Purchasing the bundle options of SuperGreen tonik drops the price considerably to around $60 per tub and again with free USA shipping.
      This drops the per serving cost to almost $2 per day for Supergreen Tonik. In addition there is a one-year money-back guarantee that is pretty much one of the only greens powders that offers this. We can do this because our customers love the product and see the value for their health.
      Hope this clarifies for you. I will put together a side by side comparison to make this easier to see, so that my visitors can make their informed decision.
      Have a great day.
      Adam

  8. Hi Hacker Guy!

    I am a blogger and did some research on your article about this product. My niche is in the physiology of nutrition. After making the point about nutritional balance in ingredients (good point) make a lot of sense. Not one size fits all! Thank you for your review. If you need an editor or proofreader contact me!;-)

    1. Hi Janet,
      Thank you for taking the time to comment here and the offer of editing/proof reading. I do spot a number of errors when I look back over my content, so I may well reach out to you.
      Adam

  9. Thank for the good review. I too can’t reconcile that all those ingredients in the one scoop can hold an adequate amount of nutrients.
    I had been using Athletic Greens for a while following their advice to take it on an empty stomach. After a short while this caused terrible burning in my stomach so stopped taking the AG until things cleared up. I now mix it in my morning smoothie and it’s all good, except for the taste. I find it smells of candy and when mixed with my smoothie it completely dominates the flavour of it. Thank goodness it’s not sweetened.
    I do find it very expensive especially here in Canada and will probably not order it again.

    1. That’s okay Jeff, I value your feedback. To be transparent with you, I am a fan of several greens powders of which Athletic Greens is one of them. I have tried this for one-month and believe it’s a great product but there are some minor negatives, which is why I went ahead to develop my own.

  10. I have been using Athletic Greens for most of the year now.
    Maybe I washed my hands more lately, but I did make it through the year without a cold, normally I do catch something. My wife and son had their regular colds. I am 54 and try and exercise 2 – 3 times a week, definitely not a high end gym rat.
    I did loosen up a bit when I poop and seem to get a little gassy, so I take this after dinner and it is not a problem during the day.
    Like others I should eat or drink way more fruits and veggies, but…..
    I had colon cancer two years ago and this kind of makes my DR happier.
    Wish Cinnabons was a health food 😉
    Taste is neutral to me, not great but not terrible. If I am hungry, I could probably eat a dirt sandwich, so I am not a good reference on that part.
    I do like the lack of effort required to mix it up. I just throw in a scoop and gradually add water and swirl it around for a few.

    Anyway, my two cents. I will read about your product and might even give a shot. My wife would love it if I spent less !!

    1. Hi Michael,
      Thanks for the feedback. I am a fan of this too and so good to hear from other consumers who like it. For me though the downside is not knowing the exact ingredients inside. This may not be an issue for most people but for me I want to know what I am taking to be sure its really enough.
      Have a great weekend!
      Adam

  11. This is my second month trying Athletic Greens, and I have noticed a big difference in my energy level, but more so, my sleep!! I am a very energetic person and I noticed a huge increase in my energy level, but the sleep was the best!!

  12. Hi

    Great job for publishing such a beneficial web site. Your weblog isn’t only useful but it is additionally really creative too.

  13. Thank you for the extensive review!
    I was really interested but your analyses strengthened my doubts about this supplement being any different than the millions of others.
    Besides, there are more and more clinical studies (a nice blog by Dr. Francis Collins at https://directorsblog.nih.gov/2019/04/16/study-finds-no-benefit-for-dietary-supplements/) not only showing that there are no benefits but actually detrimental effects for your health from taking supplements (including increased risk for cancer). If even the NIH director say “for God’s sake just eat your vegetables!” I think that is worth considering… I think I’ll just drop the fantasy of a healthy diet pill and go back to the old-fashioned way.

    1. Great… I was drinking this because I had cancer a couple years back and was trying to boost my veggie intake.

    2. A lot of misleading information in your comment. Be aware that “the old-fashioned way” used to make sense when we weren’t being bombarded with toxins in our air and water, and when vegetables were grown in truly healthy soil, not just soil which passes some government’s definition of “organic”.

  14. I love this article too,, I am keen to try one but I’m not sure. Please let me no when you find out more about the best one for money and real benefits. Thanks

  15. I found your article about Athletic greens very interesting. I wondered if you have found a great green super drink that lives up to your expectations. Please send me info about it. Thanks.

    1. Thanks Beth for taking to comment here and I am happy you found the article interesting.

      Athletic greens is one of my favorite super greens I have tried, I really like the taste and the company behind it.

      I am still reviewing a few products and so more will be available soon. So, please keep checking back.

      Have a great day

      Adam

    2. Athletic Greens launched in 2010 and quickly grew into one of the best known green superfood powders on the market; if you spend time as much time reading content from internet fitness gurus as we do, there’s a good chance you’ve already heard of them or even read an Athletic Greens Ultimate Daily review. The product is particularly well known for being the favorite supplement of entrepreneur god-king Tim Ferriss who has called it his “all-in-one nutritional insurance.” It describes itself as such on the packaging itself, saying it supports energy, immunity, gut health, liver function, hormone function, brain function, and the body’s natural detoxification process. Phew.

    3. This is the right blog for anyone who wants to find out about this topic. You realize so much its almost hard to argue with you (not that I actually would want?HaHa). You definitely put a new spin on a topic thats been written about for years. Great stuff, just great!

    4. So what s the takeaway from this Athletic Greens review? This is one of the most nutrient-dense greens powders I’ve tried. It’s not crazy high in minerals like calcium and magnesium, so this shouldn’t replace green vegetables in your diet, but it’s super high in vitamins, seems to contain plenty of antioxidants, and could well have a big impact on digestive health.

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