Fans of health supplements have probably seen an ad (or 10) for AG1, a greens powder packed with vitamins, minerals, adaptogens, and probiotics — all promising to boost your health. My chiropractor first recommended AG1 almost a decade ago because I was always hunting for supplements to improve my endurance training. Back then, it was called Athletic Greens, and a lot of my triathlete friends swore by it.
Athletic Greens rebranded its signature greens powder to include non-athletes, hence the name change to AG1. As I saw more ads pop up on my social media feed, I wondered if AG1 was as good as what everyone raved about. I often will add a greens powder to my morning smoothie, but I’ve been particularly averse to drinking a daily greens drink for two reasons.
First, greens powders don’t really mix very well, so you choke on a clump or two of the powder floating at the top, or you have tons of leftover green gunk at the bottom. Second, I always felt like I was drinking grass, and I’m not fond of the taste of grass unless it’s blended in with some pineapple in a smoothie. So AG1 sent me their greens powder for me to try.
First impressions of AG1
The AG1 welcome kit was a nice surprise. It came with a sturdy metal canister, a scoop, a shaker bottle, and a 30-day supply of greens powder. I know it’s a small thing, but I really appreciated the scoop not being a cheap plastic one. Both the canister and scoop felt durable and well-made.
Why the canister? Once you open the pouch, the probiotics and other ingredients need to be refrigerated to stay fresh. So, you dump the monthly pouch into the canister and pop it into the fridge.
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The shaker bottle also impressed me — it was slimmer and easier to hold than the typical clunky ones that somehow start smelling funky over time (even when washed). It has both ounce and liter measurements, so you can reuse it for hydration throughout the day.
As a bonus, AG1 also sent me Travel Packs, which were a lifesaver during the holidays. No worrying about lugging the canister or dealing with refrigeration — just toss a pack in your bag, and you’re good to go.
The pros of AG1
My first morning with AG1 had me excited. Could it really improve my health? I don’t have digestive issues, but I wondered if AG1 would help me. I measured a scoop of AG1 carefully into my water-filled shaker bottle. After a few shakes, the powder mixes perfectly. No pockets of powder left on the rim or the bottom of the shaker bottle. That was definitely a plus.
The taste? Better than I expected. It’s slightly sweet from stevia, with a hint of fruitiness, and didn’t remind me of grass at all. That said, it’s not something I’d drink during a workout or on a hot summer day — it’s more of a functional beverage than a treat. I mean, really, I don’t make a practice of snacking on gummy vitamins, either.
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I also liked that AG1 has plenty of vitamins and minerals — more than my multivitamin geared for women over 50. There’s a ton of B vitamins to help with my workouts, though I didn’t notice too much of a difference in workout performance. I’m always a little nervous about what’s in many of my nutritional supplements because they aren’t regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. AG1 has been tested by third-party organizations to ensure the powder is free from contaminants such as heavy metals and pesticides.
Some drawbacks of AG1
The biggest downside? The price. Ten years ago, I thought it was expensive, and now it’s $99 for a month’s supply (or $79 with a subscription). Although I was happy AG1 sent me their product, it would be difficult for me to afford AG1 every month. If you have that much disposable income, I’d say AG1 is worth it.
Even though I only tested AG1 for a month, I didn’t notice a breakthrough in my gut health. AG1 has two common strains of probiotics — which is a good thing — but I didn’t notice any changes in my digestive system. Then again, I don’t have problems with gas, bloating, diarrhea, or constipation. I’d like to see AG1 maybe add other strains of probiotics before it could really replace a probiotic supplement. I’d also like to see AG1 add a little more fiber. Right now there are only 2 grams of fiber per serving.
I was expecting AG1 to improve my mood a little, particularly as I endured the stress of the holidays and the post-holiday doldrums. AG1’s vitamins and minerals are supposed to support cognitive function and inner calm, but I didn’t see a marked improvement. Besides, if most of these vitamins and minerals can be found in my standard multivitamin, it might be cheaper for me to stick to my multivitamin.