A girlfriend recently asked me if I still took my greens and if I recommended the brand I used, and I shared my review of Athletic Greens aka AG1 with her. I of course like many others was susceptible to the marketing on Instagram. This brand has infiltrated the influencer community.
I am someone who has taken a variety of supplements over the years. I’m also aware that you have to be an educated consumer when choosing which brands you trust, because as the research shows (see this Harvard article), many of the vitamins don’t actually contain what they claim to. Some have been found to not even include the main active ingredient they are being sold for.
At one point I was taking vitamin B complex, Vitamin D, a hair/skin/nails supplement and a couple others I can’t remember. Have I ever felt a physical difference with any vitamin I took? No. My hope is that they work, and they are having a positive effect on my body on a molecular level that I just don’t see/feel consciously. I’m always up for trying new wellness things, like my one-time lymphatic drainage detox treatment.
What Does Athletic Greens Taste Like?
I had seen the AG1 advertising for a long time and thought it could be an opportunity for me to consolidate how many pills I was taking. I decided to go for it and purchase; their site also won me over about the high quality standards they have for ingredient sourcing + manufacturing. The first time I tried it I gagged. I’ll be the first to be honest, it does not taste good. And I’m not a picky eater/turned off easily by textures or taste. If you are looking for an Athletic Greens negative review regarding flavor, this is it.
AG1 recommends mixing it with 12 oz of water. That’s a hard pass. I only made that mistake the first time. I now mix it with about 3 oz water (so it’s more of a two-sip shot), and hold my breath. I don’t know how to describe the AG1 taste – like any other green juice if you’ve ever had it? Mossy, dirt-like may be a couple descriptors. I tried adding a squeeze of lime juice and that does not do much for the flavor.
Texture and Mixability
There have been protein powders or other juices I’ve tried in the past that are very grainy or gritty. That texture does bother me and I can’t drink it. However, if you stir/shake up the Athletic Greens mix, it does smooth out. Not completely, but not as bad as other powders on the market.
The Benefits: Does AG1 Actually Work?
My first purchase of Athletic Greens was in mid-2021, and I have religiously taken it nearly every day since then. Did I feel any difference when I stopped? No.
AG’s site FAQs says “Many members report feeling sustained energy…” My skin and nails ARE healthy, but is that as a result of AG1? It’s likely a combination of aspects in my lifestyle. However, AG’s site also doesn’t back up any of its claims with any clinical study results, which is ideally what we’d want to see. The TLDR here: I’m sure my body is better off taking this supplement, they just aren’t “felt/seen.”
The Cost: Is Athletic Greens Worth the Price?
A downside is they charge $10 to ship it every month, on top of the $80 price tag. Making this a $100/month supplement. It’s not cheap, that’s $3/day. However, I am a believer that you get what you pay for.
The Final Verdict
If you’re committed enough to suffer through the AG1 taste and pay the premium, Athletic Greens may have benefits, even if some of it is a placebo. You have to make that call for yourself. At the end of the day, the best thing we can do is eat a well-balanced diet full of real fruits and vegetables.
If you want to go down a research rabbit hole, I highly recommend the NY Times article, Will ‘Superfood Powders’ Actually Make You Healthier?
I’d love to hear from you, have you tried AG1? Did you actually like the taste, or are you in the “two-sip shot” camp with me?
