AG1 Review: Is this Nutritional Supplement Right for You?

Taking a foundational nutritional supplement can be a great way to ensure you’re getting plenty of vitamins, minerals, and unique whole food ingredients in your diet. Over the past decade, AG1 has established itself as a true leader in the nutritional supplement space. 

But, is this supplement right for you? In this review, we’ll be taking a closer look at AG1, analyzing its nutrition label, and going over its pros and cons. Hopefully, by the end of this article, you’ll be able to make a more informed choice about AG1.

AG1 Review

• Item Form: Powder
• Flavor: Unflavored
• Probiotics: 54mg
• Added Sweeteners: Stevia
• Special Ingredients: Alkaline, Nutrient-Dense Raw Superfood Complex, Nutrient Dense Extracts, Herbs & Antioxidant, Digestive Enzyme & Super Mushroom Complex, Dairy Free Probiotics
• Package Information: 360g (30 Servings)
• Serving: 12g
• Company Founded: 2010
• Recommended by Athletes: Kate Glavan, Colin O Brady, Tez Steinberg

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Since being founded in 2010, AG1 has become an undeniable leader in the nutritional supplement space. Over the past 14 years, they have been continuously improving their formula to deliver customers the best nutritional supplement possible.

AG1 contains over 70 ingredients, designed to potentially provide a host of benefits to your body. As per their website, this includes:

• Mental performance
• Enduring energy
• Stress and mood balance
• Immune defense

It’s worth noting that when using AG1, benefits may likely be most noticeable in people who aren’t getting enough micronutrients in their diet as is. It will likely be most beneficial to those eating a restrictive diet like those on keto, carnivore, or vegans etc. If you’re already eating a nutritionally complete diet, it’s unlikely AG1 will dramatically boost your mental performance or energy levels, if at all. 

You can always consult with a doctor and get your bloodwork done if you’re concerned about your overall micronutrient intake. If you struggle with getting certain vitamins and minerals, a supplement like AG1 may be especially beneficial. 

In terms of micronutrients, AG1 is similar to many multivitamins. It contains 21 total vitamins and minerals, which are dosed anywhere from 2-1100% of your DV, with many falling right around the 100% mark. Keep in mind that AG1 also contains 50 calories per serving, which includes 2g of fiber and 2g of plant-based protein. 

AG1 is also NSF for Sport Certified. We always recommend looking for supplements with third-party certifications like this to verify the quality and potency of supplements. NSF for Sport specifically tests supplements to ensure they don’t contain any traces of potentially banned substances. 

Finally, keep in mind that AG1 is a premium-priced supplement, and costs significantly more than many alternatives. However, you will be getting a very high-quality supplement for the price. Will it work for you? That’s another question.

Nutrition Label Breakdown

Below we’ll be taking a more in-depth look at AG1, specifically its micronutrients, macronutrients, and ingredients. This should give you a good overview of what to expect in each serving. 

1. Vitamins and Minerals

First off, let’s take a look at what vitamins and minerals you can expect to get from AG1. Overall, AG1’s micronutrient breakdown is fairly similar to most multivitamins. 

You can expect full daily doses of several crucial vitamins and minerals, including:

• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E
• Vitamins B1, B2, B6, B7, & B12
• Niacin
• Folate
• Zinc 

However, the rest of the included vitamins and minerals are dosed between 2-80% of your DV. These include:

• Vitamin A
• Pantothenic Acid
• Calcium
• Phosphorus
• Magnesium
• Selenium
• Copper
• Manganese
• Chromium
• Sodium
• Potassium

It’s also worth noting that some micronutrients are omitted entirely, including Vitamin D, and Iron, for example. While Vitamin K does not appear to be included at first glance, it is listed in one blend.

Overall, these micros not being included is not inherently bad, and is likely ideal if you’re already getting enough of them in your diet. Overdosing on f.e. Iron can cause serious side effects, so be careful when supplementing with these micronutrients. 

2. Macronutrient Breakdown

One key area where a nutritional supplement like AG1 is different from a multivitamin is its macronutrient breakdown. AG1 contains 50 calories per serving, which are broken down between 6g of carbs and 2g of protein. 

You may also be wondering, “Does AG1 have fiber?” Yes, just not very much. On top of its other macros, AG1 contains 2g of fiber. The recommended daily amount of fiber is 25-35, so this isn’t exactly a significant amount.

While high-fiber diets are generally considered healthy, keep in mind that they can cause bloating and GI problems, especially if you’re dramatically increasing your fiber intake. 

3. AG1 Ingredients Breakdown 

Finally, let’s take a look at what you can expect from AG1 in terms of ingredients. This supplement boasts over 70 ingredients, giving you a wide range of whole foods in each serving. 

Ingredients are broken down into 4 main proprietary blends, which are:

• Alkaline, Nutrient-Dense Raw Superfood Complex
• Nutrient Dense Extracts, Herbs & Antioxidant
• Digestive Enzyme & Super Mushroom Complex
• Dairy Free Probiotics

Overall, these blends are mostly made up of many different fruits, vegetables, herbs, and mushrooms, which help to form AG1’s foundational nutritional profile.

Finally, does AG1 have Probiotics? AG1 contains a high dose of probiotics at 54mg per serving.

While this may be appealing to some, it should also be pointed out that supplementing with probiotics may not be all that beneficial as it requires specific bacteria that can colonize your gut, then it requires them to be in sufficient amount to colonize your gut and survive, and then they also need to be stored properly to make it even possible.

Even then there is no guarantee that they will stay and permanently improve your gut microbiota.

3 Key Advantages of AG1

Now that we’ve gone over what you can expect from AG1, let’s take a look at why this supplement may be beneficial. This includes its nutritional breakdown, third-party certification from NSF for Sport, as well as its taste and mixability. 

✅ Strong Nutritional Breakdown

First and foremost, AG1’s main benefit is its nutritional breakdown. As covered above, you can expect full daily doses of 10 different vitamins and minerals, as well as partial doses of 11 more. This makes AG1 an excellent foundational supplement for anyone looking to up their micronutrient intake. 

Overall, while AG1 has an undeniably solid nutritional profile, it’s worth mentioning that this supplement isn’t a substitute for an otherwise healthy diet. Instead, like a multivitamin, it’s a great way to support the rest of your diet and to help ensure you’re getting enough micronutrients in. 

As mentioned earlier, this formula will likely be most beneficial to those who struggle with getting enough micronutrients in their diet. 

Finally, you may be wondering, “Does AG1 help with weight loss?” While it will help with nutrient intake, AG1 is unlikely to have a major effect on weight loss. 

✅ Third-Party Certification

One major advantage AG1 has over other similar nutritional supplements is that it’s NSF for Sport certified. This ensures AG1 maintains a high level of quality and is free of any contaminants and potentially banned substances. 

This certification is especially relevant for pro athletes who are subject to drug tests. However, this certification will still be important for regular people who want to ensure they’re using a high-quality supplement. 

We always recommend looking for third-party certifications whenever buying any supplements. It’s a quick and easy way to see if a brand is dedicated to delivering the highest-quality products possible. But there is more than NSF and banned sport substances and about that in a moment…

✅ What About Taste and Mixability?

Finally, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention AG1’s taste and mixability. So, does AG1 taste good? According to their website, the supplement delivers a “subtle sweetness from essences of pineapple and vanilla.”

With this being said, user consensus on the taste of AG1 is fairly split. While there are certainly some AG1 reviews that mention the taste being unpleasant, the majority of users seem to genuinely enjoy the taste. Some users recommend adding lemon juice to improve the flavor. 

According to most reviews, it also appears to mix well, especially in cold water. However, some reviews also mention an unpleasant gritty texture. 

Overall, without trying it for yourself, it’s difficult to say whether you will enjoy the taste or not. If you’ve tried similar supplements in the past and enjoyed them, you will likely find AG1 enjoyable! For me during the test ride, I found the taste manageable but far from tasty. If I would stick to that supplement, taste would not hold me back. Mixability was ok.

Does AG1 have significant disadvantages?

Now that we’ve covered AG1’s benefits, let’s take a quick look at its disadvantages. While this is an overall solid supplement, its high price and potential side effects may put some people off. 

❌ High Price per Serving 

Arguably the main downside to AG1 is its high price point. Keep in mind that this is advertised as a premium supplement, and the price reflects this. 

Buying a standard 30-serving pouch of AG1 will cost you approximately ~$3.30, which is a lot to pay for a daily supplement. 

However, AG1 offers single and double subscriptions, which will get you 30-60 servings delivered monthly. This drops the price to ~$2.63 per serving for a single subscription and ~$2.48 per serving for a double subscription.

These subscriptions also come with a free welcome kit that includes a shaker, canister, and travel packs, as well as a year's supply of Vitamin D3+K2 when buying the double subscription. 

While either subscription certainly offers better value than trying the supplement once, you may not be inclined to subscribe right away without trying the product first. Even with subscriptions it is far from being cheap. On one side you can’t put a price tag on your health, but on the other side there might be some cheaper alternatives.

❌ Potential AG1 Side Effects

Another downside to AG1 is that some people report gastrointestinal side effects when using this supplement. While it doesn’t appear to be universal, numerous reviews report an upset stomach, nausea, and bloating when first taking AG1. 

Because of this, we recommend taking smaller servings when first using AG1. This can help you gauge whether the supplement agrees with you before taking the full recommended daily dose. 

If you experience any side effects, we recommend ceasing use immediately. Consider looking into alternative nutritional supplements, or consulting with a doctor before continuing use. 

❌ Proprietary Blends

Additionally, AG1’s ingredients are all listed as proprietary blends, so it’s very difficult to say how much of each ingredient you’re actually getting. Keep this in mind especially if you’re looking to take AG1 for the benefits of a few specific ingredients. 

❌ Lead Lawsuit

It’s also worth mentioning that in 2015 AG1 faced a lawsuit relating to lead in their product that ended in a settlement. This is something to be aware of, especially if you’re concerned about any supplements you buy containing potential contaminants.

They, hopefully of course, sorted it out, but gives you a hint that nutrition supplements are much less regulated than pharmaceutical grade supplements. 

❌ Potential Overstatement of Benefits

Finally, be aware that AG1’s website may be making some claims about the benefits of their product that may not apply to you. How much AG1 affects your energy levels, mental clarity etc. will depend largely on your existing diet and nutrient intake. So, take any claims about benefits with a grain of salt. 

How do you use AG1?

Using AG1 couldn’t be easier! Simply mix a scoop of AG1 with approximately 2 cups of cold water, shake, and enjoy. As mentioned earlier, adding a bit of lemon juice may make the taste more enjoyable. As per AG1’s website, you can also try blending it into a smoothie or adding it to oat milk.

AG1 generally recommends taking their supplement as a kickstart to your day, but feel free to take it whenever you like!

AG1 vs. Kaged Outlive 100

Kaged Outlive 100

• Diet Type: Building Muscle, Losing Weight, Overall Health
• Suitable for Vegans: Yes
• Serving Size: 16.7g
• Price per Serving: ~$1.67
• Protein Percent of Calories: 8%
• Proteins: 1g
• Carbohydrates: 12-13g
• Fat: 0g
• Sugar: 2g
• Company Founded: 2015
• Recommended by Athletes: Andrea Somer, Colt Nichols, Kris Gethin

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To help you decide if AG1 is right for you, let’s take a quick look at an alternative nutritional supplement from Kaged, Outlive 100. 

This supplement is a similar formula, made up of 26 fruits and vegetables designed to give you a solid nutritional foundation. One downside is that Outlive does not have a list of their vitamins and minerals, although their ingredient amounts are listed much more clearly.

However, this is a much more affordable supplement, costing about half as much as AG1 at ~$1.66 per serving. This makes it a great alternative for anybody looking for a cheaper option. 

Conclusion

So, is AG1 worth it? In our opinion, if you’re looking for a great foundational nutritional supplement, AG1 may be a good choice for you.  

While AG1 definitely won’t be for everybody, for somebody with major gaps in their diet, this may be worthwhile. However, be aware that the supplement does come at a high price point, and may cause bloating or discomfort in some.

Just keep in mind there are other options, such as changing your diet or simply taking a multivitamin or some single ingredient supplements to be able to say what is working for you and what is not. If you’re looking for an easy way to get most of the vitamins and minerals you need, consider trying AG1 today.

Have you ever used any foundational nutritional supplements? Are you planning on giving AG1 a try? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

References:

1. NSF, “NSF’s Certified for Sport”, nsfsport.com https://www.nsfsport.com/ (Accessed July 27, 2024)
2. The Nutrition Source, “Vitamins and Minerals,” Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/vitamins/ (Accessed July 27, 2024)
3. The Nutrition Source, “Fiber,” Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/carbohydrates/fiber/ (Accessed July 27, 2024)
4. Nutrition, “Probiotics and Prebiotics: What’s Really Important,” Harvard Health Publishing https://www.health.harvard.edu/nutrition/are-you-getting-essential-nutrients-from-your-diet (Accessed July 27, 2024)
5. The Nutrition Source, “Should I Take a Daily Multivitamin,” Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/multivitamin/ (Accessed July 27, 2024)
6. Photos by Torokhtiy Media Team.