Is AG1 Greens Powder Worth It? We Tried It to Find Out (2024)

Formerly known as Athletic Greens, you've likely seen AG1 all over social media. This greens powder contains a slew of vitamins and minerals and has grown in popularity for its convenience and complete nutrition profile. But is it worth the hefty price point?

I tried the supplement myself and even got input from several GH staffers who have been taking AG1 on their own for real-life feedback on whether or not you should splurge on the powder. Read on for our honest review, including information on pricing and who AG1 is truly best for.

Our registered dietitians in the Good Housekeeping Institute Nutrition Lab review and evaluate every single supplement we recommend in accordance with our dietary supplement methodology. We then have a registered dietitian on our Medical Review Board review each article for scientific accuracy. A supplement should do just that: supplement the diet, not replace high-quality, nutritious food and important healthy lifestyle practices. Check with your healthcare provider before starting any dietary supplement regimen.

AG1 is a powdered nutrition supplement developed in 2010 by a team of doctors, scientists and researchers. The brand says that they have undergone 52 iterations of the product since then to incorporate the latest research and higher-quality ingredients.

AG1 recommends mixing a scoop of the greens powder with 8 to 10 ounces of cold water, but they say that it can also be blended into smoothies or juices or mixed with other cold beverages. It is not designed to mix with hot or highly acidic liquids, as this may impact the integrity of the ingredients.

Since AG1 contains live probiotics and whole-food sourced ingredients, it must be refrigerated after opening. The brand suggests taking AG1 ideally 10 minutes before a meal and on an empty stomach to optimize absorption.

Each scoop of AG1 includes 75 vitamins, minerals and nutrients. One serving of AG1, equivalent to a 12 gram scoop, provides:

• 50 calories
• 6 g carbohydrate
• 45 mg sodium
• 2 g fiber
• <1 g total sugars
• 2g protein
• 555 mcg RAE vitamin A (62% DV)
• 420 mg vitamin C (467% DV)
• 83 mg vitamin E (553% DV)
• 3 mg thiamin (250% DV)
• 2 mg riboflavin (154% DV)
• 20 mg NE niacin (125% DV)
• 3 mg vitamin B6 (176% DV)
• 680 mcg DFE folate (170%)
• 22 mcg vitamin B12 (917%)
• 330 mcg biotin (1100% DV)
• 4 mg pantothenic acid (80% DV)
• 118 mg calcium (9% DV)
• 130 mg phosphorous (10% DV)
• 26 mg magnesium (6% DV)
• 300 mg potassium (6% DV)
• 15 mg zinc (136% DV)
• 20 mcg selenium (36% DV)
• 195 mcg copper (22% DV)
• 400 mc manganese (17% DV)
• 25 mcg chromium (71% DV)

When it comes to ingredients, AG1 includes four proprietary blends. While the brand provides the total amount per serving for each blend, it does not specify how much of each ingredient is in the product. The blends include:

• Alkaline, Nutrient-Dense Raw Superfood Complex (7388 mg): organic spirulina, lecithin, organic apple powder, inulin, organic wheat grass juice powder, organic alfalfa powder, organic chlorella powder, organic barley leaf powder, acerola fruit juice powder extract, broccoli flower powder, papaya fruit powder, pineapple fruit concentrate, bilberry fruit extract, beet root powder, rose hip fruit powder, carrot root powder, spinach leaf powder, cocoa bean polyphenol extract, grape seed extract, green tea extract, licorice root powder, lycium berry fruit extract, ginger rhizome powder, slippery elm bark powder and kelp whole plant powder
• Nutrient Dense Extracts, Herbs & Antioxidant (2732 mg): alkaline pea protein isolate, citrus bioflavonoids extract, artichoke leaf extract, citric acid, Rhodiola rosea root dry extract, eleuthero root extract, rosemary leaf extract, milk thistle seed extract, R,S alpha-lipoic acid, ashwagandha root extract, dandelion whole plant dry concentrate, hawthorn berry extract, beta glucans, policosanol, coenzyme Q10, stevia leaf powder and vitamin K2
• Digestive Enzyme & Super Mushroom Complex (154 mg): astragalus root powder extract, bromelain, burdock root powder, reishi mushroom powder and shiitake mushroom powder
• Dairy Free Probiotics 7.2 billion CFU (38mg): Lactobacillus acidophilus – UALa-01 and Bifidobacterium bifidum – UABb-10

Other ingredients include natural flavors. Note that AG1 does contain soy since certain ingredients are derived from soy.

You can purchase AG1 as a one-time purchase or via a subscription. Ultimately, the cheapest you can get the product for is about $2.48 per serving if you purchase the double subscription. Price and plans include:

• One-time purchase: $99 for 30 servings or $109 for 30 travel packs
• Single subscription: $79 for 30 servings or $89 for 30 travel packs
• Double subscription: $149 for 60 servings or $169 for 60 travel packs

Ordering

I found the AG1 website easy to navigate for placing the initial order. When you purchase AG1 for the first time, you'll receive a 30-day supply of the powder that comes in a pouch in addition to five complimentary individual serving travel packs. That first purchase also includes an AG1 shaker, scoop and canister for the powder that all came neatly packaged in an organized box. Although I am currently pregnant, I had tested the product prior to pregnancy. I also called in product samples now as well to evaluate the current nutritionals on the most recent version of AG1.

Taste and texture

The powder has a very earthy flavor to it, but it's slightly sweet. Compared to other greens powders we've tested, it definitely was one of the best. I had a hard time drinking it with only 8 ounces of liquid and increased it to 12 ounces, which made it more palatable. I also found that it paired nicely with coconut water.

We have a few GH staffers who have been drinking AG1 for quite some time — they have given mixed reviews on the taste, but ultimately that hasn't deterred them from taking it. We've found that it does mix well in cold liquids, though it can get grainy at the bottom so be sure to shake it well.

Quality

I was pretty impressed with AG1's product standards — from research to sourcing to manufacturing — and the brand tests each batch for over 950 contaminants. AG1 first researches bioavailable ingredients, then sources high quality versions of those ingredients, manufactures the products at FDA- & TGA-registered facilities and uses third-party testing to test and certify each batch.

Most notably, the product is NSF Certified for Sport, an independent third-party certification that tests supplements for purity, potency and safety. This means that the contents of the supplement actually match what is printed on the label, and that there are no unsafe levels of contaminants in the product. This designation is also especially helpful for athletes and coaches, since NSF Certified for Sport products do not contain any of 290 substances banned by major athletic organizations.

I also especially appreciated that the blend is free from artificial colors or sweeteners and contains no GMOs. Plus, it's suitable for a variety of dietary lifestyles and preferences, including vegan, vegetarian, keto and more. If you have a soy allergy, take note that some of the product ingredients are derived from soy.

Results

One GH staffer that has been using AG1 for months said that he feels the product has improved his digestion and that he has been more regular than when he didn't take it. Another staffer noticed some improvements in energy and focus, while a different staffer said that they didn't see any noticeable differences after taking the product regularly for a few months. Keep in mind that everybody is unique, and your diet and lifestyle habits play a tremendous role in your overall health so it can be difficult to determine if these changes or lack thereof are from AG1 or other daily habits.

As a registered dietitian, I liked that the powder essentially replaces a multivitamin, probiotic and other supplements that you may be taking. It allows you to just have to drink the liquid once a day as a convenient option compared to taking multiple different supplements. It even contains a hefty dose of folate, which is an important nutrient especially for women of reproductive age to help prevent neural tube defects. Also, the travel packets were very convenient and don't have to be refrigerated, which is a bonus.

Ultimately, AG1 shouldn't replace real whole foods or a well-balanced diet. It's ideal to obtain your nutrients through whole foods, since many of the nutrients in these foods work together synergistically to provide health benefits for the body. Produce, for instance, contains fiber and water, which most of us aren't getting enough of and these are typically either void or very low in supplemental powders like AG1. Still, greens powders can fill in the gaps when you can't fulfill your daily servings. They are also fast and convenient, and can be especially helpful when you're traveling or when healthy options are limited.

You'll notice that some of the nutrients in AG1 far exceed the daily values (DVs), which are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume or not to exceed each day. This is less of a concern for water-soluble vitamins like vitamin C and B vitamins, where any excess will leave the body through urine. But fat-soluble vitamins like vitamins A and E can be toxic to the body if consumed in excess amounts. Although AG1 has a significant amount of vitamin E that is well above the DV, it is considerably lower than the tolerable upper intake level so it should be okay for most healthy adults to consume.

One drawback is that AG1 does not contain vitamin D or iron, so you'll have to pay close attention to this in your diet or consider another supplement (though the brand does make a vitamin D3 + K2 product). Given the many adaptogens in the product, you'll want to ensure that these ingredients don't interact with any of your current medications or supplements that you are taking, so it's important to consult your healthcare provider before taking AG1 or any other supplement on the market.

If you struggle to eat fruits and vegetables or you have trouble meeting your micronutrient needs through diet alone, you may benefit from taking a product like AG1. Those with malabsorption issues may also find the product helpful. If you do choose to start taking AG1, speak with your healthcare provider as they may suggest discontinuing a multivitamin or other supplements given that AG1 already has substantial levels of certain vitamins, minerals and nutrients and doubling up with other supplementation may cause toxicity.

The product is not recommended for children and pregnant or nursing women, and because it contains potassium and phosphorous it is not suitable for individuals with kidney disease.

You should be able to meet your nutritional needs through a well-balanced diet. But if you are looking into a greens powder to help fill in any nutritional gaps, AG1 is one of the best on the market in terms of taste and quality.

The brand has strict quality control standards and is third-party tested for purity, potency and safety. The powder is rich in high levels of vitamins and minerals and can likely replace the current multivitamin, probiotic and potentially other supplements you are taking. Always speak with your healthcare provider before introducing any new supplement, including AG1, into your regimen to ensure it is appropriate for you and won't interact with any current medications you are taking.

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

As director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Nutrition & Fitness Lab, Registered Dietitian Stefani Sassos handles all nutrition-related content, product testing and evaluation. She stays up-to-date on the latest research to provide evidence-based reporting on all things diet and nutrition. Stefani runs and oversees supplement testing and analysis for Good Housekeeping and has covered several other supplements in the past including women's multivitamins, vegan protein powders, vitamin D, joint supplements and more.