IS AG1 worth it? By Drew Griffiths (Bsc, Msc)
Post is all in my opinion…
Nope.
97 quid a month, fuck that
It’s a decent supplement but the price is obscene. Just buy another organic greens powder or make your own.
Warning!
Safety
Due to the amount of lead per serving ConsumerLab found in AG1 in 2022, regular use of this product should be avoided by children and women who may be pregnant.
AG1 FAQs
- Does AG1 Break a Fast?
yes, theres about 50 calories and 6g of carbs per serving.
- Is AG1 worth it reddit?
Most people on reddit, say nope.
- AG1 Nutrition
The main ingredient is spirulina. I would just buy some organic spirulina, some organic mushroom powder including lions mane and turkey tial mushrooms, and perhaps some psyllium husk and mix that up and save yourself a small fortune.
Thoughts of fellow Loughborough University graduate and S & C
“Never used. Don’t think it’s required. Definitely not cost effective. They’ve been smart with their marketing – huge list of micronutrients on the left, but if you compare that to say, liver (which I haven’t), but infinitely cheaper and would give a similar list.”
^This guy has become a sell out and doesn’t want to give his name to this quote anymore in case AG1 might want to give him “mad coin bruv”.
Sports nutrition coach Dr Helen Morris is clear: greens powders can help at the margins, but they are not magic. She sees most of the meaningful effects coming from spirulina and chlorella, rather than the long tail of extras. AG1, she notes, leans on small amounts of many compounds. Where larger single-ingredient doses tend to have stronger, better-documented benefits.
Spirulina appears to support antioxidant defences and general cellular protection. Chlorella may help with blood lipid balance, while prebiotic fibres in formulas like AG1 feed gut bacteria. Mushroom extracts are often included for potential immune support. B vitamins are there to back normal energy metabolism.
In practice, spirulina and chlorella probably account for most of AG1’s measurable impact. Both have been studied for antioxidant and detox-related effects. AG1 only includes fractional doses compared with standalone powders. Buying these ingredients separately usually means much higher doses for a fraction of the cost, with fewer cosmetic add‑ons.
Cheaper options are easy to assemble. A basic stack might include organic spirulina and chlorella powders, a mixed mushroom blend, psyllium husk for fibre. And/or a simple multivitamin, an electrolyte mix, and a budget greens powder from a bulk supplier if you still want a blend.
AG1 has clear strengths and weaknesses. It is convenient, tastes relatively good for a greens product, and comes in travel-friendly sachets. Against that, the monthly price is high, many ingredients sit below doses used in trials. The clinically proven benefits are modest. Simpler powders can deliver stronger amounts of the key nutrients for much less.
AG1 Pros and Cons| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Convenient daily serving | Very high monthly price |
| Broad ingredient list | Many ingredients under-dosed |
| Good taste for a greens mix | Limited clinically proven effects |
| Easy travel packets | Cheaper powders offer stronger doses |
List of alternative supplements
These products (or generic equivalents) can target similar nutrient areas to AG1.
- Organic spirulina powder (for concentrated protein, B vitamins, pigments and antioxidant support).
- Organic chlorella powder (for chlorophyll, micronutrients and lipid-related support).
- Mixed mushroom blends (e.g. reishi, shiitake, maitake) for immune-modulating polysaccharides.
- Psyllium husk or other soluble fibre for gut health and bowel regularity.
- A basic, well‑balanced multivitamin and mineral supplement to cover general micronutrient needs.
- Electrolyte powder with sodium, potassium and magnesium for hydration support.
- Budget greens powders from reputable bulk or store brands, often with simpler formulas but lower cost per serving.
Shopping list: foods with similar nutrients
These foods cover many of the same nutrient categories that AG1 targets, including antioxidants, fibre, B vitamins and minerals.
- Leafy greens: spinach, kale, Swiss chard, rocket – rich in folate, vitamin K, carotenoids and magnesium.
- Seaweeds: nori, wakame, dulse – provide iodine, some iron and unique marine antioxidants, somewhat analogous to algae components.
- Cruciferous vegetables: broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage – supply fibre, vitamin C and sulfur-containing compounds that support detox pathways.
- Colourful fruit and veg: berries, citrus, red peppers, carrots, beetroot – high in vitamin C, carotenoids and polyphenols that parallel many plant extracts in AG1.
- Fermented foods: live yoghurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, tempeh – support the gut microbiome in a similar way to probiotic and prebiotic ingredients.
- Whole grains and pulses: oats, barley, quinoa, lentils, chickpeas – provide prebiotic fibres, B vitamins and minerals like magnesium and zinc.
- Nuts and seeds: almonds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, chia and flax – rich in healthy fats, vitamin E, magnesium and additional fibre.
- Herbs and teas: green tea, matcha, rosemary, turmeric and ginger – offer polyphenols and other bioactives similar to many herbal extracts in greens powders.
References with URLs
- A Dietitian’s AG1 Review 2025: Taste, Cost, and Benefits – The Real Food Dietitians
https://therealfooddietitians.com/athletic-greens-review/ - AG1 Review: A Dietitian and Health Editor’s Take – Healthline
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/athletic-greens-review - AG1 Guide 2025: Benefits, Dosage & Best Alternatives – Routines
https://routines.club/supplement/ag1-benefits/ - A Dietitian’s AG1 Review: Nutrition, Taste, Cost, and More – Top Nutrition Coaching
https://www.topnutritioncoaching.com/blog/ag1-review - AG1 (Athletic Greens) Review (2025): Expert’s Insight – Recovery Guru
https://www.recoveryguru.com.au/blog/ag1-athletic-greens-review/ - Anti-oxidation properties and therapeutic potentials of spirulina – Journal of Functional Foods (ScienceDirect)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S221192642100059X - Antioxidant and Antiproliferative Activities of Spirulina and Chlorella – Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf0479517 - Unlocking the feed supplement potentials of blue-green alga (Spirulina) – Frontiers/PMC
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12350504/ - Enhancing Digestibility of Chlorella vulgaris Biomass – Foods (PMC)
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10044532/ - Nutritional value of Chlorella vulgaris: Effects of Processing – Journal of Applied Phycology (ScienceDirect)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0377840106001428 - Medical News Today: Athletic Greens (AG1) Review and Cost
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/athletic-greens-review - Innerbody: AG1 Review – Everything You Need to Know
https://www.innerbody.com/athletic-greens-review - Primal Greens vs. AG1 – Innerbody
https://www.innerbody.com/primal-greens-vs-ag1 - New York Post: Best Greens Powders Review
https://nypost.com/article/best-greens-powders-review/ - Live it Up: What’s in AG1? Ingredients and Analysis
https://letsliveitup.com/blogs/supergreens/ag1-ingredients
AG1 has become the poster child for greens powders in 2025. Its bold health claims often run ahead of what the evidence can prove. Independent dietitians note that much of the benefit comes from a few well-known ingredients. These are spirulina, chlorella, prebiotic fibre and B vitamins. However these can be sourced more cheaply and at higher doses from rival powders or simple whole foods.
The benefits are modest if you already eat a decent diet. It does not replace vegetables, and it still misses key nutrients like vitamin D, iron and omega‑3s.
Warning: AG1 is not risk‑free. Experts have flagged possible digestive side effects, very high doses of some vitamins. Continuing concerns about heavy metals and rare reports of liver injury in greens powders, including AG1. Always check with a doctor or dietitian before adding it on top of other supplements.
Here are references that support the warning section:
- AG1 Review: A Dietitian and Health Editor’s Take – Healthline
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/athletic-greens-review - A Dietitian’s AG1 Review: Nutrition, Taste, Cost, and More – Top Nutrition Coaching
https://www.topnutritioncoaching.com/blog/ag1-review - A Dietitian’s AG1 Review 2025: Taste, Cost, and Benefits – The Real Food Dietitians
https://therealfooddietitians.com/athletic-greens-review/ - Is AG1 and Athletic Greens actually healthy? – Vively
https://www.vively.co.uk/post/is-ag1-and-athletic-greens-actually-healthy - You Probably Don’t Need that Green AG1 Smoothie – McGill Office for Science and Society
https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/critical-thinking-health-and-nutrition/you-probably-dont-need-green-ag1-smoothie - AG1 Reviews and Quality Concerns – ConsumerLab
https://www.consumerlab.com/ag1/
These cover limited added benefit on top of a reasonable diet, possible digestive side effects, high vitamin doses, and broader greens powder safety concerns, including heavy metals and rare liver issues.