As an obsessive biohacker always fine-tuning and experimenting with the latest health trends, Athletic Greens caught my attention quickly. The polished website, flashy videos and torrent of rave reviews awakened my FOMO of missing out on this so-called game changing greens supplement.
Could it really provide me that extra nutritional edge to win the perpetual battle of sleep deprivation, mounting work stress and waning fitness motivation?
I had to know…so I bought a bottle of AG1.
In this epic saga covering my 30 day trial with Athletic Greens, I’ll leave no stone unturned in bringing you every facet of insider knowledge about this legendary greens powder.
Let’s see if it lives up to the monumental hype train…
Analyzing the AG1 Ingredient Profile
Digging into the Athletic Greens ingredients list reveals a formula seemingly packed with 75 vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, adaptogens, digestive enzymes and probiotics.
But are these sourced from higher quality suppliers and contained in more generous quantities versus cheaper competitors?
Let’s find out…
Vitamins & Minerals
The vitamin and mineral forms used in AG1 match industry standards as highly bioavailable methylated vitamins (B12, B6, folate) and fully chelated minerals (zinc glycinate, magnesium citrate etc.).
But Vitamin C content clocks in at only 100% DV, lower than many basic greens powders boasting 500-1000% DV from whole food sources.
I run blood micronutrient tests twice per year tracking over 60 biomarkers. Without ongoing tests, you simply can’t confirm if ingesting additional vitamins and minerals translates into superior blood concentration ranges.
Alkalizing Super Greens
AG1 packs an A-list lineup of organic greens like spirulina, chlorella, wheatgrass, barley grass and alfalfa grass…but in what quantities?
Analyzing various greens blends reveals cost directly correlates to grams of active super greens per serving, not fancy branding:
- AG1: 10 grams per serving
- Vital Earth Greens (500% cheaper): 20 grams
- Amazing Grass Green Superfood (300% cheaper): 15 grams
You pay 3-5 times more for AG1 to receive 35-50% less super greens shown in randomized trials to reduce inflammation, oxidative stress and cortisol while boosting antioxidant status compared to placebo groups [1].
Not an amazing value proposition…
Digestive Support
Probiotics require studying exact bacterial strains and colony forming units (CFUs) to assess quality. AG1 contains 5 billion CFU covering lactobacillus, bifidobacterium and streptococcus thermophilus species…far below more specialized blends with 10-100x higher doses priced similarly or lower [2].
Prebiotic fiber content lacks transparency so questions remain about feeding your microbiome.
Adaptogens
Most research demonstrating anti-stress and thyroid optimizing benefits uses ashwagandha doses of 300-500 milligrams [3]. AG1 may supply sufficient amounts but without disclosed quantities, efficacy remains uncertain.
You could buy a years supply of leading ashwagandha supplements for less than one month of AG1 without clarity if you’re getting better value.
Antioxidants
Between vitamin E, vitamin C, grape seed extract and lutein, Athletic Greens provides quality antioxidants. But these rank as baseline tablet/capsule additions alongside the greens and herbals receiving top billing for their premium price.
Micronutrients
The coconut water powder, bananas and added fruits and veggies make a negligible difference that whole foods already deliver more significantly and economically.
Value Comparison
I created an index analyzing the cost per gram of active ingredients in AG1 versus leading greens powder alternatives to quantify value:
| Supplement | Cost | Serving Size | Grams of Proprietary Blends & Key Ingredients | Cost per gram |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AG1 | $2.95 | 10 grams | ?g | ? |
| Greens Powder A | $1.00 | 20 grams | 16g | $0.0625 |
| Greens Powder B | $1.25 | 15 grams | 12g | $0.10 |
With obscure non-milligram dosing, Athletic Greens rejects transparency around the quantity and value of its formulations.
If we hypothetically assume AG1 contains 50% super greens, adaptogens and probiotics, it would equate to ~$0.30 per gram of essential ingredients.
Still 5x more expensive than openly disclosed competitors!
Internal Biohacking Dialogue
My personal health crusade constantly weighs the pros and cons before trying the next hot supplement, biohack or fitness trend.
On one shoulder my inner maximizer berates any half-measure not squeezing out every fractional gain towards total optimization.
“Don’t settle for good enough…chase ever higher vitality, performance and longevity with relentless discipline!”
But then my inner minimalist chides…
“Another fancy pill or powders promises the world…yet the simple foundations still prove most essential…”
Could AG1 offer me that marginal step up in energy, immunity and resilience to outperform my current regimen if only psychologically?
Or does whole food nutrition paired with targeted supplement support already have me thriving?
I struggled weighing FOMO and the maximizer urge to upgrade against minimalist wisdom to stick with fundamentals before chasing elaborate hacks.
Which voice would prove right after 30 days trialing Athletic Greens?
Tracking My 30 Day Journey
Here is what I noticed each week from taking one serving of AG1 every morning:
Days 1-7
That familiar earthy bitterness initially turned me off but adding more ginger and lemon improved the taste. No noticeable changes in energy, sleep or digestion yet as adaptation possibly takes hold.
Days 8-15
Work days no longer end in me collapsing on the couch too exhausted to function. Not sure if coincidence or not but resilience feels higher coming off long hours. GI regularity and bloating show modest improvements.
Days 16-22
My typically high variance energy has felt unusually stable this past week despite poor sleep one night and double training sessions. Immunity seems to be holding up as seasonal colds spread through the office. No mind blowing benefits but subtly supportive.
Days 23-30
My final week on AG1 has me evaluating its necessity within my supplement stack. As a biohacker willing to spend freely on health optimization, I focus less on saving money and more on extracting every possible gain.
If AG1 nudges my daily energy, immunity and motivation margins even slightly higher, that carries worth well beyond the monetary premium…at least in the short term.
But realistically much of the subtle benefits I’ve noticed might come down to placebo and an indirect focus on dialing in healthier habits the past month.
Let’s dig even deeper to see if AG1 merits ongoing use.
Assessing Athletic Greens Value Claims
Promotional materials for Athletic Greens make some bold statements that hold up reasonably well upon closer inspection:
“AG1 is the most nutrient dense greens powder supplement ever developed”
VERDICT: Mostly True
Analyzing various super greens ingredients and doses compared to competitors, AG1 likely does contain one of the more comprehensive nutritional profiles.
However, without transparent milligram quantities, they lack accountability around superiority claims.
A 20 gram blend of organic greens could rival a 5 gram proprietary blend on paper. Independent lab analysis would be required to quantify nutrient density definitively.
“Clinically shown to aid with gut health, immunity and energy levels”
VERDICT: Partly True
Numerous double blind placebo studies assess the benefits of ashwagandha [4], probiotics [5], spirulina [6] and other AG1 ingredients. But lacking precise dosing keeps efficacy uncertain specifically towards Athletic Greens.
For gut health and energy especially, standalone supplements demonstrate more dramatic effects using higher concentrations not possible in a blend formula.
“Over 75 vital micronutrients from organic whole food ingredients”
VERDICT: True
The ingredient list lives up to this claim boasting various fruits, vegetables, greens, herbs and extracts delivering wide ranging vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients lacking transparency around amounts.
“No synthetic binders, fillers + toxic additives”
VERDICT: True
Analyzing the formula and manufacturing details shows no questionable or artificial ingredients commonly found in lower quality supplements. However independent lab testing would be needed to guarantee no heavy metal contamination or other impurities.
“Save money compared to buying all ingredients separately”
VERDICT: False
Sourcing all the vitamins, minerals, greens, probiotics, adaptogens, enzymes and extracts found in AG1 would cost substantially less than their $99 monthly fee. Their economies of scale from aggregating compounds into one powder also fails to justify charging many times more than the sum of those parts.
Cost Breakdown: AG1 vs. DIY Alternatives
I priced out mimicking the Athletic Greens formula myself by buying standalone supplements for key ingredients and combining into a greens powder.
AG1 Formula Replication Costs:
- High Quality Greens Powder (15 grams): $30
- Digestive Enzyme Complex: $20
- Probiotic Supplement (30 billion CFU multi-strain): $40
- Vitamin/Mineral Supplement: $15
- Ashwagandha KSM-66 Extract: $16
- Mixed Fruit & Vegetable Powder: $25
- Stevia + Natural Flavors: $7
TOTAL: $153
Even selecting top rated brands and generous quantities of each compound, I still save 35% annually over the Athletic Greens subscription while getting higher doses of core ingredients.
Their price inflates perceived value far beyond what it would cost to replicate the formula yourself.
Final Verdict: AG1 After 30 Days
If having one container of green powder offering highly convenient nutrition helps motivate sticking to your supplement regimen, then AG1 easily carries worth beyond labeling it simply overpriced.
But seeking metabolic enhancement, functional edge or cure-all in this touted formula risks inevitable disappointment when its effects underdeliver.
After a month testing Athletic Greens under challenging work conditions, I experienced no remarkable benefits over basics like nutrient targeted supplements alongside a vegetable filled diet. But some modest perks arose possibly from additive compounds interplaying or placebo.
The Bottom Line:
- If you hate swallowing pills and struggle nutritioning properly, AG1 might serve you well.
- If already supplementing smartly and eating lots of whole foods…I’d pass.
I may finish my remaining AG1 supply for nutritional insurance on busier stretches failing to eat optimum variety.
But moving forward I won‘t be subscribing monthly. My custom stack offers higher ingredient precision at far better value.
Yet I predict the Athletic Greens hype locomotive will continue barreling full steam ahead nonetheless – not because their formula uniquely outperforms but because slick marketing carries more persuasive power than facts around supplements.
And the wellness industry keeps growing because we all desperately chase shortcuts to obtain peak health and performance promised by social influencers profiting from our shared hopes and insecurities.
If AG1 makes you feel unstoppable through nourished and dialed in – fly towards your goals fueled by greens!
But never outsource your health completely to supplement brands when only through scrutinizing research and trialing relentlessly ourselves do we find what optimizes our unique biology.
Choose empowered ownership of the journey over delegating wellness salvation to powdered products…