Athletic Greens Options | BarBend

Should you’re out there for the greatest greens powders, you’ve in all probability heard of AG1. Athletic Greens AG1 is a broad-ranging micronutrient complement that claims to assist your general well being and well-being, together with vitality ranges, immune system power, psychological readability and focus, intestine well being, and extra. It does this, the logic goes, by means of its vegan-friendly method of greater than 50 “superfood” components, reminiscent of spirulina, inexperienced tea leaf, chlorella, ashwagandha, and wheat grass — and thru its “no” checklist, together with added sugar, synthetic sweeteners, and GMOs. 

So what’s the problem? Registered dietitian Chelsea Rae Bourgeois says, “AG1 Athletic Greens might assist enhance your consumption of essential vitamins, but it surely undoubtedly comes at a price — and the associated fee ain’t low cost!” Particularly, it comes at a price of $99 monthly for 30 servings of the powder. Yikes. At BarBend, we’ve examined over 40 of greens powders, and we expect Clear Labs Prebiotics Greens, Jacked Manufacturing facility Greens Surge, and Vibrant Well being Inexperienced Vibrance are all wonderful (and extra inexpensive!) Athletic Greens alternate options.

Prime Athletic Greens AG1 Options

As Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, an RD and certainly one of BarBend’s professional reviewers, factors out, AG1 offers a concentrated supply of vitamins, together with useful probiotics and digestive enzymes. It’s additionally third-party examined, which Bourgeois says is a significant professional within the complement business — which isn’t regulated by any company. The perfect alternate options to Athletic Greens function nutrient-rich formulation and clear labels:

Clear Labs Prebiotic Greens Vs. Athletic Greens

Clear Labs ceaselessly tops our guides to the most effective dietary dietary supplements as a result of our staff of licensed vitamin coaches, private trainers, and registered dietitians appreciates the model’s dedication to clear labels — we like understanding what’s in our dietary supplements, and we expect you’ll, too. 

Clear Labs Prebiotic Greens

Clear Labs Prebiotic Greens

A easy however effectively-dosed complement that emphasizes sea greens and prebiotic fiber, and comprises different components in full doses backed by science. Use the code BARBEND10 for 10% off!

Registered dietitian Chelsea Rae Bourgeois rated the method for Clear Labs Prebiotic Greens with 4 out of 5 factors. “I’m an enormous fan of the vitamin info for Clear Labs Prebiotic Greens,” she says. “The greens powder comprises an inventory of health-promoting greens that present 6 grams of fiber and 4 grams of protein per scoop.” 

And, she continues, “There aren’t any synthetic flavors, sweeteners, or preservatives. You’re paying for high-quality components, not fluff!” It’s Knowledgeable Selection licensed, too, which means it’s third-party examined and authorized to be free from dangerous impurities like mould, yeast, and metals.

Chances are you’ll discover when evaluating labels that the Clear Labs label is eons shorter than the AG1 label, and subsequently suppose AG1 is mechanically higher attributable to its longer checklist of components. That’s not essentially the case. The Clear Labs method is narrower and centered on aquatic greens and prebiotic fiber, but it surely nonetheless offers a decent dose of vitamins, together with electrolytes, antioxidants, and fibers. 

Plus, there aren’t any proprietary blends in Clear Lab’s method, so you understand precisely how a lot of every ingredient you’re getting. The proprietary blends in AG1 are a significant downfall of the product, in accordance with Bourgeois. “Sadly, AG1 Athletic Greens is filled with proprietary blends, so that you don’t actually even know what you’re spending your cash on. On a price range, I’d be extra inclined so as to add extra nutrient-dense entire meals to my weight-reduction plan to acquire the identical results.”

pricing, Clear Labs Prebiotic Fiber is considerably inexpensive than Athletic Greens AG1. Prebiotic Greens price $1.53 per serving in comparison with AG1’s $3.30 per serving. “Clear Labs Prebiotic Greens powder is filled with vitamins, protein, and fiber all at an inexpensive worth,” Bourgeois says. “It’s additionally third-party examined, giving clients added peace of thoughts in its method. And no proprietary blends!”

[Related: High-Fiber Foods to Support Digestion]

Jacked Manufacturing facility Inexperienced Surge Vs. Athletic Greens

One other inexperienced superfood powder excessive on our checklist is Jacked Manufacturing facility Inexperienced Surge. Registered dietitian Chelsea Rae Bourgeois sums it up: “Jacked Manufacturing facility’s Inexperienced Surge is an economical method to embrace a greens powder in your complement routine.”

Jacked Manufacturing facility Inexperienced Surge

Jacked Manufacturing facility Inexperienced Surge

This greens complement prices solely about $0.83 per serving, making it one of the vital cost-friendly greens powders available on the market. Nonetheless, it is also loaded with digestive enzymes, probiotics, and important vitamins.

And it certain is, at simply $1.65 per serving. The worth isn’t the one interesting factor about Inexperienced Surge. The method is chock-full of components which will result in a number of well being advantages, reminiscent of fiber and antioxidant-rich barley grass and broccoli plant powder. 

“I really like that Jacked Manufacturing facility Inexperienced Surge features a probiotic and inulin mix — discuss a method to promote sturdy immune operate and intestine well being,” says Bourgeois. “Nonetheless, we are able to’t ensure how a lot of every ingredient is included within the mix.” 

That stated, the entire different components are current with actual doses listed, which Bourgeois says she’s an enormous fan of. The less proprietary blends, the higher, as a result of we all know what we’re actually consuming. All issues thought of, Bourgeois charges the Inexperienced Surge method with 4 out of 5 factors.

In comparison with Athletic Greens, the ingredient checklist for Inexperienced Surge is shorter. As talked about when evaluating AG1 to Clear Labs, this doesn’t mechanically imply AG1 is best. As a substitute, consider Inexperienced Surge as a extra centered method that features a number of high-impact components, together with spirulina, spinach leaf, wheatgrass, collards, inexperienced tea leaf, grape seed extract, and extra. 

One large factor to notice is that Inexperienced Surge doesn’t look like third-party examined by an unbiased lab, whereas AG1 is NSF Licensed for Sport. Whereas our staff of health and vitamin professionals prefers dietary supplements with unbiased testing, we nonetheless like Inexperienced Surge’s clear label with clearly listed doses for many components (versus the stack of proprietary blends in Athletic Greens).

[Related: Best Multivitamins]

Inexperienced Vibrance Vs. Athletic Greens

Inexperienced Vibrance from Vibrant Well being is one other widespread greens powder and a preferred one amongst people preferring natural components: A number of objects within the components checklist are USDA licensed natural. 

Vibrant Well being Inexperienced Vibrance

Vibrant Well being Inexperienced Vibrance

Dairy-free, soy-free, gluten-free, non-GMO, and vegan-friendly, this greens powder offers 25 billion probiotics, and a combination of antioxidants, important micronutrients, adaptogens, and plant-powered superfoods.

Like AG1, Inexperienced Vibrance carries a stacked method with a powerful checklist of greater than 50 components. The 2 powders function lots of the identical components, and each comprise probiotics, digestive enzymes, antioxidants, and mushroom blends for cognitive advantages. AG1 comprises extra adaptogens, whereas Inexperienced Vibrance comprises considerably extra probiotics with 25 billion CFUs per serving in comparison with AG1’s 7.2 billion CFUs per serving. 

Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, M.S., R.D., L.D.N., explains: “Most greens powders disguise their claims in proprietary blends, however not Inexperienced Vibrance. I’m nonetheless ready on conclusive proof that greens powders are as useful as they declare to be, however within the meantime, I recognize the transparency that Inexperienced Vibrance affords of their product…Inexperienced Vibrance affords some first rate transparency of their components checklist. No proprietary blends on this greens powder,” in contrast to Athletic Greens.

The first downfall of Inexperienced Vibrance in comparison with Athletic Greens is the truth that it doesn’t look like third-party examined, whereas AG1 has an NSF Knowledgeable Sport Licensed mark. Price-wise, Inexperienced Vibrance is cheaper, like most Athletic Greens alternate options. It prices about $1.65 per serving in comparison with AG1’s whopping $3.30 per serving. Plus Vibrant Well being is a Black-owned firm, which can be an enormous plus for a lot of clients.

[Related: How to Improve Gut Health]

What Is Athletic Greens AG1?

Athletic Greens AG1 is what some would name a superfood mix. It’s a dietary complement with greater than 50 components in proprietary blends, and it goals to offer the entire vitamins you’d get from a day’s value of servings of vegatables and fruits. 

Along with nutritional vitamins and minerals, the mix additionally features a probiotic mix, digestive enzymes, antioxidants, and fiber. Sweetened with stevia, it’s just about sugar-free, with lower than 1 gram of naturally occurring sugar. 

It’s vegan-friendly, gluten-free, non-GMO, dairy-free, and keto-friendly, making it appropriate for many dietary wants and preferences. (It’s not soy-free.) 

Learn our full Athletic Greens Evaluation.

Why Ought to You Think about Athletic Greens Options?

The primary purpose individuals search for an AG1 various, in my expertise, is the value level, and that’s a wonderfully legitimate purpose to look elsewhere on your greens powder complement. Spending almost $100 monthly on a greens powder merely isn’t lifelike for almost all of individuals, and there are completely stable choices obtainable that price a lot much less. 

One more reason individuals might look to different choices is the prevalence of proprietary blends in Athletic Greens AG1. Nothing on the label is listed with an actual dose, so there’s no means of understanding how a lot of which ingredient you’re taking. 

So, although the method is stacked with nutrient-rich components like moringa, beetroot, turmeric, and alfalfa, the doses of those components are unknown. In accordance with registered dietitian Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, that’s a significant con to the product, and she or he says she’d spend her cash on entire fruits and veggies if on a good price range. 

Athletic Greens AG1 Vs. Options

What Makes a Good Greens Powder?

As a possible purchaser of a greens powder, it’s essential to think about a number of key components in your search. 

Worth

Contemplating that the scientific verdict continues to be out about whether or not or not greens powders really work, my recommendation to you as a vitamin coach is to begin with price range as the first think about your buying determination. Greens powders vary from as little as $1 per serving to greater than $3 per serving. With this large worth vary, it’s essential to select one that matches into your month-to-month price range.

Formulation 

Greens powders can comprise a handful of components or an inventory that’s dozens lengthy. Select based mostly in your targets and what the greens powder claims to do. As an example, some have formulation centered on weight reduction, others intention to stop bloating or cravings, and nonetheless others merely intend to switch a multivitamin. Although it’s unclear whether or not fruit and vegetable powders work or not, the components in them definitely do have potential advantages. It’s all a matter of investigating whether or not the components within the method assist your well being targets. (1)(2)

Dosing and Proprietary Blends

Maybe much more essential than what’s included within the powder is how a lot of every ingredient is current. Many greens powders make the most of proprietary blends, which is only a fancy means of claiming a mix distinctive to the producer. As a result of greens powders are dietary supplements and never meals, producers should not required to checklist the quantities of every ingredient if they’re current as a part of a proprietary mix. So, although a number of greens powders comprise 20 or extra components, a lot of them don’t checklist the precise dose, leaving customers questioning concerning the efficiency and efficacy of the powder. (3)

[Related: Best Fruit and Vegetable Supplements]

Third-Social gathering Testing

As a result of dietary supplements should not closely regulated by the U.S. Meals & Drug Administration (FDA), it’s sadly frequent for complement labels to be inaccurate. In actual fact, one research discovered that solely 11% of dietary supplements really comprise what’s acknowledged on the label within the acknowledged quantities. (4) Third-party testing, relying on the thoroughness, can certify that what’s on a label is what’s within the product, in addition to detect dangerous impurities like yeasts, molds, pathogens, and metals. 

Style and Texture 

Greens style…inexperienced. Sometimes, even with sweeteners and flavorings, greens powders nonetheless style grassy or earthy. We suggest taking a fast peek at buyer critiques to seek out out whether or not the style is palatable or simply plain yucky. Similar with texture: A greens powder will probably be that rather more troublesome to drink if it doesn’t combine nicely in water or juice. 

FAQs: Athletic Greens Options

References

1. Lamprecht M. Supplementation with blended fruit and vegetable concentrates in relation to athlete’s well being and efficiency: scientific perception and sensible relevance. Med Sport Sci. 2012;59:70-85. https://doi:10.1159/000341960 
2. Esfahani A, Wong JM, Truan J, et al. Well being results of blended fruit and vegetable concentrates: a scientific evaluation of the medical interventions. J Am Coll Nutr. 2011;30(5):285-294. https://doi:10.1080/07315724.2011.10719971 
3. Workplace of Inspector Common — OEI, H. (2012). Dietary Dietary supplements: Construction/Operate Claims Fail To Meet Federal Necessities (OEI-01-11-00210; 10/12). October. https://oig.hhs.gov/oei/stories/oei-01-11-00210.pdf 
4. Cohen PA, Avula B, Katragunta Okay, Travis JC, Khan I. Presence and Amount of Botanical Components With Purported Efficiency-Enhancing Properties in Sports activities Dietary supplements. JAMA Netw Open. 2023;6(7):e2323879. https://doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.23879