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Is AG1 the Ultimate Daily Health Solution?

Updated: Aug 19

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You’ve seen it in podcasts. You’ve heard your coworker swear by it. And maybe, just maybe, you’ve got a green shaker bottle sitting in your cabinet right now.


Athletic Greens—now rebranded as AG1—markets itself as the all-in-one daily health ritual. One scoop, once a day, to cover all your nutritional bases.


But does this green powder actually support root-cause healing and long-term balance? Or is it just a multi-level marketing smoothie?


Let’s unpack it.


What It Is & What’s In It


AG1 is a powdered greens supplement that promises to replace your multivitamin, probiotic, and adaptogen regimen in a single scoop. One serving contains:


  • 75 ingredients including vitamins, minerals, enzymes, mushrooms, herbs, and antioxidants

  • Prebiotics and probiotics

  • Adaptogens like ashwagandha and rhodiola

  • Digestive enzymes

  • Whole food concentrates (spirulina, wheatgrass, chlorella)

  • Natural flavors and stevia


It’s gluten-free, vegan, non-GMO—and costs around $99/month.


In short: it’s a supplement multiverse packed into one scoop.

How It Affects the Body


Let’s go system by system:


Nutrient Repletion


AG1 does contain high-quality nutrients that may help fill gaps in a modern diet—especially if you’re not eating many vegetables. For some, it’s a useful insurance policy.


Gut Health


The inclusion of prebiotics and probiotics is a plus, but the exact counts of each strain are unclear. If your gut is already reactive, this much complexity can backfire, triggering bloating, loose stools, or histamine issues.


Hormones & Energy


Some users report feeling energized thanks to B vitamins, adaptogens, and blood sugar support. Others feel jittery or wired. It’s a dense formula, so sensitive systems may not appreciate the full blast.


Detox Pathways


With ingredients like chlorella and milk thistle, AG1 might support detox—but not everyone needs daily liver “activation.” Too much, too often, can irritate instead of regulate.


Psychological & Behavioral Patterns


Let’s talk psychology.


AG1 appeals to the high-functioning perfectionist: “I don’t have time to eat well—but I care about my health—so I’ll just drink this instead.”


It feels productive. Like a shortcut to being on top of your game.


But here’s the trap: using AG1 as a replacement for real meals, slowing down, or nutrient-dense whole foods is still outsourcing your health. It becomes another performance tool instead of a nourishment ritual.


When It Might Be Helpful


Ideal Scenarios


  • Busy professionals or travelers who struggle with consistent meals

  • Those with early-stage nutrient depletion (poor sleep, fatigue, stress, gut issues)

  • Health-curious beginners who need a gateway habit

  • Recovery from illness or burnout, short-term


Less Ideal Scenarios


It’s less ideal for:

  • People with sensitive guts or histamine intolerance

  • Anyone hoping this will “fix” deeper imbalances

  • People using it to replace meals or healing routines


Dr. Pistoia’s Root-Cause Verdict


AG1 is an overachiever. It can be a supportive supplement in the right context. But more often, I see people using it to cover up deeper imbalances: poor sleep, blood sugar swings, stress dysregulation, or chronic undernourishment.


From a root-cause perspective, I always recommend building your foundation first—real food, rhythm, rest—and then choosing targeted supplements if needed. No green powder can replace that.


Is Athletic Greens Good for You? Final Grade:


B-


A well-formulated product, but often overused, overpriced, and overpromised. Can support healing, but only when paired with real lifestyle change.

Ready for a Real Change?


If you’re tired of chasing quick fixes and want to understand the real reason you feel depleted, anxious, or off-track . . .



This online course will show you how to reset your health at the foundation—so supplements become optional, not essential.


🎁Or start with the The Self-Healing Starter Guide.


Want More Natural Health Insights?


Man with glasses, beard, and a red patterned shirt stands with arms crossed, smiling in a plain gray room.

As a naturopathic physician, I believe that every person is unique—and so is their healing path. I take time to understand each patient’s story, physiology, emotional health, and lifestyle before making recommendations. Whether I’m using nutrition, herbal medicine, homeopathy, or lifestyle counseling, my goal is always the same: to identify and treat the true cause of illness so your body can restore balance on its own.


If you’re interested in a personalized, natural approach to health, I invite you to join my newsletter for more insights—or reach out to see if we’re a good fit to work together.


Subscribe to my blog to get regular updates on natural medicine, gut health, holistic healing, and the psychology of wellness.

 
 
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