If you’re active or interested in health and wellness, you’ve probably heard of AG1 (formerly known as Athletic Greens), but with so many supplements on the market, is this one worth your money? I tried this supplement for 30 days and am here with my full AG1 Next Gen review.
In paid partnership with AG1.
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I’m a working mom of two elementary age kids, and in addition to their full slate of activities, I also enjoy training for my running races. I recently turned 40, so I’ve been paying more attention to vitamins and supplements, especially those that promise to support gut health and fill nutritional gaps. I started taking AG1 Next Gen a few days after returning from a 10-day international trip, so my nighttime routine and eating habits were about as bad as they could be, and I was hopeful that a daily dose of greens could help me get back on track.
My one-month supply of AG1 Nex Gen included a pouch of powder, a portable bottle for mixing the powder with water, and a sturdy container that allowed me to decant the powder and store it in the fridge. AG1’s ingredient list includes live probiotics, so once you open the pouch, it’s important to keep it refrigerated. I travel quite a bit and don’t always have access to a fridge, so I liked that my kit also came with travel packs that don't require refrigeration.
The first day I mixed a scoop of AG1 into my shaker bottle, I was a little nervous about how it would taste. It’s a very dark shade of green, but it ended up having a slightly sweet, earthy taste. While not quite as fun to drink as a milkshake, I didn’t mind the taste at all. I like to add a few ice cubes to my shake bottle to help everything dissolve and make it nice and cold.
AG1’s new Next Gen formula is packed with vitamins, prebiotics, probiotics, and a bunch of superfoods, so even on days I didn’t eat the best, it helped me feel like I was at least covering the vitamin bases. I also really like that AG1 is NSF Certified for Sport. This designation means a supplement has undergone rigorous third-party testing to ensure it’s free from substances that major sporting organizations ban. It also means the supplement contains what it claims to do and isn’t full of hidden ingredients. Whether it's a supplement or protein powder, I aim to buy only NSF Certified for Sport products.
For my month-long AG1 Next Gen experiment, I mixed up the green powder every morning after I downed some coffee, but my stomach was still empty. The instructions suggested taking AG1 this way, so while it felt like a lot of fluid first thing in the morning, it helped me start the day more hydrated. For the first few weeks, I was hoping to get back into my daily routine, workouts, and home-cooked meals, and I didn’t notice AG1 Next Gen making a huge difference immediately.
However, after about two weeks, my digestion noticeably improved. Given that the AG1 Next Gen was the only significant change in my routine, I believe it was a major player. As a new master’s runner, you better believe I will take any little competitive edge I can get!
Even if you’re not a 40-something runner like me, I think there are benefits to trying out AG1 Next Gen. It simplifies a supplement routine - except for vitamin D and iron (more on this later), the powder helps to fill common nutrient gaps. And it doesn’t contain added sugar, artificial sweeteners like aspartame, or other common allergens, like gluten or dairy. I personally don't have any intolerances, but I appreciate how the product is designed to be as special diet-friendly as possible.
If you look closely at the label, you’ll notice two other things that AG1 doesn’t contain: iron (it only contains 1 gram) and vitamin D. And that’s because those things can interfere with the absorption of other vitamins and iron can be dangerous if you take too much — especially for small children. The company sent me a dropper bottle of vitamin D3 + K2 liquid, so I started adding a drop to my water bottle later in the day. Depending on my ferritin levels, I usually take a separate iron pill, as recommended by my doctor.
Bottom line: Is AG1 Next Gen formula worth the money?
AG1 is more expensive than a run-of-the-mill multivitamin, but I like feeling confident about the ingredients since the NSF certification is important to me. The inclusion of adaptogens also sets it apart in helping me become more resilient to stress and supporting my immune defenses.
To save approximately $20, consider signing up for a monthly subscription to AG1 instead of making a one-time purchase. The product is also FSA eligible, making it a good way to utilize those pre-tax dollars. Ultimately, it all depends on your goals. You might not need this supplement if you’re a very healthy eater who walks or jogs a few miles a week. But if you’re managing a stressful career, training for an endurance race or event, or skimping on vegetables, AG1 Next Gen can be well worth the investment.
As for me, I will continue taking AG1 Next Gen for the time being. I’m in a busy season of life and can really use the extra nutrients it provides. If things change down the road, I might prioritize my supplement dollars a bit differently, but for now, I’m basking in all the improvements I am seeing!