Tag: inflammation

Hi everyone,

I’m asked constantly, “Is AG1 good for you?” and I have to be honest with you: no, I don’t think it is. When I first saw it on the market, I liked to stay on top of new products, so I ordered a packet for myself. I was genuinely horrified by the ingredients once I actually read them, horrified enough that I sent it back. Let me walk you through exactly why, so you can learn to spot these red flags yourself next time.

What Is AG1?

AG1 is a green powder supplement that combines vitamins, minerals, probiotics, adaptogens, and plant-based ingredients into a drink you mix with water. It is widely promoted by health influencers, athletes, and healthcare professionals, with claims that it supports gut health, immunity, energy, and recovery.

However, while AG1 contains an extensive blend of ingredients, the formula may not provide the same benefits for everyone. The effectiveness of many ingredients depends on their dosage and your individual nutritional needs, so it’s important to look beyond the marketing claims before deciding whether it’s the right choice for you.

Are Supplements Safe?

Here’s something most people don’t realize: supplements aren’t FDA-approved. The manufacturer is responsible for the safety of their own product, but they don’t actually have to prove that safety to anyone before it hits the shelves. They don’t have to prove effectiveness either.

A supplement company might work with another manufacturer who verifies the safety of certain ingredients, but that second manufacturer isn’t required to prove their own ingredients are safe either. Its verification was built on a foundation that was never independently checked. The FDA provides no safety certification for supplement formulas, their ingredients, or their additives, and those additives are rarely, if ever, rigorously tested.

My honest advice: stick to trusted brands that genuinely research their own ingredients and products, like Minami or Biocare. You can see more of what I personally use and trust on my Yalda Loves page. But even the best supplement in the world can’t replace a genuinely healthy diet and lifestyle. Before reaching for any supplement, ask yourself what you actually want it to do because, in my experience, most of those goals (weight loss, easing pain, better energy, clearer skin, managing low mood) are achievable through the EBS anti-inflammatory lifestyle itself, without the guesswork.

 

What Do Supplements Contain?

Plenty of popular supplements are padded out with unnecessary excipients, fillers, stabilizers, bulking agents, and preservatives. Because supplement companies aren’t bound by the same laws as food and drug manufacturers, they can get away with cheap additives, which is a big part of why supplement manufacturing has become a billion-dollar industry.

Knowing what to look for in a genuinely good supplement, and what to flag as a cheap filler, matters. I’d urge you not to be swayed by a doctor’s or celebrity’s endorsement, or to buy something online without actually reading and understanding what’s in it.

Is AG1 Good for you?

 

AG1 has been around for a while, carries doctor endorsements, and has well-known investors, so there’s a lot built into the brand that makes people trust it instinctively. It’s endorsed by Dr. Chatterjee, Dr. Mark Hyman, Huberman Lab, and Dr. David Sinclair, so it’s no surprise the revenue numbers are apparently through the roof. When doctors tell you something is good for you, most people stop asking further questions. I don’t think you should.

AG1 was founded in 2010, originally under the name Athletic Greens AG1 Liver Support Ingredients. It’s a blend of 75 vitamins, minerals, superfoods, probiotics, and adaptogens, and the brand states there are no GMOs, herbicides, pesticides, artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. According to their own website, it’s made from the highest quality ingredients under the strictest standards, but remember, there’s no FDA-enforced standard actually holding them to that claim.

The Real Risks of Taking AG1

Supplements are genuinely big business, and manufacturers still don’t have to prove their safety. Even with a “reputable” brand, I’d always recommend running the ingredient list past your nutritionist or healthcare provider first. That one step minimizes your risk of:

• Contraindications with medications or other supplements you’re already taking.
• Accidentally taking too much of a given vitamin or mineral.
• Sensitivities to ingredients that aren’t officially classed as dangerous, but still don’t agree with you.

AG1 does contain genuinely beneficial active ingredients, including B vitamins, zinc, and vitamin C. But that same concentration of active ingredients can be hard for some people to digest and properly absorb. Several of the herbal ingredients also carry well-documented risks. Too much licorice, for example, can lead to hypokalemia and hypertension, and some people are far more sensitive to licorice than others (Kwon et al., 2020). There’s no caution about this anywhere on AG1’s own website.

The ingredient that concerned me most, within seconds of reading the label, was soy lecithin.

Why the AG1 Ingredient Soy Lecithin Has Health Risks

Soy lecithin has been shown to harm the gut microbiome and may trigger gut dysbiosis (Miclotte et al., 2020). That’s the opposite of what you want from something marketed as supporting gut health, immunity, and recovery.

Soy lecithin is added purely as an emulsifier; it’s not there for any health benefit. You could argue that the good ingredients in AG1 outweigh it, but soy lecithin is actually the second-largest ingredient in the entire formula. Research into emulsifiers like this is still ongoing, but so far we know:

• Higher levels of soy lecithin encourage Enterococcus and Clostridium bacteria in the gut, both of which are pathogenic and linked to disease.
• Soy lecithin is associated with reduced diversity in the gut microbiome (Miclotte et al., 2020).
• By disrupting the microbiome, emulsifiers like this contribute to a pro-inflammatory state and the development of Metabolic Syndrome (Miclotte et al., 2020).

Disruption to the gut microbiome dysregulates the immune system, which drives chronic inflammation, and that shows up differently in every person: alopecia, candida and H. pylori overgrowth, depression, IBS, bloating, migraines, obesity, Metabolic Syndrome, skin inflammation, and more. If you’re already managing an inflammatory condition and regularly taking a supplement loaded with soy lecithin, you could genuinely be making things worse.

There’s a footnote on the label stating the product “contains a premium lecithin for phosphatidyl serine and phosphatidylcholine.” Worth knowing: the metabolism of phosphatidylcholine from soy lecithin in the gut has been linked to cardiovascular disease in published research (Wang et al., 2011; Tang & Hazen, 2014).

How Is Soy Lecithin Actually Made?

To produce soy lecithin, soybean oil is first extracted from raw soybeans using an industrial solvent. The oil then goes through “degumming,” mixing it with water until the lecithin separates out. From there, it’s dried and often bleached. That processing degrades the DNA in the soy lecithin, so it becomes genuinely impossible to tell whether the source was GMO or not. I’ll be honest, I’m still not entirely sure what AG1 means by “premium” soy lecithin either.

Is the Inulin in AG1 Safe for Digestion?

The other AG1 ingredient I’d flag is inulin, listed as the fourth ingredient on the label.

Inulin is a prebiotic fiber that can shift your gut microbiota. That can be helpful in the right circumstances, but if your microbiome is already out of balance, it risks feeding the harmful microbes instead of the beneficial ones.

Animal studies show inulin can disturb systemic cholesterol and bile acid metabolism, and may have detrimental effects on liver function (Pauly et al., 2020). And if you already struggle with digestive issues, inulin is a well-documented trigger for bloating, excess wind, cramps, and diarrhea. 

This is why so many people ask me whether AG1 causes bloating, gas, stomach issues, or even symptoms that feel IBS-like in my experience. Inulin is very often the reason, especially for anyone whose gut is already sensitive.

There’s plenty written online about inulin’s health properties, and much of it is genuinely true. But it’s important to run any new supplement past your nutritionist (or reach out to us directly if you’re an EBS member) to make sure it’s actually right for your specific gut and health needs.

AG1’s own marketing states, “AG1 empowers the gut for whole body health.” I have to disagree. Soy lecithin disempowers your gut and raises your disease risk. Where I do agree with them is this: you can’t achieve a healthier everything else without a healthy gut first.

Does AG1 Affect Your Liver?

This is one of the questions I get asked most, so I want to answer it honestly rather than alarmingly. I haven’t seen credible, independent research directly linking AG1 to liver damage, and the brand doesn’t publish liver-specific safety data of its own, which, going back to my earlier point, is exactly the problem with an unregulated industry.

That said, your liver is the organ responsible for processing everything you take, including all 75 ingredients in a formula like this at once. The inulin content alone has been shown in animal studies to affect liver function (Pauly et al., 2020), and if you’re also taking other supplements or medications your liver is already processing, that concentrated load can add up.

If you have an existing liver condition or you’re taking medication that’s metabolized by the liver, it’s genuinely worth reviewing AG1’s full ingredient list with your doctor before starting it.

Does AG1 Affect Thyroid Health?

I understand why this question comes up so often, especially among people already managing a thyroid condition. AG1 doesn’t publish thyroid-specific research, and I haven’t seen credible independent studies linking it directly to thyroid dysfunction.

What I would say is this: any formula combining dozens of vitamins, minerals, and herbal adaptogens has the potential to interact with thyroid medication or existing thyroid sensitivities, simply because of the sheer number of active ingredients involved. 

If you’re on thyroid medication or managing a thyroid condition, it’s worth going through AG1’s ingredient list with your doctor or nutritionist before adding it in, rather than assuming a “wellness” label means it’s automatically safe for your specific situation.

Can AG1 Cause Headaches?

Some people do report that AG1 can cause headaches when they first start AG1, and there are a few plausible explanations, even without AG1-specific research to point to directly. Introducing a concentrated blend of vitamins, minerals, and adaptogens all at once can trigger a short-term adjustment reaction in sensitive people, sometimes described as a “detox” response. Dehydration, a shift in blood sugar, or a sensitivity to one of the herbal ingredients could also be contributing factors. If headaches persist beyond the first week or two, I’d stop and speak to your healthcare provider rather than pushing through it.

Beware of Marketing Words!

They could cost you your health. Here’s what I want you to take away from all of this:

• The FDA does not regulate supplement companies or their products.
• Marketing slogans exist for one purpose: to make you buy the product.
• Always read the full ingredients list on any supplement, and talk to your healthcare practitioner (or us, if you’re an EBS member) before starting one.
• Even supplements endorsed by doctors and celebrities can leave your body more vulnerable to disease if they contain the wrong ingredients for you.

If you haven’t listened to my podcasts or caught the recent Instagram Live with Dr. Dawn Sherling about the dangers of food additives, I’d genuinely recommend both.

AG1 or Eat Burn Sleep: Which Is the Better Investment for Your Health?

It’s worth thinking about what it might cost you, long-term, to make yourself less healthy rather than more. For reference:

• AG1’s “Best Value” package for two people runs £2,328.00 (approximately $2,796.70) a year.
• A single subscription, at the time of writing, offered at £79 per month, comes to £948.00 (approximately $1,140) a year for one “health” supplement.
• Our Premium EBS Membership gives you access to everything you need to support your health for just £270 a year, without the ingredient risks or the long-term question marks.

Understanding what’s genuinely good for you, and how your own body works, is the best form of self-care there is, and that’s exactly what the EBS platform is built to give you.

A year’s EBS subscription gives you the knowledge and tools you’d otherwise need a personal nutritionist and a year of gym sessions to piece together, plus exercises you won’t find anywhere else. You get access to movement videos, guided meditations, meal plans, food lists, and an ever-expanding anti-inflammatory cookbook with recipes from around the world, such as Catalan roasted vegetables, Chicken Marbella, Moroccan Burgers, and plenty more.

EBS is built to work for families and for people anywhere in the world. Our members get happier and healthier over time, retrain their taste buds, and optimize their microbiome, living a genuinely better life as the months and years go on.

Here’s what Dr. Sara Fernandez, MD, had to say:

“I am really impressed with the quality of your work and couldn’t agree more with your principles. Your ability to formulate a lifestyle strategy around improving health is outstanding. EBS is an excellent professional platform sustained with thorough research and scientific information. You not only cover research for anti-inflammatory nutrition but also for all medical conditions. This demonstrates how what we eat contributes to their regression or progression as chronic illness.”

So, is ag1 good for your liver? In my honest opinion, once you look past the marketing and into the actual ingredient list, it isn’t the health investment it’s positioned to be. Do take care of your health, it’s really precious. Have a great day!

AG1 FAQs 

Does AG1 contain soy? 

Yes, soy lecithin is the second-largest ingredient in the formula, added as an emulsifier rather than for any health benefit.

Is AG1 FDA approved? 

No. No dietary supplement is FDA-approved, and the FDA doesn’t certify the safety of AG1 or any of its ingredients.

Does AG1 contain lead or other heavy metals? 

Greens powders, as a category, including AG1, have faced public scrutiny and legal claims over trace heavy metals like lead. AG1 states its levels fall within safety thresholds, but if this concerns you, I’d look at the brand’s own published testing data directly and discuss it with your healthcare provider, especially if you’re pregnant, nursing, or giving it to a child.

Does AG1 have omega 3 or fish oil? 

Not as a core part of the base formula AG1 sells a separate omega-3 product alongside its greens blend, so check the specific product you’re buying rather than assuming it’s included.

Can you drink ag1 at night? 

There’s nothing in the formula that’s inherently stimulating, so timing mostly comes down to personal digestion. If inulin tends to cause you bloating, I’d avoid taking it right before bed.

Is AG1 a meal replacement? 

No. It’s marketed as a foundational supplement, not a source of meaningful calories, protein, or the full nutrition a real meal provides.

Does AG1 make you gain weight?

Unlikely on its own, given the low calorie content, but if it’s triggering bloating or digestive upset for you, that can feel like weight gain even when it isn’t.