Influencers shilling a $100 bag of vitamins is the snake oil of the 21st century, and it’s hurting real people.
I work with families struggling financially and help them achieve a better future by teaching them about investing, making more money, and examining where their money is being spent.
I met a mom I was helping yesterday. She makes $64K per year(pre-tax), and her spending totaled $63,861. She has been dipping into her past savings, but that did not infuriate me.
The $92 per month Atheltic Greens did.
She buys it because she’s trying to become the best version of herself to support her 5-year-old as a single mom.
Huberman, Joe Rogan, and many other celebrities who shill for this green powder should take note.
Just because you get $50 per bag sold through your constant lies does not mean you ignore the ethical side of this issue.
These people can barely make ends meet, and then you convince them they won’t be able to be their best selves without buying this garbage.
Huberman always mentions that he desires to bring zero-cost science-based education to the general public, but this is far from that.
He promotes overpriced products, and people who trust him are often disadvantaged.
Science does not say you need expensive gadgets like 8 Sleep and powdered green supplements.
What’s wrong with AthleticGreens
Even if we ignore the hefty price tag and the fact that for every $100 bag sold, an influencer makes $50, a powder in a bag isn’t real food.
According to the CDC and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA):
9 out of 10 Americans are deficient in potassium
7 out of 10 are deficient in calcium
8 out of 10 are deficient in vitamin E
50 percent of Americans are deficient in vitamin A, vitamin C, and magnesium
More than 50 percent of the general population is vitamin D deficient, regardless of age
90 percent of Americans of color are vitamin D deficient
Approximately 70 percent of elderly Americans are vitamin D deficient
Athletic Greens contains none of the above vitamins and minerals.
A Dietician commented on a YouTube video that criticizes AG1-
As a sports dietitian, I applaud you for looking at AG-1 scientifically. I tell my clients to take that money, go to the produce department, and buy their greens. The fiber will naturally populate your gut with the right bacteria. The probiotics in AG-1 taken randomly serve no purpose. Thank you for this.
Just EAT YOUR DAMN VEGGIES!
The bag contains over 75 ingredients. A minority of those ingredients have been studied sufficiently. For example, Spirulina: Studies show that to get any meaningful effects, the dosage had to be more than 8 grams (each serving of AG1 is a total of 7.5 grams).
With that much mixing, the dosage for each ingredient would be abysmal.
If you know something is wrong with you, getting a higher dose of one or two ingredients may give you a bigger bang for your buck.
It’s like buying a targeted serum for skincare instead of the kitchen sink mix of all ingredients that may not provide benefits.
Placebo effects can beintense.
The site contains claims like “improved energy” and “reduced gas and bloating.”
See how “gas and bloating” has been a trending topic for a long time?
This looks like predatory marketing at its finest.
They study and interview subjects for trending topics, not actual health problems.
Of course, the FDA hasn’t approved any of their claims.
You feel like you did well for your health, so now junk food isok
This is what convenience in a pack can make you do. Choose worse options.
When we fight simple human instincts like eating and chewing real food, the body doesn’t get what it needs to function well. No saliva is mixed for improved digestion, and the fiber isn’t enough.
Taking a green drink can make you feel like you did your part, so now eating junk or candies is okay.
What $100 can buyinstead?
Assuming $3 for a bunch, you can get 33 bundles of dark green leafy vegetables like kale, chard, or collard greens to make a green smoothie in the morning.
I won't say that all your healthy groceries can be purchased for $100 a month because the point is to just eliminate the overpriced marketing gimmick and replace it with real food.
The $100 can be used to buy good quality vitamins B12, D3, and Omega 3(DHA+ EPA)
Drink a green smoothie every other day, and your Magnesium needs will be fulfilled.
Eat fruits and vegetables for more Potassium and Calcium.
SLEEP WELL- consistent bed/wake time every single day. It's the most potent wellness tool of all time.
But that is more challenging than an automated subscription of $92 a month and has no marketing associated with it.
What does the Science say on Huberman’s podcast?
After listening to dozens of episodes, all guests support these four pillars of health-
Real food
Good rest
Quality movement
Managed mental health
This list is simple but not easy to do consistently, but all can certainly be done without the green powder, that’s for sure.
