Live It Up vs. AG1: Ingredients and Formulation
Both Live It Up Super Greens and AG1 (formerly Athletic Greens) are popular greens powders designed to supplement your daily nutrient intake, but they take different approaches to their formulations. AG1 boasts a more extensive ingredient list, while Live It Up focuses on a cleaner, more streamlined formula.
AG1's Comprehensive but Pricey Formula
AG1 packs over 75 ingredients into a single scoop, including a wide range of vitamins, minerals, and proprietary blends. Key components include:
- Active Superfood and Prebiotic Complex: Featuring adaptogens like ashwagandha and herbs such as astragalus root.
- Daily Phytonutrient Complex: With ingredients like spirulina, organic wheatgrass, beetroot, and more.
- Dairy-Free Probiotic Blend: A robust 10 billion CFU from multiple strains.
- Synthetic Vitamins: A significant portion of AG1's vitamins and minerals are added synthetically, with some reaching very high percentages of the daily value.
Live It Up's All-Natural and Organic Approach
Live It Up Super Greens, by contrast, contains a more focused list of around 20 ingredients. Its formulation emphasizes whole-food sources and includes:
- Organic Greens: Ingredients like organic spirulina, chlorella with a cracked cell wall, wheatgrass, kale, and peppermint.
- Naturally Derived Vitamins and Minerals: All nutrients are sourced from whole foods, with no synthetic vitamins added.
- Probiotics and Enzymes: Contains 5 billion CFU of dairy-free probiotics and three digestive enzymes for gut health.
- No Adaptogens or Added Fruit: The formula is simpler, containing only greens, probiotics, and enzymes, making it less complex than AG1.
Cost, Taste, and Transparency Analysis
Beyond the ingredient list, cost and taste are major factors for consumers considering a daily greens powder. Transparency about ingredient amounts is also a key consideration for many.
Cost: AG1 is one of the most expensive greens powders on the market, costing approximately $2.64 to $3.30 per serving. Live It Up is significantly more affordable, ranging from $1.33 to $1.99 per serving, especially with a subscription.
Taste: Live It Up generally receives high marks for its pleasant, minty, or wild berry flavors, with a smooth texture that isn't overly grassy. AG1's taste is more divisive, with hints of pineapple and vanilla, but some users report an unpleasant grassy or overly sweet flavor from stevia.
Transparency: Live It Up is praised for its organic sourcing and clear ingredient list. While both brands use proprietary blends, the simpler formula of Live It Up offers more clarity on what you're consuming. AG1's extensive list of ingredients in proprietary blends makes it difficult to verify if each component is effectively dosed.
Comparison Table: Live It Up vs. AG1
| Feature | Live It Up Super Greens | AG1 (Athletic Greens) |
|---|---|---|
| Price Per Serving | ~$1.33 - $1.99 | ~$2.64 - $3.30 |
| Organic Ingredients | Yes, primarily organic greens | Limited organic ingredients |
| Added Vitamins | No, naturally sourced | Yes, many synthetic additions |
| Adaptogens & Mushrooms | No | Yes |
| Probiotics (CFU) | 5 billion | 10 billion |
| Taste | Pleasant, minty or berry, monk fruit sweetened | Pineapple/vanilla, stevia sweetened |
| Primary Audience | General health-conscious individuals | High-performance athletes |
The Benefits and Drawbacks of Each
Live It Up: Ideal for Simplicity and Budget-Conscious Consumers
For those seeking a straightforward, all-natural greens supplement, Live It Up is an excellent choice. It provides a solid nutritional boost for digestive health, immunity, and energy without the added complexity of adaptogens or synthetic vitamins. Its lower price point makes it more accessible for a wider audience, and the pleasant taste encourages daily consistency. However, its formula is less potent in certain areas compared to AG1, which may not be enough for those with significant dietary gaps or intense athletic needs.
AG1: The Premium, All-in-One Option
AG1's comprehensive formula makes it a powerhouse supplement for high-performance individuals who need maximum nutritional support. The inclusion of adaptogens, antioxidants, and a higher probiotic count provides a robust, all-in-one solution for those willing to pay a premium price. The drawbacks are the high cost, the use of synthetic vitamins, and the potential for a less palatable taste or digestive discomfort from the dense ingredient list. For athletes, the NSF Certified for Sport status adds a layer of trust.
Conclusion: Which is the Better Greens Powder?
The question of whether Live It Up is as good as AG1 depends heavily on your individual health goals, budget, and priorities. For the average consumer looking for an affordable, organic, and all-natural daily greens supplement, Live It Up Super Greens is often regarded as the superior choice. Its simple, clean formula is effective for supporting digestion, energy, and overall wellness without unnecessary additives.
For elite athletes or those with very specific, high-level nutritional needs and a larger budget, AG1's mega-doses and extensive ingredient list might be more appropriate. However, for most people, the extra cost and synthetic ingredients in AG1 do not necessarily equate to better results compared to Live It Up's transparent and potent, whole-food-based formula. Ultimately, both are excellent supplements to support a balanced diet, but Live It Up offers better value and a cleaner profile for everyday use.
Are you considering which greens powder to purchase? Here are some key factors to weigh before making your final decision:
- Budget: Live It Up provides a cost-effective daily supplement, while AG1 is a significant financial investment.
- Ingredient Purity: If organic, whole-food-sourced ingredients are a priority, Live It Up aligns better with those values.
- Specific Needs: If you're an athlete with high-performance demands, AG1's comprehensive profile might be more suitable.
- Taste Preference: Consider if you prefer a subtle, minty/berry flavor (Live It Up) over the distinct pineapple/vanilla taste (AG1), which some find unappealing.
