In its most basic definition, a nutrient gap is the 

discrepancy between the levels of nutrients the average person obtains from their diet and the levels of nutrients recommended to maintain nutritional adequacy.

 More technically speaking, nutrient gaps are defined as “gaps” between 

 dietary intake goals, usually derived from the Estimated Average Requirements (EARs) for a particular nutrient.

 Nutrient gaps are common and data actually shows that most Americans fall short in many key nutrients.

There are various underconsumed food groups in the United States, including fruits, vegetables, legumes, dairy, and whole grains. These are also some of the most nutrient-dense food and a lack of consumption is a likely reason why nutrient gaps are faced by a significant proportion of US adults.

Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for individuals one year of age and older also suggests that Americans are consuming inadequate intakes of many nutrients—particularly vitamins A, C, D, E, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and choline. 

Many Americans are aware that their diets may be sub-optimal and explore supplementation to help close these gaps. The 2017-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey found that 57.6% of US adults over 20 had taken a supplement in the last year—an increase from 48.4% during the 2007-2008 cycle.

 The most common form of supplementation is the multivitamin and mineral (MVM) which accounts for 24% between the ages of 20-39, 29.8% for ages 40-59, and 39.4% for ages 60+.

While nutrient gaps are variable based on someone's day-to-day diet, and the nutrient gaps of today are not always the same of tomorrow, we found that out of 

157 total participants across four different clinical trials, 87% of individuals had at least one dietary nutrient gap and most participants had at least 4. Positively, adding on a supplement like AG1 Next Gen was clinically shown to help fill key nutritional gaps across these healthy individuals despite their day-to-day diets. [4]

At AG1, we believe in taking a food-first approach to nutrition. There is no replacement for the micronutrients, functional nutrients, phytonutrients, and botanical extracts, and the interplay with the gastrointestinal tract and microbiome. But we know that even healthy eaters have gaps in their diets and current nutrient recommendations don’t account for all specific age groups, genetics, or gut health.

Our research aims to highlight the amount of nutrient gaps healthy people still have despite their efforts to consume a healthy diet. 

When we talk about “healthy people” enrolled in our studies (chosen because they represent our average consumer) we refer to:

Healthy individuals with a busy lifestyle

Highly active people with increased nutritional demands

Healthy individuals with occasional GI distress

In four randomized controlled trials, including participants of varying baseline health, age, and activity levels,

 AG1 was shown to fill common nutrient gaps using the validated gold standard tool for dietary assessment called the ASA24®. [1-4]

 Replicating results across four clinical trials not only demonstrates validity of the findings but also accounts for the variability of dietary patterns and lifestyles across multiple populations. This leads to more confident conclusions in our research and a better understanding of how AG1 fills nutrient gaps in healthy people.

AG1 is trusted by professional athletes, world-renowned health experts, and those just starting out on their health journey. We pride ourselves on helping to supplement their daily diet, with 83 vitamins, minerals, and whole food sourced ingredients to help fill key nutrient gaps they may be experiencing.

 Bird JK, Murphy RA, Ciappio ED, McBurney MI. Risk of Deficiency in Multiple Concurrent Micronutrients in Children and Adults in the United States. Nutrients. 2017 Jun 24;9(7):655. doi: 10.3390/nu9070655. PMID: 28672791; PMCID: PMC5537775.

CDC Dietary Supplement Use Among Adults 2017-2018

Article Sources

What are Nutrient Gaps and How Can AG1 Help Close Them?

Understanding our clinical trials and the impact on whole body health

Next time you peel an orange, eager to get to the middle, think about this: What’s on the outside is just as—if not more—important. Because we don’t generally eat the peel unless it’s zested into desserts or dishes, we don’t think about it. But, it’s not the juicy, segmented flesh inside that’s the powerhouse of this ubiquitous fruit. It’s the waxy, fragrant skin. Just ask Jon Brewster, Chief Sales Officer at Ingredients by Nature, a family-run supplier to AG1 and the world’s largest manufacturer of citrus bioflavonoids. People are so ready to throw out the peel, he says. “[But] the peel is actually the most nutritious part of the citrus fruit.” How so? It contains far more enzymes and flavonoids (naturally occurring compounds found in fruits, vegetables, herbs, and legumes) than the fruit itself.

A question Brewster gets pretty much every single day when asked what he does for a living: What are citrus bioflavonoids? Citrus bioflavonoids are natural plant compounds found in the skin and peels of oranges and lemons. They’re part of the polyphenol family—one of the largest groups of beneficial plant nutrients. Polyphenols are produced by plants as a natural defense against detrimental factors like UV radiation, harmful pathogens, and oxidative stress caused by photosynthesis. These antioxidants support immune defense in plants.

So, why are citrus bioflavonoids in AG1? These days, our bodies face a variety of daily challenges, from busy schedules and insufficient sleep to environmental factors and less-than-perfect diets. We know how beneficial citrus peel can be from an immune-support perspective, but getting it into our diet is another matter. So, AG1 features a concentrated, potent, and bioavailable extract of citrus bioflavonoids isolated from the most powerful part of the fruit. And, there’s another element: citrus bioflavonoids work synergistically with other whole food-sourced ingredients and nutrients like acerola cherry, rosehips, vitamin C, and zinc to support immune defenses.*

In our quest to celebrate the incredible ingredient partners we work with, we visited Ingredients by Nature’s (IBN) headquarters in Central Valley, California. It’s a 90-year-old company run by Jon and his brother, Rob and the ideal place to learn about how citrus bioflavonoids are created. As it turns out, it’s a many step process that includes carefully selected external partners who, like us, share IBN’s obsessive commitment to quality. So, how do we go from citrus groves to AG1?

After being picked, the fruit is washed, waxed, and graded at a state-of-the-art facility owned by an external partner. Then it’s transformed into products like juice and oils. Afterwards, the peels are sent to another partner’s facility, where they’re dried. The only ingredients there? Hot air and time, to preserve as many nutrients as possible. Once Ingredients by Nature receives the dried peels, they’re tested and then ground into various specifications of powder. As Brewster puts it: “This is where we make magic.” Mere decades ago, the peel was cast aside, but now it’s embraced in a sustainable, nutrient-focused way with little going to waste.

Quality and innovation are at the heart of everything we do at AG1 and it all starts at the ingredient level. Trusting the product means trusting every single component and we’re lucky to be able to share that with our partners and our customers.

Farm to Label: How AG1 Sources Citrus Bioflavonoids

What are citrus bioflavonoids?

If you’re trying to understand how AG1 can be part of your daily routine, you may be wondering what differentiates it from greens powders on the market. The color (green) and consistency (powder) might suggest they’re similar, but there are many crucial differences between our unique blend of 75 ingredients and the myriad other options.

Greens powders are dietary supplement powders usually made from ingredients like leafy greens, grasses, and antioxidant-rich fruits—all dried and ground into a fine powder. Because of these ingredients, many report that greens powders aren’t palatable with water alone and need to be mixed into smoothies.

The nutrients and plant compounds in greens powders may support overall wellness but, since they are made from a select number of fruits and vegetables, they often lack the vitamins and minerals found in a comprehensive multivitamin. Additionally, naturally occurring vitamins and minerals can vary by crop and are often impacted by processing, resulting in products with potentially inconsistent nutritional backgrounds.

Is it green? Yes. Is it a powder? Yes. But it’s so much more. AG1 is a research-backed Daily Health Drink that combines a multivitamin, probiotic, and blend of superfoods into a convenient daily routine. Our driving belief is that high-quality ingredients combined with digestive support can improve the body’s ability to utilize essential nutrients.

One daily serving of AG1 eliminates the need for other supplements such as a multivitamin, probiotics, greens and superfood powders, vitamin B complex, and vitamin C tablets.

Each serving of AG1 delivers a blend of probiotics for healthy bacteria to the gut along with prebiotics that serve as nutrition for probiotics—allowing them to grow in beneficial numbers and better support metabolism.

you might need a supplement if you have a healthy diet—we hear you! And we agree that a balanced diet of nutritious food is crucial for overall health. But even with the perfect diet, it’s become increasingly difficult to get the foundational nutrients the body needs on a daily basis—especially with the business of modern life.

Nutritional Gaps can arise due to various factors including:

Dietary choices (nutrient-dense foods offer more nutrient value)

Food growing, harvesting, and processing methods

Changes in soil quality impacting nutrient density of foods

AG1 is designed to help provide the nutrients that are hard to get through a normal diet, in bioavailable forms that your body can actually use.

Thousands of peer-reviewed studies were analyzed by AG1’s in-house research team as part of the formulation process. While many supplements stop there, we took it a few steps further with a pilot set of 

 on the full AG1 formula, including a randomized, placebo controlled clinical trial. That way, we could further examine the effects of AG1 on the body.

We rigorously test AG1 for over 500 pesticides and herbicides and more than 75 additional contaminants and toxins, including heavy metals. Through NSF Certified for Sport®, the gold standard for independent quality and safety testing, our formula is tested for over 280 banned substances, including stimulants, narcotics, diuretics, and masking agents.

So, if you’re navigating the greens powder market, here’s your takeaway: AG1 is more than just a high quality multivitamin (although it is indeed that). It provides nutrients and gut health support for the needs driven by today’s diet and today’s lifestyle.

How AG1 is Different from a Greens Powder

The key differences between AG1 and greens powders when it comes to ingredients, benefits, and more

Whether or not you’re new to AG1, you’re likely invested in knowing and caring about everything that goes into your body, whether it’s your food or your supplements. We pride ourselves on ensuring that every batch received by customers exemplifies our ideals of potency, absorption, and nutrient diversity.

While we have organic ingredients in our formula, AG1 is not a certified organic product. And 

Instead of relying solely on organic practices to ensure the safety and purity of our ingredients and formula, we choose to go above and beyond to conduct third party testing on AG1 for over 500 pesticides and herbicides. We make sure all of our ingredients are non-gmo and AG1 is NSF Certified by Sport®, one of the most rigorous quality standards available for dietary supplements (more on that later).

To fully understand why AG1 isn’t certified organic, we have to also talk about what organic actually means:

Cultivated “without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation,” according to the USDA.

 mean free from high levels of heavy metals.

So, as much as we champion organic standards, the safety and efficacy of our product is most important, which is why we test for over 500 pesticides and herbicides. We know that chemicals used in agriculture can disrupt the gut and immune system, decreasing or blocking nutrient absorption. The pesticides and herbicides we test for include:

Glyphosate: An herbicide and commonly used weed killer in conventional farming

Atrazine: The second-most commonly used pesticide after glyphosate

Additionally, anything that comes from the ground, including fruits, vegetables, and even drinking water, has the potential to naturally contain some heavy metals. AG1 is tested to ensure levels of heavy metals are below the guidelines set by US Pharmacopeia (USP) and NSF International. This includes:

When we formulated AG1, we did so with the goal of creating the most impactful, premium, and safe Daily Health Drink. This intent applies to every choice we’ve made, including whether or not to source an organic ingredient.

AG1 is also NSF Certified for Sport®, which is widely considered the gold standard for independent quality and safety testing with dietary supplements. In order to earn this certification, each batch of AG1 is tested to ensure the product is free from 290 banned substances, including stimulants, narcotics, diuretics, and masking agents.

Our customers are at the heart of everything we do and the quality of the products we make will never be an open and shut case for us.

Is AG1 Organic?

Understanding how we go above and beyond when it comes to our ingredient quality

If you’re concerned about artificial sweeteners and added sugar in your everyday products, we hear you. That’s why we formulate AG1 with flavors derived from plant-based sources 

To round out the taste of pineapple core and vanilla bean in AG1, we use a small amount of Stevia, in the form of a high quality extract sourced from the Stevia rebaudiana leaf. Unlike other products, which contain dextrose or erythritol, the Stevia in AG1 is a pure extract with no impact on blood sugar and, in fact, it has been used to help modulate the gut microbiome. As with every other ingredient in AG1, it has undergone extensive safety evaluation in accordance with strict standards.

We’re proud that you choose to start your days with us and we’ll continue to make sure that AG1 is a high-quality, foundational routine with ingredients and flavors you can feel great about.

Why is Stevia in AG1?

Exploring AG1's flavor profile and the way we extract stevia from its natural source

AG1 is formulated for Foundational Nutrition. A serving includes high-quality vitamins and minerals, prebiotics, probiotics, greens and superfoods, functional mushrooms for immune support, antioxidants, stress adaptogens to support a healthy mood, and digestive support.* AG1 essentially delivers multiple products in one — which is why it costs what it does. We know that a lot of potential community members wonder, “Is AG1 worth it?”

We compared AG1 with leading supplements that — just like we do — prioritize high-quality and bioavailable forms of ingredients and are third-party tested. (Prices listed are for a month’s supply in USD and rounded to the nearest dollar amount, and are based on current available data for mass market dietary supplements.)

The total? $225. By contrast, AG1 subscribers pay $79 per month.

What might be just as important as the lower cost is the better value that AG1 provides, due to its convenience. (And the travel packs make it extra-portable.) Instead of managing multiple bottles, brands and subscriptions, and keeping track of your intake of so many different things, AG1 is the starting point of Foundational Nutrition, packing a multivitamin, probiotic, superfoods and more into a single scoop.

Then there’s the assurance that you’re getting the highest-quality and most up-to-date formula available, and pure and potent nutrients, from a product that is being continuously scientifically innovated and renovated.

AG1 supports energy, vitality and digestion — all in a single daily health drink. After all, health is wealth.*

The AG1 Experience: What products does AG1 replace?

Foundational Nutrition in a single, comprehensive daily health drink is what AG1 is known for, and a scoop of our powder offers a multivitamin, a multimineral, prebiotics, probiotics, superfoods and adaptogens. But there are a few vital nutrients that are best delivered in a separate form. So in addition to our AG1 powder, we make AG Omega3 softgels and concentrated AG Vitamin D3+K2 drops.

 are polyunsaturated fatty acids. EPA and DHA, found in fish oil, are the two types of omega-3s considered most beneficial to whole-body health. ALA is an omega-3 found in plants. Our bodies can convert some ALA into EPA and DHA, but not in sufficient amounts. We formulate our AG Omega3 fish-oil softgels as a separate product from AG1 to ensure we’re offering the highest-quality and most highly absorbable forms of EPA and DHA, while keeping AG1 simple to use, water soluble and vegan.

It’s vital to get EPA and DHA from food or supplement sources. U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends 450 to 500 mg of EPA and DHA per day, but the typical American diet contains fewer than 100 mg. Taking 

supplemental omega-3s in the form of EPA and DHA

 is important in closing the nutritional gap.

EPA and DHA support both heart and brain health. They aid in metabolic function, encourage normal arterial function and help maintain the structure and function of the brain. (As the majority of the brain is made up of fat, fatty acids are essential for cognitive health.) They also support cognitive performance. Because these systems are so vital to whole-body health, AG Omega3 delivers 2,000 mg of EPA and DHA in the most bioavailable form.

We sustainably source our fish oil from wild-caught, small fish, and it’s then molecularly distilled for purity and quality. A hit of lemon in the formulation for taste makes it easy to incorporate daily as part of your AG1 Foundational Nutrition plan. After all, one-and-done has an undeniable appeal, but good things come in threes.

The AG1 Experience: Omega3

AG1 is known for just one product — the namesake drink — but there are actually three. In addition to the AG1 you know, there’s the AG Vitamin D3+K2 drops and AG Omega3 softgels. They’re powerful on their own, but taken together, they make a three-part lineup of a simple daily protocol for Foundational Nutrition.

AG Vitamin D3+K2 was formulated as a separate product from the familiar powder because supplemental vitamin D is most effective in oil form. (And as much as we like to keep it simple and streamlined, efficacy comes first.) It’s designed to take directly, dropped on your tongue, or to add to shaken AG1 in the morning.

The highly absorbable, concentrated liquid formula comes in a dropper bottle, an advantage of which is the ability to customize the dosage. This is important since age, lifestyle, location and the season can all affect how much vitamin D a given person needs to take. Each drop features 1000 IU of vitamin D3, as well as 100 mcg of K2, which acts synergistically to increase the benefits of immune, bone and cardiovascular health.

Not all vitamin D is created equal. Vitamin D3 is what the human body produces via exposure to sunlight, UVB absorption and a process called vitamin D synthesis. (Supplementing directly with D3 also means our bodies don’t have to convert it.) Vitamin D2 is another form of vitamin D, found in plants and mushrooms. It is considered less effective at raising vitamin D levels in the body, so D3 is a great choice.

Similarly, there are two forms of vitamin K: K1 and K2. K2 is found in animal sources and in fermented foods, and is more easily absorbed by our bodies. The D3 is paired with K2 for its synergistic benefits and superior bioavailability.

Vitamin D is such an important nutrient because it supports the immune system and bone health. While D helps facilitate calcium absorption, its companion, K, helps deliver it to teeth and bones. Vitamin K also supports heart health by contributing to artery function.

Vitamin D is famously elusive. Because our primary natural source is sunlight, this is especially true for anyone who lives far from the equator or who spends daylight hours indoors — which, it seems like, is most of us. Vitamin D levels as a health concern has entered the mainstream, and many general practitioners test their patients as part of an annual check-up. Much of the time, levels are low.

For supporting our body’s vital systems, vitamin D3 and its partner K2 are key players in AG1’s daily protocol for Foundational Nutrition. Drop it into your ‘1, and you’re done. AG1 recommends taking one to four drops daily or following the guidance of your health practitioner.

The AG1 Experience: D3+K2

The exact contents of your AG1 Welcome Kit will depend on your subscription, but you can expect to find these five elements in every box.

Consider this your official AG1 user manual. You’ll find the answers to any questions about the product here, plus lots of other details about your new subscription.

What you came for: your 30-day supply of AG1, which is vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free.

This wide-mouth, BPA/BPS-free shaker makes it easy to drink your AG1 on the go, whether you’re mixing from a pouch or a travel pack. Yes, it’s plastic — but it’s Tritan plastic, which is known for its durability and safety. (Plus, it’s dishwasher safe. We do recommend using the top rack and hand-washing the lid.) It’s 16 ounces and has a medical-grade, stainless steel, leak-resistant lid.

The scoop is your reusable daily AG1 measurement (and the inspiration for the title of our blog!). The scoop is metal, coated with stainless steel and meant to keep: A scoop comes with the Welcome Kit, but you won’t find another in your next shipment.

Decant AG1 from the pouch to this airtight, stainless-steel container and keep it refrigerated to ensure that the powder stays fresh and food-safe, as the formula contains whole-food ingredients. (But don’t worry: Before the pouch is opened, the airtight seal does the job.)

Over the last several years, the AG1 Welcome Kit has undergone a series of changes to become more sustainable. In addition to being designed for curbside recyclability, the box is now made completely of post-consumer recycled content from FSC-certified sources. We’ve also reduced plastic wherever possible, including ditching cellophane wrapping, plastic bags and plastic filler.

The AG1 Experience: The Welcome Kit

Fights oxidative stress and helps protect cellular health with antioxidants

Replenishes nutrients that support metabolic health

A microalgae that delivers outsize nutrition, spirulina leads the lineup of superfoods in AG1. But what

 spirulina? Recognized for its vibrant and electric blue-green color, spirulina is a rich source of vitamins, minerals and fatty acids. So nutritionally dense, spirulina has been used as a supplement by astronauts while in space. It’s a billions-year-old food with an astrophysical pedigree.

In health circles, spirulina is a celebrated add-in to smoothies and juices, while the diehards might dust it on salads. And what does spirulina taste like? It’s surprisingly appealing: earthy, salty and oceanic (but still an acquired taste for some). In the body, it acts as an antioxidant, binding with free radicals to fight oxidative stress, and helping to protect the cells and support the immune system.

Spirulina is a whole-food ingredient included in AG1 for its supply of phytonutrients. Phytonutrients are active compounds that work together to help balance the body and support its interconnected systems: Metabolism, stress response and immune function are all counted among spirulina’s benefits. Most people don’t consume sufficient amounts of phytonutrients in their diet, and spirulina is one of the most nutrient-dense plants on the planet, making it an important ingredient to consider when it comes to supplementation.

The spirulina found in AG1 is a microalgae (Arthrospira platensis) grown in a quality-controlled farm to prevent contamination and development of microcystins and other toxins.

We source the spirulina for AG1 from carefully selected farms, where it’s grown in mineral-rich waters, to ensure it maintains its phytonutrient content while preventing an overgrowth of toxins.

It’s a crown jewel of superfoods, potent and dense. It delivers an array of nutrients elusive in even the healthiest modern diets. It’s beloved by the wellness world and the space program alike, and it’s one of AG1’s most powerful players.

Ingredient Spotlight: Spirulina

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

fdaDisclaimer

Information on this site is provided for informational purposes only. It is not meant to substitute for medical advice from your physician or other medical professional. You should not use the information contained herein for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication. Carefully read all product documentation. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, promptly contact your regular health care provider.

** AG1 Welcome Kit Offer valid for new AG1 subscribers only. AGZ frother Offer valid for first AGZ order only.

Actual Packaging May Vary

In a triple-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled parallel-designed clinical trial evaluating nutrient biomarkers and microbiome shifts in 105 healthy adults ages 20-59 over the course of 12 weeks.

In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled 2-week crossover clinical trial assessing nutrient gaps and microbiome shifts in 20 active adults ages 19-37.

In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled 2-week crossover clinical trial assessing nutrient gaps and microbiome assessments of 24 healthy adults with occasional GI distress ages 26-59 over the course of 4 weeks.

In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover clinical trial assessing nutrient gaps and bioavailability in 16 healthy adults ages 18-42 over the course of 8 hours.

In a third-party, single-arm, closed label interventional study of 104 healthy adults ages 25-59 assessing self-perceived efficacy of AG1 Next Gen over 3 months.

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Want to learn how AG1 can support your healthy aging?

AG1’s mission is to empower health ownership.

Health ownership: the connection between self-determination and self-care. It’s pursued both in the most serious forms of personal optimization and in looking for, and maybe finding, some balance in a busy life. It’s also in the momentum of a daily routine — and in the magic of a daily ritual. Doing what you can to “own” your health is the most powerful action you can take.

Owning your health starts with knowing your health.

The Scoop is AG1’s new home to explain — and celebrate — everything that goes into every scoop: the people, the science, the testing and beyond. We’ll share stories about how the scoop powers mornings around the world. We’ll explain the why and how of AG1’s industry-leading testing and certifications. We’ll feature community members including professional athletes, scientific thought leaders and customers just getting started on their AG1 journeys: regular people doing epic things.

The mission of AG1 is also the mission of The Scoop. We’re constantly, relentlessly raising the standard and sharing ideas about how to achieve even more, how to create better habits and how to build on your best wellness practices.

AG1 is a research-backed daily health drink that supports a foundation of nutrients and gut health. It started as Ultimate Greens Daily, then became Athletic Greens and has been AG1 since 2021. The obsession has always been the same: bringing you the highest-quality, safest, most effective product. That’s it.
The flagship product improves and iterates in line with new research, but it’s always been one thing: a green powder (that isn’t a “greens powder,” but more on that later), that packs a multivitamin, probiotics (a 

more on that later), adaptogens, antioxidants and superfoods into a single, powerful, deep-green scoop.

The mission of AG1 is to provide a daily foundational opportunity for health ownership. And the mission of The Scoop is the same. We want to empower you with the best possible inputs, for your best possible health.

We’re so happy you’re here with us. We want to feel great, together. We want to hear what you think — 

! Make The Scoop, like AG1, an unmissable and truly foundational part of your routine.

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