Is Athletic Greens safe during pregnancy?
—Mb
Let’s start by saying that the company says no. AG1, formerly Athletic Greens, does not recommend its product during pregnancy or breastfeeding. It does not say why, though! Let’s investigate.
Actually, before we investigate pregnancy, let’s talk about the value of AG1 in general. AG1 is a green powder that you mix up with water and drink. The idea is that it improves your health by getting you your standard vitamins but also other things, like “adaptogens” and “functional mushrooms.” There are many kinds of roots. Prebiotics and probiotics.
Some people like the taste. Full disclosure, I am not one of them. It tastes to me like powdered mud grass. To be clear, that wouldn’t stop me from drinking it if I thought it would benefit my health or help me run faster. Ask my kids about the questionable-tasting combination of collagen powder and LMNT I drink in the morning!
However, there is simply no evidence that AG1 improves your health or performance. We do have evidence for some of the individual components. There are probiotics — I’ve written about the value of those. If you are vitamin-deficient (you’re almost certainly not), this would get you the vitamin C you need to prevent scurvy. Of course, you could get these components alone (for less money).
The claimed value of AG1 is in the combination of all of the items, and there we have no data. There are some peer-reviewed studies cited on the website, but many of them do not involve people (like this one, which uses a simulated gut system to demonstrate the impacts of AG1 on gastrointestinal fermentation). Really, what we want is a study in which some people are given AG1, some are given nothing, and some are given (say) a probiotic, and we see what happens. But we do not have that or anything like it.
Flip side: there is no reason to think AG1 is dangerous in general, so if you (non-pregnant) enjoy it or it makes you feel better, go for it.
If you’re pregnant, as far as I can see from the ingredient list, there is nothing that would be strictly off-limits in pregnancy. And many of the vitamins and minerals are also in prenatal vitamins. One issue is that if you’re already taking a prenatal, this will double up on some components (vitamin A, folate, etc.), which may be more than you need or should have. Beyond that, we don’t have good research on these random roots. With an abundance of caution, then, I’d skip it. Of course … I’d skip it anyway.
Community Guidelines
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On June 12, the CDC issued a warning to healthcare providers about serious adverse effects of “Diamond Shruumz”. Embedded in the text was a warning against “functional mushrooms” which are listed as an ingredient in AG. This is the wording: Products containing psychoactive compounds such as cannabis or mushroom extracts are increasing in availability. These “edibles” are often sold as gummy candies, chocolate, or other snack foods. They might contain undisclosed ingredients, including illicit substances, other adulterants, or potentially harmful contaminants that are not approved for use in food. Mushroom-containing products have been marketed for promoting health or for achieving nonspecific physical or psychoactive effects. Examples of health claims have included improving focus and increasing energy. Advertising for these products has also implied that consumption would lead to feelings of euphoria, hallucinations, or psychedelic effects. Common terms used in marketing include “microdosing,” “adaptogens” (substances to help the body adapt to stress), “nootropics” (substances that enhance memory or cognitive function), or “functional mushrooms.”
Consumer labs recently published concerns around unsafe levels of heavy metals (specifically lead and cadmium) in greens powders and conducted independent testing on numerous brands, including Ag1. Almost every product they texted came back with unsafe levels
Love this hot take. Can part two be about why you take collagen plus LMNT? I figured LMNT was just well marketed table salt, but it seems like there may be more to it if you splurge on it!!
I’m also curious to hear Emily’s research around LMNT! I’ve heard both sides of the medical arguments on that one. Personally, it does leave me feeling more hydrated (in between working out and breastfeeding).