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In partnership with GEM.
As a wellness inclined girly, I avoid most vitamins and supplements. Counterintuitive – I know – but the more digging I’ve done, the more skeptical I’ve become of ‘wellness’ products. Unfortunately, they’re often chock-full of fillers, sugars, and other bizarre ingredients. The list of brands I trust is short.
Athletic Greens has earned a spot on that list thanks to ringing endorsements from Dr. Andrew Huberman and Dr. Peter Attia, among others. It’s one of those high-quality brands that taps into science to deliver the real deal, plain and simple. When I saw GEM pop up a few years ago and promise to deliver similar benefits (more energy, less bloating, better digestion) and whole-food ingredients, I was curious to know how the brand stacks up against Athletic Greens. Is it list-worthy? Find out in this edition of Throwdown: Athletic Greens vs. GEM.
We like
We don't like
The Players:
GEM: Founded in 2018 to fill the gaps in your diet, GEM helps you get all of the vitamins and nutrients you need in one delicious Bite of whole-food ingredients. It’s designed to be a simple health solution, with a focus on the essential.
Athletic Greens: A well-established health supplement brand, Athletic Greens is renowned for its comprehensive, premium-quality, and all-in-one multivitamin powder formulation that’s become pretty ubiquitous in health and wellness circles.
Ingredients:
GEM: GEM’s Daily Essentials offer over 20 essential vitamins, plus minerals and phytonutrients derived from whole-food plant sources without any artificial fillers, sweeteners, or binders. I’m talking everything from zinc to turmeric, black pepper, prebiotics, probiotics, stone fruit, citrus, and Vitamin K2 to help with things like digestion support, inflammation fighting, and mind activation. And the results speak for themselves: In a consumer perception study conducted with Citruslabs, participants noticed boundless benefits, including more energy, better digestion, less bloating, and more radiant skin.
Athletic Greens: Athletic Greens also boasts a robust lineup of premium ingredients, including vitamins, minerals, superfoods, and adaptogens to help with an efficient metabolism, resistance to mental and physical stressors, and nutrient absorption. The brand has thousands of five-star reviews, including from professional athletes (Lewis Hamilton and Robin Arzón, for example) and health experts (Tim Ferriss and Michael Gervais).
Winner: Tie
Both GEM and Athletic Greens prioritize quality, functional ingredients. I was surprised to see that as a newer entrant to the space, GEM is as impressive as Athletic Greens!
Product Line:
GEM: GEM offers a more diverse product line, which includes the brand’s Daily Essentials (supports foundational body + mind health), Sleep Essentials (fall asleep, stay asleep, and wake up energized), and Calm Essentials (for cognitive clarity, stress relief, and a delicious, mood-boosting lift). I appreciate that GEM’s targeted approach allows you to choose supplements tailored to your specific health goals.
Athletic Greens: Athletic Greens offers a comprehensive all-in-one formula designed to meet the general needs of a broad audience. As I’ve mentioned, the blend is tried-and-true, but the brand does lack even a little bit of customization.
Winner: GEM
GEM's specialized product line provides a more personalized and targeted solution, catering to a more diverse range of health needs.
Convenience:
GEM: I love that GEM’s Bites are so simple and easy. It’s nice to pop one small Bite into my mouth each morning and know that I’m setting my body up for success. Plus, the brand’s subscription model ensures I never miss a day!
Athletic Greens: Athletic Greens also provides a straightforward subscription service with travel packs to ensure I’m always covered, but I don’t love always having to slurp this thing down. Some days it’s great – but others, I’ll end up with a half-drunk bottle in my car because I got busy or distracted or found something tastier to sip on.
Winner: GEM
One bite a day is just so easy. That’s the beginning and end of it.
Taste:
GEM: These Bites are so delicious. They’re actually crafted by the brand’s in-house pastry chef. The Daily Essentials are citrus ginger flavored (tangy, just-sweet-enough), Calm Booster is banana cinnamon flavored (warm and nutty), and Sleep Booster is chocolate cherry flavored (rich, earthy, and tart).
Athletic Greens: The reviews on Athletic Greens’ taste are a bit all over the place, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’ve honestly had a pretty hard time with it – I’m not a huge fan of earthy flavors (which I thought it would taste like) or overly sweet flavors (which it actually tastes like – vanilla-y!). It can also be a little bit chalky, so overall I find the taste to be just okay. Some people love it, though!
Winner: GEM
These bites are made by a pastry chef and taste like it! So good – and easy to eat in one daily Bite.
Price:
GEM: GEM’s monthly subscription costs $55 for 28 Bites, and you can use the code TQE50 for 50% off your first month. It’s an investment, sure, but in your wellbeing? Well worth it!
Athletic Greens: Athletic Greens is also an investment, but at almost double the cost, one I have a harder time justifying. It starts at $79 but ends up being ~$100/month which is a tough…powder…to swallow.
Winner: GEM
If you’re looking to invest in your health, GEM totally feels like a fair price for the benefits you get.
Overall Winner: GEM
While Athletic Greens has earned its reputation as a trusted multivitamin brand, GEM is a formidable competitor! With a more diverse product range, delicious convenience, and a friendlier price tag, it’s an investment I’m super excited about. I'm thrilled to be using GEM in my daily routine – I recommend you do the same!
