A Dietitian's Huel Daily Greens Review

It was time to investigate whether Huel's greens powder is worth it. We’ll cover everything you need to know, from the cost and ingredient list to the potential benefits.

By Rachel Gargano, MS, RD, CSSD, CBS

— On Jan 13, 2025

In this article:

As a dietitian, I’m asked nearly every day whether supergreens powders are worth it. This question comes from clients as well as family and friends who are trying to get healthier. Considering that the average American consumes 1.4 cups of veggies per day, well below the recommended 2.5 cups, I believe that supergreens powders are an excellent way to boost your daily nutritional intake.

There’s a greens powder for everyone—and with so many to choose from, it’s important to understand the differences of each brand and formula. I’ve recently received a lot of questions about Huel Daily Greens. The brand’s website claims that the dietary supplement, packed with 91 ingredients, offers 146 potential benefits including immune support, cognitive function, and overall wellness.

I tried Huel’s formula and took a closer look at the ingredient list to determine whether Huel Daily Greens is worth it. Below, you’ll find my dietitian-approved review of this popular daily greens supplement and my recommendation for Live it Up Super Greens instead.

Huel Quick Facts

Price: $56.50 for 30 servings (save 20% with subscription)
Shipping: $9 or free for orders of $65+
Flavors:
- Original
- Watermelon
- Lemon & Ginger
Key ingredients:
- 91 vitamins, minerals, and superfoods
- Organic antioxidant greens blend
- Organic superfruit blend
- Super mushroom adaptogen complex
- Plant-based proteins
- Probiotics
Manufacturer health claims: Huel touts 146 purported benefits, from immune support, digestive health, and energy metabolism to cognitive function, muscle function, and hair, skin, and nail support
Possible side effects: May cause digestive upset due to guar gum, bloating, or acid reflux due to caffeine. Allergic reactions are rare but possible for some people.
Calories: 50 calories for the Original flavor and 25 calories for Watermelon and Lemon & Ginger.
Container size: 30 servings

What Is Huel?

Huel was founded by Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist (RDN) Julian Hearn, who wanted to make nutritious, convenient food available to everyone. The company name, derived from combining the words “human” and “fuel,” accurately represents the company's mission—to provide nutritious fuel for people in a time crunch. Today, Huel has expanded to include a line of nutritionally complete instant meals, superfoods and greens powders, nutrition drinks, and snacks.

Huel’s Daily Greens Powder includes 91 vitamins, minerals, and nutrients for comprehensive nutrition. The company’s website claims that their supergreens formula offers more than 146 potential health benefits, ranging from cognitive function to potential anti-inflammatory effects, immune support, and strong hair, skin, and nails.

Huel Daily Greens comes in three flavors, each with a slightly different nutritional profile. One scoop (approximately 8.5 grams) of the watermelon flavor contains 25 calories, 3 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of protein, and 1 gram of fiber. The lemon & ginger flavor has 25 calories, 4 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of protein, and 2 grams of fiber. The original flavor has 50 calories, 8 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of protein, and 4 grams of fiber.

Huel Daily Greens Powder is available on their website and on Amazon.

Pros of Huel

Contains 91+ ingredients, including adaptogens, probiotics, vitamins, and minerals
Many organic ingredients
No artificial sweeteners or flavors
Non-GMO, plant-based, and gluten-free
3 flavor options, all of which were fairly tasty

Cons of Huel

Unlikely to have effective doses of each ingredient
Contains guar gum, an ingredient that may cause digestive upset
Some vitamin quantities exceed daily recommended quantities
Does not dissolve completely
Contains caffeine
No digestive enzymes
Produced in a facility that processes dairy

Huel Purported Health Benefits

Huel claims that their daily greens supplement has over 146 potential benefits so, I took a closer look at what purported benefits the supplement may offer based on the robust ingredient list. Below are my professional thoughts on Huel's purported benefits.

Essential Nutrients

This super green powder contains 91 vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. Huel’s formula is a low-calorie option compared to others on the market. At 25 or 50 calories, depending on the flavor, and less than 1 gram of fat, this is an excellent way to get your essential nutrients without adding much to your daily calorie intake.

With an extensive ingredient list, some of the standouts in Huel’s formula include vitamin A (103% of DV), vitamin C (472% of DV), vitamin K (110% of DV), and vitamin D (232% of DV). The formula also includes key minerals that are essential for overall health and wellness: zinc for immune support, magnesium for sleep health, and iron for immune and energy support.

A reviewer commented, “I immediately felt the effects of the minerals in the vitamins in the mixture and hope this continues.”

However, it’s important to note that these essential vitamins all exceed the daily recommended intake, which can be dangerous for some people. If you’re taking other supplements, it is best to consult with your health provider or a registered dietitian or nutritionist before adding Huel to your diet.

Immunity

Huel contains essential nutrients to support a healthy immune system. In addition to containing immune-supporting micronutrients like vitamin C, zinc, and magnesium, the blend also contains a blend of leafy greens and organic berries. Ingredients of note include organic kale leaf and organic spinach, both of which contain high levels of immune-supporting vitamins A and C.

Additionally, the organic leafy greens, organic broccoli, organic blueberry, and organic strawberry are packed with antioxidants to help the body recover and protect itself from oxidative stress. The blend also features organic echinacea, an herb linked to immune function, and organic elderberry, a superfood filled with anthocyanins that help fight inflammation in the body.

Stress Relief

When it comes to stress relief, Huel Daily Greens contains ashwagandha, an adaptogenic plant that has grown in popularity for its stress-reducing benefits.

A reviewer said, “I appreciate the inclusion of adaptogens and probiotics, which support my gut health and stress levels.”

Though studies have found that ashwagandha can significantly reduce stress and anxiety, the benefits are most visible with doses of 500 to 600 mg a day. Unfortunately, Huel does not disclose the specific amounts of organic ashwagandha root contained in their daily greens blend so it is unclear whether you will get the full stress relief benefits of this ingredient.

Huel Daily Greens also contains multiple sources of antioxidants, which help the body recover from stress. From organic berries to organic spirulina and hibiscus leaf, this supplement offers an antioxidant-rich formula. It also includes 43mg (10% of DV) of magnesium, a mineral essential for regulating the body’s stress response, and high levels of B vitamins to support stress management.

Gut Health

Huel Daily Greens contains 3mg of probiotics (bacillus coagulans MTCC 5856 and bifidobacterium bifidum 100B). Though the company claims the formula supports a healthier gut, the small amount of probiotics, and the notable lack of prebiotics, does not make this formula the best for gut health.

This supergreens blend does include a unique super mushroom blend containing organic Reishi mushrooms and ginger root, both of which support digestion and a healthy gut. However, the exact amounts of these gut healthy-ingredients are not disclosed so it is uncertain whether Huel Daily Greens supports gut health.

One skeptical reviewer said, “Perhaps, over time, the effect is cumulative, but it's hard to truly believe there's enough of anything at one time to make a huge difference.”

Huel Ingredient Breakdown

Huel Daily Greens is packed with 91 ingredients. And while this sounds attractive on the surface, including so many ingredients in one scoop means you’re unlikely to get an effective dose of each one. To help you navigate the nutrition label and ingredient list, I dove into some of the most notable ingredients below.

Organic Antioxidant Greens Blend

One of the first ingredients on the nutrition label is 2382 mg of Huel’s Organic Antioxidant Greens Blend. Containing a range of ingredients like organic chlorella, organic spirulina, organic broccoli sprouts, organic kale, organic carrot root, organic artichoke leaf, organic basil leaf, organic fennel, organic algae, and organic black garlic, these nutrient-rich foods are condensed into an easy-to-prep powdered form.

Ingredients like broccoli, kale, and spinach are rich in essential vitamins for overall wellness including A, C, E, and K, and B vitamins. Chlorella is rich in protein, fiber, and antioxidants, making it excellent for supporting nutrient absorption.

It’s important to note that this greens blend contains caffeine in the form of green tea and green coffee bean extracts. Though the exact amounts of each ingredient are not listed, the inclusion of these ingredients should be noted for people who are avoiding or sensitive to caffeine. Additionally, if you’re struggling with sleep, this super greens powder may cause further disruptions.

Organic Adaptogen and Super Mushroom Complex

One of the most unique inclusions in Huel’s super green supplement is the Organic Adaptogen and Super Mushroom Complex. The nutrition label discloses that a serving of super greens contains 173 mg of this unique blend, but with so many ingredients in this small amount, it’s unlikely you’ll have effective levels of each ingredient.

If you're taking medications or have underlying health conditions, be sure to consult your health provider or an RDN before consuming since some adaptogens and super mushrooms come with a range of possible side effects.

Of note in this complex is organic ashwagandha, an adaptogenic plant linked to stress and anxiety. Organic lion’s mane mushroom is also included, and this ingredient has been linked to cognitive health and nervous system repair. Organic Reishi mushroom, another widely-known adaptogen, has been tied to immune function by boosting white blood cell count.

Organic Botanical Blend

As a dietitian, I found Huel’s Organic Botanical Blend to be especially unique. The herbs and botanicals included in this ingredient list range from anti-inflammatory cinnamon bark to immune-aiding ingredients like echinacea and hibiscus, and digestive support from dandelion root and lemongrass.

There’s 138 mg of the Organic Botanical Blend in one scoop of this greens supplement. However, like with the other superfood blends included in Huel’s Daily Super Greens, the exact amounts of each ingredient are not disclosed.

Plant-based Protein and Superfood Blend

Huel Daily Greens contains a whopping 1996 mg of Plant-based Protein and Superfoods Blend. Though this is the second-largest ingredient on the nutrition label, one scoop of Huel only contains 2-3 grams of protein depending on the flavor. If you’re looking for a protein-rich greens supplement to serve as a meal replacement, then I'd recommend considering other options.

The plant-based protein is derived from nutrient-rich superfoods like flaxseed, pea fiber, organic pea protein, organic chia seeds, organic gluten-free oats, tapioca starch, and faba bean protein. It’s important to note that not all ingredients in this blend are organic.

Huel Quality and Safety

Huel produces all of its products in FDA-approved facilities and states that the product is non-GMO, gluten-free and vegan. Though it is dairy-free, the product is produced in a facility that also handles dairy products, and the greens powder includes coconut nectar, so it is not safe for those allergic to tree nuts. Thankfully, the product has undergone independent testing to ensure product safety.

Though some ingredients are not organic, Huel reassures customers that their regular testing reports low levels in their products. According to Huel’s website, the company occasionally tests for heavy-metals and works to keep levels in accordance with the European Food Safety Authority.

Huel Cost Analysis

A one-time purchase of Huel Daily Super Greens costs $56.50 for 30 servings, costing $1.88 per serving. Comparatively, Huel is cheaper than the popular Athletic Greens, which costs $2.63 per serving.

Huel offers a subscription, which saves you 20% on each order. A subscription costs $45 for 30 servings ($1.50 per serving). Compared to Live it Up, which costs $39.99 per month of subscription, Huel is more expensive. Depending on the needs of your household, you can adjust the delivery timeframe from delivery every 2 weeks up to every 8 weeks. Additionally, you can easily swap or skip deliveries and can cancel at any time. With your first order, whether a one-time or subscription, you receive a free t-shirt and shaker bottle (a combined $35 value).

Shipping is free for orders of $65+. Orders under $65 are charged a $9 shipping fee. So, even with a subscription, you may be paying shipping on every order, which can add up!

Unused or unopened items may be returned within 30 days of receiving your order. However, it’s important to know that you must cover the cost of return shipping yourself.

Huel Taste Review

Huel Daily Greens comes in three flavor options—watermelon, lemon & ginger, and the original. I tried all three and found the watermelon flavor was too sweet and artificial for my preference, thanks to the inclusion of stevia. The lemon & ginger was unique and zesty, making it unique for a greens powder. The original flavor reminded me of Live it Up Super Greens because of the light mint flavor. However, the stevia left a lingering aftertaste in my mouth that I didn’t care for, so I don't see myself choosing to drink Huel Daily Greens regularly.

Though all three flavors avoid the grassy taste often associated with greens powders, the inclusion of organic stevia leaf extract and other natural flavors left me with an aftertaste that I didn’t enjoy. Many customers agree with my opinion, but most comment that they like the sweeter flavor.

One person mentioned, “It's very sweet from stevia and it does have a lemon & ginger flavor, but not enough to make it palatable.”

I prepared all three flavors using the recommended method: shaking the powder with 8 to 10 oz of water for 10 seconds. For the most part, all three flavors easily dissolved but I did find some lingering sediment in the bottom of the glass.

Most customers find Huel Daily Greens to dissolve easily in water. One reviewer said, “It did not clump at all when mixing, and I did not use the recommended method. I simply put it in a glass and stirred with a spoon.”

Another reviewer mentioned the smooth texture, while one person said that they need to re-stir every few minutes to keep clumps from forming.

Huel Daily Greens contains many of the essential vitamins and minerals needed for overall well-being, with quite a few synthetically derived and well over the recommended daily values. Though the company claims 146 benefits for better health, the overstuffed ingredients included in the superfood, adaptogen, and botanical blends makes it unclear as to whether Huel’s supplement truly offers effective levels of each ingredient.

Compared to Huel, I believe Live it Up Super Greens is the stronger choice because the ingredient list is smaller, contains all-natural ingredients and organic vegetables, and is fully nut-free, caffeine-free, gluten-free, and vegan.

With only 20+ superfoods in effective doses plus 5 billion CFU probiotics and three digestive enzymes, Super Greens is designed to support energy levels, digestion, and immune resilience. If you want to feel confident in the super greens supplement you’re taking, take advantage of Live it Up’s 30-day money-back guarantee and give their formula a try.

FAQs

Perhaps you still have some lingering questions about Huels Daily Greens. Here are answers to some commonly asked questions to help you find the right greens powder for you!

Is Huel Daily Greens actually good for you?

Yes, Huel Daily Greens contains essential vitamins and minerals like vitamin A, C, D, K, zinc, and magnesium to support your overall health. Though this supplement contains other nutrient-dense foods and adaptogens like kale, chlorella, spirulina, Reishi mushrooms, and ashwagandha, the exact amounts are not disclosed so it is unclear whether the amounts contained are actually effective. Additionally, Huel Daily Greens does not contain digestive enzymes or sufficient amounts of probiotics, so it is likely not effective for overall gut support.

What are the side effects of Huel Greens?

Huel Daily Greens may cause digestive upset due to the inclusion of guar gum in the ingredient list. Though this ingredient is used as a thickening and binding agent, studies have linked guar gum to bloating, gas, and other digestive issues. Additionally, Huel Greens is processed in a facility that processes dairy, making it a potential risk for people with severe dairy sensitivities or allergies.

What do nutritionists really think about powdered greens?

Many nutritionists and dietitians agree that supergreens powders are an excellent way to ensure your body gets essential vitamins and minerals everyday. Additionally, the convenient powdered formula makes greens powders easy to add to juices, smoothies, and other foods, especially if you don’t like the flavor. Even if you eat a well-rounded diet, greens powders can help fill any nutritional gaps to help you feel your healthiest.

Which is better, AG1 or Huel greens?

Though both AG1 and Huel Daily Greens offer essential vitamins and minerals, they each have their drawbacks. AG1 has extremely high levels of certain vitamins and minerals, making it less than ideal for most people to use on a daily basis. Huel Daily Greens does not disclose the exact amounts of many ingredients, so it’s unclear whether the formula is actually effective. Compared to AG1 and Huel Daily Greens, Live it Up is the best daily greens powder for overall nutrition and transparency.

What are the ingredients in Huel?

Huel Daily Greens contains 91 superfood ingredients, offering many essential vitamins, minerals, and probiotics. It's variety of antioxidant and green ingredients include organic lemon peel, organic sweet fennel fruit, organic tart cherry, organic burdock root, and more. Of note is the unique adaptogen and super mushroom blend which contains organic ashwagandha, Reishi mushrooms, and lion’s mane mushrooms. You’ll also find plant-based proteins derived from peas, quinoa, and flax, and an extensive list of leafy greens and fruits.

References

About the author:

Rachel Gargano, MS, RD, CSSD, CBS

Rachel is a registered dietitian based in Contra Costa County, California, with over 15 years experience. She specializes in whole-body wellness and plant-based nutrition, helping people understand the dynamic interplay between food and health so they can live life to the fullest. When not helping others, she enjoys spending time with her kids, being physically active, and tending to her abundant household plants.

Learn more

A Dietitian's Huel Daily Greens Review

Huel Quick Facts