Optimal Human vs. Live it Up Super Greens: A Dietitian's Comparison

With only 1 in 10 U.S. adults eating enough fruits and vegetables each day, it’s no surprise that supplements like greens powders are in high demand. While they can’t replace the benefits of a healthy diet and consistent exercise, greens powders can help take a wellness regimen to the next level.

But as options multiply, so does decision fatigue. Between flashy claims, lengthy ingredient lists, and conflicting customer reviews about taste. In this article, I’ve compared two blends that have been getting lots of buzz: Live it Up Super Greens and Optimal Human. As a registered dietitian, I’ve evaluated both through a clinical lens, looking beyond the labels at ingredient quality, serving sizes, taste, and overall value, to help you choose the right fit.

Comparison Chart

Flavor Options	One flavor with a hint of berry	Original (subtly sweet with a minty aftertaste) Wild Berry (tart and fruity)
Safety and Manufacturing	Third-party tested for quality GMP-certified	Third-party tested for quality, including heavy metals and contaminants GMP-certified
Formula at a glance	90 ingredients, including superfoods, adaptogens, and functional mushrooms 13-strain probiotic blend, prebiotics, and digestive enzymes	16 organic superfoods, veggies, and botanicals Probiotics, digestive enzymes, and fiber for gut support
Cost per serving with subscription (30 servings)	$0.67 per serving (for first month)	$1.33 per serving

3 Dietitian Reasons Live it Up Surpasses Optimal Human

Here are the main reasons why I would recommend Live it Up Super Greens over Optimal Human. 

1. Live it Up has more greens per serving

A formula with dozens and dozens of ingredients may look impressive, but in reality, you're often getting very small quantities of each one.

Optimal Human includes 90 ingredients in a 6-gram serving. With that many ingredients packed into such a small amount of powder, there’s simply not much room for every one to be included at a significant dose. For example, turmeric is often taken for inflammation support, but studies show you need 500–2,000 mg per day—ideally paired with black pepper extract—to experience its purported benefits. And as I mention below, the adaptogens and mushrooms used are also in significantly smaller doses than clinical studies recommend for stress support. In a formula this crowded, you may only get a small amount of each ingredient (exact quantities of each ingredient are undisclosed).

Meanwhile, Live it Up includes 16 all-natural ingredients in an 8-gram serving, giving each ingredient more room to shine. In addition to having more powerhouse superfoods in grams than Optimal Human, Super Greens offers three cups of veggies per serving.

2. Live it Up provides naturally sourced vitamins and minerals

Optimal Human’s formula includes synthetic vitamins and minerals, which are typically added in lab-made forms. While this approach may look appealing on a “Supplement Facts” label, some research suggests that synthetic vitamins may not always be as easily absorbed or utilized by the body. In some cases, like with fat-soluble vitamins, they may even accumulate in the system with prolonged use over time. Additionally, a number of Optimal Human’s nutrients exceed recommended daily values, such as 1117% DV of biotin, 1000% DV of vitamin B12, 250% DV of thiamin, and more.

On the other hand, all of the vitamins and minerals in Live it Up’s formula come from whole superfood ingredients like spirulina, chlorella, wheatgrass, and barley grass. Nutrients in this form could be better recognized and metabolized by the body, offering a more natural, food-based way to support your daily needs. Live it Up shares the complete nutrient breakdown of recent batches on their website.

Did You Know?

Prebiotics are fibers that nourish gut bacteria, but they don’t discriminate. That means they can feed both beneficial and harmful strains. Combining prebiotics with targeted probiotic strains may help tip the balance in favor of a healthy gut.

3. Super Greens has well-loved flavors

Taste matters, especially with a greens supplement you’re meant to take every day. In fact, flavor is often the number one compliment or complaint found in customer reviews. Unlike most greens powders, Optimal Human only comes in one flavor described as sweet greens with a hint of berry, giving customers no options to choose from. It also contains steviol glycosides (a highly refined form of stevia) as its natural sweetener. For some users, stevia can taste overpoweringly sweet or artificial, which may make it hard to stick with over time.

Live it Up Super Greens, on the other hand, offers two delicious flavors many customers love: Original (a naturally refreshing mint blend lightly sweetened with monk fruit and peppermint extract) and Wild Berry (a tart, fruitier option). I love these flavors and think they appeal to a wide range of tastes, making it easier to turn a daily greens routine into a lasting habit.

Optimal Human Overview

Optimal Human is marketed as an “all-in-one health supplement” meant to bridge the nutritional gaps left by modern diets and support gut health, cognitive function, immunity, inflammation, and weight management. The blend contains 90 ingredients, many of which are organic, including superfoods, fruits, vegetables, adaptogens, functional mushrooms, digestive enzymes, and 10 billion CFUs of probiotics.

Optimal Human Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 15
• Total Carbohydrates: 3 g
• Dietary Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 1 g

Optimal Human Ingredients

Optimal Human’s 90-ingredient blend is broken into eight proprietary blends, covering areas like gut health, cognitive support, immunity, detoxification, and joint health. Some of the standout ingredients from the blends include:

• Superfood Blend (3.045 g): Spirulina powder, organic alfalfa powder, cracked cell wall chlorella powder, and wheatgrass.
• Immune Antioxidant Blend (420mg): Cabbage leaf, acai fruit extract, blueberry fruit powder, and quercetin.
• Gut Health and Digestive Support (300mg): Apple powder and fennel powder for prebiotic fiber, 10 billion CFUs of probiotics, and 12 digestive enzymes
• Adaptogen Blend (215mg): Reishi mushroom, licorice root extract, and ashwagandha
• The four other blends are anywhere from 25-215mg each, so it’s hard to know if any of those dozen or more ingredients are in significant enough quantities. The formula also includes silicon dioxide, an anti-caking additive.

Optimal Human Quality and Testing

Only 13 of the blend’s 90 ingredients are organic. Optimal Human provides a Certificate of Analysis (COA) to show its greens powder undergoes third-party testing for quality, purity, and safety. This added layer of quality control helps give customers peace of mind that they’re choosing a high-quality, trustworthy supplement that’s free of contaminants. Optimal Human is also manufactured in GMP-certified facilities.

Live it Up Super Greens Overview

Live it Up Super Greens is a premium superfood powder formulated from whole foods to support digestion and gut health, aid immune function, help balance energy levels, and support overall wellness. Its formula features 16 carefully selected ingredients, including nutrient-dense, organic superfoods, a robust digestive enzyme blend, and 5 billion CFUs of probiotics from four diverse strains.

Live it Up Super Greens Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 30
• Total Carbohydrates: 5 grams
• Dietary Fiber: 3 grams
• Total Sugars: 0 grams
• Protein: 1 gram

Live it Up Super Greens Ingredients

The Super Greens powder blend is divided into three complexes:

1. A nutrient-rich supergreens mix with 16 greens and superfoods like blue-green algae, ginger root, wheatgrass, kale, nopal cactus, and more
2. Digestive enzyme complex with papain, bromelain, and a protease blend
3. Dairy-free probiotic blend containing multiple Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains

This premium greens powder is vegan, caffeine-free, allergen-friendly, and free from artificial sweeteners, flavors, colors, and any additives.

Live it Up Super Greens Quality and Testing

Super Greens is made with all-natural, organic vegetables. Live it Up products undergo rigorous third-party testing to ensure they are free of heavy metals, contaminants, and allergens, and that each batch contains the exact ingredients listed. All products are non-GMO and manufactured in GMP-certified facilities in the United States using globally sourced ingredients.

Optimal Human vs. Live it Up Potential Health Benefits

Both Optimal Human and Live it Up Super Greens target different health goals through their unique formulations. Below is a quick comparison of the top three areas each powder focuses on, along with a few standout ingredients that support those nutritional benefits.

Optimal Human Purported Benefits

1. Immune Health: Optimal Human includes an “Immune Antioxidant Blend” featuring ingredients such as quercetin, maitake mushroom, and acai, which can all offer immune support through nutrients like vitamin C and zinc. The blend’s beneficial probiotics may also support the immune system.
2. Stress Relief: This daily greens powder contains several adaptogens known for supporting the body’s response to stress, including ashwagandha, reishi mushroom, and cordyceps. However, with 4 ingredients packed into a 215-mg blend, it’s unlikely the product provides these adaptogens at clinically recommended levels. For example, clinical studies typically use ashwagandha doses starting at 500 mg twice daily, while reishi and cordyceps are often studied at doses ranging from 1 to 6 grams per day.
3. Gut Health: Optimal Human’s “Gut Health and Digestive Support” blend includes 13 probiotic strains delivering 10 billion CFUs, apple powder, and 12 digestive enzymes.

Live it Up Purported Benefits

1. Digestive Support: Live it Up Super Greens includes 5 billion CFUs of probiotics across four strains, along with digestive enzymes to aid nutrient absorption and three grams of dietary fiber. The formula also features superfoods like ginger and peppermint, which have traditional uses in supporting digestion and soothing the gut. This balanced blend promotes digestive health while being gentle.
2. Immune System Health: Live it Up is packed with antioxidant-rich superfoods like chlorella, spirulina, kale, and broccoli, which provide vital micronutrients including vitamin A, zinc, and vitamin K that support immune function. The formula also features traditional botanicals like ginger and dandelion, known for their immune- and inflammation-targeting properties. Live it Up also aids immune health through its robust gut-supporting ingredients like probiotics across four Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains, which have some of the best-supported immune literature.
3. Energy Levels: Live it Up features a blend of energy-supporting foods like wheat and barley grass along with iron and iodine, all of which are essential for supporting the body’s cellular energy production. Together, these nutrients help transform the food you eat into energy your cells can use, providing natural sustained energy levels throughout the day. 

Did You Know?

B-complex vitamins are essential for converting the food you eat into usable energy. Vegans and vegetarians are at higher risk for low B vitamin levels, especially B12.

Taste Comparison

While taste often doesn’t rank at the top of the priority list for people seeking an ideal greens powder, it’s more important than you might think. After all, how likely are you to drink a greens shake day after day if you can’t stomach the flavor? In this section, we’ll break down the key factors that affect taste in both products.

Optimal Human Customer Reviews

Optimal Human’s customers have had a mixed response, with some finding the blend overly sweet and artificial, while others describe it as very earthy and green.

One user found the taste similar to mushrooms and soy, while another found the flavor too overwhelming to finish even after mixing it with smoothies and different liquids. For me, as someone who enjoys spinach and spirulina, I was okay with the taste, but still found the sweetener to dominate the overall profile.

Live it Up Super Greens Customer Reviews

Live it Up customers say both flavors (Original and Wild Berry) strike the right balance between not too earthy and grassy and not too sweet with a clear flavor profile. The Original is light with a hint of peppermint, while the Wild Berry option is tart and reminds several of a fruity green tea. Between the two flavors, there’s something for every taste bud.

Customers have also appreciated how quickly the powder dissolves and doesn’t leave any lingering aftertaste. Live it Up Super Greens mixes well into any drink of choice—a juice to a smoothie.

Cost Comparison

Price isn’t the only factor that determines a greens powder’s value. Along with cost, things like subscription discounts, free shipping, and other loyalty perks can make a big difference. Let’s take a closer look at what Optimal Human and Live It Up Super Greens have to offer:

I do want to point out that Optimal Human Superfoods Greens’ subscription pricing jumps after the first month. So while you do get savings of 50% on your first month, the next month’s subscription price rises to $29.99 for 30 servings, which is roughly around $1.00 per serving. In contrast, Live it Up Super Greens’ pricing is constant with no changes or jumps, making it easy to budget for.

Try Super Greens today!

Choose Live it Up for Your Greens

Ultimately, the choice between Live it Up Super Greens and Optimal Human comes down to personal preference and priorities. While Optimal Human boasts a lengthy ingredient list, its 90-ingredient formula is squeezed into a small 6-gram serving, with some key ingredients lacking recommended doses. Here’s why it’s my choice:

1. Live it Up’s streamlined, carefully crafted formula, with 16 organic superfoods offers a concentrated three cups of vegetables per serving. 7.3 g of Live it Up Super Greens’ 8-9.4 g serving is made from greens, while Optimal Health’s greens powder has just 3.045 g of greens in a 6 g blend.
2. Live it Up offers more flavor variety than Optimal Human. I think it has a refreshing, delicious taste and texture, making it easier to stick with as part of your daily routine.
3. Live it Up skips fillers like silicon dioxide that’s present in Optimal Health.
4. Finally, with fixed pricing, free shipping on all orders, and a 30-day money back guarantee on even opened products, the overall value of Live it Up is hard to beat.

Of course, every individual has unique health goals and sensitivities, but as a registered dietitian, Live it Up is the product I’d confidently recommend to clients looking for a high-quality greens powder they can actually enjoy.

FAQs about Optimal Human vs. Live it Up Super Greens

Still have questions? Here are the answers to our most frequently asked questions about Optimal Human and Live it Up Super Greens. 

What is the best alternative to AG1, Optimal Human or Live it Up?

Though Optimal Human is similar to Athletic Greens in many ways, so too are its drawbacks. Optimal Human has 90+ ingredients in its formula and provides far more than the max recommended amounts of some vitamins and minerals. 

Live it Up Super Greens is one of the best AG1 alternatives because it offers concentrated ingredients and balanced nutrients. It offers a comprehensive formula with superfoods, organic vegetables, probiotics, and digestive enzymes, as well as third-party testing and GMP-certified production, all at an affordable price point. With two great-tasting flavor options and free shipping on all orders, it’s a great choice for those looking to support digestion, immunity, energy levels, and overall health.

What do nutritionists really think about powdered greens?

Many nutritionists view green powders as a convenient way to increase daily nutrient and vegetable and fruit intake, especially during busy periods or travel. However, they emphasize that greens powders are not a replacement for a diet filled with fresh fruits, vegetables, and regular physical activity. The best powders support, rather than replace, healthy lifestyle habits.

Is it good to drink super greens everyday?

Yes, most people can safely drink super greens daily as that’s what they’re designed for! Consistent use may support digestion, immunity, and energy levels. I recommend choosing a high-quality powder with organic ingredients and maintaining a balanced diet full of whole foods and leafy greens. It's best to consult your doctor before adding any supplement to your routine. 

This article is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice or individualized nutrition counseling. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to supplements or medications. Any product or brand mentions are for general information and don’t guarantee results.

About Rachel Gargano, MS, RD, CBS | Chief Registered Dietitian at Live it Up

Rachel is a registered dietitian based in Contra Costa County, California, with over 15 years experience.

Learn more