Vital Reds Review

The market is flooded with dietary supplements these days, many making promises about overall health, weight loss, and improved mental well-being. Sometimes, it’s challenging to determine if these claims are valid and whether the supplement you’re considering is right for you.1

This review breaks down the ingredients, safety, and price of Vital Reds — a dietary supplement offered by Gundry MD. Its polyphenol blend aims to deliver increased energy and improved digestion. In this review, find out if Vital Reds is likely to be safe and effective for you.

Vital Reds is a dietary supplement packed with superfruits and probiotics made by the popular health-focused company, Gundry MD. While claims to improve energy and metabolism are less concrete, the probiotic blend and fructooligosaccharides in Vital Reds can aid your digestive health. The superfruit blend provides some level of beneficial polyphenols that are naturally present in fruits and vegetables, and essential vitamins and minerals balance out the product. Although on the pricey side, Gundry MD offers multiple discount opportunities and a 90-day money-back guarantee.

Over the past two decades, Innerbody Research has helped tens of millions of readers make more informed decisions involving staying healthy and living healthier lifestyles. To provide you with an unbiased review, we extensively researched and evaluated Vital Reds by examining over 55 scientific studies focused on the product’s current ingredients. Our testers ordered and tried the product, scrutinizing the customer experience and comparing Vital Reds to similar products to see how it stacks up.

We evaluate the products and services we review based on current health standards and research, continually assessing our information to make sure it's up-to-date. Additionally, like all health-related content on this website, this review was thoroughly vetted by one or more members of our Medical Review Board for accuracy.

When evaluating a product, we determine what criteria should be used to assess its value and benefit to the average consumer. For our Vital Reds review, we used the following four main criteria (in order of importance).

• Efficacy: How likely is it that Vital Reds will deliver on the company’s promises based on ingredients, dosages, and current research?
• Safety: We examine quality assurance practices, ingredient choices, and dosages.
• Cost: We evaluate sticker price, discounts, subscription deals, and shipping fees, comparing these to what you experience with competing products.
• Convenience: Are purchasing and customer support experiences positive? Is it easy to adopt the routine of taking this supplement?

Efficacy

Gundry MD claims that Vital Reds can improve your energy levels, digestion, and metabolism. While the inclusion of the polyphenol, metabolic-enhancing, and digestive support blends may offer benefits, it’s difficult to establish a clear alignment with Vital Reds ingredients and scientific research across all of these blends.

Our research has established that the microorganisms used in the probiotic blend have been widely studied, can be effective for digestive health, and are included in a beneficial dosage (although the blend is not broken down per organism or strain, so we don’t know exactly how much of each you are ingesting).6 7 8 9 This supports the claim that Vital Reds can aid with digestion. The addition of fructooligosaccharides (FOS) as a prebiotic is beneficial for digestive health, although the dosage of 250mg is low compared to clinical trials.10 It’s also not nearly as generous of a fiber source as competitors 1Up Nutrition Vegan Greens (2,000mg), Reds Superfoods Plus (2,000mg), and Biohm Super Reds with Probiotics (2,046mg).

As for the polyphenol blend, Gundry MD doesn’t reveal the amount of polyphenols in the product, so we can’t confirm if the blend within Vital Reds truly offers the same benefits that polyphenols have been shown to demonstrate in clinical research.2 Greater transparency would be very useful here.

The same could be said for the metabolic-enhancing blend. While there are some studies backing up claims of increased energy expenditure from the consumption of ingredients in that particular blend, the 365mg total dosage is low compared to published therapeutic amounts.3 4 The vitamin content of Vital Reds (including vitamins B6 and B12), however, appears to be a promising source of improvements in energy levels for those whose diet and existing supplement regimen is deficient.5

Safety

Since the FDA does not closely regulate supplements in the U.S., it’s up to individual companies to follow quality and safety standards that ensure their products are safe for consumers. Gundry MD does the right thing here — the company manufactures its products in GMP-certified facilities and utilizes independent, third-party testing to confirm quality and safety.

Vital Reds contains three blends aimed at improving energy, digestion, and metabolism, including a polyphenol blend. Notably, polyphenols sold as a supplement do not have a reported nutrient content on their product label, and ingesting too many polyphenols can have negative side effects.2 However, the polyphenol blend content in Vital Reds is only 1,760mg; if the entire superfruit blend was composed of only polyphenols, it would still easily be within typical and safe levels for consumption.11 Additionally, the digestive support blend in Vital Reds includes probiotics, and these microorganisms are generally recognized as safe by the FDA.

Cost

The cost of Vital Reds appears to be one of its weak points. A one-month supply of 30 servings will cost you $69.95. However, there are numerous ways to save through free VIP membership, bulk purchasing, and subscription options. The free membership alone drops the $69.95 price tag down to $49.95 for one jar of Vital Reds. Gundry MD also offers free shipping for all orders totaling $49 and up.

A look at the competition reveals that you must utilize one of the company’s discount offers to stay near the price point of Vital Reds’ competitors. For example, ProGut MD Performance Reds is a very similar product with comparable blends, and it costs only $49.99 for a one-month supply before applying the company’s own subscribe and save discounts (which bring the price down by an additional $10).

Convenience

Gundry MD’s Vital Reds can be ordered directly on the company website. It’s fairly difficult to find elsewhere; very recently, the company stopped selling it via the Gundry MD Amazon store. In our testing experience, ordering Vital Reds was fast and easy, although we were offered several upsells before we could complete the checkout process. When we had a question about the product, we used the company’s live chat feature on its website, which was quick and convenient. However, the customer service representative wasn’t able to answer one of our tester’s substantive questions about the probiotic, and we did not receive an email response as we were promised.

Gundry MD offers a generous 90-day money-back guarantee on all of its products, one of the best we found amongst the competition.

Regarding the ease and convenience of using Vital Reds itself, the once-daily serving routine is ideal. One scoop-sized serving is only 3.765g of product, which is much less than some of Vital Reds’ competitors, like Macrolife Natural Miracle Reds (9.5g) and 1Up Nutrition Vegan Greens and Reds Superfoods Plus (11g).

We like that the powder contains essential vitamins and minerals, potentially making it a one-and-done type of supplement for many consumers. We also appreciate the inclusion of probiotics in a powder supplement instead of a typical capsule format. The only nuisance we found is that you have to avoid mixing Vital Reds into hot liquids due to the probiotics included in the formula.

Vital Reds is a dietary supplement powder produced by Gundry MD that claims to improve energy levels, digestion, metabolism, and healthy-looking skin. It contains a polyphenol blend made of 34 superfruits along with probiotics, fructooligosaccharides, vitamins, minerals, and ingredients aimed to enhance metabolism. Each jar of Vital Reds holds a 30-day supply of powder to be taken once a day; a serving size is one scoop with approximately 3.765g of the product.

Gundry MD was founded by cardiac surgeon Dr. Stephen Gundry in 2015. His approach to wellness is guided by the concept of gut health and beneficial microbes as a cornerstone of healthy weight management and overall well-being. In addition to Vital Reds, Gundry MD manufactures a variety of products to support digestion, gut health, heart health, and immunity. Gundry MD supplements include capsules, powder shake blends, and gummies, and the company also offers skincare and lecithin-free foods.

Reputation and other customer reviews

The majority of online customer reviews for Vital Reds are positive. Gundry MD has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. Overall, reviews of the company are positive there (3.97 out of 5), with just shy of 4,000 reviews. There have been 75 customer complaints closed within the past 12 months. Meanwhile, on Trustpilot, the company has an overall ranking of 4.6 stars (out of 5) from over 6,400 reviews.

Most positive reviews mention an increase in energy, while negative reviews are typically based on a dislike for the product’s flavor or less noticeable effects from the supplement than anticipated. Complaints also describe frustrations surrounding stocking issues, the ordering process, and billing disputes. From our own testing experience, we do understand how unintended mistakes in ordering could occur with so many upselling attempts made during the checkout process.

The Vital Reds formulation includes blends of fruits, extracts, probiotics, essential vitamins, and minerals. Many of the components of Vital Reds are items you might have in your kitchen at home, like apples, grapes, blackberries, green tea, and turmeric.

One scoop of Vital Reds powder includes the following blends and other ingredients. We’ll explore each of these ingredient components in greater detail in subsequent sections of this review.

• Polyphenol blend: 1,760mg
• Metabolic enhancing blend: 365mg
• Digestive support blend: 3 billion CFU
• Other ingredients: 250mg fructooligosaccharides, vitamins, minerals

To take Vital Reds, you mix one scoop of powder with 8 ounces of cold water or your favorite cold beverage once daily, with or without a meal. In our testing experience, we used 10oz water and found that while mixing, multiple clumps remained after stirring with a fork; they eventually dissipated with continued stirring.

On the one hand, a once-daily routine is fairly convenient for people, and Vital Reds doesn’t require as much powder mixing as some competitors. On the other hand, since Vital Reds includes live probiotic cultures, you can only mix it into cold beverages. Mixing it with warm or hot liquids like coffee or tea can kill the probiotics, reducing the benefit to you. In our experience, powders often mix more easily into warm beverages, so this is just a minor inconvenience built into the process, similar to other probiotic powders we’ve tested.

How it tastes

When we first opened the jar, we smelled the powder and found it had a fruit punch scent with an earthiness layered underneath. Vital Reds’ taste, however, was just the opposite. After mixing with water, the product’s earthy, mildly bitter flavor came through first, followed by the more pleasant fruit punch flavor.

Polyphenols are nutrients naturally found in plants that provide incredible anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits.12 13 These micronutrients are abundant in fruits, vegetables, herbs, chocolate, green and black teas, and wine. Targeting colorful fruits and vegetables in your diet is an easy way to up your polyphenol intake — the more vibrant in color, the more polyphenols are present. The skin of your fruits and vegetables is also an important source of polyphenols. There are over 8,000 phenolic compounds identified from plants. The four major types of polyphenols found in foods include:

• Phenolic acids
• Flavonoids
• Stilbenes
• Lignans

The polyphenol blend in Vital Reds contains 1,760mg of a long list of 34 superfruits. While we confirmed that Gundry MD does not test for measured polyphenol content in Vital Reds, we do know that the ingredients included in this blend are excellent sources of this micronutrient. Across the competition, polyphenol-rich superfruit blends ranged in dosages from 1,500mg (1Up Nutrition Vegan Greens and Reds Superfoods Plus) to 3,060mg (Biohm Super Reds with Probiotics), leaving Vital Reds near the low end of the spectrum.

Fruits like berries and grapes typically contain about 200-300mg of polyphenols per 100g of fresh weight.14 A 2020 study revealed that the average American consumed 884mg of polyphenols per 1,000kcal per day.15 However, the content and bioavailability of polyphenols in foods can be greatly disrupted during food processing, leaving the consumer at a loss for exactly how much of this beneficial nutrient they are consuming unless they are eating unprocessed foods.16

The USDA currently does not have a dietary reference intake guideline for polyphenols.2 These micronutrients are often sold in supplement form, like Vital Reds, which are not highly regulated by the FDA. There is currently a clear gap in scientific data regarding the amount of polyphenols actually ingested by consumers via supplements.17

Scientific research suggests that a long-term diet rich in polyphenols protects against some cancers, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, and neurodegenerative disease, among others.2 This is believed to be due to polyphenol’s antioxidant properties, which neutralize harmful free radicals that lead to chronic disease.

The benefits of consuming polyphenols don’t end there; they can also positively impact inflammatory pathways, helping to relieve pain in patients with diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.18 Polyphenols are also believed to modulate our gut microbiota, essentially increasing “good” bacteria in our gut while decreasing harmful species.19 We’ve taken a look at a few of the ingredients included in the polyphenol blend in Vital Reds to examine their potential health benefits.

Gundry MD claims the metabolic-enhancing blend in Vital Reds can help support fat-burning and weight management. This 365mg blend includes seven thermogenic components, which are said to stimulate your body’s metabolic rate and heat production, promoting weight loss. While Gundry MD does not list the exact amount of each individual ingredient in the blend, we do know that these extracts have researched evidence to back up their usage in Vital Reds as potential metabolism boosters.

Scientific studies have shown that green and white tea leaf extracts can have a positive impact on thermogenesis (heat production) and fat oxidation (breaking down fat).3 In addition, a 2017 clinical trial demonstrated that consuming cinnamon resulted in improvement of all markers for metabolic syndrome; however, it’s notable that participants took 3g of cinnamon daily, which is much more than what you will find in this supplement.29

Turmeric root extract and black pepper fruit are well known to work together to enhance their health benefits, including reducing symptoms of metabolic syndrome.30 Another component of Vital Red’s metabolic blend is bitter melon fruit extract, which has demonstrated potential for lowering glucose levels in people with prediabetes.31 A 2019 review of clinical trials also suggests that supplementation with ginger may be a useful tool for assisting in weight loss in patients with obesity.32

However, despite the promising research associated with each of these ingredients, there is a glaring limitation. Because the 365mg blend contains only small amounts of each component, they may not be as therapeutic as what has been suggested in scientific studies. Another product similar to Vital Reds — 1Up Nutrition Vegan Greens and Reds Superfoods Plus — is a little closer to the mark, with a 1,000mg organic metabolic complex containing comparable ingredients.

Probiotics are some of the most popular supplements available and are taken for a number of reasons, including digestive and immune system support. Probiotics are “good” bacteria that can replenish your gut flora and help eliminate pathogens, restoring balance to your microbiome. Vital Reds includes a probiotic blend containing 3 billion CFU (colony-forming units) of the following organisms for improving gut health:

• Bacillus coagulans
• Lactobacillus acidophilus
• Bifidobacterium lactis
• Lactobacillus reuteri

While much positive data has been reported for taking probiotics to support your gastrointestinal health, information is still being established to back up claims of the effectiveness of particular strains and their uses.33 Since Vital Reds contains a probiotic blend, we can’t be sure of exactly how much of each bacterial species is in the supplement. We were also unable to confirm with Gundry MD what specific strains of each species were used, which is an important detail since not all strains of a particular probiotic species work exactly the same or have similar confirmed efficacy.

Despite this, we know that the species used in the blend have been widely studied and that 3 billion CFU is a solid dosage of probiotics backed by clinical trials.9 Interestingly, all of Vital Red’s close competitors also use a probiotic blend in their products, with the exception of 1Up Nutrition Vegan Greens and Reds Superfoods Plus, which includes LactoSpore, a branded Bacillus coagulans strain.

Other ingredients

Vital Reds contains 250mg fructooligosaccharides (FOS), which occur naturally in plants and fruits. FOS are known for their high fiber content, helping relieve constipation and other digestive issues.40 Fructooligosaccharides are also considered a prebiotic, meaning that they help stimulate “good” bacterial growth in your gut. However, most research studies use a much higher dosage of FOS — at least 5g, or 20 times the amount present in Vital Reds — to reveal benefits in gastrointestinal health.10 Competitor 1Up Nutrition Vegan Greens and Reds Superfoods Plus gets a little bit closer to the mark with 2,000mg of FOS and inulin as the fiber component of their formula.

Vital Reds also boasts an assortment of essential vitamins and minerals:

The current formulation has each of these components meeting or exceeding the Percent Daily Value (%DV) recommendation by the FDA, adding some potential health benefits to taking the supplement, if appropriate for an individual's needs. Notably, Vital Reds has one of the best vitamin and mineral content lists of the reds products we have found. During our review, only Terra Kai’s Juce Reds Daily Superfood had a better list included in the product’s supplement facts.

Other ingredients on the nutrition label include citric acid, natural flavors, guar gum, rebaudioside A (stevia), and silica.

Vital Reds is likely safe for most people. Polyphenols sold as a supplement do not have a reported nutrient content on their product label. Researchers have expressed the need for caution when consuming this type of supplement due to the lack of regulation by the FDA.2 As such, while unlikely, there is a chance that consumers taking a highly concentrated amount of this micronutrient could have adverse health effects.2 However, the 1,760mg polyphenol blend in Vital Reds is a small enough dosage that this concern is likely not an issue; if the entire superfruit blend was composed of only polyphenols, it would still fall within typical levels of consumption.11

It’s also worth noting that a supplement shouldn’t replace a healthy diet. You receive positive, synergistic effects for your health from a well-balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables.2

Those with food allergies or sensitivities should pay close attention to the ingredient label on Vital Reds; there is a large list of components worth checking in each of the blends.

These factors being considered, Vital Reds’ formulation makes it safe to take for most consumers. Gundry MD uses third-party testing at an independent laboratory to verify the purity and quality of the company’s supplements. Some people experience mild side effects when taking a new probiotic, including increased gassiness, bloating, or loose stool.

Lastly, it’s always wise to consult with a doctor or dietitian before taking a new supplement, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, malnourished, taking long-term medication, or living with any kind of digestive illness.

You can purchase Vital Reds on the Gundry MD website. While we previously noted that Vital Reds was available for purchase in Gundry MD’s Amazon store, it looks as though the company is no longer offering this particular product there. Gundry MD offers significant discounts through both a (free) VIP membership and subscribe-and-save options. These programs can also provide big savings if you like to purchase in bulk.

In our testing experience, placing an order on the company website was straightforward. We were offered several rather annoying upsells before we were able to complete the checkout process, but we did receive a confirmation email right away. A tracking number was provided with the order confirmation; however, no shipping updates or delivery notifications were given after that. We received our order within a week.

Gundry MD provides a 90-day money-back guarantee (minus shipping and handling) on all their products. Orders placed in the U.S. over $49 include free shipping.

HSA, FSA, and health insurance

You can’t purchase Vital Reds using HSA or FSA funds, and health insurance plans won’t cover the supplement.

Privacy considerations

Gundry MD may share your anonymized data for marketing and site maintenance, but the company won’t share your personal info with third parties without your consent. Purchases are encrypted to protect your privacy.

Vital Reds is a typically well-tolerated supplement that could be beneficial for most people looking to support their gut health. People who take Vital Reds could potentially experience an increase in energy, though our opinion is that you could find a supplement that’s more likely to be effective for boosting energy and metabolism if that is your main objective. The superfruit blend in Vital Reds provides you with polyphenols that have researched health benefits, including positive impacts on cardiovascular health, although the exact polyphenol content of the product is unknown.41

Consuming polyphenols through a healthy, balanced diet full of fruits and vegetables is ideal. However, if you are looking to supplement your diet, Vital Reds may be a good solution, especially with its inclusion of probiotics and FOS. This product also includes essential vitamins and minerals like B6, B12, and folate, upping its value as a supplement to your overall health.

Who should avoid taking Vital Reds

Vital Reds contains a long list of ingredients, including 34 fruits. If you have known food allergies or sensitivities, please examine the ingredient label carefully and speak with your healthcare provider before trying Vital Reds.

The best way to ensure you consume plenty of health-promoting polyphenols is through a balanced diet full of vibrant fruits and vegetables. However, you may be looking for a superfruit supplement to add to your routine. If so, Vital Reds isn’t the only option on the market. There are a number of similar products with comparable formulas. We’ve also found that the majority of Vital Reds competitors in this landscape also offer subscribe and save deals, just like Gundry MD.

ProGut MD Performance Reds

ProGut MD Performance Reds has perhaps the closest formula to Vital Reds. This product contains a 2,000mg polyphenol blend, a 700mg digestive blend (containing oat fiber powder, inulin, and 3.2 billion CFU probiotics), and a 400mg metabolic blend with almost identical ingredients to Vital Reds. It is notable that Performance Reds doesn’t have the vitamin and mineral content that Gundry MD’s product has, but the product’s digestive blend has almost three times the amount of prebiotic fiber.

A 30-day supply of Performance Reds will cost you $49.99. This is almost exactly the cost of Vital Reds, but only if you sign up for Gundry MD’s free VIP program. Additionally, Performance Reds drops down another $10 to $39.99 if you sign up for the subscribe and save option, a price that Vital Reds doesn’t quite match, no matter which of the discount offers you utilize.

Both Vital Reds and Performance Reds are third-party tested and manufactured in GMP-compliant facilities. Gundry MD’s Vital Reds does have better shipping (free for orders over $49 vs. $75) and return policies (90-day vs. 60-day). However, ProGut MD claims its products are FSA and HSA-approved, which can be a tipping point if you are deciding between the two products.

1Up Nutrition Vegan Greens and Reds Superfoods Plus

1Up Nutrition offers a superfoods product called Vegan Greens and Reds Superfoods Plus. This formula includes 4,000mg organic greens complex, 2,000mg organic prebiotic fiber (inulin/fructooligosaccharides), 1,500mg organic antioxidant reds complex, 1,000mg organic metabolic complex, 100mg digestive enzymes complex, and 3 billion CFU probiotics (LactoSpore, a branded Bacillus coagulans). We like the addition of digestive enzymes in this formula, as well as the higher dosages than Vital Reds across the board for the various blends.

One of the biggest standouts for Vegan Greens and Reds Superfoods Plus versus Vital Reds is that you can choose what flavor you would like your product to be at no additional charge. The company website currently offers several options, including lemonade, green apple, and mixed berry. Notably, the serving size for Vegan Greens and Reds Superfoods Plus (11g per scoop) is much larger than that of Vital Reds (3.765g), which may require more effort to mix thoroughly.

1Up Nutrition Vegan Greens and Reds Superfoods Plus costs $55.99 for a 30-day supply, which is still less than Vital Reds (unless you sign up for the membership program or subscribe and save). 1Up Nutrition offers bulk savings, with a maximum savings of 20% off if you purchase six items on the website.

Macrolife Naturals Miracle Reds

Miracle Reds is a superfood powder supplement by MacroLife Naturals. In addition to the components Vital Reds offers, Miracles Reds contains additional herbs and plant enzymes. The formula includes the following blends:

• 2,525mg superfood proprietary blend
• 1 billion CFU probiotic blend
• 100mg plant enzymes
• 1,630mg antioxidant proprietary blend
• 1,880mg adaptogenic and metabolic herbs proprietary blend
• 865mg natural fibers proprietary blend
• 1,070mg harmonizing and support herbs proprietary blend

MacroLife Naturals has a greater fiber content (and portions of all their blends) than Vital Reds. The product also lists some vitamins and minerals on the nutrition label, although it doesn’t have nearly the %DV that Vital Reds achieves.

Miracle Reds is on the pricey side, similar to Vital Reds; a 30-day supply will cost you $62.50. However, like all the products we analyzed, MacroLife Naturals’ subscribe and save program will draw major savings. For example, autodelivery will save you 20% (bringing a month’s supply down to $50) and earn free shipping, compared to the usual free shipping only offered for orders over $85. One drawback is MacroLife Naturals’ return policy; no returns are accepted after 30 days from purchase, compared to Gundry MD’s 90-day satisfaction guarantee.