Vital Reds is a wellness superfood supplement created by Gundry MD, and it comes in the form of a powder. This product is marketed to help give you a boost in energy, have better digestion, and attain healthier looking skin. The formula is said to be soy free, sugar free, lectin free, as well as artificial sweetener free.
The founder quotes,
“I developed a formula with 34 unique polyphenol extracts (and over 50 total ingredients) which you can enjoy in a delicious, berry-flavored drink I’m proud to call: Gundry MD Vital Reds.”
The drink mix is available in three different quantities: 30 day supply ($69.95), 90 day supply ($199.36), and a 180 day supply ($377.73). [1] The instructions say you can mix this powder with whatever drink you want and still reap the benefits. Does this product sound too good to be true?
Vital Reds Claims
This product is full of claims as to how it can help you gain control over your weight, attain better health, and get that much needed boost of energy, but why? They quote on the site that there are four main blends which can give you the tools to attain these results:
Polyphenol Blend
“A Polyphenol Blend with 34 unique superfruits to help boost energy, support your heart, and keep you healthy as you age.
Metabolic-Enhancing Blend
A Metabolic-Enhancing Blend with 7 unique thermogenic ingredients to help naturally support fat-burning and weight management.
Digestive Support Blend
A Digestive Support Blend with 5 strains of probiotics to help reduce gas & bloating and help you enjoy your favorite foods with less digestive discomfort.
Vitamin & Mineral Blend
A Vitamin & Mineral Blend which gives you all 8 key forms of vitamin B along with several essential minerals.” [1]
When referring to what is actually in the polyphenol blend, there are three different berries that are essential to it. It is quoted about aronia berries:
“These are also known as chokeberries, and they’re very rich in polyphenols. One study showed that Aronia berries help prevent damage to your digestive system, improve your heart & blood vessel function, and they help balance healthy cholesterol levels.”
Grape seed extract is beneficial for the cardiovascular system, and mulberry extract, which is said to help you manage your weight.
When referring to the Metabolic Enhancing Blend, there are two main ingredients that are said to enhance effectiveness overall: Bitter melon extract and green tea extract.
“Bitter melon extract showed useful benefit on body weight gain and fat deposition. It can also help maintain normal blood sugar levels.”
“Green tea extract contains large amounts of polyphenols but it’s in my formula because it helps support fat-burning.”
When talking about the digestive support blend, probiotics come into the mix. Lastly, when referring to the vitamin and mineral blend, there is talk about vitamin B being the giver of energy and contributing to overall better awareness. The bulk of the claims are tied to the ingredients, as well as the theory behind how the formula is said to work in the body.
back to menu ↑Vital Reds Ingredients
The Reds ingredients: Organic carrot, organic apple peel, grape seed extract, aronia berry extract, organic flax seed, mulberry fruit, European black currant fruit extract, apple, organic beet root, cranberry fruit extract, mango, papaya, acai fruit extract, strawberry, grape skin extract, blueberry fruit concentrate, pomegranate, blackberry, acerola fruit extract, apple pectin, red raspberry, pineapple, orange, cantaloupe, grape, watermelon, grapefruit, plum, pear, lemon lime, cherry, peach, berberine hydrochloride, cinnamon bark extract, ginger root, green tea leaf extract, white tea leaf extract, tumeric rhizome extract, bitter melon fruit extract, black pepper fruit, bacillus coagulants, lactobacillus acidophilus, bifidobacterium lactis, and L. Reuteri.
back to menu ↑Science (or Lack Thereof) Behind Vital Reds
So now that this brand has opened itself up to criticism and or praise by including ingredient lists and large claims, what does science have to say about this product? When looking into the claims made specifically about polyphenols, there are a variety of reasons why they are good in your diet. What are polyphenols anyways?
According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition,
“Polyphenols are the most abundant antioxidants in the diet. Their total dietary intake could be as high as 1 g/d, which is much higher than that of all other classes of phytochemicals and known dietary antioxidants. For perspective, this is ∼10 times higher than the intake of vitamin C and 100 times higher that the intakes of vitamin E and carotenoids.” [2]
In this same study they claim,
“It strongly supports a role for polyphenols in the prevention of degenerative diseases, particularly cardiovascular diseases and cancers. The antioxidant properties of polyphenols have been widely studied, but it has become clear that the mechanisms of action of polyphenols go beyond the modulation of oxidative stress.” [2]
What about the studies done on bitter melon? It has been said to help treat diabetes, and it originates in Southeastern Asia. It has also been said to treat obesity, gout, jaundice, and kidney problems too. When studied regarding weight loss, they found interesting results with animal testing.
“Several investigational reports suggest that bitter melon can reduce body weight in high fat diet induced obesity in laboratory animals. Bitter melon (0.75% of diet) supplementation prevented the body weight gain and visceral fat mass significantly in rats fed high fat diet.” [3]
The same goes for green tea extract, as well as the B complex when you are talking about effectiveness overall. Green tea extract, while better known for giving you energy due to the caffeine, is in a lot of diet products for weight loss too. Is weight loss significant? No, but it is subtle, which should be worth something. Vitamin B’s are said to give you a boost in energy, but is this really the case?
According to Berkeley Wellness, they explain that your body really only needs a certain amount of B vitamins for it to function with energy. Many times people are getting adequate amounts just in their diet alone.
They quote,
“In fact, unless you’re severely deficient (because of illness, extreme dieting, or alcohol abuse, for instance), your energy levels won’t be affected at all. That is, taking B vitamins only benefits people who are very deficient in one or more of the vitamins to begin with. Actually, B vitamins are water soluble, and any extra that you take simply pass through the body and get eliminated in your urine.” [4]
So there are a few studies out there that prove the ingredients used in the Gundry Redness formula just might have something to it, but I don’t agree with mixing the powder with whatever drink you choose and then expect to magically see results as marketed. So what did the actual customers who ordered the product have to say about its effectiveness for better health and wellness? More on that below.
back to menu ↑Word On The Street About Vital Reds
Annie Bean (2017, 1 star),
“Product taste OK ….can’t feel any difference at all …..but I’m going to say this ….because I think it’s important …..the price keeps changing….. it’s over-the-top and the marketing is deceitful!! should’ve said it was a 4 ounce jar for this ridiculous amount of money!!! these people are players …. buy this product at your own risk.” [5]
Samuelle (2017, 1 star),
“This product is just an overpriced sweet drink. I hasn’t done what the seller claims. If you are having a problem with low energy, go see your doctor because this won’t help you.” [6]
Aether (2017, 1 star),
back to menu ↑“Product Taste is a bit difficult to get used however playing with the amount of water per scoop will vary the taste. I’ve found about 5-6 oz of water per scoop to have the right flavor. As for the packaging, the cost per ounce was off when I purchased this as I was expecting about 8.5 ounces, however, the entire container is 4 oz. Since my purchase, the cost per Oz has been corrected.” [7]
The Bottom Line: Is Vital Reds Worth A Try?
Risky.This product is not dangerous by any means, but it is expensive and it does not produce solid results. The customers who purchased it all had a problem with how much the tiny container ended up costing, and were even more upset when it didn’t work the way they thought it would. The claims are not too farfetched and there is science behind the ingredients, but it still isn’t enough to convince me that this supplement is worth the high cost. There are no real instructions on how to become healthier aside from adding it to “whatever” drink, which also is a red flag in my opinion. Try this at your own risk, but the results have been definitely under par for the most part.
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