We don’t always eat as healthily as we would like to. Sometimes life takes over and a quick takeaway is an easier option than preparing a healthy balanced meal.
This is when we may decide to turn to a health supplement to give our body the nutrients that we are not getting from our diet.
There are so many dietary supplements available on the market that sometimes it’s difficult to know which one to choose.
Sometimes you might want an energy boost or you might want some help with digestion. You may even want to shed a few pounds after those unhealthy takeaways!
Vital Reds promises a “total health transformation”, with “four distinctive formulas in one”.
But does it really work?
Let’s take a closer look at what this supplement claims to do and what it contains to see if we can answer that question.
What Is Vital Reds?
This product is made by Grundy MD and was formulated by Dr Steven Grundy, who has an impressive resume.
He studied at Yale, the Medical College of Georgia, and the University of Michigan. He has many affiliations and fellowships, as well as serving as a clinical associate to the National Institutes of Health. He has also patented nine cardiac surgery devices.
Dr Grundy founded Grundy MD after dealing with a patient who had apparently reversed the effects of his heart condition…
With nothing but a combination of natural, dietary nutrients.
The company sells 22 health supplements and a small skincare range.
Vital Reds makes claims that you can expect the product to:
- Give you enhanced energy.
- Give you healthier-looking skin.
- Help you metabolize your food better.
- Have less gas and bloating after meals, and smoother bowel movements.
- Help you get your weight under control.
The product is a powder that has a berry flavour.
The suggested intake is one scoop a day dissolved in water.
The marketing relies heavily on the provision of polyphenols in the product.
Many polyphenols are antioxidants. They are derived naturally in our diet from fruits like grapes, apples, pears, cherries and berries. They can also be found in tea, coffee, red wine and chocolate.
So we might be better off having a few glasses of red wine a day!
Vital Reds Ingredients
The product is made up of four blends and has over 50 ingredients. The four blends are:
- Polyphenol Blend – which claims to have 34 unique superfruits to help boost energy, support your heart, and keep you healthy as you age.
- Metabolic-Enhancing Blend – which claims to have 7 unique thermogenic ingredients to help naturally support fat-burning and weight management.
- Digestive Support Blend – with 5 probiotics which claim to help reduce gas & bloating and help you enjoy your favorite foods with less digestive discomfort.
- Vitamin & Mineral Blend – which contains vitamin B along with several essential minerals.
The Polyphenol Blend contains 1760 mg of various fruits and fruit extracts.
Studies have shown that polyphenols, which are abundant in micronutrients, can help with some degenerative diseases. Of the hundreds of polyphenols, it is not known which are the most efficient or how our body processes them. Some polyphenols have been shown to to increase energy.
The Metabolic Enhancing Blend contains 365mg comprised of turmeric, black pepper fruit, cinnamon, ginger root, white tea, green tea and bitter melon.
- Cinnamon and ginger have been shown to have many health benefits including lowering cholesterol and improving metabolism.
- Bitter melon can help with weight loss.
- Green and white tea can benefit our health in a many ways .
The Digestive Support Blend contains 3 million cfu of the probiotics (good bacteria). bifidobacterium lactis, L. reuteri, bacillus coagulans and lactobacillus acidophilus.
Probiotics can be used to treat bowel problems (such as diarrhea and irritable bowel). They can also help with eczema, vaginal yeast infections, lactose intolerance, and urinary tract infections.
The Vitamin and Mineral Blend contains 100 percent of our recommended daily intake of each of the following:
- Niacin: 20mg. – vitamin B3
- Vitamin B12: 6mcg
- Biotin: 300 mcg – vitamin B7
- Thiamin: 1.5mg -vitamin B1
- Riboflavin: 1.7mg – vitamin B2
- Vitamin B6: 2g
- Folate: 400 mcg – vitamin B9
- Pantothenic Acid: 10mcg – vitamin B5
- Selenium: 70 mcg
- Chromium: 200 mcg (167 percent of recommended daily intake)
Vitamin B helps with many health functions in our bodies.
Selenium can be found in many of our foods including eggs, fish, chicken and some fruits and vegetables. Selenium has many health benefits. However supplementing with selenium may have an adverse effect if your levels are already adequate or high.
Chromium helps us metabolize carbs.
The product also contains fructooligosaccharides, which are a natural sweetener that also has health benefits.
How Does Vital Reds Work?
The formula for this product is made up of a mix of fruit extracts and fruit, accompanied by some probiotics and vitamins.
Dr Grundy has named his studies around producing supplements as “Holobiotics”. In a letter on his website he describes this as being:
The key to strong, sustainable health lives in all of us… in the form of beneficial microbes. These “good bacteria” are in danger of dying out, due to dietary and environmental issues that overload our systems with threatening “bad” microbes. Once you begin taking care of your “good” microbes – or, as I like to call them, “your gut buddies” – you can begin an incredible transformation.
Probiotics have been clinically proven to treat digestive disorders: boost energy, and improve the immune system.
However there is no clinical evidence to support whether or not the ingredients in this product as a whole will boost your metabolism, help regulate your weight or improve your skin.
Vital Reds Side Effects
There do not appear to be any notable side effects of taking this product.
It is not recommended for use when pregnant or breastfeeding. This is not posted on their website but was in comments from the company on customer reviews.
It is advisable that you check with your doctor before taking any new supplement.
Vital Reds Reviews & Complaints
There are a number of mixed customer reviews to be found for this product. Of 57 reviews on Amazon there were:
- 32 positive
- 25 negative
Roseanne M Pickering writes:
I’ve had a lot more energy since I started taking this product. My skin and hair look healthier and I feel better than I’ve felt in years.
There are many other comments in a similar vein, reporting increased energy levels, better digestion and decreased blood pressure.
There are however several negative comments around the pricing structure of the product. It seems that the price is constantly changing.
John Holder, whilst happy with the product, reports:
I love the Vital Reds product and use it daily. When it is discounted properly to right around $35-$40, I consider it a good value. I just don’t resonate with the sales techniques of constantly dangling the price around and find it very annoying. I will continue using it and replenish my inventory when I can buy at the lower price. Thank you for having such a high-quality product.
There are also a number of customers who report that the product does not work.
Peer Sorenson writes:
My wife and I have been trialing it for three months with no positive effects. My wife’s cholesterol has even gone up during that period (been stable for a long time previously).
I would not recommend this to a friend or anyone. I do see it as a scam, and find that the refund rules are set in order to avoid having to pay the refund.
As Peer has mentioned there are many issues around the level of customer service and ease of obtaining a refund. There also seem to be issues regarding a monthly subscription service that many people seem to select from the website without realising it.
Steve Butler states:
I have tried this for a month one time daily to start my day. I never lost any weight, and my energy level didn’t change. Maybe I should have done it two times a day instead of one? After my free trial was over, they had already shipped me three more jars.
Aria from Grundy MD replied to Steve, offering to opt him out of the scheme, she wrote:
Please keep in mind, we never offer “free trials” of product. Sounds as if you may have accidentally enrolled in our monthly subscription service. This is a completely optional feature that I would be more than happy to opt you out of.
There are further issues raised regarding the flavour of the product, the size of the product being poor value for money, and that it’s expensive.
The company have replied to a lot of the negative comments and have offered a refund in majority of them.
Vital Reds: Packages, Prices & Where To Buy
You can purchase Vital Reds direct from the Grundy MD website. The costs are:
There is free shipping offered on all options. They also offer a VIP Service which gives you:
- Instant Member Savings
- Convenient Monthly Refill
- Exclusive Discounts
- Free Membership.
The company has a 90 day money back guarantee, excluding shipping and handling costs.
See below how the official site looks like.
Vital Reds Pros & Cons
Vital Reds Review: Final Words
Vital Reds contains a wide range of natural ingredients that have been linked to improved health benefits.
In comparison to other products that are out there , the price is not extortionate.
Many people have said that they have benefited from using the product.
If your main aim is to lose a little weight, then it does not seem that this will be the miracle product you want.
You may be better off steering clear of the takeaways, and including more fruits and berries in your healthy diet.
We laid out the facts, will you buy Vital Reds? Comment below and tell us what you think!
Read next: Organifi Green Juice Review: Does It Really Work?
