Garden of Life Review
 |
By CANDICE GREY ConsumersCompare.org Update: Sep 19, 2024 |
The Garden of Life is a supplement company that provides many different products in the nutritional sector and has been around since 2000. If you’re looking for insights, Garden of Life Reviews highlights the company’s commitment to quality and nutrition across its product range. There are Garden of Life probiotics, Garden of Life protein, Garden of Life vitamins, Garden of Life code for men, and Garden of Life prenatal, just to name a few of their products.
The website is very organized and informational regarding each of the products, and I am thankful for that because you are given a lot of different supplements to look through at first glance. None of the products are intended to treat, cure, prevent, diagnose, or heal any diseases and they have been tested in a certified factory. You can find these different products online or in retail stores like Whole Foods, Vitamin Shoppe, and local co-ops around your city.
The company’s founder, Jordan Rubin, has a powerful story that will catch the attention of almost anyone. He grew up in a family where eating healthy was a priority, but he contracted a very rare and mysterious digestive disease that left him taking many different anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics. Those drugs really took a toll on his system, and over time he felt his body was simply deteriorating.
Throughout the process of his diagnosis, he lost a total of 81 pounds and was dangerously thin. After 500 different treatments and many question marks from doctors and traditional medication treatments, he decided to opt for a whole foods diet that included different enzymes and probiotics for gut healing, which thus prompted him to start Garden of Life. [1]
Garden of Life Claims
This company is large, and they offer a variety of products depending on your needs. Some of their larger claims entail details about their probiotics being the number one brand to purchase, and there are over 23 different types to choose from, whether it be for men, women, or children. They have a variety of certifications, and they quote,
“Just look at our formulas. Our mykind Organics line is made with Organic fruit and herbs—every single product in this line is Certified USDA Organic and NON GMO VERIFIED by the NON GMO PROJECT.” [3]
The other certifications some of their products hold are Certified Vegan, Gluten Free, NSF Gluten Free, Star-K-Kosher, U Kosher, Informed Choice, B-Corp, Leed Gold, and Green-e Energy. They make other claims like,
“We start with what goes IN our products—true, whole food ingredients. But we don’t stop there. We also pay very close attention to what we keep OUT of them. And once again, we look at food—real nutrition food. When is the last time you picked up an apple, turned to read the ingredients, and saw a list of chemicals? If it’s not in your food, then we don’t want it in our supplements. We use the following third-party (never self-affirmed) certifications to prove we are clean!”[3]
Other claims made regarding their return policies are:
“If you are not 100% satisfied with your purchase, you can return an item within 30 days of purchase. All refunds are applied to the original method of payment. To return an item, contact Customer Service. In order to assist you, we will need your name, order number and the item number of the product you’d like to return.” [4]
Other than the claims made by the company there are just claims made about each individual product, and I wanted to highlight the men’s and women’s probiotics as well as the protein powder. Just as one example regarding the Once Daily Men’s probiotic,
“Supports digestive and immune system health, 50 billion CFU¹; 15 raw probiotic strains, Has a diverse probiotic blend of Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria strains, Requires no refrigeration, Has Shelf-stable Potency Promise, 50 billion live probiotic cultures, and shipped in a desiccant-lined bottle to ensure your probiotics Arrive Alive and Stay Alive.” [5]
Garden Of Life Ingredients
All of the ingredient lists were found on the main website of Garden of Life, where the company displayed them under product information.
Once Daily Men’s Probiotic
Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus gasseri, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus brevis, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus salivarius, Lactobacillus fermentum, Bifidobacterium lactis, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium infantis, and Bifidobacterium longum.
Once Daily Women’s Probiotic
Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus brevis, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus gasseri, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus salivarius, Lactobacillus reuteri, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium infantis, and Bifidobacterium longum.
Organic Plant Protein
Organic pea seed, Organic tapioca fiber, organic chia seed, organic flaxseed, organic cranberry seed, organic baobab fruit, organic pumpkin seed, organic vanilla flavors, organic erythritol, organic stevia extract leaf, organic cinnamon, and sea salt. RAW enzyme blend: Lipase, protease, aspergillopepsin, beta-glucanase, cellulase, bromelain, phytase, lactase, papain, peptidase, pectinase, hemicellulase, and xylanase. RAW probiotic blend: Lactobacillus plantarum, and Lactobacillus bulgaricus.
Garden of Life Raw Fit Protein Powder
Organic Pea Protein, Organic sprouted brown rice protein, Organic Tapioca Flour, Organic chia seeds and sprout, organic flaxseed and sprout, organic cracked wall chlorella, organic amaranth sprout, organic quinoa sprout, organic millet sprout, organic buckwheat sprout, organic garbanzo bean sprout, organic lentil sprout, Organic adzuki bean sprout, organic sunflower seed sprout, organic pumpkin seed sprout, organic sesame seed sprout, organic svetol (decaffeinated green coffee bean extract) organic ashwagandha, organic baobab fruit, organic cinnamon, organic daikon radish sprout, organic alfalfa sprout, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Lactobacillus Plantarum.Garden of Life Raw Meal
Organic Pea Protein, Organic sprouted brown rice, organic amaranth, organic buckwheat, organic millet, organic quinoa, organic chia seed, organic adzuki bean, organic flax seed sprout, organic garbanzo bean, organic lentil, organic pumpkin seed, organic sesame seed, organic sunflower seed sprout, raw organic cacao, organic chocolate flavors, organic erythritol, sea salt, organic stevia extract, organic vanilla flavor, organic tapioca fiber, organic chia seed, organic flax meal, organic spinach, organic baobab fruit, organic apple, organic beetroot, organic broccoli stalk, organic carrot, organic tomato, organic green bell pepper, organic Brussels sprout, organic ginger root, organic garlic, organic onion, organic strawberry, organic cherry, organic parsley, organic cauliflower, organic blackberry, organic cabbage, organic blueberry, organic raspberry, organic kale, organic cucumber, organic celery, organic asparagus, organic alfalfa grass, organic Spirulina, organic barley grass juice, organic oat grass juice, and organic wheatgrass juice.
Garden of Life Protein Review
Customers frequently provide detailed Garden of Life Protein Review entries, particularly when considering factors like taste, texture, and value for money. However, there has been some concern with the Garden of Life protein powder controversy, primarily due to the recall regarding salmonella contamination. Despite this, the Garden of Life sport protein line remains a popular choice for athletes.
In addition to Garden of life protein bar options, some have expressed satisfaction with the quality of ingredients used in Garden of life fit protein, which offers a unique blend aimed at weight management.
back to menu ↑The Science (or Lack Thereof) Behind The Garden Of Life
As you can see from the ingredients above, the products are made with natural ingredients and they try to keep them as clean as possible. When you look at the company claims and then try and find studies that correlate with those claims it is not relevant, so I wanted to revert attention elsewhere. There was a Garden of Life recall on the Raw meal, and this recall was just back in 2016, which is rather recent. The FDA released a claim saying,
“Garden of Life LLC is expanding its January 29th voluntary recall to include additional lots of its Raw Meal Organic Shake & Meal Chocolate, Original, Vanilla and Vanilla Chai products because an ingredient used in certain lots of the product has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella Virchow.”
The ingredient later linked to causing the salmonella was the organic moringa leaf powder which was only found in the raw meal at the time, so no other products were recalled which didn’t damage production terribly. [6] One ingredient I wanted to take a deeper look into was the alcohol erythritol which can sound rather intimidating if you are not familiar with what it is. It is simply a natural sugar substitute that is naturally found in pears, watermelons, and grapes. According to Body Ecology,
back to menu ↑“After much toxicology and clinical studies, erythritol has been found to be safe for consumption as a sugar substitute, even when consumed on a daily basis and in high amounts. While Body Ecology does not recommend eating any sweetener in high amounts, we do believe that the sweet taste is a natural part of our diets.” [7]
Word On The Street About Garden Of Life
The products range anywhere from $20-$50 dollars, depending on what product you purchase. For example, the Raw meal costs $40.00 with shipping, the probiotics range from $30-$40 dollars as well. These are some genuine reviews from folks who have tried out the products. Trent said regarding purchasing the RAW meal from Amazon (2017, 4 star),
“I’m diabetic and I wanted to try something that allowed me to get the nutrition I needed without the extra carbs. I tried it this morning mixed with milk and was surprised. The reviews said it tastes awful. It doesn’t. It has a nice vanilla flavor that actually tastes better than most “health shakes” I’ve tried before. However, the texture is very gritty. After stirring and stirring, the powder whipped up nicely but was still gritty. It’s not terrible, I drank it without issue. The decent flavor makes up for the texture. Mixing it in a thick smoothie would solve the problem but I don’t mind the texture enough to bother.” [8]
Another Amazon customer tried out the Fit protein powder (2017, 1 star),
“Taste absolutely terrible. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I opened the container and saw just how little was I inside for the money I spent. I don’t recommend this to anyone. Garden of Life is a bit too proud of their products and for no reason. Awful! [9]
When looking into the Garden of Life probiotic reviews, there were a lot of positive voices out there, and very rarely were there negative tones. The folks who purchased these supplements felt like they were a good use of money and they likely returned for more when they ran out. Overall, this company received rather positive reviews as a group for all of its products and has a brand that people are likely to trust.
back to menu ↑The Bottom Line: Is Garden Of Life Worth A Try?
Yes. If you are in the market for a supplement or probiotic, this company has a good track record overall with happy customers. The ingredients they use in their products are natural, and the overall vibe of how the company got started seems to be honest and intentional. There is a reason why these supplements are being sold in major grocery store chains like Natural Grocers and Whole Foods. Garden of Life protein review summaries indicate a generally positive reputation, with select items like Garden of Life sport protein performing well in terms of user satisfaction. Overall, this is safe. Overall, this is a safe and reputable company to invest in if you are looking for a good probiotic, protein, meal replacement drink, or vitamin in general.
I have been using Garden of Life supplements for several years now.
I believe that the owner sold out to Nestle recently.
I am waiting to see if the quality goes down or if anything changes now that Nestle is involved.
The price! is what is hard for me.
I am retired and trying to stay as healthy as I can with good nutrition and organic foods.
It costs me about $60. a month and that is a big chunk of my income.
But, I believe that prevention is better than a cure so I will continue with the best supplements that I can buy for as long as I can. At this time, I believe Garden of Life are the best!
I’m a 67 yr old retired health professional with broad experience with fitness and protein supplements. I tried Garden of Life Raw Organic Fit … 2lb/8oz. I like the product and reviews generally. It fits my philosophy about plant based protein. But I do not appreciate opening a new container (after shaking it vigorously) to find that the actual product was 4-5″ below the top. I felt like I had been deceived. The size of the container, in itself, was absolutely misleading. I’m a human being. Treat me like one. The size of the container “is” always evaluated by anyone who is comparing it with other possible brand choices. Don’t deceive me by giving me the impression that I’m getting a much larger quantity than I’m actually getting. I see no justifiable excuse for this … ever. Make you container fit the product description.
I swear by the quality and effectiveness of Garden of life products
I find them to be excellent!
I’m 63, and I’ve taken Garden of life whole foods vitamins, 40+ and garden of like primal defense since 2007 (13 years)…Before supplement, I suffered with indigestion …Since 2007, I’ve had little to know digestive issues…Im active and have high metabolism…My only complaint is the cost… ( little pricey for fixed income users)…
I am really satisfied GARDEN OF LIFE. ESPECIALLY RAW IRON AND B12. THEY REALLY DO THE JOB
The probiotic had been wonderful to help settle my digestive tract after being sick with diarrhea, just one pill did the trick. It worked within the first hour after taking it. They are expensive however!
I placed an order for 2 proteins and a shaker. I did not receive the order. It showed as delivered and i was home all day and was not even contacted. Garden of Life customer care asked me to fill a non-receipt of goods form which i said i could only e-sign since it the beginning of the confinement but they insisted i hand sign and scan. I was only able to after 5 months since i was confined and then caught the covid-19. I sent the signed document to get a response saying it’s too late (although no deadline was mentioned when i said that i will not be able to do soon) and all related communication was deleted from my account. i basically got ripped off for 53 Euro
Easy to swallow, definitely made a difference in my gut health, not lactose intolerant anymore, no acid reflux or bloating after eating either. Seasonal allergies also have almost disappeared. At 64 years of age I feel better than when I was younger, and my waist size has dropped from a 34 to a 31. Trying to get my wife to take them but she does not like swallowing capsules.
I’ve been using garden of life products for more than 15 years I spend lots of money a month on this products because I believe it’s worth, but now that it belongs to NESTLE I don’t know if I can still trust the quality of the products, I’ve known Nestle for almost all my life and I find lots of bad things in their products for my health. perhaps is time to search for a new product.
Loved this company when it was owned by Jordon Rubin. The products were very good and really worked. I don’t trust the company any more. A health food store I go to used to carry these products but was told after Rubin sold the company that they were not going to be making the products as strong any more!!! This store stopped carrying the products. I stopped buying them.
Rude customer service and
the product price has not decreased;however, the containers are nearly empty.
I normally like this brand but not this! Purchased on recommendation from the store and it was a waste of my money and my tummy.
It won’t dissolve, even in warm water. I am looking for the receipt to return it.
I was buying Garden of Life Multi for Women. Then suddenly the price jumped from $19.95 to a ridiculous $33+ !! I guess because Nestle’s bought out the company. Now it is just too expensive, so I have found a replacement. I don’t buy any of their products anymore. Apparently, Nestle’s is motivated by greed alone, so I don’t trust them with my health any longer. So now, I not only avoid Garden of Life – I also avoid Nestle’s.
The involvement of Nestle is scary, need to look for alternatives, or buy and consume raw.
Product never came; they kept my money though
Unfortunately, I cannot rate Garden of Life products. I ordered approximately 315€ worth of Garden of Life products with the assumption that they would all come through customs, since this is what is promoted on the Garden of Life Germany website. The package was rejected and returned by the customs office. For weeks I did not hear back. I then tried to get my head around what happened to the package and a possible refund. Contact with the customer service team resulted in questions about whether my address was correct or if my name was on the mailbox. Nothing more. No extra effort from the customer service team.
Upon 2nd contact with the customer service team, I was told that nothing more could be done. I.e. Garden of Life keeps my 315 Euros, the company sells the products I paid for to someone else and thus collects even more money. Will never buy Garden of Life products again.
I had the most wonderful results after taking the Garden of Life My Kind Organics Women’s Multi-Vitamin. For about half a year, I was bothered by my restless legs in the evening. After 24 hours of my first consumption of this vitamin, it went away and has not returned. I know I was lacking in something and this took care of it. It was definitely worth the small investment. My husband and children are taking their daily vitamins from this company too (men’s multi). I highly recommend this brand and its Multi-Vitamins. Thank you!
I have been taking Garden of Life products for almost a year now and I really like them. I am hearing people complain that Nestle bought them and they will not purchase the products anymore. I don’t see any changes so I will keep taking these supplements.
I had a concern about a Garden of Life, Probiotic I was taking. After I submitted my question and concern at their Contact site, about increased acid reflux and throwing up, as my message disappeared upon “submit,” I got a message, “You can not proceed because your Recaptcha rate is too low.”!!! WHAT THE HECK? They didn’t have a Recaptcha at their site? and I would imagine I do as well with them as any human with a B.S. Degree. A new way of being “cancelled” I guess.
I wonder if proposing a Buycott of their products, will do anything to sensitize this company. What do you think?