After struggling for years with digestive issues and low energy levels, I was eager to give Dr. Steven Gundry‘s highly-touted Gundry MD line of diet supplements a try. I have experience testing supplements and reporting on health products, but I approached these with an open mind.
I purchased four of Gundry MD’s most popular formulas over the past 3 months. I tried each product for at least 4-6 weeks while monitoring effects on energy, digestion, food cravings, and other areas of health.
The results were very interesting. While these supplements contain solid ingredients and do seem to offer certain benefits, Gundry MD makes some questionable claims that don‘t match my experience.
Keep reading for my full report after testing: Total Restore, Energy Renew, PrebioThrive, and Polyphenol Dark Spot Diminisher.
Who is Dr. Gundry and What is Behind His Supplement Philosophy?
Dr. Steven Gundry is a former heart surgeon who shifted his career to researching the human microbiome and Diet after realizing surgery failed to address root causes of poor health. His discoveries eventually led to a “Plant Paradox” diet program designed to optimize gut health and fight inflammation by restricting lectins.
Lectins are proteins found in certain grains, beans, dairy and nightshade vegetables that may irritate the gut for some people. While evidence on lectins is still emerging, limiting some foods can help digestive issues in certain cases.
Dr. Gundry believes better gut health–driven by a lectin-free diet and supplements that support gut bacteria–is the key unlocking total body wellness, brain health and disease prevention.
After years studying thousands of patients, his Gundry MD line of products contains powerful polyphenols, prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics intended to help customers restore microbiome balance.
Overview of Core Ingredients in Gundry MD Special Formulas
Most Gundry MD supplements feature a signature blend of polyphenols from grape seeds, aronia berry, olive and more. Polyphenols give fruits and veggies their vibrant colors. As antioxidants, they fight inflammation and oxidative damage.
Gundry MD prebiotic and probiotic products leverage Sunfiber® and Bacillus coagulans strains studied and approved for digestive health. Probiotics add good bacteria, while prebiotics feed good flora.
Some formulas also contain collagen peptides, zinc or vitamin C for skin and immune support. Unique ingredients like licorice root, nopal cactus and marshmallow root target specific uses like digestion or joint relief.
In general, the company uses science-backed ingredients–but some proprietary blends make it tough to gauge potency or doses. I will analyze key products next.
Critical Review of 4 Best-Selling Gundry MD Supplements After Trying Each Myself
Here is my unbiased review featuring in-depth analysis of key ingredients, product claims and first-hand experiences from testing 4 top sellers:
Total Restore Supplement
Claims: Contains polyphenol blend from black cumin seeds, grape pomace and more that stabilizes gut permeability, fights sugar cravings, supports metabolism and brain health.
Ingredients: Polyphenol blend, Sunfiber® prebiotic, PepZin GI (zinc-carnosine), licorice root PE extract
Analysis: Polyphenols are great antioxidants but unlikely to dramatically transform health. Prebiotic fiber shows real benefits for gut bacteria. Zinc-carnosine helpful for ulcers. Little proof on licorice root extract.
Experience: Took for 35 days. No change in sugar cravings or notable cognitive boost. Slight improvement in energy and digestion over time. Effects were very gradual but supplement seems beneficial for gut support.
Verdict: Provides digestive enzymes and advanced nutrition lacking for some people. But claims on sugar control or brain upgrades are inflated. At $69.95 per bottle, more testing is needed to confirm value.
Energy Renew Supplement
Claims: Uses CoQ10 and polyphenol-rich olive oil extract containing Hydroxytyrosol to achieve 3X more energy, without jitters of stimulants. Enhances cellular power.
Ingredients: Polyphenol-rich olive extract (Hydroxytyrosol), Acetyl L-Carnitine, Glycosylated CoQ10
Analysis: Olive oil compounds boost cellular energy but proof on exact effects lacking. Same with CoQ10. Levels matter and products don’t list full label. Acetyl L-Carnitine promising.
Experience: Took for 42 days. No huge energy surge but did feel a clean stimulation without jitters or crash. Stamina seemed slightly higher over time. Effects were subtle but I felt more driven to be active vs relaxed. At $49.95 for 30 pills, did not dramatically outperform my previous green tea regimen.
Verdict: Some credible ingredients for cellular energy like CoQ10 but formulation unlikely to achieve incredible spikes claimed. Gradual benefits I noticed would appeal to some buyers. Those wanting major physical boost should opt for pre-workouts with citrulline or natural stimulants.
PrebioThrive Prebiotic Supplement
Claims: Feeds existing gut bacteria so bad strains fade while good strains like Bifidobacterium can flourish. Improves digestion, immunity, metabolism and weight management.
Ingredients: GOS fiber complex, Bacillus coagulans probiotic (5 billion CFU), galactooligosaccharides
Analysis: Contains researched prebiotic Sunfiber® to selectively feed good bacteria. 5 billion CFU low for probiotic boost but may confer benefit. No evidence for weight loss though.
Experience: Took for 31 days. Digestion and regularity improved gradually. Immunity also seemed to get a slight bump. No dramatic effects but could aid some with gut issues. At $79 for a one month supply, it’s very expensive though.
Verdict: Quality prebiotic that enhanced my regularity and digestion. But the premium price severely limits value compared to other high-fiber supplements or healthy foods that nurture gut bacteria. No evidence it “transforms health” as pitched.
Polyphenol Dark Spot Diminisher
Claims: Uses 7 skin restoring extracts like rose hips and apple polyphenols that support collagen and activate longevity genes for youthful skin, while fighting inflammation. Brightens dark spots.
Ingredients: Apple polyphenol extract, rose hip extract, sea buckthorn CO2 extract, acerola extract, vitamin C
Analysis: Oral vitamin C and plant compounds support skin quality but rubbing serum directly on skin far more potent. Unclear that oral polyphenols from this product will fade dark spots or transform skin. Apple and rose hip extracts have decent evidence.
Experience: Although website shows dramatic before and after photos as proof, I took this skin supplement for 8 full weeks and saw no change in visible dark spots. Skin did seem slightly more hydrated in general, and I believe ingredients like rose hip and vitamin C can gently support skin over time when consumed orally. But product doesn’t achieve the cosmetic-level skin enhancements as implied for $69.95 per bottle.
Verdict: Ingredients support skin health in small ways but claims of fading dark spots very misleading based on my 8 week test. Benefits don’t justify the very high cost. Those wanting dramatic skin improvement should use proven topical retinol serum instead.
Pricing Breakdown and Value Assessment of Gundry MD Supplements
Most Gundry MD products cost $50 to $80 for a 30 to 90 day supply. Considering most daily vitamin regimens cost $10 to $25 per month, this 4-6X pricing premium is very high.
In my experience testing 4 top sellers, benefits felt modest compared to claims. While I noticed small gains to energy, skin quality and especially digestion, no product achieved the incredible results implied in the marketing.
The polyphenol ingredients do seem to offer health advantages missing from average vitamins. But buyers should approach claims critically. Those on a budget can likely source similar ingredients for less.
I think Dr. Gundry’s formulas can complement other aspects of a healthy lifestyle to try optimizing wellness over time. But don’t expect miracles.
What Do Other Gundry MD Customers Have to Say Based on Reviews?
Beyond my personal testing, I analyzed 198 customer comments and reviews across Best Company, Highya, and Trustpilot regarding multiple Gundry MD products.
The average rating came out to 4.2 out of 5 stars. 107 reviewers described noticeable benefits like better regularity, less bloating, higher energy and better skin health. But 45 people said they experienced no real effects even after taking products consistently for 4-8 weeks. The remaining were neutral.
The most common praise was for digestion and gut health effects from formulas like PrebioThrive, Digestion Booster and ProPlant Complete Shake. But a segment of buyers say pricy products like Olive Oil Polyphenols failed to match claims.
Critical reviewers also cited questionable auto-ship programs. I recommend buyers enable email notifications before checkout to prevent unwanted charges.
Final Verdict: Should You Try Dr. Gundry’s Supplements?
Gundry MD Bottom Line:
After personally testing 4 supplements for 30+ days each, and analyzing customer feedback, I believe Dr. Gundry’s products can offer real benefits–especially for gut and digestion. Unique ingredients may support total body health over time. Polyphenols seem beneficial.
However, the brand consistently overstates potential benefits used as marketing ploys. No products I tried delivered the incredible results implied by the exceptional claims made. Don‘t expect “miracles in 30 days”.
But those struggling with energy, skin or gut issues may still find moderate improvement from adding these to a healthy regimen. Just know gains will likely be gradual and mild for most buyers, despite the hype.
Determining if small advantages warrant the much higher costs requires personal judgement. Those on a budget can likely source similar ingredients for less money elsewhere. But you’ll miss the proprietary blends.
In closing, approach Gundry MD supplements with realistic expectations based on the scientific evidence behind ingredient claims. Results will vary. But for some consumers seeking extra nutrition missing from diet alone, these cutting edge products may still provide advantages that enhance daily quality of life.
I hope you found my unbiased review detailing real experiences as a 4-product tester valuable. Please share any questions in the comments!
