Vital Reds Review: Does Gundry MD’s Polyphenol Blend Work?
Vital Reds, also known as Concentrated Polyphenol Blend, is a popular powdered red superfoods supplement formulated by Dr. Steven Gundry and sold by his company Gundry MD.
Here’s the full ingredients and supplement facts, pros and cons, benefits and possible side effects, customer feedback and complaints, cost per serving, and what I like and don’t like about Gundry MD’s polyphenol powder.
What is Vital Reds?
Powdered whole food supplements made primarily from red fruits, berries and veggies like beet, have become very popular in recent years. These ‘red powders’ are rich in polyphenols, potent nutritional compounds with beneficial antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and circulatory effects.
Vital Reds was one of the first supplements on the market specifically focused on polyphenols. It has a sweet berry flavor and is free of soy, lectins, gluten, sugar and artificial sweeteners.
This powdered reds formula was created by Dr. Steven Gundry, a former cardiothoracic surgeon, who has written several best-selling books on dietary topics. His website claims taking this “polyphenol blend with 34 unique superfruits” will “help boost energy… support your heart… and maintain your health as you age.”
The Gundry MD site also says their products are made in a Good Manufacturing Practice certified facility in the USA and have 100% natural and safe ingredients. There’s also a 90-day guarantee from the company.
What’s in this red superfood powder though and does a detailed investigation support the claims on Dr. Gundry’s website?
Gundry MD Vital Reds Ingredients
- Polyphenol Blend: 1,760 mg
Carrot, Organic Apple Peel, Grape Skin Extract, Aronia Berry Extract, Organic Flaxseed, Grape Seed Extract, Acai Fruit Extract, Acerola Fruit Extract, Apple, Apple Pectin, Organic Beetroot, Blackberry, European Black Currant Fruit Extract, Blueberry Fruit Concentrate, Cranberry Fruit Extract, Mango, Mulberry Fruit, Papaya, Pomegranate, Red Raspberry, Strawberry, Cantaloupe, Cherry, Grape, Grapefruit, Lemon, Lime, Orange, Peach, Pear, Pineapple, Plum, Watermelon, Berberine Hydrochloride - Metabolic Enhancing Blend: 365 mg
Cinnamon Bark 5:1 Extract, Green Tea Leaf Extract, White Tea Leaf Extract, Ginger Root, Turmeric Root Extract, Bitter Melon Fruit Extract, Black Pepper Fruit - Digestive Support Probiotic Blend: 35 mg (3 Billion CFU)
Bacillus coagulans, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium lactis, Lactobacillus reuteri - Fructooligosaccharides (FOS): 250 mg
- Other Ingredients: Citric Acid, Natural Flavors, Guar Gum, Rebaudioside A (Stevia), Silica
Supplement Facts
- Calories: 10, Total Carbohydrates: 2 g, Dietary Fiber: <1 g, Total Sugars: <1 g
- Vitamins and Minerals: Thiamin: 1.5 mg, Riboflavin: 1.7 mg, Niacin: 20 mg, Vitamin B6: 2 g, Folate: 400 mcg, Vitamin B12: 6 mcg, Biotin: 300 mcg, Pantothenic Acid: 10 mcg, Selenium: 70 mcg, Chromium: 200 mcg
- Serving Size: 1 Scoop (3.765 g)
- Servings Per Container: 30
It’s an impressive ingredients list overall, with a few reservations and potential side effects and precautions that are covered ahead.
Side Effects and Precautions
Dr. Gundry’s site states that his red polyphenol supplement contains only natural and safe ingredients. There is no mention of any specific side effects that I could find on gundrymd.com.
Looking at what’s in this polyphenol formula though, here are some precautions and potential side effects to be aware of:
- Other ingredients lists the additives citric acid, silica and guar gum, which is known to cause side effects like bloating, gas and even diarrhea for some people.
- Fructooligosaccharides do have prebiotic benefits but can also cause digestive upsets, particularly when first introduced into your diet.
- Some research suggests high levels of certain polyphenols may inhibit iron absorption, affect thyroid function or even have a pro-oxidative effect. Cited studies generally involved very high synthetic doses though, rather than natural polyphenols from extracts. Consult your physician if you have any concerns before using this product.
- Both green tea and white tea contain caffeine. While the amounts the formula like this will be very small, some people are allergic to caffeine and this should be listed on the labeling.
- The metabolic blend with ginger, bitter melon, cinnamon and black pepper could also have an over-stimulatory effect for certain customers, especially if taken in the evening.
- People with a rare latex allergy should avoid this red polyphenol powder due to the mango, papaya and pineapple additions.
- Like all nutritional supplements, red powders should be taken well away from important prescriptions as they may affect their function. It would be helpful to customers if the good doctor’s website or packaging could list this precaution.
What I Like About Dr. Gundry’s Polyphenol Powder
1. High Antioxidant Polyphenols
The ingredients in proprietary whole food blends like this are usually listed with the highest content in the formula first.
The first 8 in this powdered reds product are: carrot, organic apple peel, grape skin extract, grape seed extract, aronia berry, organic flax, mulberry and blackcurrant. These are all beneficial superfoods rich in antioxidants and other nutrients.
2. Metabolic Blend for Weight Management and Extra Energy
Ceylon cinnamon and bitter melon moderate sugar spikes and crashes. This helps control hunger and benefits natural weight control.
White and green tea contain the potent antioxidant EGCG and a very small amount of caffeine. While ginger, turmeric and black pepper are all strong inflammation fighters.
3. Probiotics and Prebiotic FOS for Digestive Health
The 4 strains of probiotics in polyphenol blend – B. coagulans, L. acidophilus, B. lactis and L. reuteri – are all considered helpful for improving intestinal flora.
Prebiotic FOS can also improve gut health, though some people do experience side effects like gas and bloating when they first start using it.
What I Don’t Like
1. Synthetic B Vitamins and Minerals
Dr. Gundry’s reds powder contains synthetic B vitamins, such as D-calcium pantothenate, folic acid, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamin hydrochloride and methylcobalamin. It also has lab-engineered forms of the minerals selenium and chromium.
It’s true that B vitamins are necessary for energy production and many people are deficient in them. Chromium and selenium are also often lacking.
That said, many customers like myself choose whole food powders to avoid synthetic vitamins and minerals. Research studies show they are poorly absorbed and may have negative effects in unnaturally large doses.
Having these synthetic additions also seems to conflict with Gundry MD website statements that their reds supplement contains only 100% natural ingredients.
2. Too Many Additions
A common issue with superfood supplements is a long ingredient list with very small amounts of each added. It looks impressive on the label, but how much of each superfruit, herb or spice does the formula actually contain?
In my opinion, apple and grape at a minimum should be removed. Apple peel and pectin, along with grape seed and skin, are already included and are far more potent than these common powdered fruits.
Orange, pear and peach, while low down on the label, would also be better replaced with more of any of the other red fruits and vegetables above them.
3. Small Serving Size
Polyphenol blend powder does provide a better dosage than capsules supplements, such as JuiceFestiv or Juice Plus. Its 30 servings of 3.765 grams per 4-ounce container is much smaller than other superfood powders like Field of Greens though, which has a full 10 grams per serving.
This low product weight, combined with a high price point, makes Vital Reds one of the more expensive powdered whole food supplements on the market.
Dr. Gundry could make the argument that his reds formula has highly concentrated ingredients and you don’t need to take so much. I’d still like to see this product offered in a bigger tub or at a lower price for better value.
Directions for Use
Gundry MD recommend taking a scoop of their reds powder in water on a consistent daily basis for best results. They say the formula digests quickly and can be taken with or without a meal.
For maximum benefit though, polyphenol-rich supplements should always be taken near a meal with healthy fatty acids to improve intestinal absorption. Given this, and the energizing effect of the product, it’s best to take it before or with a breakfast that contains fats, like avocado, eggs or in a smoothie.
Where to Get It
You can find Gundry MD reds powder on the company website or on this popular Amazon listing where it may currently be better value.
The sales page for this product lists the following retail prices on gundrymd.com:
- 1 Jar: $69.95 (30-day supply)
- 3 Jars: $199.36 (90-day supply)
- 6 Jars: $377.73 (180-day supply)
It also comes with free shipping within the USA and a 90-day guarantee. Though you would need to pay to ship it back to the company for a refund.
Some people ask if you can buy Vital Reds at Costco, Walmart, CVS, GNC, Trader Joe’s, Wholefoods or Walgreens, but I couldn’t find it listed in any of these places.
Cost per Serving
Using the current retail price of $69.95 for a 4-ounce tub on Gundry MD, 30 servings of Vital Reds works out at $2.33 per daily dose. That’s not cheap considering the serving size is only 3.765 grams.
There’s several nutritionally superior and better value Vital Reds alternatives here with a comparison on ingredients, costs and pros and cons. Another cheaper option is the very similar Raw Reds by Earth Energy.
Customer Ratings and Feedback
Feedback on Amazon from Gundry polyphenol blend customers is mainly positive, though there does seem to be more negative ratings than other red powders like Miracle Reds.
For positive ratings the main customer themes seem to be:
- More energy throughout the day and better concentration.
- A reduction in inflammatory conditions, like joint pain and skin problems.
- Less digestive problems, such as gas and bloating.
- The taste is good and many people really enjoy drinking this red superfruit blend.
For negative reviews, the common themes included:
- That the product was “too expensive”, “a waste of money”, “a scam”, “a hoax” or “a rip off”.
- Feeling jittery and raised pulse.
- An increase in bloating, gas and other digestive upsets.
- Tastes “like chemicals” and is “too sweet”.
- A small proportion of customers also experienced tiredness, headaches and nausea.
Perhaps more than any other superfood supplement I’ve researched, Dr. Gundry’s Polyphenol Blend attracts polarized opinions. Some consumers love it and say the results they get make it worth the high price point. Others call it a hoax or scam and say it doesn’t work for them at all.
In my personal opinion, the Vital Reds formula is legitimate and not a scam. However it’s more of a specialized product, best suited for older customers concerned about circulatory health and inflammatory conditions. Here its rich polyphenol content may provide noticeable positive benefits and improvements to justify the high monthly cost of taking it.
Consumer Complaints and Is Vital Reds a Scam?
The biggest reason why customers complain about Vital Reds online appears to be problems with canceling an order or receiving a refund.
On Better Business Bureau, consumer feedback mentions “poor customer service”, “unable to cancel auto shipping” and the ordering process being “a scam to get you to sign up for extra deliveries.”
To their credit, a company representative responded to each of these customer complaints on BBB that I saw and said they would organize a refund. But by then the damage was already done, with former customers accusing Gundry MD products of being a ripoff or hoax.
Any nutritional supplement business would be expected to get some complaints. There is enough negative feedback online for Dr. Gundry’s supplements to suspect there’s a problem with the ordering process and with customer service when dealing with refunds.
If Gundry MD promotes its 90-day guarantee, yet customers are given the runaround when trying to get a refund, then it’s not surprising when they call Vital Reds a scam.
Pros and Cons of Dr. Gundry’s Concentrated Polyphenol Blend
Pros
At the start of writing this review of Vital Reds I really liked its polyphenol potency and the fact that it was formulated by a highly experienced doctor. I still think the ingredients are very good and it would be especially helpful for people looking to boost their intake of polyphenols.
According to scientific research, the beneficial effects of these nutrients can include reducing your risk of common circulatory disorders, lowering inflammation and combating obesity.
Other potential benefits from taking this red polyphenol powder include improved energy, better digestion, less joint pain, and healthier skin and eyes, due to its high antioxidant content. Many customers mentioned these positive effects and a good proportion seem happy with the product.
If you’d like to give it a try yourself you can find it here on Amazon. Other listings there may not be legit, with consumer warnings of incorrect ingredient labels and products received past the expired date.
Cons
Many customers, beyond what you would expect from a really stand out superfood supplement, complain of no noticeable results from taking Concentrated Polyphenol Blend.
Some side effects are also noted, but I think these can be explained by a reaction to the guar gum, FOS or probiotics and usually mitigated with a lower initial dosage.
Of more concern are numerous customer complaints about the ordering process, difficulty getting a refund and people calling Vital Reds a scam or a ripoff.
Ultimately though, despite the nutritional pros of this red polyphenol product, the biggest con I can see here is the high price. At $69.95 retail for a small 4-ounce tub, or $2.33 per 3.765 gram serve, this red powder is right up there with the most expensive of all superfood powders on the market in 2026.
Final Verdict: Is Vital Reds Any Good?
Nothing in this Vital Reds review should be considered direct advice or criticism of any individual or company. Statements made about a business, and the effectiveness or otherwise of a supplement, are my personal opinion formed from detailed research and over 10 years of writing about nutritional products.
Based just on its ingredients, Dr. Gundry’s red superfood powder is a legit and high-quality polyphenol supplement. Taken regularly, it’s benefits may include more energy, better skin, reduced inflammation, improved digestion and metabolism, and making it easier to lose weight.
If you’d like to give Gundry MD’s Polyphenol Blend a try and see if it works for you, the simplest way is to get it at this popular Amazon page.
Unfortunately, unless you are quite well off, or are specifically looking for a polyphenol-focused supplement for a particular condition, its high price point for a 4-ounce tub make it hard to rate as good value versus competitors.
Vital Reds is far from a bad product, but it may be too expensive for many people. Customer negative feedback, complaints and refund issues regarding the Gundry MD company are also a concern.
Were you to take it daily for several months you should notice positive changes. In fact, if it’s a particularly good fit for your nutritional needs you may find it well worth the cost.
Personally though, I’d try one of the bigger and better value Vital Reds Substitutes and Alternatives here, before getting Gundry MD’s smaller yet more costly Concentrated Polyphenol Blend.
Have you tried Vital Reds by Gundry MD before? I’d be interested to hear about your results and opinion on this red superfood powder in the comments below. Thank you for reading.