You’ve read about the importance of the microbiome and your digestive health. You’re concerned about maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system and retaining your cognitive abilities. And preventing a catastrophic occurrence such as type 2 diabetes or even certain types of cancer is essential for a long, productive life. Scientists and researchers are making astounding progress in identifying the causes of aging and developing anti-aging drugs, protocols, and strategies. What if you could be supporting all these healthful imperatives while enjoying a glass of red wine in the evening, perhaps with berries or dark chocolate? You can, as red wine, berries, dark chocolate, tea, and many other foods contain micronutrients known as polyphenols.
In this “head-to-head” comparison of two popular polyphenol supplements, Vital Reds from Gundry MD and Dynamic Health’s Organic Red Supremefood, we explain how you can reap the many health benefits of these do-it-all micronutrients in a daily supplement. First, we do a deep dive on polyphenols for background, including an abbreviated summary of the clinical research supporting their efficacy. We then compare the two supplements in detail, the companies that manufacture them, the men behind these companies, and provide our assessment of which product is best suited for a specific type of consumer.
Ready to find out which is the winning choice in the battle of Red Supremefood vs. Vital Reds? Let’s dive in!
What Are Polyphenols?
Polyphenols are a category of natural compounds with numerous biological activities found in the seeds, skins, and leaves of fruits and vegetables. These macronutrients infer various health benefits, including potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Found naturally in plant foods, polyphenols are responsible for their beautiful hues, think berries. In addition to their health benefits for humans, their primary function is to protect plants against the sun’s ultraviolet radiation and help defend them against pathogens.
We mentioned red wine, berries, dark chocolate, and tea as some of the better-known sources of polyphenols. Below is a partial list of other foods with high polyphenol content:
- Fruits and Dark Leafy Vegetables, the more colorful the plant – the higher the polyphenol content
- Legumes
- Nuts & Seeds
- Herbs & Spices
- Cocoa
- Coffee
- Ginger
There are more than 8,000 types of polyphenols, further subdivided as follows:
Flavonoids – the predominant subtype, accounting for 60% of all polyphenols- are found in foods such as apples, onions, dark chocolate, and red cabbage.
Phenolic acids – account for roughly 30% of all polyphenols. Examples include lignans and stilbenes from fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and seeds.
Polyphenolic amides – the heat causing capsaicinoids, a component found in hot peppers.
Other – a more minor yet important sub-type including two of the more prominent polyphenols in supplements, resveratrol and curcumin.
What Do Polyphenols Do?
Polyphenols have been the subject of significant recent research due to their wide applications as antioxidants and ability to combat chronic inflammation. Oxidation, which is free radical damage, and chronic, low-level inflammation are two of the primary causes of aging and the precursors to many life-threatening conditions, including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s. Experts concur that eliminating chronic inflammation could slash the chance of cancer and heart disease by nearly 50%. The founders of the companies bringing us Red Supremefood and Vital Reds both specialize in anti-aging and digestive health.
Potential benefits of a polyphenol-rich diet or supplementation:
- Prevents Free Radical Damage
- Addresses/Reduces Chronic Inflammation
- Digestive Health
- Increases Energy
- Eye, Brain, and Heart Health
- May Prevent Blood Clots
- Enhances Metabolism – Weight Management
- Reduces Risk of Type 2 Diabetes – Lowers Blood Sugar Levels
- Protects Against Certain Cancers
What the Science Says About Polyphenols
According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, oxidative stress is a primary contributor to inflammation. Furthermore, the chronic inflammation triggered by this oxidative stress is the cause of many chronic diseases. For example, insulin resistance, Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity result from chronic inflammation.
The NCBI’s report relates that polyphenols have potential biological properties such as antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, antineoplastic, anti-aging, cardioprotective, anticancer, and antimicrobial properties. In a table of various polyphenols and their activities, they address:
- Attenuating oxidative stress
- Reducing various forms of inflammation and metaflammation
- Suppressing melanoma growth
- Inhibiting proliferation and metastasis of cancer cells
- Addressing pulmonary artery hypertension
In a separate study, the NCBI reports that fruit-derived polyphenols have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can enhance exercise performance, increase endurance, and speed recovery.
Polyphenol Supplements
In the typical Western diet, nearly 90% of people fail to consume the RDA (recommended daily allowance) of five servings per day of fruits and vegetables, giving rise to a robust ($1.6 billion) polyphenol supplement business. Nutritional supplements dwarf other polyphenol delivery segments such as functional foods and beverages.
Across all delivery types, grape seed, green tea, and apple are the most frequently used polyphenols. Many dietary supplements include extracts/compounds from superfoods, hence the Divine Health’s Red Supremefood branding. Additional blends typically found in polyphenol supplements include pre-and probiotics, digestive aids, and metabolic enhancers for weight management. Some of the more prevalent polyphenols in the natural products space include resveratrol, green tea extract, quercetin, CoQ 10, cocoa beans, and pomegranate.
Polyphenol supplements are available in tablets, capsules, gummies, ready-to-drink, veggie caps, and powders. Our two subject products are both in powdered form.
Before dissecting the formulas of our subject brands, we provide a bit of detail regarding the companies behind the products, the founders and formulators, and their go-to-market philosophies.
Gundry MD
GundryMD.com is primarily a sophisticated online presence, marketing dietary supplements, skin and hair care products, foods, and books. The company was founded by Dr. Steven Gundry, a pre-eminent heart surgeon and New York Times bestselling author. Dr. Gundry, educated at some of the finest medical institutions in the country, is one of the leading authorities on digestive health, the microbiome, and anti-aging in the industry today. All Gundry products are formulated by Dr. Gundry using only the finest ingredients available, quite often patented, trademarked ingredients, from industry-leading ingredient manufacturers who provide clinical trial validation as to their ingredient’s efficacy.
Gundry adheres to the best-in-class go-to-market strategies in the natural products space:
- Products are manufactured in the U.S. in cGMP-certified facilities
- As noted, all Gundry products are physician-developed
- Most products feature natural, organic ingredients
- All Gundry products are third-party tested for quality and purity
- The company is transparent as to its ownership, marketing, and in their packaging
- Money-back guarantee
Divine Health
Divine Health is also an online presence; however, not as slick or sophisticated as GundryMD.com. The company markets nutritional supplements under the Divine Health, Dr. Colbert, and Keto Zone labels, and books. The founder, Dr. Don Colbert, is, it seems, also a New York Times bestselling author. The Doctor was educated at Oral Roberts Medical School and did his residency at Florida Hospital. Also, like Dr. Gundry, Dr. Colbert is the formulator for all Divine Health products. He is a frequent television guest on Dr. Oz, Fox News, the BBC, and ABC News and is featured in Reader’s Digest, Newsweek, and Prevention Magazine. He devotes his practice today to anti-aging and integrative medicine.
It took a bit more research, but it appears that Divine Health also adheres to many of the best-in-class principles at work in the natural products space. Products are physician-formulated and manufactured in the U.S. in a cGMP-compliant, FDA-registered facility. Products/ingredients are certified USDA organic, with no artificial sweeteners or preservatives, gluten, soy, lactose-free, and non-GMO.
Two differences in the company’s go-to-market strategies are 1. Divine Health products are readily available from other online retailers (Amazon.com and Walmart.com) and in brick-and-mortar specialty stores (Vitamin Shoppe). In contrast, Gundry MD products are restricted to availability on the Gundry site. 2. Return policies are different, as Gundry offers a 90-day money-back guarantee while Divine Health’s policy is more restrictive.
Vital Reds and Red Supremefood both use proprietary blends in their formulas, typically a “no-no” in dietary supplements, in our opinion. In a polyphenol supplement, the sheer number of ingredients in these blends makes it nearly impossible to isolate the precise dosage of each compound; however, both products do an adequate job of indicating the amount of each blend.
Vital Reds from Gundry MD
Vital Reds is a powdered dietary supplement consisting of three science-backed blends – a Polyphenol Blend, a Metabolic Blend, and a Digestive Support Blend. The 1,760-gram Polyphenol Blend contains thirty-four polyphenol-rich superfruits. The Metabolic Blend, 365 grams, includes natural fat-burning ingredients, and the Digestive Blend contains 3 billion CFUs of probiotics. There is also 250 mg of Fructo-oligosaccharides, a prebiotic to support the probiotics. The product is delivered via a “Quick-Dissolve” powder in a Natural Berry Flavor.
Vital Reds is positioned to provide higher energy levels, improved digestion, and healthier-looking skin.
Divine Health, Organic Red Supremefood
Red Supremefood is also a powdered dietary supplement, available in a berry flavor. The product has five proprietary blends, including an Organic Fruit Blend, Organic Fiber Blend, Pre/Probiotic Blend, Organic Botanical Blend, and Digestive Enzyme Blend. The organic ingredients are all certified USDA organic. The product is dairy-free, soy-free, gluten-free, and non-GMO. Each serving contains the antioxidant equivalency of four servings of organic fruit.
Red Supremefood is positioned to improve blood flow, support heart health, enhance memory and cognition, and, like Vital Reds, provide healthier skin. Divine Health recommends combining your Reds with their Green Supremefood for a complete and healthy supplement regimen.
Red Supremefood vs. Vital Reds: The Formulations
Vital Reds
Developed by Dr. Gundry, Vital Reds is an incredibly complex formula, packing vitamins, minerals, and chromium polynicotinate (typically a weight-loss component) into a 3.765-gram serving. That’s before the three proprietary blends and prebiotic ingredients. The Polyphenol Blend alone contains some 34 unique superfruits, including apple, grape skin extract, Aronia berries, and virtually every fruit extract or concentrate known to man. The list is exhaustive. The Metabolic Blend contains cinnamon bark, green and white tea extracts, ginger, turmeric, and melon fruit to naturally support weight management, and black pepper fruit to enhance absorption. Finally, the Digestive Support Blend features four types of probiotics in a healthy 3 billion CFU (Colony Forming Units) dose and a prebiotic.
As stated, a complex formula designed for its antioxidant properties to provide energy, aid in weight management, support healthy skin and promote overall wellbeing.
Organic Red Supremefood
Also physician-formulated, by Dr. Colbert, Red Supremefood contains nine USDA Organic Fruits in its polyphenol blend, plus a pre-and probiotic blend (stated in milligrams versus CFUs), organic fibers, botanicals – green tea leaf and apple extract, and an enzyme blend to aid in digestion. One serving delivers six grams.
In addition to the benefits cited for Vital Reds, Red Supremefood also claims to support digestion, mental clarity, improve blood flow, enhance the immune system, and improve exercise performance.
Red Supremefood vs. Vital Reds: Dosage Comparison
Both products are powdered, and one serving equates to one scoop. The Red Supremefood serving is significantly larger at six grams versus the 3.765 grams in a Vital Red serving. Both products are added to cold water, four to eight ounces, and one serving per day is sufficient.
Red Supremefood vs. Vital Reds: Benefits
Although we highlighted the differences in benefit claims by brand, given the scientific evidence, it is fair to state both products deliver similar results in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory responses. Both products include pre-and probiotic blends for digestive and immune health. In addition, Vital Reds may produce better weight management due to the inclusion of chromium polynicotinate.
Red Supremefood vs. Vital Reds: Price Value Comparison
On the GundryMD.com website, a single purchase of Vital Reds is $69.95 for a 4-ounce, 112-gram, 30-serving container. The company also offers quantity discounts and special pricing for membership in GundryMD. Vital Reds is one of the Gundry MD items available on Amazon.com, where it lists for $59.95.
Red Supremefood retails for $39.00 on the Divine Health site for a thirty-serve, 6.34-ounce, 180-milligram container. Additional savings are available for auto-ship. On Amazon, the price for the same product is $34.86. The best value seems to be on the VitaminShoppe.com site, which lists a price of $29.97; however, the item is tagged as clearance, so it may not be available there for much longer.
| Product | Cost | Size | Cost/Serving | Cost/Gram |
| Vital Reds | $59.95 | 30-Serve/3.765 Grams | $2.00 | $.53 |
| Red Supremefood | $34.86 | 30-Serve/6 Grams | $1.16 | $.19 |
For comparison purposes, we used the Amazon.com price for both products.
Red Supremefood vs. Vital Reds: How They Compare – Head-to-Head
Although there are many similarities between the two brands and products, the most glaring points of difference are cost, the returns policies, and Red Supremefood being available at more retailers, online and brick-and-mortar. Although the number of ingredients seems to favor Vital Reds, it should be noted many of the vitamins/minerals on the nutrition panel are likely coming from the polyphenol blend of fruits. Including chromium polynicotinate in Vital Reds may benefit those looking for weight loss. Otherwise, the formulations are similar, addressing polyphenols, pre-and probiotics, and fiber. The enzymes in Red Supremefood are a plus for those with digestive issues.
From a corporate point of view, both products are made in the U.S. in FDA-registered, cGMP-compliant facilities. We give a slight nod to Gundry MD in this area as they emphasize their independent, third-party quality and purity testing – not mentioned on the Divine Health site. The Divine Health returns policy is far more restrictive than the Gundry, no questions asked, 90-day moneyback guarantee.
Red Supremefood vs. Vital Reds: Customer Reviews
As would be expected, both websites contain a multitude of positive customer reviews. The most frequently cited Vital Reds attributes are more energy, better digestion, less brain fog, and a general sense of wellbeing. In addition, great taste is often mentioned.
Many Red Supremefood reviews relate that customers combine Reds with Blue Supremefood. Taste receives mixed reviews – some rave, others are put off by the taste profile. Gut health, energy, and an overall feeling of better health are the predominant comments.
On Amazon.com, Vital Reds receives 70% five-star reviews. Interestingly, most comments relate to cost. Amazon consumers appreciate the taste and benefits of Vital Reds but consider the lower cost their number one benefit. Red Supremefood receives the same 70% five-star reviews on Amazon. Like the Divine Health site, many Amazon consumers state that they use the Reds and Blue Supremefood. One consumer noted a dramatic improvement in skin, hair, and nails in both review sections, Divine and Amazon.
Red Supremefood vs. Vital Reds: Other Considerations
We hope we have helped identify the benefits and points of difference between Vital Reds versus Red Supremefood.
- If you’re on a budget, the Divine Health product offers significant savings in the purchase price and cost per serving/gram.
- If taste is a primary consideration, Vital Reds is a better option based on customer reviews. With Red Supremefood, you may need to mask the flavor using fruit juices or smoothies.
- For weight management, Vital Reds gets the nod – both contain polyphenols, but Vital Reds includes chromium polynicotinate.
- If this is your first foray into a polyphenol supplement, you may want the benefit of the Gundry MD money-back guarantee in case the product doesn’t deliver the desired results.
- For those with digestive issues, the enzyme blend is Red Supremefood is an essential component.
- Red Supremefood uses USDA Organic polyphenols – an important consideration for some consumers.
- From a convenience point of view, the Red Supremefood is available on more websites and brick-and-mortar stores.
Red Supremefood vs. Vita Reds: Which is Better?
As much as we love the Gundry MD go-to-market philosophies and how they stand behind their products, in this head-to-head comparison, we must give Red Supremefood the advantage solely based on the dramatic difference in cost. At almost one-third the cost per gram, with its USDA Organic polyphenols, pre-and probiotics, fiber, and digestive enzymes, Red Supremefood is the better value.
If you’re still looking to learn more about each option, you can check out our complete review of Red Supremefood here and our complete review of Vital Reds here.
