HUM Nutrition Review: Is This Subscription Vitamin Delivery Service Right for You?
HUM Nutrition
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HUM Nutrition is a monthly vitamin subscription service with a strong reputation for quality supplements delivered monthly. The service is more expensive than some of the competition; however, it offers services that most other supplement subscriptions don’t, including access to a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) that subscribers can contact for questions and recommendations.
HUM carries a wide range of supplements that includes gummies, gel capsules, powders and capsules to increase energy, improve digestion and boost skin health, among other things. You don’t have to use a subscription to buy HUM Nutrition supplements, but you’ll get a discount if you have one.
Considering the wide selection of multivitamins and unique supplement blends they offer, HUM may be a good choice if you’ve been looking for a supplement, but don’t want to deal with the hassle of reordering when your stock is low.
In this HUM Nutrition review, we’ll cover a few popular supplements from the brand and take an in-depth look at the sign-up process, the variety of products offered and how the customization process works.
This content is meant to be informative, but should not be taken as medical advice. It is not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention or treatment of health problems. Always speak with your doctor before starting any new supplement or exercise regimen.
Our Picks for the Best HUM Nutrition Vitamins:
HUM Nutrition Gut Instinct
HUM Nutrition
Key info:
- Main ingredients: Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium lactis, Lactobacillus plantarum, Bifidobacterium longum, Lactobacillus rhamnosus
- Best for: Digestive health
- Type: Capsule
HUM Nutrition Gut Instinct contains 10 strains of probiotics. The science behind probiotic use is a mixed bag. Some studies show that probiotics can reduce diarrhea and help regulate the gut biome, while others find no significant difference in health when taking them. (Many of the strains included in Gut Instinct have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties).
It’s important that probiotics (and all supplements) are made in facilities that follow the FDA's Current Good Manufacturing Processes (cGMPs), since cGMP processes improve your chances of getting the full benefits of the probiotics. HUM Nutrition’s facilities are cGMP compliant. Gut Instinct is also certified vegan, non-GMO and meets the FDA’s standards for being gluten-free.
Probiotics are designed to improve the health of the gut biome, which can affect any number of symptoms. Everything from constipation and diarrhea to symptoms of inflammatory illnesses like arthritis may get better, though desired results aren’t guaranteed. What we can say about Gut Instinct is that it’s of excellent ingredient quality and is packed with probiotic strains. Reviews on HUM Nutrition’s website give it a high rating of 4.8/5 stars.
Pros:
- Contains 10 strains of probiotics
- Made in a cGMP facility
- Vegan, gluten-free and non-GMO
Cons:
- May cause bloating in some users
HUM Nutrition Skin Squad Pre+Probiotic
HUM Nutrition
Key info:
- Main ingredients: Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium lactis, Bacillus subtilis, Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus salivarius, Bifidobacterium lactis, Bacillus coagulans, Konjac root extract
- Best for: Gut and skin health
- Type: Capsule
There’s a strong body of evidence that connects the health of gut bacteria with the health of the skin. Skin Squad Pre+Probiotic is designed to balance and support gut bacteria with common probiotics like Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus paracasei and prebiotics, like Konjac root extract. This extract is made from the corm (underground plant stem) of the Konjac plant, which is known to have anti-inflammatory and prebiotic properties.
A 2016 literature review found an overall positive effect of probiotics on skin health, especially among adolescents. While there haven’t been independent studies on this specific supplement, the ingredients are among those that have been tested and may help overall gut and skin health.
Skin Squad Pre+Probiotic is certified vegan, and reviewers on humnutrition.com generally report improvement in their skin, with some experiencing fewer breakouts. However, results vary, and it takes time for the supplement to work.
Pros:
- Contains prebiotics to support healthy gut bacterial growth
- Certified vegan
- Contains anti-inflammatory ingredients
Cons:
- Small number of users experience improved gut health with no skin improvement
HUM Nutrition OMG! Omega the Great
HUM Nutrition
Key info:
- Main ingredients: Fish oil, vitamin E
- Best for: Skin and brain health
- Type: Soft gels
OMG! Omega the Great is formulated to support your skin and brain health with a single supplement. It contains Omega-3 fatty acids derived from anchovies. Fish oil, specifically the Omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil, have been widely studied for their health benefits; Omega-3s have been found to do everything from supporting waste removal from the brain and enhancing communication between brain cells to improving cardiovascular health and ocular acuity. The benefits of Omega-3s extend to skin health and include increased protection from skin cancer among those at higher risk.
Vitamin E is the highest concentrated vitamin in your skin, and it gets there through the food you eat. OMG! Omega the Great gives an extra boost of this important vitamin and antioxidant. Vitamin E comes in many forms with tocopherol being the form most commonly found in your skin, and it’s the form contained in this supplement.
One way that vitamin E protects your skin is through its antioxidant properties. Antioxidants in your skin help protect you from the natural oxidative process that takes place within your body. The oxidative process releases free radicals that destroy cells, while antioxidants like vitamin E counter that activity to prevent and repair skin breakdown. Unfortunately, vitamin E levels fall as you age, opening the door to visible skin damage over time. The vitamin E in OMG! Omega the Great can help boost vitamin E levels for healthier looking skin.
A potential downside is that these softgels are large, making them less than ideal to swallow for those who already have a tough time taking pills. Additionally, some reviewers on Humnutrition.com find that these softgels leave a fishy aftertaste, too.
Pros:
- Contains tocopherol, the most abundant form of vitamin E found in the skin
- Omega-3 fatty acids promote communication between brain cells
- Provides antioxidants
Cons:
- Can leave a fishy aftertaste
- Large soft gels may be difficult to swallow
HUM Nutrition Collagen Love
HUM Nutrition
Key info:
- Main ingredients: Vitamin C, collagen peptide blend, hyaluronic acid
- Best for: Skin health and wrinkle prevention
- Type: Capsule
Collagen Love targets the nutrients your skin needs to stay supple and flexible. Skin flexibility helps both prevent and heal the skin from daily damage. This supplement contains collagen I and III, which are animal-derived collagen sources. There’s some scientific evidence that collagen supplements can improve skin elasticity, hydration and texture.
Collagen Love contains vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant used by the body to make muscle, blood vessels, cartilage and collagen. As an antioxidant, vitamin C helps prevent and repair damage to skin cells caused by free radicals. Free radical damage to skin cells contributes to fine lines, wrinkles and other visible signs of aging. Vitamin C helps prevent that breakdown.
Vitamin C is also used by the skin to produce collagen. Collagen is a protein that gives the skin its structure and flexibility. Collagen Love further supports collagen production and function with its own collagen peptide blend, including chondroitin sulfate, a compound found in cartilage. It plays a role in wound healing and maintaining hydration in the eyes, too. However, the results of studies supporting its use in supplements is inconclusive. It won’t cause harm, but whether it helps support your skin and prevent wrinkles isn’t proven.
This supplement also contains hyaluronic acid, a substance that improves skin moisture levels. Hyaluronic acid attracts and holds onto water while also providing anti-inflammatory properties.
Pros:
- Hyaluronic acid helps maintain skin moisture levels
- Contains collagen and support collagen production
- Vitamin C helps protect and maintain skin
Cons:
- Not vegan due to animal sources of collagen
HUM Nutrition Beauty ZZZZ
HUM Nutrition
Key info:
- Main ingredients: Vitamin B6, melatonin, calcium
- Best for: Sleep health
- Type: Capsules
Beauty ZZZZ contains a mix of melatonin, vitamin B6 and calcium. Melatonin is a hormone that primarily controls the timing of your sleep cycle. Your melatonin levels slowly increase throughout the day until they build enough to trigger the start of the sleep cycle. While you sleep, the melatonin levels get reset so they’re low in the morning. Melatonin is a common sleep supplement for those who have trouble falling and staying asleep because it can boost melatonin levels without negative side effects.
Calcium on its own isn’t highly related to sleep health. However, it's needed by the body to absorb vitamin D, and vitamin D deficiency has been linked to sleep problems. This supplement contains calcium carbonate, a form of calcium that contains 40 percent elemental calcium. So for the 63 milligrams in this supplement, you actually get 25.2 milligrams of calcium, which isn’t a huge dose, and the effects of calcium combined with melatonin and vitamin B6 haven’t been independently tested.
Vitamin B6 is a bit controversial in regards to whether or not it helps you sleep. It hasn’t been shown to cause sleep problems, but the evidence doesn’t show a strong connection with better sleep either. A cautionary note—a small percentage of reviewers on HUM Nutrition’s website report that this supplement causes vivid dreams, which can be a side effect of vitamin B6.
Pros:
- Calcium to support vitamin D absorption
- Melatonin helps regulate sleep cycle
- Easy-to-swallow capsules
Cons:
- May cause vivid dreams in some users
HUM Nutrition Raw Beauty
HUM Nutrition
Key info:
- Main ingredients: Probiotics, green superfood blend, adaptogenic blend, fiber blend
- Best for: Skin health, metabolism and energy
- Type: Powder
Raw Beauty Superfood Powder has far more ingredients than the other supplements on this list. It’s made of four blends—probiotics, green superfood powder, adaptogenics and fiber. Reviews on humnutrition.com suggest that most people take this supplement for the dose of supergreens, which comes from barley grass, wheat grass, chlorella, spirulina and alfalfa powders.
These supergreens are marketed as a daily cleanse to boost energy. In practice, at least two of the listed powders—barley and wheat grass—help regulate blood sugar. Consistent blood sugar levels can keep your energy levels from spiking or dropping so you feel like you have more energy overall. This formula also contains probiotics to promote gut health. Your gut biome can affect many parts of your body, from the immune system to the brain, and can even influence your mental health.
Other ingredients, like those found in the adaptogenic blend, further support overall body and brain health. Ashwagandha, for example, shows potential neuroprotective benefits. While the current research isn’t conclusive and this blend hasn’t specifically been tested, Ashwagandha and several other ingredients in the adaptogenic blend are linked to overall brain health.
A few reviews suggest the taste can be a deterrent for some, but if the taste doesn’t bother you, it may be an ideal supplement to add to your daily nutrient intake.
Pros:
- Promotes gut health
- Supports brain health
- Contains a superfood greens blend
Cons:
- Some people dislike the taste
- Powder may be difficult to mix with liquid
How Does HUM Nutrition Work?
HUM Nutrition carries a wide range of nutritional supplements that primarily target women, with each falling under one of four categories—skin, mood, body, hair and nails. There are also additional subcategories like fitness and weight loss, beauty supplements and digestive health.
Subscribers fill out a three-minute quiz that includes questions about eating habits, mood, activities, exercise habits, health goals and health concerns. The questions revolve around how many fruits and vegetables you eat per day and what kinds of protein you eat most often. It also includes preferences and areas of your health that you want to target, like hair loss and thinning, skin hydration, skin clarity or low energy levels.
To see the results of the quiz, you’ll have to sign up for their newsletter and read through recommendations geared toward your results. You’re then sent directly to the site’s shopping cart for checkout, where you can add or subtract any of the recommended supplements.
If you pay for a three-month subscription, you get 25% off every order. Plus, HUM occasionally runs promotions where you get anywhere from an additional $10 to 50% off your first order. You can change your monthly supplements and consult with your assigned RDN through your HUM Nutrition dashboard or cancel your subscription at any time.
HUM Vitamins Quality and Safety
HUM Nutrition prides itself on keeping its supplements free of what they call “the tricky 12,” which includes controversial ingredients like:
- Artificial colors
- Artificial preservatives
- Artificial sweeteners
- Artificial flavors
- High fructose corn syrup
- Hydrogenated oils
- Talc
- Magnesium silicate
- Titanium dioxide
- EDTA and EDTA derivatives
- Shellac
- Pharmaceutical glaze
HUM Nutrition has several third-party certifications, including being cGMP compliant and non-GMO verified. Some of their supplements are also certified vegan. HUM is also Clean Label Project verified, which is a third-party certification that assures the supplements are free of heavy metals, pesticides, plasticizers and other environmental contaminants.
Following cGMPs is required by the FDA to ensure the quality, purity, strength and accuracy of the composition of the supplement’s ingredients. cGMPs require the ingredients in the supplements and the facilities in which the supplements are made to meet federal guidelines. Any supplement you take, whether from HUM Nutrition or another brand, should be cGMP compliant.
HUM Nutrition vs Competitors
HUM Nutrition is one of the best supplement subscription services when it comes to knowing exactly what you’re putting in your body. They have a good selection and high-quality ingredients with third-party certifications. They also help you customize your orders to fit your nutritional needs and assign you an RDN, who you can directly communicate with, to continue to help you get the supplements most likely to benefit your health and goals. That kind of personalized service means that HUM Nutrition is pricier than some of the competition, but the individualized attention generally results in happy subscribers.
As far as ingredient quality, HUM Nutrition uses quality sources for their ingredients. However, not all of their supplements are vegan or organic. They are free of the “tricky 12,” but if you’re looking for vegan, organic supplements, not all of HUM’s supplements will meet those requirements.
The nutritional supplement market is crowded these days, and more companies are using the subscription service model. Some of the alternative supplement subscription services include:
- Nourish by Nature Made
- Persona
- Ritual (see below for a one on one comparison)
- Gainful
- Care/of
Subscriptions like Gainful focus on a specific niche, like pre-workout supplements. Gainful carries electrolyte products, protein powders, creatine and other performance enhancement supplements that you won’t find with HUM Nutrition, though Gainful rivals HUM Nutrition when it comes to price. And like HUM, a Gainful subscription also unlocks access to a Registered Dietitian.
Other vitamin brands, like Care/of, focus more on variety and include an in-store line (Target, in the case of Care/of.) Each supplement subscription service has slightly different formulas, processes, prices and focuses. When weighing supplement subscription services against one another, consider the kind of supplements you want, your health focus and budget.
Related Post: The Best Personalized Vitamin Subscription Services, According to a Certified Nutrition Coach
HUM Nutrition vs Ritual
HUM Nutrition and Ritual are both subscription-based supplement services that focus on daily health. They have some overlap in the supplements they offer, but Ritual’s selection is broader than what HUM Nutrition currently has available. HUM mainly focuses on everyday health and women’s health, whereas Ritual provides health supplements for a broader demographic that includes women, men, teens and kids, as well as a line of supplements for pre- and postnatal women. The brand also makes separate supplements for women and men ages 18+ and women and men ages 50+ with specially formulated supplements for men and women.
In comparison, HUM Nutrition offers supplements that target very specific female issues like bloating, menopausal symptoms and vaginal health, whereas Ritual’s supplements are broader and include protein powders among the supplement offerings.
Price-wise, HUM Nutrition’s most expensive supplement costs more than Ritual’s most expensive supplement, but the average price of either subscription is pretty similar. HUM Nutrition offers more incentives and discounts upon signup, especially if you opt for a three-month subscription.
One of the biggest differences between HUM and Ritual is the access to a personal nutritionist offered through the HUM Nutrition dashboard. Ritual offers recommendations and includes some products pre-bundled for an additional discount; however, HUM’s onboarding process is more straightforward and personalized.
HUM Nutrition Customer Reviews
HUM Nutrition gets consistently positive reviews from customers on humnutrition.com. Customers appreciate the quality of the ingredients, and many note their efficacy after taking them for a couple of weeks. That being said, no single supplement will work the same way for every person. Results vary from person to person, and some people find that certain supplements offer no noticeable improvements or health benefits.
Some customers also note that they’ve experienced shipping errors and delays, but generally, customers have a positive experience both when working with HUM Nutrition and when using HUM products.
Is HUM Nutrition Right for You?
HUM Nutrition is a good option for those who have specific issues they’d like to address with supplements. For example, the results from my quiz led to recommendations for Hair Sweet Hair, Daily Cleanse and Uber Energy to address each of the problem areas I indicated. HUM is also a good choice if you want to change which supplements you get each month or if you want access to expert guidance while picking supplements.
HUM Nutrition Customer Service
One of HUM Nutrition’s greatest strengths is customer service. If you have questions about supplements, there’s an expert at your disposal, ready to answer your questions. If you have issues with your order, customer support is available seven days a week between the hours of 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Even if people are unhappy with the results of their supplements or have issues with delivery, there are very few complaints about customer service.
HUM Nutrition FAQs
How long does it take for HUM vitamins to work?
How long it takes for HUM vitamins to work varies from person to person and from supplement to supplement. Some people notice a difference in their health after a month or two, while others don’t notice a difference in their health for several months.
Is HUM a clean brand?
HUM Nutrition is Clean Label Project certified, Non-GMO Project verified and cGMP-compliant. Some, but not all, HUM supplements are also organic and vegan, making the brand ideal for those who follow vegan diets or want organic ingredients in their daily supplement.
Related Post: The Best Vegan Vitamins and Supplements
Are HUM products FDA-approved?
No. The FDA doesn’t approve supplements because they're not a medication meant to treat an illness. They are strictly meant to supplement your diet. That being said, the FDA has established cGMPs that supplement companies “must follow to help ensure the identity, purity, strength and composition of their dietary supplements.” Supplement companies are required to disclose the active ingredients in their formulas on the product label and cannot make deceptive claims.
Can you take multiple HUM vitamins at once?
Yes, you can take multiple HUM Nutrition products at once. In fact, that’s what the monthly subscription model helps you do. You can take a supplement with biotin for skin and hair health while using another supplement that may help optimize your digestion. Even though you get access to a nutritionist as a HUM Nutrition subscriber, always consult your doctor before taking a supplement. Supplements have the potential to interact with medications or cause side effects in people with certain medical conditions.
Prices are accurate and items in stock as of publish time.
