IF YOUR TikTok feed looks anything like ours, you’ve probably noticed Ritual, a brand that seems to be everywhere, selling subscription-based supplements from protein powder to multivitamins.
Part of that is because Ritual has invested heavily in social media advertising. And that exposure has led to collaborations with influencers and wellness experts.
But what, exactly, makes Ritual different?
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First off, it’s important to know that unlike pharmaceuticals, supplements are not regulated by the FDA. Lack of regulation within the supplement industry has created a wild west of low-quality, ineffective, and even dangerous products. Ritual claims to separate itself from all this by making their ingredients and manufacturing process transparent.
At the core of Ritual’s philosophy is a commitment to traceability. The brand openly discloses the origin, supplier, and final manufacturing location of all its ingredients—active and inactive—used in every product. According to the company, it also collaborate with suppliers who share its traceability values and are equally invested in maintaining responsible and ethical supply chains.
Ritual isn’t the only one prioritizing transparent practices. Nutrilite and Smarty Pants, for example, are two more brands committed to providing consumers the information required to make informed decisions and build trust with manufacturers.
Here’s what Ritual sells and if its products actually work.
What Does Ritual Sell?
The multivitamins and vegan protein powder from Ritual are among its most popular products for men.
Ritual Essential for Men Multivitamin 18+
Ritual Essential for Men Multivitamin 50+
Ritual Essential Protein Daily Shake 18+
The company offers three men’s multivitamins, each containing a blend of vitamins and minerals it claims are tailored to the needs of specific age groups. Ritual’s advertises that its multivitamins are designed to address common nutritional deficiencies by offering moderate doses of nutrients.
For vegans, Ritual sells plant-based protein powder, which they advertise have a complete range of amino acids per serving.
Amino acids support a slew of crucial bodily processes, but among them, growing and repairing tissue (i.e., building muscle) is a big one. There are 20 amino acids in total, and nine of which are essential, meaning the body cannot produce enough of them on its own and must get them from food. Animal-derived proteins are naturally complete, meaning they contain all of the essential amino acids we need from food. But plant-based protein sources, on the other hand, must often be combined to be considered complete. The brand’s Daily Shake +18 recruits the power of pea protein.
SHOP RITUAL PLANT-BASED PROTEIN HERE
The multivitamins and vegan protein powder are vegan-friendly, non-GMO, and free from synthetic fillers and artificial colorings, too.
Do Ritual Supplements Work?
One of Ritual’s main selling points is its gender-specific formulations. “Gender-specific supplements often have more calcium and iron for women, and more zinc for men. Otherwise, they’re often very similar,” says Abby Langer, R.D., the owner of Abby Langer Nutrition, a Toronto-based nutrition consulting and communications company.
The men’s version is very similar to the women’s, with the exception of zinc, which is dosed far below its recommended daily allowance (11 mg).
Men require more zinc than women because they lose more of it through sweat compared to women, and because it plays a crucial role in the production of testosterone.
“If you think taking a multivitamin is warranted, the most important thing to check is not the gender on the bottle, but rather if it contains enough of what you believe you’re missing in your diet,” says Langer.
SHOP RITUAL MULTIVITAMINS HERE
If you’re low in vitamin D3, which may help reduce inflammation, support immune function, promote heart health, and strengthen bones, a Ritual multi could be of service. At 2,000 IU of vitamin D3 per pill, it’s one of the nutrients in the multis for men provided within the amount recommended by healthcare professionals.
But ultimately, if you’re deficient in one or two vitamins or minerals, taking a single-nutrient supplement might be a better option (cheaper, too).
“It’s true that most of us can get all of our vitamins and minerals from food, with the exception of vegans and B12, and multivitamins typically contain a lot of things we don’t need, and not enough of the things we might need,” says Langer.
Ritual products are third-party tested by independent labs. Certain products have received certification from third-party organizations such as Informed Sport and the United States Pharmacopeia (USP).
And the whole amino acids thing to their protein powders? It’s kind of an oversell.
For those who are hesitant to try new supplements, you can sleep soundly knowing it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so customers can try the brand’s products risk-free. For those who opt to make a habit out of taking Ritual supplements, the company offers a subscription service that ensures customers receive a fresh supply of their favorite products every month.
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Fitness and Commerce Editor
Talene Appleton is the Fitness and Commerce Editor at Men’s Health, where she covers fitness, nutrition, health, and wellness. She was previously the Associate Editor of General Surgery News, and a nutrition writer for The Food Institute. Talene is a retired professional dancer, and loves to spend her free time cooking elaborate meals for her friends and family.
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