HUM Nutrition: A Dietitian’s Review

What is HUM Nutrition?

HUM Nutrition is a personalized vitamin service that provides monthly shipments of supplements to your doorstep.

The company was co-founded by Walter Faulstoh, who was inspired by the role that nutrition played in resolving his struggle with acne.

While HUM Nutrition was originally focused on skin and beauty products, it now offers a full lineup of vitamin and mineral supplements — many of which are designed to target certain concerns or needs, including:

• sleep
• digestion
• skin care
• aging

In addition to offering supplement delivery to your home, the company aims to customize recommendations for you using the results of a brief online health assessment.

However, you can also pick and choose your own products if you already know what you’re looking for.

Additionally, HUM Nutrition differentiates itself from other personalized vitamin services by assigning each customer an RDN. This person can give you information about the various HUM Nutrition products and general wellness advice.

Summary

HUM Nutrition is a subscription vitamin service that offers access to an RDN, personalized product recommendations, and monthly deliveries.

How does HUM Nutrition work?

To get started, the first step is taking a 3-minute health quiz on HUM Nutrition’s website.

The quiz asks for basic health information, such as:

• your usual eating style
• how you typically feel
• how you like to unwind
• your health goals
• your waist size

Based on your answers, HUM recommends three products that may be a good fit for your goals and needs. You can choose to keep these products and continue to checkout, or edit your cart by adding or removing products.

Once you’ve made your selection, the service will deliver a 30-day supply of your chosen vitamins. Keep in mind that unless you edit your cart, you’ll automatically be sent the same products each subscription period.

Speaking of subscriptions, you can choose to pay monthly or for 3 months at a time (with a 25% discount). You can also pause or cancel your subscription if needed.

One thing to note is that unlike many other subscription vitamin services, HUM Nutrition’s supplements are delivered in their original bottles, rather than packaged in daily envelopes.

Additionally, samples are available only to existing customers.

HUM health report

After completing the quiz, you’ll be assigned to one of HUM Nutrition’s staff RDNs. This person can guide you and answer questions about the company’s products.

They’ll also email you a comprehensive health report, which contains four main sections:

• “Great choices you already make.” This section reviews healthy lifestyle choices you’re already making, based on your answers to the health quiz. It reviews positive aspects of your diet, water intake, exercise, and other lifestyle factors, such as not smoking.
• “Things to watch out for.” This section offers diet and lifestyle advice, also based on your answers to the quiz. It might include information about nutrients your diet may be short in, recommendations for weight loss, or strategies to help you increase your daily exercise.
• “Your areas of concern.” This section reviews the areas of concern that you identified in the quiz and provides a bit of advice for each. Areas of concern that you can select in the quiz include immunity and bone strength, skin, and beauty.
• “HUM solutions for your goals.” This section offers the rationale behind your initial product recommendations and serves as a summary of the full report.

Summary

HUM Nutrition provides personalized vitamin recommendations based on the results of a brief online assessment. The service also offers access to an RDN to help you decide which products are right for your health needs.

Products

HUM Nutrition currently offers 36 supplement products, including:

• powders
• tablets
• gummies
• soft gels

In addition to single-ingredient vitamins and minerals, the company provides daily supplement blends and other products designed to target specific health needs. Here are a few examples:

Big Chill

Price: $20

Big Chill is a daily capsule supplement that contains Rhodiola rosea, an adaptogenic herb that may help with stress.

According to a study conducted by HUM, people taking the supplement had 20% lower stress scores after taking Big Chill for 2 weeks. But HUM funded the study, which increases the risk of bias.

Additional third-party research is limited but suggests a potential benefit of Rhodiola rosea for reducing stress. Still, more high quality studies are needed (1, 2).

Buy HUM Nutrition Big Chill online.

Flatter Me

Price: $26

Flatter Me is a digestive enzyme supplement that contains 18 different enzymes to help your body more easily digest food. One capsule contains 249 mg of HUM’s enzyme blend.

It also contains ginger, fennel, and peppermint — all of which may help ease digestive upset or promote healthy digestion (3, 4, 5).

Buy HUM Nutrition Flatter Me online.

Red Carpet

Price: $26

Red Carpet is a hair and nails supplement that contains vitamin E and black currant oil.

Vitamin E is an antioxidant that may help boost skin health, and black currant oil is a plant-based source of fatty acids that may help with skin hydration (6, 7).

Two soft gels deliver 13.4 mg of vitamin E from sunflower oil.

Buy HUM Nutrition Red Carpet online.

Private Party

Price: $26

Private Party contains three strains of probiotics: lactobacillus acidophilus, lactobacillus rhamnosus, and lactobacillus reuteri.

It also contains cranberry extract, which can help balance the vaginal microbiome while potentially reducing the risk of urinary tract infections (8).

One capsule delivers 90 mg of cranberry extract and 10 billion CFU of probiotics.

Buy HUM Nutrition Private Party online.

Beauty zzZz

Price: $10

Beauty zzZz is a sleep supplement that contains melatonin and vitamin B6 to help promote better sleep. It should be taken on an empty stomach 20 minutes before bedtime (9, 10). Each tablet contains 3 mg of melatonin and 10 mg of vitamin B6.

It also contains 63 mg of calcium. While more clinical research is needed, one older survey based on data from 2008 found that calcium was associated with decreased difficulty falling asleep (23).

Buy HUM Nutrition Beauty zzZz online.

Raw Beauty Green Superfood Powder

Price: $39

This powder contain antioxidants, digestive enzymes, nutrients, and probiotics.

They’re designed to help with overall wellness and contain a variety of superfoods and nutrients like kale, vitamin C, organic barley grass, blueberry extract, and much more.

The current flavors are Vanilla & Berry and Mint Chocolate Chip Infusion.

Buy HUM Nutrition Raw Beauty Green Superfood Powder online.

Collagen Pop

Price: $30

These tablets are made for skin health and contain marine collagen and vitamin C.

One tablet contains 90 mg of vitamin C and 500 mg of collagen from marine sources, which is believed to be absorbed better by the body compared to bovine collagen (24).

They dissolve easily in water and have a strawberry-lemon flavor (11).

Buy HUM Nutrition Collagen Pop online.

Core Strength

Price: $26

Core Strength is a plant-based, vanilla-flavored protein powder that provides 20 grams of plant protein per serving.

It’s a blend of pea protein, organic hemp seed protein, and organic pumpkin seed protein. It also contains a blend of additional ingredients intended to help digestion.

It’s worth noting that this is the only HUM Nutrition product to contain 15, rather than 30, servings per container.

Buy HUM Nutrition Core Strength online.

Summary

Hum Nutrition offers 36 products designed to target specific concerns such as stress, digestion, skin and hair health, and sleep.

Ingredient quality and safety

Although the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not oversee supplements as closely as medications, HUM Nutrition’s website claims that each product goes beyond Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMPs), the requirements set forth by the FDA.

Additionally, each product is tested by an independent third-party lab for:

• quality
• presence of contaminants
• purity
• strength

Another benefit is that the company doesn’t use proprietary blends — custom formulations that don’t disclose the exact amount of each ingredient on the supplement label.

By avoiding these formulations, HUM Nutrition can be fully transparent about the exact amount of each active ingredient in its products.

All of HUM Nutrition’s supplements are gluten-free, and most are vegan — with the exception of products that contain collagen or fish oil.

The supplements are also free of artificial colors, flavors, and sweeteners, as well as genetically modified ingredients.

However, some of HUM’s products are made with suboptimal ingredients that your body may not be able to absorb as effectively as other nutrient forms.

For example, HUM’s multivitamin, Base Control, includes zinc oxide, magnesium oxide, and chromium chloride. Your body may not be able to absorb these as well as it can absorb other forms of the nutrients, such as zinc citrate or zinc picolinate, magnesium malate, and chromium picolinate (12, 13, 14, 15).

Are HUM Nutrition supplements effective?

For quality and effectiveness, many of HUM Nutrition’s products are developed using an evidence-based approach. This means the company selects its ingredients and dosages based on the results of high quality scientific studies.

HUM Nutrition has also conducted its own research on the effectiveness of certain products, the results of which are available on the company’s website.

However, it’s important to take these in-house studies with a grain of salt due to the possibility of bias in the findings.

The studies have not been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals and are mostly based on survey results or observations made without a control group. Therefore, the data may not be as strong or reliable as results from a randomized controlled trial.

HUM Nutrition offers a number of products that make some lofty claims with minimal evidence to support them.

For example, the Counter Cravings product claims to help reduce cravings while boosting metabolism, and Ripped Booster advertises natural fat burn support.

The Skinny Bird product claims to help reduce appetite, and this is based on one small study in just 83 adults that found the main ingredient could reduce calorie intake by 245 calories per day (16).

It’s also important to note that the study was based on a 500-mg dose, while HUM’s product contains 330 mg.

While these products may offer some small benefits, it’s important to understand that they will not promote weight loss or fat loss by themselves.

Lifestyle changes such as reducing calorie intake, exercising more, or a combination of the two are necessary to lose weight and fat, if that’s your goal.

On the other hand, products like Gut Instinct and OMG! Omega the Great contain ingredients that have a large body of research to support their use.

Gut Instinct is a probiotic supplement that contains Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains, which may help improve digestive health, blood sugar regulation, and immune function (17).

OMG! Omega the Great is a fish oil supplement that contains omega-3 fats from fish, which may offer anti-inflammatory benefits and help optimize brain and heart health (18, 19, 20).

HUM Nutrition also includes RDNs and researchers in nearly every step of the process, from developing products and choosing ingredients to providing customer recommendations.

Still, as with any supplement, although some people may find a product effective, there’s no guarantee you’ll experience the same results. For example, while the Skin Squad Pre+Probiotic supplement may reduce breakouts in some people, it may not work for everyone.

Summary

HUM Nutrition uses scientific research to inform its product development and ingredient selection. Still, as with any supplement, effectiveness is not guaranteed and results may vary by individual.

Potential side effects

While HUM Nutrition’s formulations and doses are based on scientific evidence, certain supplements may still cause side effects.

For instance, iron-containing supplements — like Hum Nutrition’s general wellness multivitamin Base Control — may cause nausea and constipation (21).

If you have known allergies, it’s also important to carefully check each supplement label and ingredient list for potential allergens.

Even if you don’t have existing allergies, it’s best to introduce new supplements one at a time so that if you have a bad reaction to one, it’s easier to pinpoint which product or ingredient caused it.

Pregnant and breastfeeding people, anyone under age 18, and people who have preexisting medical conditions or take prescription medications should also be particularly careful with new supplements because of the risk of side effects, complications, or drug interactions.

Finally, make sure to speak with a healthcare professional before adding any new supplement to your routine, especially if you’re in one of the groups mentioned above.

Summary

Before starting a new supplement regimen, be sure to talk with a healthcare professional, especially if you’re pregnant or currently taking prescription medications.

How much does HUM Nutrition cost?

HUM Nutrition’s products range in price from $10–$60 per bottle.

Shipping is free within the United States (including Alaska and Hawaii) for orders over $50, with a $5.95 fee if you spend less than $50. There’s also a flat $10.95 shipping cost for international deliveries.

HUM Nutrition does provide various discounts, including:

• 25% off when you select a 3-month subscription plan
• 15% off when you order three or more products
• $10 off your first order

Additionally, the company offers a full refund for unopened products or store credit for opened products, as long as it’s within the first 30 days.

Summary

Hum Nutrition products range from $10–$60 each, with a $10 discount for new customers. Shipping is free on orders over $50.

Customer reviews and brand reputation

HUM Nutrition seems to have mostly positive reviews. There are hundreds of excellent reviews on the Hum Nutrition website and only a small handful of negative reviews on review aggregate sites like Trustpilot and Better Business Bureau.

Most of the issues are related to the subscription model or delayed shipping, but a few customers also complain that the supplements they tried caused some digestive upset or didn’t seem to be effective.

Overall, though, most customers report being satisfied with HUM.

Summary

Although there are some negative reviews, most customers seem happy with their experience with HUM Nutrition.

Comparison with competitors

There are several personalized subscription vitamin companies on the market, including:

• Nurish by Nature Made. Nurish is less expensive than HUM Nutrition, offering products ranging in price from $4–$15 per month with free shipping. The vitamins are third-party tested and packaged in daily packs rather than their original bottles, making it easy to grab your day’s vitamins. However, Nurish doesn’t provide access to an RDN.
• Persona Nutrition. Persona Nutrition provides daily vitamin packs, with more than 90 supplements to choose from. The supplements range in price from $3–$55 per month. The company also offers one-on-one consultations with health experts, including RDNs and pharmacists. However, Persona products are not third-party tested.
• Care/of. Care/of is another company offering daily vitamin packs, as well as protein powders and drink mixes. The company’s products range in price from $5–$32. Care/of’s website includes a robust research library and categorizes each active ingredient based on the strength of the research behind it. However, the products are not third-party tested and the service doesn’t offer access to an RDN or other health professional.
• Ritual. Ritual differs from other vitamin services in that the company offers multivitamin subscriptions for specific ages and life stages — kids, teens, prenatal, postnatal, adults ages 18–49, and adults ages 50 and over. For this reason, there’s no need to complete a health assessment. The company’s third-party tested products cost $30–$40 per month and are packaged in full-size bottles.

Summary

Unlike some competitors, HUM Nutrition doesn’t offer daily vitamin packs, and it may be slightly more expensive, depending on your product selection.

However, HUM Nutrition’s products are third-party tested, and it’s the only service that offers every customer guaranteed access to an RDN.

Should you try HUM Nutrition?

Hum Nutrition is an excellent choice if you want access to an RDN for support and personalized guidance about your vitamin regimen.

Plus, you can trust the potency of the supplements since each product is third-party tested and intentionally designed to help address specific health concerns.

While some ingredients need more scientific evidence to prove their effectiveness, these ingredients are unlikely to cause serious side effects in most healthy adults.

It’s best to talk with a healthcare professional before taking any new supplement to ensure that the ingredients and doses are safe and appropriate.

Reviews for HUM Nutrition are overwhelmingly positive, though some customers find the gummy and powder products overly sweet.

However, unlike Persona, Care/of, and Nurish, HUM doesn’t offer convenient daily vitamin packs. The products are also more expensive than those of some other services, such as Nurish.

Still, if it fits your budget, HUM Nutrition is a great option for a subscription vitamin service since it provides both quality products and expert advice.

Summary

HUM Nutrition stands out from other personalized vitamin services because of its approach to product development and use of high quality ingredients, as well as the access to RDNs.

Frequently asked questions

Are HUM vitamins FDA-approved?

Technically, the FDA does not approve individual supplements.

However, the FDA does certify manufacturing facilities. CGMP-certified facilities are those that meet FDA criteria, and all of HUM’s supplements are produced in CGMP facilities.

Additionally, HUM supplements are third-party tested, which helps ensure that the products are free of contaminants and contain the ingredients disclosed on the label in the proper amounts.

Which HUM vitamins are best?

Choosing the best HUM vitamin is pretty subjective, and the answer depends on your needs and preferences. Here are some of HUM’s bestsellers:

• Daily Cleanse: contains potentially skin-clearing ingredients like chlorella and spirulina, which have antioxidant and antimicrobial effects (22)
• Flatter Me: contains digestive enzymes to help support healthy digestion
• Private Party: contains probiotics and cranberry extract for vaginal health and helps reduce the risk of urinary tract infections (8)
• Skin Squad Pre+Probiotic: a probiotic and prebiotic supplement designed to help with acne
• Gut Instinct: a probiotic supplement for gut health

Where are HUM vitamins sold?

You can purchase HUM supplements at the HUM Nutrition website or at retailers like Sephora, Nordstrom, and Dermstore.