Introduction

Huel has made a significant entry into the greens market with a powerful, high-number claim: 91 vitamins, minerals, and superfoods in one scoop. Their message is clear: Huel Daily Greens "goes further" than other powders, offering "all-in-one daily nutrition" [1].

This "quantity-first" philosophy - packing 91 ingredients into an 8.5g scoop - is an ambitious one. For the discerning consumer, it raises a critical question: is a true "all-in-one" supplement defined by the number of ingredients on its label, or by the functional dosage and bioavailability of those ingredients?

This analysis will provide a research-based comparison of Huel's "91-ingredient" formulation logic versus the "16-in-1 functional system" philosophy of IM8 Daily Ultimate Essentials, which is built on 100% transparency and clinical dosing.

Quick Orientation: Main Claims & Who It’s For

The Definitive IM8 v Huel Daily Greens Comparison

Gut Health: Potency, Survivability, and System Completeness – An Ecosystem Approach

Supporting digestive health is a cornerstone claim for many daily supplements, including Huel.  However, a closer look reveals that simply including a probiotic isn't enough. The gut microbiome is a complex ecosystem, and effective support requires a nuanced, multi-pronged system that considers not just the presence of beneficial bacteria, but their potency, their ability to survive the journey to the gut, and the environment they encounter upon arrival.

According to Dr. Suzanne Devkota, Director of Cedars-Sinai Human Microbiome Research Institute Cedars-Sinai, “The gut microbiome not only helps digest food but also synthesizes essential nutrients, regulates immune function, and communicates with the brain through what we call the gut-brain axis.”

• Questionable Potency: Huel provides 150 Million CFU (0.15 Billion CFU) per serving, combining Bacillus coagulans and Bifidobacterium bifidum. While any amount can be beneficial, this total potency is strikingly low. As noted by McFarland (2015), clinical research investigating probiotic efficacy often employs doses dramatically higher, frequently ranging from 1 Billion to well over 50 Billion CFU daily, depending on the target outcome [13].
• The Survivability Factor: Huel utilizes a mix of probiotic types. Bacillus coagulans is a spore-former, possessing a natural resilience. However, Bifidobacterium bifidum is a non-spore strain - which has been extensively documented in microbiological research for their sensitivity to the harsh, low-pH environment of the stomach. Studies simulating gastric conditions, like the one by Corcoran et al. (2005), show significant viability loss for Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species [14]  before ever reaching the beneficial environment of the intestines.
• An Incomplete Toolkit: Beyond the probiotic itself, Huel's formula lacks digestive enzymes, which play a critical role in breaking down macronutrients (carbs, fats, proteins) and can be particularly helpful for individuals experiencing bloating or digestive discomfort [15]. It also lacks dedicated prebiotics – the specific types of fiber that act as fuel for beneficial bacteria – and postbiotics, which are emerging as important players in gut health.

IM8's Strategy: A Comprehensive 4-Tier Ecosystem Approach IM8 views gut health not just as adding bacteria, but as nurturing an entire ecosystem. Its 4-Tier Gut Health System is designed for high potency, maximum survivability, and complete support:

1. Prebiotics: (Guar Fiber, Agave Inulin) to nourish beneficial bacteria.
2. Probiotics: IM8 provides 10 Billion CFU of spore-forming strains (like DE111®). These strains are naturally encased in a protective endospore. Research in journals like Beneficial Microbes confirms this structure gives them exceptional resilience against heat, moisture, and stomach acid, leading to a much higher survival and colonization rate [4].
3. A Full Digestive Enzyme Complex: IM8 provides a 200mg complex with all activity units clearly listed.
4. A Postbiotic (FloraSMART®): Postbiotics are non-living compounds that improve gut barrier function and improve inflammation, which studies have shown to improve insulin sensitivity, and help manage conditions like IBS and IBD.

Net: While Huel includes a very low dose of probiotics with questionable survivability and omits other key gut-support elements, IM8 provides a high-potency, resilient, and complete system designed to support the gut microbiome from multiple angles.

Deconstructing the "All-in-One" Vitamin Panel: Bioavailability

To its credit, Huel provides a very comprehensive multivitamin panel, which is the backbone of its "all-in-one" claim [1]. However, a key differentiator in any premium formula is the form of the minerals used, as this dictates how much your body can actually absorb.

Huel's formulation uses:

• Magnesium Oxide (40mg)
• Zinc Oxide (15mg)

From a formulation perspective, these "oxide" forms are often chosen for their low cost and small molecular size. However, a large body of research questions their effectiveness. A 2019 review in Current Nutrition & Food Science noted that Magnesium Oxide has very poor solubility and bioavailability [4]. Similarly, a 2014 study in the Journal of Nutrition found that Zinc Oxide is absorbed at a significantly lower rate than chelated forms like Zinc Citrate [5].

IM8's formulation philosophy for an "all-in-one" is built on bioavailability. The logic is that a dose is only as good as what your body can use.

• Magnesium Glycinate (65mg)
• Zinc Citrate (15mg)

These "chelated" forms, as highlighted in the IM8 analysis, are bound to an organic molecule, which research suggests makes them much easier for the body to recognize and absorb, ensuring better nutritional impact. This represents a clear difference in formulation philosophy: Huel's "all-in-one" is built on listing the nutrient, while IM8's is built on absorbing it.

The "91-Ingredient" Philosophy: Proprietary Blends vs. Functional Dosing

Huel's "91-ingredient" count is achieved by grouping dozens of ingredients into proprietary blends. This "micro-dosing" approach is evident across multiple complexes:

• "Organic Adaptogen and Super Mushroom Complex": 172mg total for 13 ingredients (~13mg each)
• "Organic Antioxidant Greens Blend": 1,161mg for 17 ingredients (~68mg each)
• Probiotics: Listed as 3mg total weight, not a verifiable CFU count

This formulation strategy allows many ingredients to be listed, supporting the "91" claim, but the doses provided for individual components within these blends are substantially lower than amounts typically used in single-ingredient research.

IM8's formulation takes a different approach. Rather than spreading milligrams thinly across dozens of ingredients, IM8 concentrates its formula into distinct systems designed for specific outcomes. This is most evident in:

• The Gut Health System: Where Huel uses an unverifiable 3mg probiotic weight, IM8 provides a transparent 10 Billion CFU count, alongside prebiotics, postbiotics, and a fully disclosed Digestive Enzyme Complex (which Huel omits entirely).
• Standalone Functional Complexes: As detailed later, IM8 includes high-dose complexes for joints (MSM), heart (CoQ10), recovery (Aminos), hydration (Electrolytes), and cellular health (CRT8™)- all absent from Huel.

The core difference lies in philosophy: Huel prioritizes a long ingredient list achieved through micro-dosing in proprietary blends. IM8 prioritizes transparent, functional doses within targeted complexes designed for specific systemic support.

The Missing Systems in Huel’s “All-in-One”

A key aspect of an "all-in-one" is comprehensiveness. A truly foundational supplement, like IM8 which supports 9 major organ systems, should address multiple facets of health. Huel's formula is missing several key complexes compared to IM8's broader approach.

These dedicated complexes provide functional doses of ingredients like MSM (for collagen and joint comfort), CoQ10 (for cellular energy [8]), BCAAs (for muscle recovery), and CRT8™ (Spermidine for cellular health - areas Huel's formula does not directly address.

Price, Taste, and Value

Huel Daily Greens is offered at a low price point of $1.50 per serving [1]. This price is consistent with its formulation: a multivitamin using cost-effective oxide minerals, combined with vague blends. It uses Stevia for sweetening.

IM8 Daily Ultimate Essentials costs ~$2.96 per serving. This price reflects its value as an all-in-one system designed to consolidate the need for multiple separate supplements [2], providing transparent, functional doses across 9 organ systems. 

What IM8 replaces in a single scoop:

• A high-end multivitamin (all essential vitamins + 12 essential minerals)
• A 4-tier gut system (pre + 10B CFU spore-forming probiotics + full enzyme panel + postbiotic)
• A joint supplement (1,000 mg MSM)
• A heart/cellular energy supplement (100 mg CoQ10)
• A full electrolyte mix
• An amino/BCAA recovery product
• A role-based adaptogen & functional mushroom complex
• A cellular maintenance/longevity layer (CRT8™)

Taste

Huel Daily Greens: The Original flavor offers a "clean, refreshing taste" blending crisp apple, pineapple, mint, and lime [1]. They also offer Watermelon and Lemon & Ginger options. Huel uses Organic Stevia Leaf Extract as its sweetener [1]

IM8 Daily Ultimate Essentials: The flavor profile is described as a "delightful blend with earthy undertones, a subtle tartness... culminating in a smooth acai and mixed berries finish" [2]. IM8 uses Reb M (from fermented sugarcane) as its sweetener [2], which is a premium, newer generation sweetener derived from sugarcane (but containing no sugar) known for its clean taste profile, without the lingering bitterness sometimes associated with Stevia.

The Final Verdict

Huel Daily Greens and IM8 Daily Ultimate Essentials represent two vastly different approaches to an "all-in-one" supplement.

Huel leverages its "91-ingredient" count and broad multivitamin panel. It is a "quantity-first" product. However, its reliance on low-bioavailability mineral oxides, micro-dosed proprietary blends, very low probiotic potency (0.15 Billion CFU), and omission of key systems like digestive enzymes, joint, and heart support limit its functional scope

IM8 is a "functional-dosing" system with 92 ingredients organized into transparent complexes. It prioritizes high-bioavailability ingredients, provides a high-potency (10 Billion CFU) and resilient probiotic blend within a complete 4-tier gut system, and includes multiple additional complexes (Joint, Heart, Recovery, Cellular, Hydration, Enzymes) at doses aligned with scientific research, designed to support 9 major organ systems.

Bottom Line: the choice depends on your goal: an affordable multivitamin/greens blend with a high ingredient count (Huel Daily Greens), or a premium, comprehensive system (IM8 Daily Essentials) built for transparent, functional results across the entire body.

Ready to upgrade your daily ritual? Try IM8 Daily Ultimate Essentials today.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): IM8 vs. Huel

1. Huel has 91 ingredients and IM8 has 92. Does the number matter most? 

Not necessarily. While both have a high count, the formulation strategy differs. Huel uses many ingredients in small "proprietary blends" where individual doses are often minimal. IM8 organizes its 92 ingredients into transparent, functionally-dosed systems (like 1000mg MSM, 100mg CoQ10, 10 Billion CFU Probiotics) designed for specific results. It's about dosage and transparency, not just the count.

2. Why is Huel so cheap?

Huel's price reflects its ingredient quality and dosage. It uses cost-effective, low-bioavailability mineral "oxides" (Magnesium Oxide, Zinc Oxide) and its "91 ingredients" are, in many cases, included in "micro-doses" (like its 3mg probiotic blend). IM8's price reflects its use of premium chelated minerals and multiple functional complexes at high doses.

3. Is Huel's probiotic good for my gut?

It's impossible to verify from the label. Huel lists its probiotic by weight (3mg), not by potency (CFU). This is not a standard or verifiable dose. IM8 provides a transparent 10 Billion CFU of spore-forming probiotics and a 4-tier system with prebiotics, postbiotics, and enzymes, which Huel lacks.