Before buying Isagenix you should know whether it is safe.
The short answer based on our research is that there are many signs that Isagenix is not safe, or that Isagenix may not be safe depending on the circumstances of the person who is taking the supplements, what else they are eating etc.
It is also important to keep in mind that there is no clear evidence that Isagenix is helpful. So even if you take it and you don't have stomach cramps, nausea, light-headedness, disorientation, or one of the myiad side effects people have reported, there is no reason to take the risk and spend a lot of money on a product with the track record of Isagenix.
It is important to keep in mind that anecdotal opinions from individuals do not in any way constute rational scientific evidence that the supplements actual provided a health benefit. Most of the content online about Isagenix is made up of this kind of "testimony"...if you are scientifically literate, you will obviously not take that stuff seriously.
Unfortunately the short answer is that we don't know and there are reasons to be concerned.
More broadly, the nutritional supplement industry in general is very poorly regulated in the US. This dates back to the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, which severely limited the ability of the US to protect consumers from dangerous supplements.
As Stephen Barret PhD writes:
"Most people think that dietary supplements and herbs are closely regulated to ensure that they are safe, effective, and truthfully advertised. Nothing could be further from the truth. Although some aspects of marketing are regulated, the United States Congress has concluded that "informed" consumers need little government protection. This conclusion was embodied in the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994—commonly referred to as "DSHEA"—which severely limits the FDA's ability to regulate these products."
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Friday, January 25, 2013
Isagenix Ingredients?
What is in Isagenix? Oddly enough the company doesn't want to tell you. Like many nutrional products sold via MLM tacts, you can't find out exactly what is in the products!
For more on the problem of MLM nutritional supplements not being transparent about their ingredients, see this excellent post by Caitlin E. Cahill
All the company gives you is a bullet point list of what they want you to know...basically the alleged benefits.
For more on the problem of MLM nutritional supplements not being transparent about their ingredients, see this excellent post by Caitlin E. Cahill
All the company gives you is a bullet point list of what they want you to know...basically the alleged benefits.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Detox diets: Do they work? - MayoClinic.com
Isagenix, and many similar nutrional supplements sold via MLM, are based on the idea of the "Detox Diet." But before we get ahead of ourselves, what is the state of current research on whether Detox Diets work?
One take is below, courtesy of leading hospital and wellness research organization, the Mayo Clinic:
Detox diets: Do they work? - MayoClinic.com
One take is below, courtesy of leading hospital and wellness research organization, the Mayo Clinic:
Detox diets: Do they work? - MayoClinic.com
The reason it's hard to find info on the dark side of MLM online...
When I warn people about the risks and costs of the MLM industry, I often am asked a good but somewhat naive question: "The reason it's hard to find info on the dark side of MLM online?"
The answer is that because MLM companies and their top distributors (who together are the only participants who benefit from these schemes) has a huge vested interest in minimimizing the availability and accessibility of criticism and negative information about their products. And they go all-out to blanket the web with apparently positive information about their products, much of it disguised as first-person testimony or even-handed analysis....much of it mediocre and informative...anything to make it harder for people to find more important information on the cons, the risks, and often shady backgrounds of the founders of Multi Level Marketing companies.
In other words, MLM acolytes fan out accross the web to bury the important but negative truth about risks, waste, and other negative impacts with astroturf posts that that one.
Here is one of thousands of examples....On a comment on this post on the false medical claims made by Isagenix, an unidentifiable reader calling herself Megan posts the following
"I’ve never done the cleanse, but was thinking about doing so after the holidays. I’m no medical expert, but I am entering into health care as a nurse in the near future and nutrition fascinates me. The hypothesis that neurological syndromes and food allergies are attributed to toxicity *has* been supported by research (see Dr. Theo Colhoun’s work). Differences have been shown between subjects who ingest foods laden with additives and pesticides in contrast with with subjects who eat whole, organic foods. The effects of taking in said toxins can range anywhere from developmentally delayed children to reproductively impaired adults. These statements have been supported by data and research.
I recently read about the various P450 enzymes and their role in detoxifying our bodies…Could pesticides and additives have an adverse effect on these enzymes? I would love to see the research, but my instincts after reading more into the subject say perhaps. .... Isagenix at least supports people in making healthier choices…Kale instead of candy perhaps. You are what you eat, and heck, if Isagenix gets people to drink a nutritional shake vs eating a happy meal, I’m all for it."
Aww, shucks Megan....you seem appealingly positive but suspiciously armed with pro-Isagenix talking points. In this case another reader calls her out, writing that "Even Stevie Wonder can see" that Megan is an Isagenix rep.
The answer is that because MLM companies and their top distributors (who together are the only participants who benefit from these schemes) has a huge vested interest in minimimizing the availability and accessibility of criticism and negative information about their products. And they go all-out to blanket the web with apparently positive information about their products, much of it disguised as first-person testimony or even-handed analysis....much of it mediocre and informative...anything to make it harder for people to find more important information on the cons, the risks, and often shady backgrounds of the founders of Multi Level Marketing companies.
In other words, MLM acolytes fan out accross the web to bury the important but negative truth about risks, waste, and other negative impacts with astroturf posts that that one.
Here is one of thousands of examples....On a comment on this post on the false medical claims made by Isagenix, an unidentifiable reader calling herself Megan posts the following
"I’ve never done the cleanse, but was thinking about doing so after the holidays. I’m no medical expert, but I am entering into health care as a nurse in the near future and nutrition fascinates me. The hypothesis that neurological syndromes and food allergies are attributed to toxicity *has* been supported by research (see Dr. Theo Colhoun’s work). Differences have been shown between subjects who ingest foods laden with additives and pesticides in contrast with with subjects who eat whole, organic foods. The effects of taking in said toxins can range anywhere from developmentally delayed children to reproductively impaired adults. These statements have been supported by data and research.
I recently read about the various P450 enzymes and their role in detoxifying our bodies…Could pesticides and additives have an adverse effect on these enzymes? I would love to see the research, but my instincts after reading more into the subject say perhaps. .... Isagenix at least supports people in making healthier choices…Kale instead of candy perhaps. You are what you eat, and heck, if Isagenix gets people to drink a nutritional shake vs eating a happy meal, I’m all for it."
Aww, shucks Megan....you seem appealingly positive but suspiciously armed with pro-Isagenix talking points. In this case another reader calls her out, writing that "Even Stevie Wonder can see" that Megan is an Isagenix rep.
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Not again... another "Christian based" MLM gig ....
Heads up: another "Christian based" MLM gig .... is yet another thread about something I find incredibly ironic and sad. Even thought MLM seems to contradict the teachings of Jesus as I understand them from the bible (e.g. though shalt not worthip false idols, though shalt not steal,....)....MLM programs seem to appeal so many evangelical christians...apparently the wrongness of bringing evangelical zeal to the sale of overpriced and sometimes dangerous junk to loved ones is overlooked....
I have to ask you again: would Jesus have approved of Isagenix, Herbalife, or Multi-Level Marketing in general. A sane and thoughtful person would probably say no....
I have to ask you again: would Jesus have approved of Isagenix, Herbalife, or Multi-Level Marketing in general. A sane and thoughtful person would probably say no....
Why doesn't Isagenix share ingredient list?
Wow, talk about a poorly regulated industry and an outrageous pyramid scheme all rold into one. Like many nutrional products sold via MLM tacticss, you can't find out exactly what is in the products!
The closes you get to "information' about what you are being urged to put into you body is a bullet point list of what they want you to know...basically the alleged benefits. This is where the MLM evangelist...I mean salesperson...steps in to assure you that you must believe in it for anecdotal reasons they will recite with religious fervor. Sounds pretty much like evangelical religion, only it's about making the founders of these shady companies rich...a real shame.
For more on the problem of MLM nutritional supplements not being transparent about their ingredients, see this excellent post by Caitlin E. Cahill
The closes you get to "information' about what you are being urged to put into you body is a bullet point list of what they want you to know...basically the alleged benefits. This is where the MLM evangelist...I mean salesperson...steps in to assure you that you must believe in it for anecdotal reasons they will recite with religious fervor. Sounds pretty much like evangelical religion, only it's about making the founders of these shady companies rich...a real shame.
For more on the problem of MLM nutritional supplements not being transparent about their ingredients, see this excellent post by Caitlin E. Cahill
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
From High Energy Clubs to Dashed Dreams: Herbalife Tales
From High Energy Clubs to Dashed Dreams: Herbalife Tales: From High Energy Clubs to Dashed Dreams: Herbalife Tales
A pretty damning investigative report from CNBC about the destructive impact of MLM on the lives of hard working people. Must watch if you don't know enough about why MLM businesses are a scourge.
A pretty damning investigative report from CNBC about the destructive impact of MLM on the lives of hard working people. Must watch if you don't know enough about why MLM businesses are a scourge.
Is Herbalife a Scam? Does a Duck Quack?
The battle of word between Herbalife CEO Michael Johnson, who audaciously claims he's shocked...shocked...to have heard for the first time ever the Multi Level Marketing is shady and often associated with scams....and two dueling hedge fund titans continues to play out. Tracy Coenen has some of the latest coverage, including videos, on her Fraud Files Blog.
As a longtime critic of MLM, I find it interesting that while three wealthy bastards debate whether a huge corporate is a good investment or not....the public is finally hearding more about the dark side of MLM. In my book, whether Herbalife stock will crash or thrive is pretty irrelevant. What IS relevant...extremely relevant...is that Multi Level Marketing in general provides a vehicle for victimization of millions of people per year, at a cost of billions of dollars to mostly poor and middle class Americans. And this is not to mention the fact that MLM is even less regulated, and even more destructive, to the lives of hundreds of millions of people worldwide.
"Victimization?" you may say?....."isn't that a strong word?" Yes it is, and I acknowledge that some people suffer more than others due to the existense of MLM stuff in their lives. But honestly, if you look at the reality of the situation, the BEST CASE SCENARIO with MLM is that people pressure friends, neighbors, and loved ones to do something that is aganst their best interests, by pretending it is a good idea, in a desparate effort to monetize those relationships. That's best case scenario when it comes to MLM.
From there it gets worse....including people who never make a dime, but end up losing money bc they aren't that good at pressurinig their family to buy overpriced stuff they don't need. And then of course people who are scammed altogether...there is a VERY small line between MLM and pyramid schemes..
I hope the MLM story gets more people to look at those near to them and ask: what is he involved in, and is it really a good idea? What is she trying to sell me, and what are her motivations? Is this all such a good idea?
As a longtime critic of MLM, I find it interesting that while three wealthy bastards debate whether a huge corporate is a good investment or not....the public is finally hearding more about the dark side of MLM. In my book, whether Herbalife stock will crash or thrive is pretty irrelevant. What IS relevant...extremely relevant...is that Multi Level Marketing in general provides a vehicle for victimization of millions of people per year, at a cost of billions of dollars to mostly poor and middle class Americans. And this is not to mention the fact that MLM is even less regulated, and even more destructive, to the lives of hundreds of millions of people worldwide.
"Victimization?" you may say?....."isn't that a strong word?" Yes it is, and I acknowledge that some people suffer more than others due to the existense of MLM stuff in their lives. But honestly, if you look at the reality of the situation, the BEST CASE SCENARIO with MLM is that people pressure friends, neighbors, and loved ones to do something that is aganst their best interests, by pretending it is a good idea, in a desparate effort to monetize those relationships. That's best case scenario when it comes to MLM.
From there it gets worse....including people who never make a dime, but end up losing money bc they aren't that good at pressurinig their family to buy overpriced stuff they don't need. And then of course people who are scammed altogether...there is a VERY small line between MLM and pyramid schemes..
I hope the MLM story gets more people to look at those near to them and ask: what is he involved in, and is it really a good idea? What is she trying to sell me, and what are her motivations? Is this all such a good idea?
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