What is Isagenix?
The
US-based company was founded by Jim and Kathy Coover in 2002 and operates in
seven countries worldwide. The company develops and produces products that it
says assist with "nutritional cleansing" which can result in
"greater health, well-being and weight loss".
In
a nutshell, the products are a variety of whey protein shakes, bars and herbal
supplements, which promise to help you lose weight.
And
rather than using traditional forms of advertising, Isagenix uses multi-level marketing, which
relies on participants to set up distribution networks among friends, and the
company pays commissions based on sales by the participants.
The
Australia and New Zealand arm of the business launched in 2007, and the local
website features enthusiastic Aussies giving testimonials on their weight loss and financial gains. (Even Australian Olympian Jana
Pittman pops up in one of the company's promotional videos spruiking the
wonders of the program.)
What Vitamins and Minerals Does It Contain?
Isagenix’s IsaLean shakes contain 23 different
vitamins and minerals:
- Vitamin A: Strengthens
your body’s immune system and boosts cell growth
- Vitamin C: Helps
protect your body’s immune system and wards off fatigue caused by stress
- Calcium: Helps
promote healthy weight managements and strengthens bones
- Iron: Increases
energy and promotes production of hemoglobin
- Vitamin D: Promotes
absorption of calcium and decreases risk of diabetes
- Vitamin E: Promotes
a healthy immune system and fights free radicals
- Vitamin B: Supports
nerve cell and muscle function.
- Riboflavin: Plays
a big role in energy production and electron transportation
- Niacin: Promotes
healthy levels of good cholesterol and lowers bad cholesterol
- Vitamin B6: Breaks
down the protein consumed daily
- Folate: Helps
regulate brain functions and improves mood
- Vitamin B12: Crucial
for red blood cell production
- Biotin: Promotes
healthy nails and skin
- Phosphorous: Supports
bone and muscle health
- Magnesium: Supports
healthy kidneys and heart
- Zinc: Supports
the immune and respiratory systems
- Selenium: Helps
fight free radicals and reduces odds of certain cancers
- Copper: Increases
energy and supports healthy blood and nerve function
- Manganese: Promotes
a healthy bone structure and bone metabolism
- Chromium: Helps
lower cholesterol, insulin levels, and blood sugar
- Molybdenum: Helps
metabolize important amino acids (building blocks for protein)
- Pantothenic Acid: Helps
turn food into energy
- Iodine: Strengthens
the thyroid
Taste
and Consistency
What
Flavors Are Available?
IsaLean shakes are currently
available in five flavors: Creamy French Vanilla, Strawberry Cream, Creamy
Dutch Chocolate, Black Sesame and Orange Cream.
Based on what we’ve found,
the Creamy Dutch Chocolate appears to the fan favorite with Creamy French
Vanilla coming in a close second. Strawberry Cream is the newest flavor, and
Black Sesame can be consumed either cold or warm.
The shakes are known for their
sweetness, which makes sense, seeing how just one packet contains 11g of sugar.
While that’s not an insane amount in the grand scheme of things, it is
approximately six times as much sugar in a similar amount of Ideal Shape shakes.
If you’re especially strict with
your daily sugar intake, this may not be the best brand for you to go with. On
the other hand, if taste is important, then Isagenix will more than likely be a
top contender.
How Does Isagenix Work?
Isagenix’s
most popular product is their 30-day system which they market as their “starter
pack”. It contains a variety of different products, some of which are aimed at
cleansing and hydrating. But these are seen as “added bonuses” by many people,
the main product they are promoting with this system is the meal replacement shakes.
By
skipping a meal and replacing it with one of their shakes you’ll essentially
cut your daily calorific intake by around 20% (if you don’t snack). By doing so
it means you can lose weight without having to eat low-calorie foods for
the other two meals of your day.
Are There Any Side Effects?
One
of the most frequently reported side effects encountered by people on the
30-day system is a headache. We were unable to ascertain how common this issue
is (or the reasoning behind it).
However,
Isagenix state on their website that it could be a sign of dehydration and that
anyone experiencing headaches should drink more water. Isagenix includes 4
“hydrate sticks” in the 30-day system which may have been included for this
very purpose.
Satisfaction
Level
What Does Isagenix Use to Curb
Hunger?
Isagenix uses a combination of
whey protein, fiber, and active enzymes to help curb consumers’ hunger and
appetite – the standout component being the active enzymes.
While we were unable to find out
what all the active enzymes consisted of, we did uncover that Lactase is one of
them. Lactase is a digestive enzyme that helps break down milk sugar lactose,
which helps consumers digest the milk components much easier.
Those same enzymes also help
stave off hunger for up to 4 hours (according to reports from consumers). That
time limit places IsaLean towards the top of the hunger-curbing duration list
for meal replacement shakes that we’ve reviewed.
How Long Is Hunger Curbed On
Average?
While hunger has been curbed for
up to 4 hours for some consumers, two-and-a-half hours seems to be the average
time (slightly above average for meal replacement shakes).
If you’re active, the appetite
suppression will probably be shorter (due to a higher metabolism). If you’re
not as active, then it’s more likely to be longer.
Isagenix
Reviews & Results
The results we uncovered form
other consumers’ Isagenix shake reviews were mostly positive. A couple of
reviews that really stuck out to us include:
- A
55-year old that lost over 25 lbs. (time-frame not included in the
review). The person states that they are now a size 4.
- Another
consumer lost 15 lbs. in the span of a couple of months with very minimal
exercise.
Keep in mind that the results
above are not typical and will vary depending on your genetics, fitness level,
and countless other factors.
But based on what we uncovered
during our research, we’re confident that if you use the shakes as directed and
are active, you will see some form of weight loss within a couple of weeks.
Conclusion
Unfortunately,
the negative tone of the reviews we have read about Isagenix has put us in a
position where we simply cannot recommend their products. We feel they need to
assess the taste of their shakes to ensure that customer feedback is addressed.
If
in the future, they change their recipe and address the apparent issue we may
be able to start considering recommending them.
