*We do not make any guarantees and that any comments made above in the FB feed are personal results of that individual. Results may vary from person to person.

Isagenix® IsaLean® is a shake from Isagenix International LLC., a multi-level marketing company (MLM). Popular as part of the Isagenix 30-day weight loss system, reviews indicate that this shake can lead to weight loss in the short term. However, it ranks low on our list for its expensive price, harmful MLM peer health counseling tactics, high sugar content, lack of long-term weight loss support, and highly processed ingredients.

See our #1 rated shake 

*Nutrition information is taken from https://cdn.isagenix.com/fos/E/A/6/%7BEA624D26-4C8E-4E00-AB8A-3170183F1B2F%7D.pdf?_ga=2.176835685.1701179191.1613590283-1678270894.1613399498 and https://cdn.isagenix.com/fos/B/7/4/%7BB74EF003-E01E-4E2E-A000-1BE04AD70611%7D.pdf?_ga=2.152215801.1701179191.1613590283-1678270894.1613399498. Price per serving calculated from a package price of $58.65 for IsaLean® Whole Blend Whey-Based Shake Creamy French Vanilla Flavor with 14 servings per package. Price per serving calculated from a package price of $55.99 for IsaLean® Shake Creamy French Vanilla. Accessed 2/19/21. 

Thinking of trying Isagenix IsaLean Shake? This thorough review will help you determine if this shake is best suited for you and if it will help you accomplish your health and weight loss goals.

The big takeaway

As part of Isagenix’s 30-day weight loss system, the Isagenix IsaLean Shake could help you lose weight in the short term due to its heavy emphasis on calorie restriction and intermittent fasting. However, based on our review of this product, we would not recommend the Isagenix IsaLean Shake as a long-term weight loss solution. 

Although the company claims to offer “elite products connected with groundbreaking science” the science they lean on is self-funded and many health experts, and reviewers, warn that the products do not live up to the marketing hype. Given experts point to heavy calorie restriction as the reason for the early success of this weight loss program, the expensive price of the product is not worth the highly processed ingredients you are getting.

It’s due to this expensive price, plus the harmful multi-level marketing peer health counseling tactics, high sugar content, lack of long-term weight loss support, and highly processed ingredients, that this shake ranks low on our list of meal replacement shakes. 

What is the IsaLean Shake?

IsaLean Shake is Isagenix’s meal replacement shake and is included as part of their 30-day weight loss system. The IsaLean Shake comes in two different options, including the original IsaLean® Shake and their vegan and dairy-free option, the Whole Blend IsaLean® Shake. Both shakes contain a blend of whey and casein (milk) protein and are between 230-240 calories per serving. The product is marketed for healthy and convenient weight loss. 

Taste

If you’re looking for a shake that reminds you of a creamy, delicious dessert then IsaLean Shakes may be for you. The majority of users said they loved the taste of Isagenix shakes, which were easy to mix and had great consistencies, with no grittiness. 

Many people mentioned that the shakes taste great with other healthy mix-ins such as fruits, veggies, and nut butter, and also with just the shake powder and a healthy beverage. Many also mentioned they enjoyed the Isagenix recipes offered on the website.

While many reviewers love the taste of the shake, there are also other reviews indicating that it has a “really bad taste”. One user, for example, shared that it is “so gross that I could not even complete one day of the product”. Based on the amount of sugar that is included in the IsaLean shake — 7 grams for the Whole Blend IsaLean Shake and 10 grams for the original IsaLean Shake — they could be considered too sweet for some people.

Flavors

IsaLean shakes come in a variety of flavors: Creamy French Vanilla, Creamy Dutch Chocolate, Strawberry Cream, Chocolate Mint, Natural Creamy Vanilla (Kosher), Birthday Cake, Whipped Mocha Latte, Cookies and Cream, and Caramel Brulée. 

Users mentioned that the shakes do not have that “fake sugar” taste since they don’t contain artificial sweeteners. They do, however, contain fructose and quite a lot of sugar, which we discuss in the sugar section. The great flavor may come with a price tag for your health.

Side effects

Though you can suffer potential side effects from any meal replacement shake, it’s worth noting that more than a few reviews mentioned they experienced some after drinking Isagenix IsaLean Shakes.

Some of the side effects include:

• Stomach pains and cramping
• Tiredness
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Vomiting
• Constipation 

Many of these side effects may come with simply getting used to drinking shakes instead of meals. If any of them persists after continued use, you may be sensitive to a particular ingredient in the shakes and you should discontinue using the product.

Price

The price per serving for the Whole Blend IsaLean shake is $4.19 and the price per serving for the IsaLean Shake original blend is $3.99. If you sign up for a Preferred Customer account or purchase through an Isagenix Associate, you can get 25% off that price for an annual fee of $39, or $29 if you join their Autoship. Our top five shakes are between $2.00 and $3.50 so this price is at the upper end of our list. 

Keep in mind that the IsaLean Shake bag only includes 14 servings (2 scoops per serving on the label). This is a high cost for a shake that you are going to run out of fairly quickly. If you’re planning on drinking these every day for weight loss, that could be inconvenient unless you buy them in bulk.

A big reason for the higher cost of the IsaLean Shake is the multi-level marketing system (MLM) that jacks up the price of the product. As we discuss more in our MLM section below, most MLMs will have higher prices than their competitors. This is not due to better quality ingredients, but rather because the company needs to pay out commission for all distributors. For a diet whose benefits primarily come from calorie restriction, there are much cheaper alternatives to choose from. 

IsaLean Shake Ingredients

IsaLean® Whole Blend Whey-Based Shake Creamy French Vanilla Flavor ingredients: Exclusive Myo-IsaLean® Complex [whey protein concentrate (undenatured), milk protein concentrate (undenatured), low-heat nonfat dry milk], soluble vegetable fiber, sunflower oil powder, natural flavors, medium-chain triglyceride oil powder, cellulose, molasses powder, honey powder, xanthan gum, chia seed powder, cinnamon, Ionic Alfalfa™ (Medicago sativa) stem and leaf extract, vegetable extract blend (broccoli, spinach, kale, pumpkin, sweet potato, sunflower seed, kelp, chlorella, maitake mushroom, shiitake mushroom), sea salt, stevia (Stevia rebaudiana) leaf extract, Lactobacillus acidophilus

IsaLean® Shake Creamy French Vanilla ingredients: Exclusive Myo-IsaLean™ Complex [whey protein concentrate (undenatured), milk protein concentrate (undenatured), low-heat nonfat dry milk], digestion-resistant maltodextrin, sunflower oil powder, fructose, natural flavors, cellulose, xanthan gum, chia seed powder, medium-chain triglyceride oil powder, cinnamon powder, Ionic Alfalfa™ (Medicago sativa) stem and leaf extract, magnesium oxide, tricalcium phosphate, potassium citrate, enzyme blend [lactase (from Aspergillus oryzae), lipase (from Rhizopus oryzae), cellulase (from Trichoderma longibrachiatum), invertase (from Saccharomyces cerevisiae), protease (from Aspergillus oryzae), amylase (from Bacillus subtilis), bromelain (from Ananas comosus), papain (from Carica papaya), acid stable protease (from Aspergillus niger)], sea salt, vitamin C (ascorbic acid), magnesium stearate, silicon dioxide, molybdenum yeast, manganese gluconate, vitamin E succinate, potassium iodide, stevia (Stevia rebaudiana) leaf extract, niacinamide, zinc oxide, vitamin A (beta carotene), vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol), copper gluconate, chromium chloride, sodium selenite, vitamin B5 (d-calcium pantothenate), biotin, vitamin B6 (pyridoxine HCl), Lactobacillus acidophilus, vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B1 (thiamin HCl), vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin), folic acid, methylfolate (L-5- methylfolate calcium)

Calories

At its simplest, one key to losing weight is more calories used (energy expended) than calories consumed (food that is eaten throughout the day). So when embarking on a weight loss journey, putting yourself in a slight caloric deficit is one way to reach your goal. When it comes to meal replacement shakes, it’s important to aim for a shake that combines a nutrient-dense profile with the least amount of calories. 

IsaLean shakes have 230-240 calories depending on the type of shake. This is high for a weight loss shake, especially compared to others on our list. One of the best ways to drop pounds and reach a healthy weight is to pick a shake that is low in calories to help you meet your daily calorie goal. 

However, given that IsaLean shake is part of a calorie-reduced 30-day weight loss system, having a higher calorie count is not necessarily a bad thing. After all, one of the biggest barriers to successful weight loss is sticking to a low-calorie diet when you are feeling hungry and unsatisfied.

Therefore, when considering calories it’s also important to look at the protein and fiber contents of a meal replacement shake. IsaLean shakes have 24 grams of protein and 8 grams of fiber. So although the calorie count is higher than some other meal replacement shakes, the number of calories you are consuming alongside a higher count of protein and fiber will keep you full for longer which will aid in overall weight loss. 

Protein

Research shows that consuming protein can complement the weight loss process by controlling your appetite and supporting a healthy metabolism. Higher protein levels in your diet can not only help you feel more full but can help reduce late-night snacking and overeating, which are common pitfalls for anyone trying to lose weight. It’s also sufficient for building and maintaining healthy, lean muscles. 

To get the maximum benefit, you should aim for a meal replacement shake that contains between 15 and 25 grams of protein. IsaLean shakes have 24 grams of protein, which is well within the recommended amount.

It is also essential to consider the type of protein in your meal replacement shake because not all proteins are the same. IsaLean’s shakes contain a special Myo-IsaLean Complex (which includes whey protein concentrate, milk protein concentrate, and low-heat, nonfat dry milk).

Whey and casein (milk) protein are two of the most popular protein powders used in both protein shakes and meal replacement shakes. Their popularity stems from the fact that they are both easily absorbed by the body and are both complete proteins, containing all the essential amino acids your body needs. Both whey and casein protein are found in dairy products, such as milk, and are both byproducts of cheese production.

The downside to whey and casein protein is that some research has found that these proteins could cause gastrointestinal discomfort, especially for those who have an allergy or sensitivity to dairy products. Given their dairy sensitivity, they are not ideal for all people looking to lose weight. This could be a reason for some of the bloating and gut issues that some customers have experienced consuming IsaLean shakes. 

As for the specific type of whey, the formula utilizes whey concentrate instead of whey isolate. Though both can help contribute to lean body mass and strength, whey isolate is known to be a bit better for this, since it has a higher protein content with fewer carbs, lactose, and fat. Whey isolate is also typically more expensive than whey concentrate since it provides more nutrients.

Fiber

Fiber can be particularly helpful in weight loss because of its ability to help keep you feeling full for longer. It also aids in proper digestion and assists in the body’s natural detoxification processes. Since feelings of satiation can prevent you from eating additional calories throughout the day, a healthy diet shake should have a significant amount of fiber in it.

Women and men should consume 25 grams and 38 grams of fiber per day respectively, but studies show that only about 5% of American adults meet that need. When replacing 1-2 meals of your day with a meal replacement shake, it is highly recommended to check for a higher fiber content shake to help meet that daily requirement. Both IsaLean shakes contain 8 grams of fiber, which is considered a high-fiber shake. 

Carbohydrates

IsaLean shakes have 22-24 grams of carbs, which is a lot higher than our top-rated shakes. However, contrary to public opinion, not all carbs are not bad for you and are your body’s preferred source of energy. 

Healthy carbs like fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and legumes (such as beans, lentils, and peas) are a recommended addition to a healthy diet. According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, carbs should make up 45% to 65% of your total daily calorie intake. 

The Cleveland Clinic breaks down the difference between “good” and “bad” carbs a bit further. For the most part, “good” carbs are the ones that contain high amounts of fiber and “bad” carbs contain low amounts of fiber. As we’ve mentioned, your body needs fiber for energy production so you can go about your day without feeling sluggish or tired. 

This means that when looking for an ideal meal replacement shake, the number of carbohydrates matters less than the types of ingredients used and the amount of fiber. Although IsaLean’s shake has a high fiber content, the ingredients themselves are highly processed which could be contributing an unhealthy higher carb count to this shake.

Sugar

The IsaLean Shake has 7 grams of sugar in the Whole Blend French Vanilla option and 10 grams of sugar in the original IsaLean Creamy French Vanilla shake. While the newer Whole Blend version of the IsaLean Shake is not flavored with fructose, the original IsaLean Shake has fructose as the fourth ingredient. 

Research shows that fructose can potentially lead to liver and even heart problems because it’s broken down solely in the liver. This is especially true when it doesn’t come directly from fruit but is used in products such as the IsaLean shake. Although some fruits and vegetables contain fructose naturally, they provide far lower amounts.

Compared to other shake options on our list, including our top-rated shake which has zero sugar, this is too high of sugar content for a healthy meal replacement shake. According to the American Heart Association, the guidelines you should follow for how much sugar to eat in a day are around 37.5 grams for men and 25 grams for women. If you have two IsaLean shakes per day, that is already 14-20 grams of sugar. 

When you are trying to lose weight, it is best to avoid sugar as much as possible. Sugar is high in calories, does not provide essential nutrients, and does not help curb a person’s appetite. Studies have shown that diets with high sugar tend to promote an increase in body weight compared with low sugar diets. 

Additionally, sugar has been linked to an increased risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Studies have also found that foods high in sugar, salt, and fat activate pleasure centers of the brain, which can lead to overeating. In light of this research, IsaLean’s high sugar content is not ideal for healthy weight loss and you should look for a meal replacement shake that uses a healthier source, such as Stevia – which is plant-based and doesn’t significantly affect blood sugar levels. 

Vitamins and Minerals

When looking to lose weight and cutting back on calories, it can be hard to get all of the nutrients that you need for a healthy diet. A lot of meal replacement shakes are fortified with the right vitamins to sustain your body as you look to lose weight, but not all of them are the same. A healthy meal replacement shake needs to include a plethora of essential vitamins and minerals that will fuel your body with the nutrients it needs. 

Some vitamins and minerals to look out for are ones that are typically lacking in the average person’s diet including but not limited to calcium, potassium, iron, and vitamin D. The IsaLean shake contains 23 vitamins and minerals, including those four, and most are over 50% of the recommended daily value. This is a great amount for a healthy shake. 

These nutrients are important for a healthy lifestyle and also for managing your weight loss. When your body is deficient in nutrients, it’s hard to drop pounds and you most likely will be lacking in energy – which is why you need to constantly replenish your body and give it what it needs.

Some of the nutrients in the shake include:

• Vitamin A: Protects eyesight, promotes strong bones, and keeps your immune system healthy.
• Calcium: Essential for healthy, strong bones and teeth.
• Zinc: Helps boost immunity and reduce inflammation in the body.

Superfoods

Though IsaLean Shakes contain a great supply of vitamins and minerals, the original IsaLean Shake lacks an extra nutritional superfood complex that many other meal replacement shakes offer. There is no additional fruit and vegetable blend in this shake that would take the health factor up even higher, with nutrient-packed greens or added antioxidants. 

The Whole Blend IsaLean Shake option does include a vegetable extract blend of broccoli, spinach, kale, pumpkin, sweet potato, sunflower seed, kelp, chlorella, maitake mushroom, and shiitake mushroom which is a step up from their original blend. However, neither shake contains probiotics to enhance gut health and support total body health. These are important to keep in mind if you’re looking for a long-term health shake that you can drink every day on a busy schedule.

Company information

What is Isagenix?

Isagenix International LLC was founded by Jim and Kathy Coover in 2002 and is a privately held multi-level marketing (MLM) company that sells dietary supplements and wellness products. A popular weight loss program, their products include meal replacement shakes such as the IsaLean Shake as well as supplements, energy drinks, tonics, protein powders, bars, and other products aimed at improving health and wellness. 

Where you can purchase Isagenix

You can purchase Isagenix products through an independent Associate as part of their multi-level marketing program (MLM) or through Amazon. You also can purchase directly through their website and either enter the name of an Associate who referred you or connect to an Associate through their site. This is a unique aspect being that most MLMs only allow you to purchase through distributors directly, which is often cited as a frustrating experience with added pressure to buy and to continue purchasing.

About multi-level marketing companies (MLM)

Isagenix is a multi-level marketing company (MLM). MLMs are companies that do not directly sell their products but instead rely on their customers to act as distributors, or “Associates” as Isagenix likes to call them, to sell and market their products. MLMs rely on distributors to sell their products to their network and to recruit other distributors. 

In an MLM, distributors are paid commission from direct sales of the product within their network. Distributors also make money in MLMs through what’s called their “downline” or distributors that they recruit below them. As a distributor, anytime a purchase is made by someone in your downline, you receive a commission for that purchase. For most MLMs, distributors make little to no profit. For those who do make a profit, the primary source of that income comes from recruiting as many distributors as they can into their network.

As a result, many MLMs, including Isagenix, do not make healthy weight loss a priority for their consumer. This is due to many factors:

1. Expensive products: To pay commission for all distributors, most MLM products are heavily overpriced. While they claim the steeper price is a result of higher quality products, in the case of Isagenix this is far from the truth as we mentioned above. 
2. The danger of peer-health counseling: MLMs, including Isagenix, rely on their distributors to push their product and share health and weight loss guidance and information. Most distributors are not registered dieticians or health professionals, meaning that consumers are receiving health advice from someone who has little to no background in healthy weight loss. 
3. Pressure from distributors: The main goal of an Isagenix Associate is to meet their bottom line. Most MLM’s pressure their distributors to hit certain targets and to purchase inventory before they make a sale. This means that your Isagenix Associate cares about selling the product and making a profit, and not necessarily about providing helpful or accurate information as part of your weight loss journey.
4. Lack of community: The focus of an MLM is on building a distributor network, not on building a community around healthy weight loss. For companies like Isagenix, this means that any community formed through Facebook or other channels is going to focus on sales and not on supporting you with accurate and helpful information as part of a healthy weight loss journey. 

The danger of peer health counseling

Isagenix Associates are customers of Isagenix who are hoping to sell the products for profit to peers in their network. The Associate program works by then paying out commissions based on sales Associates are making. 

Given that Isagenix products are within the health and wellness space, and many are used as a weight-loss solution, this puts Associates in the position of giving nutritional counseling and dieting advice, even when they may have no nutritional or medical background or qualifications. 

Given that most MLM Associates are not registered dietitians or health care professionals, this can lead to potentially dangerous situations. Consumers, who have different dietary needs depending on their unique situation, end up receiving advice that might not be accurate or safe for them. 

As an example, one previous Isagenix Associate shared her story on exactly what those dangers could look like. In one of the Isagenix Facebook groups she was in, someone posted that their client was covered in hives and had been vomiting for three days after consuming the Isagenix shake. The advice from the group was that it was “probably just the toxins coming out”. 

Another previous Isagenix consumer mentioned similar concerns: “Any time someone mentioned any type of rash, such comments would appear “that’s just a niacin rush”, “nothing to worry about”, “I can’t wait till I have one of those”— all without knowledge of the user’s prior medical history, or what said rash actually looked like. In my opinion, these blind consults are very dangerous.” 

While other meal replacement shakes on our top-rated list offer access to nutritionists, health coaches, and other medical professionals, Isagenix does not offer that same access. Instead, they rely on their consumers to give health advice with no requirement for qualifications. 

Is Isagenix a pyramid scheme?

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), a lot of MLMs are illegal pyramid schemes that result in distributors making little to no money. Pyramid schemes are MLMs that require distributors to recruit new distributors to get paid. An MLM that is not a pyramid scheme pays you strictly based on your sales and not on how many distributors you’ve recruited. 

Herbalife, for example, was fined $200 million by the FTC back in 2016. The FTC found that Herbalife distributors could only really make a profit through recruitment as opposed to direct sales of the product. While Isagenix is considered a legitimate business, the below practices do make it questionable whether or not it is operating more like a pyramid scheme than an MLM. 

Here are the warning signs from the FTC that signal whether an MLM is a pyramid scheme and how Isagenix stacks up:

    1. Elaborate promises are made about your earning potential. 

Isagenix claims that its vision is “to free people from physical and financial pain” and that its program is “among the best in the industry”. In one compensation video shared from the company, one income earner shares how easy it is to make over $900 in 60 days using their “you share, they share” compensation method. 

However, according to Isagenix, only 1% of their Associates made more than $45,413 in 2019. 50% made less than $466 across all of 2019. Most of their distributors are not getting anywhere close to financial freedom. Based on their own earnings disclosure, this “easy” way to make money is not living up to its advertised potential.

    2. Recruitment of new distributors is pushed as the real way to make money versus actually selling the product.

According to Isagenix’s compensation plan overview, there are five ranks an Isagenix Associate can reach as part of the compensation plan: Associate, Consultant, Manager, Director, and Executive. To move in rank, and make more money as a result, you need to recruit an Isagenix network of distributors below you.

For every distributor you recruit, you get a $100 bonus. Once you get to that Executive level, you earn a 10% match on what all of your consultants are earning. This means that the income the top earners are making with Isagenix directly comes from the recruitment of distributors and the depth of their network, not their direct sales of the product. This shows that their business model is built on recruitment, without it there is very little opportunity for earning potential. 

This is confirmed in Isagenix’s compensation plan: “An Associate’s compensation is primarily derived from product purchases by those in his or her marketing organization. As an Associate’s marketing organization grows, more product sales are made, and as more product sales are made, more money can be earned.” 

     3. High-pressure sales tactics that take advantage of customer emotions and use that pressure to push people into a distributor position.

With the MLM model, most sales of Isagenix are managed through Isagenix Associates. Given the profit opportunities of recruiting someone into your sales network, every sale of an Isagenix product becomes a sales pitch to sign up as a distributor. In an MLM you are encouraged to sell as much as possible, especially to sell off the inventory you are pressured to buy, and this can lead to wild claims, emotional tactics, and unwanted sales pressure. 

With Isagenix, a lot of previous Associates cite these wild claims and sales tactics as a big cause for concern, including one woman who shares her experience anonymously due to the level of abuse she experienced for leaving the program. “It was cult-like. No one questioned anything or was willing to even consider it wasn’t right for absolutely all the people in their lives. I found the Facebook groups really difficult to read, and quite brain-washing.”

     4. Pressure to purchase more inventory or products just to stay “active” in the company as a distributor or to qualify for bonuses or other rewards. 

There are costs associated with getting started with Isagenix that could be causing a lot of Associates to lose money as opposed to earning money. To get started with the company as an Associate you must accumulate 300 BV (their point value assignment for a commissionable product) within a 60-day time frame. The company does not offer any direct translation for how much money a BV is worth, but according to their compensation plan, their 30-day system (which costs $283.87) is worth 184 BV. 

By our calculations, this means you would need to purchase or make a personal sale of $462.83 in your first 60 days. Then, to remain an active Associate you have to purchase or make a personal sale of 100 BV (or $154 according to our calculations) every 30 days. 

Given that is an annual expense of about $1,848, this means that over 50% of Isagenix Associates who make less than $466 a year are losing money through the pressure to stay “active” as an Associate. This leaves many Isagenix Associates with boxes of unwanted products in their home and debt instead of profits. 

Isagenix 30-day weight loss system

How the Isagenix 30-day weight loss system works

Isagenix is most known for its 30-day weight loss system that uses calorie restriction, intermittent fasting, and detoxing as their methods for weight loss. The program is advertised to help dieters “change your life without making you change your lifestyle”, “let go of toxins at the same time as you let go of fat”, and “conquer cravings without throwing you off your game.”

The 30-day Weight Loss Basic Pack includes:

• IsaLean Shake meal replacement
• Ionix Supreme botanical adaptogens
• Snack Bites
• Cleanse for Life detox tonic
• AMPED Hydrate electrolytes
• Natural Accelerator and IsaFlush supplements

When on their plan, you are following a weekly system of both shake and cleanse days. Isagenix recommends cleansing one or two days a week and making the rest of your week shake days. According to Isagenix, cleanse days can “help kick-start your body’s own detoxification systems” and “reap the benefits of intermittent fasting”. 

On shake days, dieters are instructed to replace two meals a day with an IsaLean Shake and their third meal is restricted to only 400-600 calories. On cleanse days, dieters are instructed to restrict all meals and food except for four servings of Cleanse for Life tonic and Isagenix-approved snacks.

After completing their 30-day plan, Isagenix recommends dieters start the system again or try another one of their Isagenix weight loss systems. Given the plan’s timeline of 30 days, Isagenix is making a promise that dieters will experience dramatic weight loss in a very short time. 

Given the caloric restriction the diet requires, you can expect to lose weight in the short-term while on the Isagenix diet. However, many consumers have found the diet too restrictive to adhere to for longer periods or too expensive to maintain every month. 

Effectiveness of Isagenix 30-day weight loss system

The biggest benefits of an Isagenix diet include:

1. It helps you lose weight quickly

Any diet that reduces your caloric intake as dramatically as Isagenix does will cause you to lose weight relatively quickly. During their cleanse days, Isagenix is limiting caloric intake to only 310–490 calories in a day. 

To put this into perspective, the average sedentary adult woman needs between 1,600-2,000 calories per day and the average sedentary adult man needs 2,200-2,400 calories per day. That’s a restriction of over 1,000 calories every cleanse day. 

There is no magic to the ingredients that Isagenix IsaLean Shake and other products contain, the short-term results come from this restriction of calories and the focus on intermittent fasting. What makes Isagenix a difficult long-term solution is that the product itself contains highly processed ingredients and added sugar that could cause side effects in the long-term and make it hard to maintain longer than their 30-day allotment. 

Isagenix points to scientific evidence that those who use their products and keep using their products are more likely to lose weight and maintain that weight loss than those who stop. However, both studies they reference from 2012 and 2016 are funded by Isagenix, which means their results could be vulnerable to bias.

2. It’s calorie and portion-controlled

A big cause of weight gain is from eating larger portions of food than your body needs to make energy. With diets like Isagenix, you get a step-by-step plan and products to replace your meals. This takes the work out of deciding what to eat and for many people, this makes weight loss a much easier journey.

One of the biggest barriers to successful weight loss, however, is sticking to a low-calorie diet when you are feeling hungry and unsatisfied. Given how restricted the Isagenix 30-day plan is, dieters need to be wary that they don’t overeat during their third meal to make up for their intermittent fasting cleanse days or calorie-restricted shake days. 

Another concern with such a restrictive diet is what happens after you finish your 30-day system. For many dieters, the weight comes right back as soon as they stop the diet plan. 

      3. It’s convenient 

The products and the tools you need to be successful with Isagenix are delivered right to you. There is no need to go grocery shopping for every meal or meal prep ahead of time. Their 30-day weight-loss system is meant to be convenient for dieters with busy schedules. Losing weight is not easy to do, so when you have a system in place that helps take out the guesswork, this is incredibly helpful and is a big plus of the Isagenix system. 

Drawbacks of Isagenix 30-day weight loss system

The biggest drawbacks of an Isagenix diet include:

     1. It gives misleading information that could lead to incorrect assumptions about weight loss

Isagenix throws out language such as “whole body cleansing”, “eliminate fat”, and “flush out toxins” with little evidence to support these claims. It’s also important to note that none of the company’s claims have been verified by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) nor any other external source other than their self-funded studies.

Detoxing, for example, is a process that your body does on its own through organs such as your liver and kidneys. Research has shown that there is little evidence that detox diets can help remove toxins from the body. 

So Isagenix’s 30-day system that claims to “let go of toxins” is misleading. There is a lot of confusion and misinformation in the dieting industry, and claims without proof can be hurtful to consumers looking for a healthy weight loss solution. 

      2. It’s high in sugar

Of the seven products in the Weight Loss Basic Pack as part of the 30-day weight loss system, 5 of the products have sweeteners listed in the first five ingredients. This includes maltodextrin and fructose in the IsaLean Shake, fructose, peach, and mango fruit powder in the Cleanse for Life, molasses powder and apple juice powder in the Ionix Supreme, white chocolate in the Snack Bites, and maltodextrin in the IsaFlush.

The IsaLean Shake, which makes up two of three meals every shake day has 7 grams of sugar in the Whole Blend French Vanilla shake option and 10 grams of sugar in the original IsaLean Creamy French Vanilla shake. When trying to lose weight, it is best to avoid sugar as much as possible and the high sugar content of these shakes makes that difficult to do. 

    3. It contains highly processed ingredients

Processed ingredients are foods that have “changed in nutritional composition with fortifying, preserving or preparing in different ways.” Processed includes everything from bagged vegetables to canned items to ready-to-eat microwaveable meals. Processed foods also include ingredients that are added for texture or flavor. 

Isagenix products rely heavily on processed ingredients to make up for the lack of real food as part of their 30-day weight loss system. From added sugars such as fructose and maltodextrin, artificial flavors such as fruit extract, gums, and synthetic vitamins, Isagenix does not appear to offer the healthiest well-rounded weight loss solution. One previous Isagenix consumer mentions the danger that these processed ingredients can have on your body after struggling with bloating and gut issues after years of using the product.

     4. It’s expensive

The Weight Loss Basic pack costs $378.49 at retail price and $283.87 as a Preferred Customer. A Preferred Customer account includes an annual membership fee with 25% off on all retail prices of their products. According to Isagenix’s website, the annual renewal fee for Preferred Customers is $39, or $29 if you join Autoship. At $283.87 a month, that breaks down to about $3,406.44 a year. For a diet whose benefits primarily come from calorie restriction, there are much cheaper alternatives to choose from. 

According to Dr. Alan Barclay, Chief Scientific Officer with the Glycemic Index Foundation, “it’s the replacement of two to three meals with the shakes that makes you lose weight – the supplements are just window dressings.” 

     5. It’s not sustainable as a long-term solution

Isagenix does not provide guidance on how to maintain your weight loss after your 30-day system is over. The recommendation to repeat the 30-day system is an expensive long-term solution. 

Not to mention that a very calorie-restricted diet like Isagenix is incredibly difficult to follow long-term. One reviewer cites this as a difficulty saying, “Extremely challenging program, promised no hunger that was clearly not the case.” Given the high expense, high-calorie restrictive diet, and unhealthy ingredients, you might have difficulty maintaining this diet long-term.

Does Isagenix work?

If you’re looking for a whey-based protein shake to help you build muscle, boost metabolism, and potentially enhance your performance, you may want to try Isagenix shakes. The shakes offer a high amount of protein at 24g per serving, 8g of fiber, and a variety of vitamins and minerals to fuel your body.

However, if you’re looking for a long-term healthy weight-loss solution, this may not be the shake for you. It has 7-10 grams of sugar per serving (and from unhealthy fructose for the original blend). Also, the shakes are high in calories at 230-240 per serving and carbs at 22-24 grams per serving, so unless you’re vigorously exercising each day, these shakes may not be the best for weight management. 

Isagenix also does not offer any kind of weight loss guidance for the long term or a community to share in your weight loss journey with other consumers. A huge driver for the success of any weight loss plan is the support that you receive as part of your weight loss journey. Given that Isagenix is an MLM, any communities formed from the company are heavily focused on sales of the product, and not on healthy weight loss. 

Finally, Isagenix weight loss shakes are expensive. For the quality of ingredients you are getting, we do not believe that the shake is worth the price. The bottom line is that signing up for a 30-day program using these shakes could mean committing to quite an expensive endeavor. And if you wish to continue using the products, it may start draining your wallet long-term.

Isagenix vs. our top-rated shakes

Before you take the plunge, compare Isagenix shakes to other shake reviews on our site, to see if one better meets your needs.

Other Reviews:

• 310 Shake
• Shakeology
• Vega One