Update 1/30/20. According to the Isagenix website, IsaLean Shakes “contain superior nutrition compared to other meal replacement shakes on the market” and are designed to “take your health and performance to new levels.” Powerful words indeed; but words aside, the big question is, does the Isagenix shake work or not? In this review, I’m going to look at the clinical research and ingredients in the IsaLean Shake. Hopefully, this will help you better decide if the IsaLean Shake is right for you.
IsaLean Shake Ingredients
According to the product website, one Isagenix IsaLean Shake (Dutch chocolate flavor) has 240 calories per packet and the following nutritional information:
| 240 calories | |
| Calories from fat = 55 | |
| Calories from saturated fat = 20 | |
| %DV | |
| Total Fat 6 g | 9% |
| Saturated fat 2 g | 10% |
| Trans fat 0g | |
| Polyunsaturated fat 0.5g | |
| Monounsaturated fat 3g | |
| Cholesterol 45mg | 15% |
| Sodium 265 mg | 11% |
| Potassium 430 mg | 12% |
| Total carbohydrate 24g | 8% |
| Dietary fiber 8g | 32% |
| Sugars 11g | |
| Protein 24g | 48% |
DV = daily value. DV based on eating 2000 calories per day
Tip. The easy way to read a food label in the US is to remember these two facts about the daily values (DV):
- When you see 5% or less, it’s low in that nutrient.
- When you see 20% or more, it’s high in that nutrient.
Looking at the basic nutrition label for the product, we can say that the Isagenix Lean Shake is high in protein. Its 24 grams of protein provides 48% of the body’s protein need per day (assuming you are eating 2,000 calories per day).
The shake is also considered high in fiber because the 8 grams it provides is 32% of the fiber we should have in a day. The fiber (and protein) likely help people feel full longer—so that is good.
Vitamins In The Shake
Here are the vitamins and minerals listed in the product
| Vitamin A 50% | Vitamin C 40% |
| Calcium 30% | Iron 14% |
| Vitamin D 80% | Vitamin E 35% |
| Thiamin 60% | Riboflavin 70% |
| Niacin 45% | Vitamin B6 60% |
| Folate 80% | Vitamin B12 200% |
| Biotin 45% | Pantothenic acid 40% |
| Phosphorous 25% | Iodine 40% |
| Magnesium 50% | Zinc 45% |
| Selenium 40% | Copper 50% |
| Manganese 60% | Chromium 80% |
| Molybdenum 60% |
How Much Fat Is in the IsaLean Shake?
The IsaLean Shake is 22.9% fat, so it is high in fat. I got this value by dividing the fat calories (55) by the total calories (240) X 100. In other words, 55/240 X 100 = 22.9% fat. This is a high-fat food because it’s more than our “20% or more is high” rule.
Note. As a rule, most healthy people should consume less than 30% of total calories in fat in a day. If the IsaLean Shake is the “worst” thing you eat per day, you are ok, because it only makes up 22.9% of the 65 total grams of fat of our daily recommendation (if we eat 2,000 calories per day).
Now for saturated fat. The shake has 20 calories coming from saturated fat. So, doing the same math as before, 20/240 X 100 = 8.3% saturated fat. So, the IsaLean Shake is neither low (less than 5%) or high (20% or more) in saturated fat. Putting this in a better perspective—people should aim for not more than about 15 grams of saturated fat per day. One IsaLean Shake provides 2g of those 15 grams. Overall, I’d say it’s not too bad.
Isagenix distributors will point out that the saturated fats in IsaLean Shakes come mostly from medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) that come from coconut oil. These are fats the body processes differently. As a result, they are less likely to be stored as fat and more likely to burn for energy. This might help people to lose weight―and there is some evidence of this too.
Many people say that MCTs are healthy fats, but in all due respect to those individuals, I must point out that more research is needed on this issue. For more on MCTs, see this review.
IsaLean Shake’s Ingredients
Below the Nutrition Facts Label are the ingredients in the IsaLean shake. There are a LOT of ingredients. Fortunately, ingredients in the US are always listed in order from the most to the least so we can see which ingredients a product has the most of. So, reading from left to right, the label indicates that one packet of the Isagenix IsaLean Shake has the following ingredients:
| Myo-IsaLean Complex™ | fructose | natural Dutch cocoa powder |
| isomaltooligosaccharide powder | sunflower (Helianthus annuus) oil powder | natural flavors |
| olive (Olea europaea) oil powder | xanthan gum | flax (Linum usitatissimum) seed powder |
| medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil powder | Ionic Alfalfa™ | potassium citrate |
| magnesium oxide | tricalcium phosphate | sea salt |
| magnesium citrate | enzyme blend | silicon dioxide |
| yucca (Yucca schidigera) root powder | vitamin C (ascorbic acid) | magnesium stearate |
| psyllium seed powder | biotin | selenium amino acid chelate |
| Lactobacillus acidophilus | cinnamon(Cinnamomum zeylanicum) powder | stevia (Stevia rebaudiana) leaf extract |
| vitamin E succinate | copper amino acid chelate | vitamin A (betacarotene) |
| zinc oxide | manganese amino acid chelate | iodine amino acid chelate, |
| niacinamide | d-calcium pantothenate | vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) |
| chromium amino acid chelate | niacin | molybdenum amino acid chelate |
| vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride) | vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) | vitamin B2 (riboflavin) |
| vitamin B1 (thiamin hydrochloride) | folate (folic acid) |
The Myo-IsaLean Complex™ is composed of whey protein concentrate (undenatured), milk protein concentrate (undenatured), and low-heat nonfat dry milk.
The Enzyme blend is composed of: 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), and acid-stable protease (from Aspergillus niger).
Looking over the ingredients in the IsaLean Shake, I can make these general statements:
- The enzyme blend won’t help weight loss. There's no evidence for this.
- The second ingredient in the list is fructose, for those who consider this.
- I believe most of the shake’s 8 grams of fiber come from mostly from xanthan gum and flax.
- I don’t know what the “natural flavors” are.
- It contains an ingredient called isomaltooligosaccharide (iso-malto-oly-go-sack-a-ride) powder. Isagenix calls this a prebiotic.
Prebiotics are basically the food of probiotic bacteria. That said, prebiotic supplements are not needed.
- The Myo-IsaLean Complex is an invented word that refers to the type of protein the shake contains. The Myo-IsaLean Complex of whey and casein proteins, which are found in milk. Whey protein is a good source of branch chain amino acids. The casein protein is absorbed slower than whey protein. This combination may be present because of the desire to supply muscles with a steady stream of amino acids over a long period of time, in the hopes that this might enhance muscle growth. The prefix “Myo” refers to muscle, but I’m not aware of any evidence that the Myo-IsaLean Complex of protein builds or maintains muscle or helps people get lean better than other forms of whey and casein protein.
Isagenix Research
Now, let’s talk about the research on the Isalean Shake. I searched online as well as on the isagenixhealth.net website and found two studies on the shake that I will summarize below:
Study #1
A study published in 2012 in the journal, Nutrition and Metabolism Here is the summary :
- Fifty-four overweight women were randomly put on either a liquid intermittent calorie-restricted diet or a food-based calorie-restricted diet for 8 weeks. The liquid diet consisted of two Isagenix IsaLean shakes per day.
- For this program, the women ate fewer calories for the first 6 days and on the 7th day, consumed only water and 120 calories of juice powder.
- On the calorie-restricted days, the women consumed an IsaLean Shake for breakfast and lunch and ate a 400–600 calorie dinner. This means that on their calorie-restricted days (6 days of the week) the women were eating between 880 and 1,080 calories per day in 3 meals. This is less than the average person eats per day.
- The women in the food-based diet were instructed to reduce their calories by 30% of normal in the 3 meals per day they were to eat. On the 7th day, (fasting day) they also were to consume only 120 calories.
- Both groups met with a registered dietitian who instructed the women on how to eat healthily.
Study Results:
- Greater reductions in body weight and waist circumference were seen in those getting the IsaLean Shakes.
- After 8 weeks, women in the IsaLean shake group lost about 8 lbs. Those eating food lost about 6 lbs.
- Significant reductions in fat mass were seen in those who used the IsaLean Shake compared to those who didnt (about 6 lbs lost vs. about 4 lbs).
- Significant reductions in total cholesterol and LDL were seen in those getting the IsaLean Shake.
- A significant increase in LDL particle size (this is good) was seen only in the Isagenix Shake group.
- Both groups saw a significant reduction in small particle-sized LDL molecules (this is good).
- Significant reductions in leptin, IL 6, tumor necrosis factor, homocysteine, and IGF1 were significantly lower in those getting the IsaLean Shakes.
- CRP, a measure of cellular inflammation (and a marker for heart disease), did not change in the Isagenix group. Interestingly, CRP did decrease a little (non significantly) in the group who just dieted.
Study Problems
1. Only women were in the study. What about men? It's possible different genders react differently.
2. The researchers did not track calorie intake. I feel this is the biggest problem for the women who did not get the IsaLean Shake. In other words, how do we know they ate the same calories as the women who drank the shake? We don’t.
3. The participants knew who was getting the shakes. Since the women were aware of who got the shakes, it’s possible those women may have acted differently (ate fewer calories on purpose, for example) than the food-only group. The food-only group should have gotten a placebo/zero-calorie shake to eliminate this possibility.
4. The study was funded by Isagenix. While I have no problems with companies funding research on their supplements (I like it actually!), I prefer that the researchers have no association with the studies that are conducted. In this investigation, one of the researchers had a “consulting relationship” with Isagenix.
Another question: why do people do intermittent fasting? Why not just test the shake itself? Even if intermittent fasting is part of the Isagenix program, I think a more useful study would be to take those same 54 women, do the same measurements but randomly give them either the two IsaLean Shakes or two placebo/zero-calorie shakes a day for 8 weeks, tell them to cut their calories and see who lost the most weight and was the healthiest? The way the study is done, we can't know if it was the shake or fasting that caused the results.
Another study option: compare the weight loss and health benefits of the IsaLean Shake to other meal popular replacement shakes such as:
- Shakeology (click to see my review)
- Body by Vi Shakes (click to see my review)
- Right Size Smoothies (click to see my review)
- Herbalife Formula 1 Shakes (click to see my review)
Heck, they could have even compared the IsaLean Shake to Slimfast!
Study #2
This study is titled Intermittent fasting combined with calorie restriction is effective for weight loss and cardio-protection in obese women.
Here’s the thing. This is the SAME study as study #1. As such, it suffers from the same drawbacks as the first investigation. Why did they re-purpose the same study data under a different name?
Bottom line: Whether it’s kosher or not in the scientific community to do re-purpose the same data under a different name is irrelevant in my opinion. It’s sneaky science and it gives Isagenix distributors a false sense of how much research supports the products they sell.
See the review at Science-Based Medicine for another review on the research
IsaLean Shake and Exercise
The Isagenix website notes that the IsaLean shake is designed to “take your health and performance to new levels.” By “performance” I assume they are referring to exercise performance. While I don’t think the Shake will hurt the ability to exercise, I am also not aware of any clinical research to show it improves exercise ability either.
The Isagenix Cleanse
Included in the Isagenix program are cleanse days on which people eat fewer calories in conjunction with taking various Isagenix supplements. This is said to rid the body of toxins, which, after they are lost, makes it easier to burn fat and lose weight. But what are these toxins? Either way, theirs no clinical proof the shake eliminates toxins.
The Isagenix Company
Isagenix―also called Isagenix International LLC―was founded by Dr. John Anderson and Jim and Kathy Coover in 2002. Dr. John Anderson is called the “Master Formulator” of several Isagenix supplements.
According to the product website, the company is located at 2225 S. Price Road, Chandler, Arizona 85286. That address doesn’t come up on Google maps, but I did locate another address for “Isagenix International.” That address is 601 S 54th St, Chandler, AZ and on Google maps, does indeed show a building that says “Isagenix” on the outside. That's good.
Isagenix has a contact number of 480-889-5747. According to the Better Business Bureau file on Isagenix, the company also has a contact number of 480-889-5777. The BBB gives the company a rating of “A+” as of 1/9/15. See the BBB file for updates and more information.
Isagenix Side Effects
The shake is expected to be safe in healthy people. Online reviews don't turn up much of negative side effects although if you have health issues, its wise to consult a doctor first. Here's a short list of things to consider
- Start with less than is recommended for the first week to see how you respond
- Stop the shake at least 2 weeks before having surgery
- Talk to your doctor first if pregnant/breastfeeding
- Exercise performance may be reduced by the nature of taking in fewer calories
- Diabetes should be aware of eating less may lower blood sugar. In theory, this may be an issue for diabetics who take blood sugar-lowering medicine.
For those who have health problems, show the ingredients to your doctor or pharmacist, just to be safe.
Isagenix vs. IdealShape
There are no head-to-head clinical studies comparing Isagenx to the Ideal Shape supplement. Isagenix distributors have asked me about this so if that's you, here's my IdealShape review.
Does It Work?
I like that the IseaLean shake has 240 calories. While this is a bit more calories than in other shakes—like Shakeology—I think this is probably closer to what people typically eat for a snack. I also like that the Shake has more fiber. In addition, I like that the shake has 24g of protein, which when combined with the fiber, might help people feel full longer, reducing overeating setbacks. While not proven, the added protein might also help spare muscle loss during dieting.
The big question, however, is this: Is the Isagenix IsaLean Shake better for weight loss? Currently, I see no compelling proof that it’s better than other shakes. While I feel it can be a healthy addition to the diet, I see no benefits―other than convenience―that it’s healthier than the homemade shake I make in my kitchen. I think this is an important point to remember for those who are price-sensitive because the shakes can be expensive. I do believe that if people follow the Isagenix program, they will lose weight. But that’s not because of anything unique in the IsaLean Shake or the cleanse system. I believe people lose weight with Isagenix because they eat fewer calories.
Hey Joe – – glad I found your site! I am a “shake in the morning” kinda gal and am ALWAYS looking for the perfect shake. Last year I got into the “Shakeology” thing because my sister-in-law is a beachbody coach and challenged me to the 21-Day Fix [she is also 10 years younger than me and thought I couldn’t do it]. I’m a runner from birth, literally in my moms belly, ha! I am also a very organic person meaning, I eat mostly organic foods and am very conscious of what goes into my belly.
Anyway – began Shakeology and it gave me a terrible upset stomach within about four days from when I began using it. My SIL claimed it was from the probiotics, and I didn’t buy that. I take probiotics and never had the reaction I had to Shakeology. So, I quit Shakeology and found another shake I loved, VEGA One. I like VEGA One, its good stuff. BTW, slam dunked the 21-Day Fix.
Fast forward, a friend of mine told me about this “shake” and its the IsaLean Pro. He also is a runner, and claimed that the program (IsaGenix) got rid of some trouble areas he’d been stuck with blah blah blah and so I thought what the hey, I am going to give it all a whirl, I’ve got these areas too. So, I started Isagenix last week – – the whole 30-day program, because I jump in head first into everything I do.
I’ve done intermittent fasting before and have felt better when I do, so this program was great to integrate that back into my life. I began the program with the fasting/cleanse right out of the shoot and by the end of day 2 I wanted to gnaw someones leg off. Apparently, you don’t usually start with the fasting/cleanse. By the end of week 1 I felt really good. I haven’t felt “really” good in a very long time.
I am just in week 2, and I feel “really” good, still. I have a lot of energy, have peeled off a few pounds and just feel “really” good. Did I say I feel really good? If I didn’t, well, I do feel REALLY good.
I am going to continue to give this a whirl because I kind of am liking this program; needless to say anyone can use a shake, go by the “diet plan” and I think they’d get results – -if it was weight loss they are shooting for; but what is getting me is the way I feel on this – – its rejuvenating, I feel energized, and feel all around in good spirits and I didn’t get this from Shakeology /21-day fix.
Sandra
Hi Sandra, Thanks for sharing and I’m happy you found something that works for you.
Great review! I don’t mind some supplements as a crutch, but prefer to get my nutrients from whole foods. And I am ok with fructose as long as it comes from a whole piece of fruit. Would rather get sugar that way.
I’ve started sharing recipes for homemade smoothies on Instagram @thinkcleanfood – I use a plant based protein powder when added but most of my smoothies are just veggie and fruit! I’m by associates wth any mlm either.
If someone prefers isagenex they could certainly make their own smoothie with real food and add a scoop of protein powder! Anyway, just wanted to throw out a place where folks can find healthy recipes without product!
Good research Joe..… I have high blood pressure and my friend advised me to take isagenix shakes to replace my meals 2 times a day as loosing some pounds help in controlling HBP but after reading all comments now I am scared to use this shake……
Neli, thanks. While I think the shake is likely pretty safe overall, why don’t you show the ingredients to your doctor/pharmacist and get their feelings on it. Isagenix has many products which I have not yet looked at but for the shake, it just looks like a regular meal replacement shake that’s low in calories. In many people losing weight can help reduce blood pressure. By replacing 2 meals a day with 2 shakes, your weight should be reduced. This may help your HPB. For what it’s worth, if its going to work, I don’t think you need any other isagenix products. I don’t think anyone does. Again, show it to your Dr./phamrsist and see what they say. They know your medical condition best. Let me know what they say.
I just recently started using IsaGenix and I am detoxing from Lyme Disease. I was trying to lose weight due to the Lyme, wanted a detox diet, and was starting a detox protocol because Lyme causes your body to be full of toxins.
When I kept doing research I was finding that the IsaGenix products I was already using contained things that I needed. I kept reading about glutathione, a master antioxidant, and the best source was the type of whey protein found right in IsaGenix. Adaptogens found in the t+chai.
On the cleanse days, that’s when I really know I am ridding my body of the Lyme toxins, there are things that happen and one of the things I take should be taken on an empty stomach so that’s when it is most effective and it is taken 3x a day.
I found this program at the right time and it can be so useful not just for losing weight, but for healing from medical issues as well. I watched my psoriasis heal on the cleanse days. I had prior knowledge about cleansing/fasting that it triggers the body to heal itself and really became a believer when I saw it happen with my own body.
Thank you for this post, but I will pass on this product, it also sounds like MLM to me.
I will stick with my Organic Moringa Powder, which is a whole, real complete food, in itself, and which I believe blows this product out of the water, and is much more economical too.
Maria you are very welcome.
Thanks Joe, A great unbiased review. Exactly what I was looking for. You don’t support or reject claims, but put forward facts and good points to consider.
It did help me make a decision.
Cheers, Nick
Nick, thanks for that and I am really glad I was able to help you
Isomaltooligosaccharide is a prebiotic which means that it is also a source of fiber. Prebiotics pass undigested and then ferment in the colon creating a healthy environment for good bacteria.
Todd, good point and thanks for mentioning that!
From what you and others have said, it certainly seems like Isagenix is largely dependent upon milk products. It seems counter-productive to general health to eliminate from one’s diet two meals per day that could otherwise have been from whole essential foods – berries, bananas, spinach, kale, eggs, etc. As you said, if one ate two low caloric shakes of any manufacturer in lieu of meals, then had a modest dinner, one would lose weight; but along the way, one would also be losing out on the great variety of nutrients supplied by real food.
Gail, that is something to consider.
If you follow the system your caloric intake is about 1200 calories. Weight will be lost. With that being said I use the system but don’t follow it exactly because the caloric intake is too low but I do feel like I have more energy when following the system by having 2 shakes a day, ionix supreme, etc.
no shake is special or magic..they all work if u replace food with them, they are all LOW CALORIE!
Hi Joe, The Isa lean shake also contains fructose in it. I have read another review by Dani Stout who also listed a number of other ingredients that she labelled as “toxic” or “unhealthy” such as the type of soy used, potassium sorbate and a few others. Doctor Robert Lustig an expert in Childhood Obesity and the author of “The Bitter Truth” also labels fructose as toxic because it metabolizes straight into the liver. What is your opinion or knowledge on this?
Dominic, I think we should make the distinction between fructose – which is found in fruits and high frutose corn syrup – which is synthetic. Fructose is processed differently than other sugars and as such can raise triglyceride levels in large amounts. But fruit only has a little fructose and also contains fiber which reduces us from getting a fructose surge quickly.
Im not sure how much fructose is in the IsaLean shake (let me know if you do) but I did notice it has 8 grams of fiber so I wonder if that might help slow the entrance of fructose into the blood stream?
The research on high fructose corn syrup – which is usually about 55% fructose and 45% glucose – is somewhat murky I think. Ive seen studies showing its bad and others showing its not bad (in “moderation”). My gut instinct on it though is that it does make my “spidey sense” tingle if we use a lot of it (and it is in a LOT of processed foods).
So glad that I found your website. I have had such a hard time finding actual reviews of weight loss products that are not actually reviews at the company’s website.
Shirlee, I’m glad you found me too
Thank you for your review of this product. I have been researching many meal replacement shakes, most recently Dr. Sara’s Hormone Balancing Shake. Have you ever heard of this doctor and her protein shakes and supplements? She is the NYT bestselling author of The Hormone Cure, which is a very interesting book and recently she added her own shake/supplement product line to the market.
I have been trying to compare her ingredient list to that of Isalean Shakes to see if one is better than the other. One noticeable difference is the sugar content being higher in Isagenix, and that The Balancing Hormone shake sources protein (22g) from vegetables instead of Whey. (namely Pea, Chlorella and Potato).
Thirdly, Isagenix also contains soy. Anyway, my research is still ongoing, not sure which product on the market is the best for meal replacement/weight loss and has the least amount of ‘bad stuff’ in it for me. Any thoughts you had would be much appreciated. Thank you.
Jen, Ive never heard of Dr Sarah’s hormone balancing shake but I will add it to my list of things to look at. Id say the best way to know if her shake balances hormones is to get your hormones tested first by your doctor and try the shake for a month and then retest the hormones again. In the absence of actually feeling better, that is the only way to really know if its altering hormone levels or not.
Im glad I was able to help some. let me know if you turn up anything on the hormone shake or if, if you try it, how it worked out for you.
Thanks Joe. I have had my hormones tested and they were all in the normal ranges. I am curious about her shake in direct comparison to Isagenix. Namely, the difference in sugar content and protein source. I have been reading a lot of negative posts of Isagenix online and on meal replacement shakes in general. I have been making my own shakes using berries and hemp protein and almond milk but i’m wondering if i’m missing out on some essential nutrients – minerals and vitamins etc…and i’m wondering what is the best source for protein. Thanks for your time.
Jen, one thing I wonder about when I see negative – or positive reviews – is who is making the claims. What is the background of the person making the claims? Are they slamming one thing to promote another thing? While I didnt see anything “terrible” when I looked at the isagenix shake, I personally like what you are doing with the berries. Why dont you toss in some spinach or kale tomorrow and see how that tastes? Remember more vitamins/minerals aren’t necessarily “better.” Do you take a multivitamin? if yes Id say you are probalby doing ok. Generally, you cant go wrong making your shakes with food.
Thank you for this review. It’s a very fair review. I started using Isagenix 34 days ago..I was skeptical, because like so many other products that I have tried, I failed to maintain. In all the products I’ve tried, nothing made me feel like this. I didn’t lose a lot of weight (only 4 lbs) because I still ate brownies and cookies about 2x a week. I did lose over 12 inches on my ribcage, abdominals and hip area! These are the problem areas that don’t get touched in the other diets I have been on.
I have tons of energy and it just stirs something inside of you that makes you want to run or do a few crunches everyday. I still don’t push the products on people, if they’re interested, I tell them what it has done for me. It’s a bonus for me that I will get a little rebate to use on my own future purchases. Rebates or commission are that huge…about $25 if, that’s a big IF, a person buys a $300 system or pak. If the person buys something that is not a system or a pak, you even get lesser than that or none at all (if it’s per item purchase).
Sunnydae, you are very welcome and dont worry about losing only 4 pounds. that’s about 1 pound a week and is well within what is considered healthy weight loss. Be glad of that
Joe,
Thanks for your honest input on a topic often coloured. Your thoughts are appreciated.
Regards,
oby
Oby, you are very welcome.
Joe; thanks for your due diligence, and I will just chime in and say it’s very hard to find the ingredients in Isagenix products on the web; at least a list of ingredients that aren’t supplied by Isagenix. I like to use Mayo Clinics website for health care questions on deceases, nutritional supplements and trend diets, but you have to enter in the name of the ingredient your are researching to do their search. I appreciate your report in this area in particular.
Friends of ours have lost significant weight on Isagenix products, and have invited myself and my husband to attend a “Just Cleanse” gathering to present Isagenix. Mind you, both of these friends were thin to begin with, but they must have felt they wanted to be healthier.
I don’t know their genetic risk to cancer, heart decease, diabetes etc, but our male friend “Jake” had a heart attack 3 weeks after he started the Isagenix shake/cleansing program that his wife “Carol” had been on for over a month prior to starting Jake on the same program.
After talking to Carol about Jake’s heart attack, she said he complained to her about feeling tremendous pain in his mouth and jaw for several days. When he felt this pain, he would take a baby aspirin, the baby aspirin was not working and he had his heart attack within 24hrs of his last complaint of the jaw pain.
I noticed in your “Reply” section, one of your readers also complained of jaw pain. Perhaps this is a side effect of Isagenix products, perhaps not. I do know that Jake’s medical doctor wants them both to stop using Isagenix products immediately, and wants Jake to gain back 20lbs through food.
The Isagenix line of products is very trendy in our area right now, and seems to be given support by chiropractors (DC’s in particular). I also have noticed The Isagenix business model appears to be set up as a pseudo multi level networking business, similar to Amway and Shaklee.
I will not be using any of these products, and will hope this as with other trend diets and networking businesses introduced will play out without any casualties.
Thank you for your report Joe.
Kate, you are very welcome and I’m glad you were able to find me on the web (‘Im sure its hard these days with millions of websites out there!). Jaw pain is one of the signs of a heart attack. Interestingly its usually listed as a sign thats more common in women but as you pointed out, men can have jaw pain as well.
Ultimately its difficult to say whether Isagenix was linked to “Jakes” heart attack or not. They have so many products and this could also be an unfortunate coincidence. While we may never know, I can agree with Jakes doctor and recommend he get healthy without Isagenix supplements -or any other for that matter.
Seriously??? Heart Disease can take decades to escalate to a Heart Attack.
Anyone who blames a specific food during a specific week or day is plain ignorant of cardiovascular facts. It’s like saying he died from shovelling snow.
Yes exertion can bring on a heart attack but the disease is already present and waiting with the majority of cases from a lifetime of poor eating and exercise habits.
Sandy, of course it takes a long time to develop to where heart disease becomes significant. I said what I did because we cant know if what the person took contributed to the heart attack or not.
While I think the shake is probably harmless, Kate mentioned that her friend also used a cleanse supplement too. While I don’t know the ingredients in that product, some cleanses might cause electrolyte imbalances, through fluid/mineral losses, which might contribute to heart arrhythmias. This is just one reason I’m not a fan of cleanse supplements.
Hi Joe, I’m sure you get plenty of requests to evaluate products but it was me at AAAI in Atlantic City this past June, where I brought up the Isagenix products. My thanks so much for reviewing and so much great information. You are the best. See you in June again!
Suzanne, yes I remember. Sorry it took so long to get to it.
Thank you. I found your research helpful. I have been searching the web for information on this product..there seems to be a lot of hype about this product. I’ve been told by a chiropractor to take two shakes a day to help with muscle repair….. I am a skeptic. I use another product line for supplements, that I am really happy with.
I have found that shortly after drinking the shake my jaw is clenched, like I have had a lot of caffeine. But no shaking or any other effect. Not sure I like the product.
I am not taking it for weight loss.. so I feel a bit scammed by this person.
I am thinking I will return my unopened boxes
Cheryl I’m glad I was able to help. I’ve never heard of a clenched jaw after using the shake. What did your chiropractor say about that? While the IsaLean shake had some attributes I liked seeing, if your other supplement is similar, just stick with that because in the end its just a meal replacement shake. You could even make something similar yourself if you liked. For what its worth, I think your muscle will be repaired just fine if you eat normally also.
Please consider sharing my review with your friends as I’m sure its hard to find me amongst all the other reviews out there.
I’m Returning unopened boxes there will be a restocking fee. I forgot to change my auto ship once and they kept 60 bucks of my money. Just FYI.
Hi Joe! Interesting article on Isagenix. I’m an RN and currently use Isagenix. I was introduced to the product by another friend of mine who is also an RN. She simply posted pics of her progress and changes in how she was feeling. She has suffered from chronic fatigue and chronic pain for several years and had required medication for both to function in her life as a busy mom/wife/etc. There was zero pressure to join–she simply shared her results.
Isagenix is food. Supplements are available for those who choose to purchase them. I buy some, and don’t buy others. Because I am a skeptic, I read all the labels of all the products I was interested in using prior to my first purchase. I was impressed that the protein is sourced from New Zealand cows, which are pastured, and hormone and antibiotic free. In addition it is processed under low heat conditions and is undenatured. All good. Sourcing for other ingredients is also good.
A typical Isa day for most is two shakes, 2 real food snacks, and a healthy 400-600 calorie real food dinner. Cleansing can take place in several different ways, but the most frequently recommended is intermittent fasting. In fact, regarding the study that you cited, the author makes clear that she was actually studying the effect of intermittent fasting–not specifically Isagenix. The other participants were to eat a “heart-healthy” diet. I don’t know why she limited the trial to women only. Perhaps Isagenix was chosen due to its nutritional profile (lack of artificial sweetners, non-GMO, non-soy) and the fact that IF is already part of the Isagenix program.
You might find part of the answer in her own words after the studies completion. I found it interesting to note that she tried the products first before she tried them on study participants. And, I personally laughed when I reached the end of the article! isagenixhealth.net/study-finds-isagenix-superior-to-leading-heart-healthy-diet/
You also mentioned MLM. Until now, I have simply purchased products for my own use, however, I now have friends asking me about what I’m doing. The reason? Lost inches, improved mood, improved sleep. Just as I was introduced to the product by a friend, she was also introduced to the product by a friend named Tracie. Tracie didn’t intend to do anything more than improve her own health–she’s the busy mom of SEVEN. That said, her health changed and people started asking her “how and why” and now she’s earning almost as much as my husband does at his job! Oh, and she just started using Isagenix last July!
Here’s her story: isafyi.com/adoption-counselor-and-busy-mom-has-it-all-with-isagenix/
She’s not alone in her results. Here’s pics of another of her friends that started around the same time: facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152246771122728
I could FILL your page with results like these!
Many people are benefiting from improved nutrition. Many, like the friend who introduced me to Isagenix, no longer need their medications because of their improved nutrition from FOOD. (Isagenix is FOOD, not medicine!) Many CrossFit athletes talk about improved recovery times and increased PRs. All I know is that I am losing inches, resting well, and am the HAPPIEST I have been in years. I hope you consider trying some/all of the products you research, and like you, I would love to see a side-by-side comparison STUDY of Isagenix with similar products.
Hi Teresa, really glad Isagenix is helping you and others. when I wrote my review I wanted to focus only on the research and after reviewing the research on the IsaLean shake I did say I would not be surprised if people said they would lose weight. So, Im not suprised by the testimonials you have provided. Isagenix provides a way for people to eat less calories. There isnt anything wrong with that and for those who have been successful with it I am happy. There are many avenues to weight loss. Isagenix can be one of those ways.
With respect to Isagenix being food, I’d point out that not everything in the IsaLean shake is technically “food” ( in other words, macro-nutrient). For example, strictly speaking enzymes are not food but I agree that when digested that they are a source of protein, which is a food (macro-nutrient).
With respect to the intermittent fasting study, yes, intermittent fasting is part of the isagenix program however Isagenix supplements are not needed to do intermittent fasting. Also since one of authors had a consulting relationship with Isagenix, it would have been better to not use Isagenix shakes if the primary purpose was to study intermittent fasting. It just weakens the gravity of the study in my view.
I have a couple of other Isagenix supplements on my list to review and hope to get to them in the not too distant future.
That’s for this review Joe! I appreciate your feedback. I am a user of Isagenix and have released almost 30 pounds on the weight loss system. I would appreciate you taking a look at the e+ shot, Cleanse for Life and IsaDelights products.
Slraya, you are very welcome! I just added those products to my list of supplements to review (I really do have a list!) and will try to get to them. I’m glad Isagenix has helped you lose 30 pounds. My congratulations on doing that!