Update 8/21/19. According to the Plexus Website, Plexus Slim Boost “is an alternative companion to Plexus Slim” containing a “thermogenic blend of ingredients.” Thermogenic means stimulant. When I became aware of the ingredients in this product, I got curious and I wanted to investigate what ingredients in Plexus Boost are stimulants as well as which ingredients have human evidence showing that they might actually work. This review also will to shed light on which ingredients lack evidence as well as try to see if the Boost supplement has any side effects. Plexus Boost is the official name of the pre-release product known to Ambassadors by the much less sexy name, “THBV2.”
Plexus Boost Label
I found the Plexus Boost Supplement Facts label confusing. I say this because in the “% DV” column of the label ―instead of listing the percentage that each ingredient contributes to our Daily Value for a nutrient ―the column lists actual amounts of the ingredients. This doesn’t make sense.
The column clearly states ” % DV” so I'm not sure why they have actual amounts listed? Some ingredients do contain percentages (which I assume are the % DV) in parentheses next to the ingredient (for example, chromium has 10% listed) while other ingredients (like Niacin and B12) have no percentages listed. I've never seen a Supplement Facts label like this before.
I think the label is a manufacturing mistake and I would not be surprised if Plexus Boost eventually gets a new label to better conform to how a Supplement Facts label should look.
Because the label looks confusing to me, I won't include the percent daily value in my replication of the ingredients list below. Instead, I'll just list the ingredient and the amount which Plexus Boost contains.
Plexus Boost Ingredients
According to the Plexus Boost label, each bottle contains a 30 day supply (60 capsules). Serving size of 2 capsules contains the following ingredients:
| Amount | |
| Active Ingredients 102.4 mg total | |
| Calcium glycinate | 50 mg |
| Vitamin B 6 | 30 mg |
| Niacin 20 mg | 20 mg |
| Chromium picolinate | |
| Vitamin B 12 methylcobalamin | 500 mcg |
| Folic acid | 400 mcg |
| Proprietary blend 900 mg total | |
| Caralluma Fimbriata extract | ? |
| Citrus Reticulata /Nelumbo Nucifera blend (Higenamine from tangerine peel/lotus seed) | ? |
| Yerba mate extract | ? |
| Green tea extract | ? |
| Additional Ingredients | |
| NuFLOW | ? |
mg = milligrams. mcg = micrograms. ? = unknown amount
Plexus Boost Research
Plexus Boost has no published peer-reviewed research to show it works. I know this is true because when I searched the National Library of Medicine for “Plexus Boost ” Nothing showed up. I also googled “Plexus Boost research” and no studies showed up via that method either. Likewise, PlexusWorldWide.com, the company behind the product, lists no proof either.
That said, some of the ingredients in Plexus Boost do have some weight loss research. So, let's now review the ingredients and try to get an idea which might work ― and might not work― and which be the real active ingredients.
There are 3 categories of ingredients in Plexus Boost. They are:
- Active Ingredients
- Proprietary Blend ingredients
- Additional Ingredients
Let's look at each of these groups separately
Active Ingredients
The Plexus Boost label lists 6 ingredients that they say are “Active.” I take this to mean these are the main ingredients that cause weight loss and/or are “thermogenic”. But, there is no good proof for any of them. Below is a breakdown of these 6 ingredients.
Calcium Glycinate
I think Plexus Boost has calcium because of some evidence showing it might help weight loss. But, in that research, people often used at least 800 mg of calcium per day. Plexus Boost only has 50 mg in 2 capsules. There are also studies showing calcium does not work. While calcium is a good mineral, I think it’s a long shot when it comes to weight loss.
Calcium glycinate is the type of calcium used in Plexus Boost. I believe this combination is may be used to improve absorption. But, I am unable to locate any calcium glycinate research showing it helps weight loss in people.
Vitamin B6
This vitamin is also called pyridoxine. Various websites talk about B6 wand weight loss, however, I am unable to any good proof for this claim. The adult RDA for this vitamin is about 1.3 to 1.7 mg per day. Plexus Boost contains 30 mg of vitamin B6, which I feel is a lot, especially when combined with foods containing this vitamin.
There are some websites that discuss how vitamin B6 helps thyroid function. The thyroid controls metabolism. A better working thyroid might help weight loss. But does vitamin B6 do this? According to this 2006 study titled Thyroid function during B-vitamin supplementation of patients on antiepileptic drugs, it didn’t help thyroid function.
The B vitamins are widespread throughout foods and because of that, I don’t think most people reading this are lacking B6. This page of the NIH website discusses vitamin B6 at length for those who want more info.
Niacin
Also called vitamin B3. Most people are not deficient in niacin because it's in many foods. The RDA for niacin for adults is 14-16 mg per day and Plexus Boost provides 20 mg of niacin. People often report feeling flushed when they take high doses of niacin. This is because niacin is a vasodilator (it opens up blood vessels). I'm not sure if Plexus Boost would do this because it does not provide much of this vitamin.
That said, this might vary with the amounts of niacin in other foods and supplements people are taking. I'm not aware of any niacin-weight loss research. There are actually 2 main types of niacin. Niacin is one type and the other is called niacinamide. The label of Plexus Boost says niacin but both words are used sometimes used interchangeably. I'll assume this product has niacin.
See the liver failure from supplements review.
Chromium Picolinate
Chromium picolinate is one of the most popular ingredients in weight loss supplement history, despite the fact that most studies show it doesn’t work. The research pretty much overwhelmingly shows this. So why is it in Plexus Boost ―and many other products? My opinion is I think it's because those who make supplements are afraid people won't buy products that don’t contain it! That's how good chromium picolinate marketing was in the 1990s. To this day, many people still believe it's true!
Some of the products I've previously reviewed that contained chromium include:
Interestingly, the original Plexus Slim formula contained chromium nicotinate, rather than chromium picolinate. I don’t think it makes any difference what type they use because I don't feel it either improves energy or weight loss.
For more on this mineral, see this review on chromium that I've previously written.
Vitamin B12
Here is my review of vitamin B12 and weight loss. The fact that I've written an entire review ―specifically on B12 and weight loss ―tells how popular this has become. But again, where is the proof? I can't find any.
Both seniors and vegetarians might eventually run out of B12, but this would take time to occur because we store about 2-3 years worth of this vitamin in our bodies. Yes, that's right, we don't pee out this B vitamin!
People who take some types of medications (like some diabetes meds) might also benefit from this vitamin as well. That said, for people who are basically healthy and not deficient in B12, I can't find any proof that supplements boost energy or help with weight loss.
Folic acid
Like B12, there is just isn't any good proof that folic acid helps weight loss. Folic acid and B12 are both needed to make red blood cells. People lacking these vitamins might suffer from anemia. A symptom of anemia is being tired. So I'm going to guess that Plexus Slim Boost contains folic acid (and B12) of the in the hopes of improving red blood cells ―and hence energy levels.
One problem with this is that I don’t think most people are lacking these vitamins to the point where it would cause anemia. Folic acid has been added to several foods (fortified) for years because it can reduce birth defects. If you take a multivitamin you are probably also taking folic acid as well.
Folic acid is an important vitamin to be sure, but I just am not aware of any proof it helps people lose weight.
Of all the ingredients listed in the “Active Ingredients” category, only chromium picolinate has any proof, but that proof is not in sync with the majority of studies that have been conducted.
Proprietary Blend
Now let's cover the research on the “Propriety Blend” in Plexus Boost. Because these 4
ingredients are separated from the others into a unique formula, I think these are likely to be the real active ingredients. Remember 2 capsules of Plexus Boost contain a total of 900 mg of these 4 ingredients, but they do not tell us how much of each is in the product.
Caralluma Fimbriata
According to the Plexus Slim website, Caralluma Fimbriata is “an edible cactus that has been traditionally used by tribal East Indians for years to suppress hunger and enhance endurance through increased energy.” There is research on this Caralluma Fimbriata. It may curb appetite but as for weight loss, more study is needed.
Human studies tend to use 1 gram (1000 mg) of Caralluma Fimbriata ―which is more than the total amount in the entire proprietary blend of Plexus Boost (900 mg).
It is true that Caralluma Fimbriata makes up most of this blend (since it's the first ingredient listed) but since I'm unable to find any proof less than 1000 gram works, I have to wonder why Plexus decided to use less than was used in research studies?
Caralluma fimbriata is also found in:
So see those reviews for additional information.
Higenamine
On the label, it's stated that higenamine (pronounced “ha-gin-a-meen”) is derived from 2 different plants. Let's translate those names:
- Citrus Reticulata =mandarin orange
- Nelumbo Nucifera = lotus seed
Notice that the label states that “higenamine from tangerine peel/lotus seed.” But citrus reticulate refers to mandarin orange, not tangerine (Citrus tangerina). Yes, both are related to each other, but they are not the same thing. I believe this may be a label typo.
Higenamine is an ingredient that some people may not be aware, of so let's take a closer look at it and why it may be in this product.
What Is Higenamine?
Higenamine, also called norcoclaurine, is a plant chemical present in small amounts in different things (such as lotus seeds and oranges). Higenamine is a stimulant. Some websites refer to higenamine as “a known and ideal DMAA substitute.” DMAA, a decongestant drug, used in some weight loss supplements that have been linked to several deaths. See this NY Times article and this review at ScienceBasedMedicine for more on DMAA.
While I am not sure if higenamine does the same thing as DMAA, the thing to know is that higenamine can raise heart rates and blood pressures. Currently, there is not much human research on higenamine weight loss supplements. In other words, nobody yet knows if it actually helps people lose weight or not.
Currently, I'm not aware of any human evidence that higenamine alone helps people lose weight. Most of the research I've seen involves mice and rabbits ―and even that research isn't on weight loss.
So, why is higenamine showing up in weight loss supplements?
Higenamine is also found in Plexus Accelerator Plus. See that review for more information.
Yerba Mate Extract
The scientific name for yerba mate is Ilex paraguariensis. That said, what extract of yerba mate is in Plexus Boost? They don’t tell us. Since yerba mate contains caffeine, might this be the extract? Herba mate has been an ingredient in several weight loss supplements I've looked at previously including:
So see those reviews for additional information.
Regardless of its use in weight loss supplements, I'm not aware of any published peer-reviewed evidence that yerba mate alone (or in combination with the other ingredients in this product) helps people lose weight. What I do see is lab mice weight loss studies.
Green Tea Extract
What green tea extract are they using? While I'm tempted to speculate that the extract might be either caffeine or ECGC (as both are popular in weight loss supplements), I can't say for sure. Green tea is very popular in weight loss supplements, in fact here is a list of all the green tea weight loss supplements I've looked at before. Because green tea extract is the last ingredient listed, I don’t think the product has much.
See the liver failure from supplements review.
Additional Ingredients
NuFlow
This is a proprietary ingredient used as a stabilizer for the powder in the capsules. It's used as a substitute for silicon dioxide, which some people don’t like to see in supplements. If you have the Accelerator Plus supplement, you may notice NuFlow is an ingredient in that product also.
For more info see my review of the Plexus Accelerator Plus.
Ingredients That Are Stimulants
- Higenamine
- Herba mate (maybe depending on extract used)
- Green tea (maybe depending on extract used)
I believe these are the ingredients that comprise the “thermogenic blend” mentioned on the Plexus website.
Ingredients Which Lack Evidence
The following ingredients have no published peer-reviewed proof that they help people lose weight.
- Higenamine
- Yerba mate
- Calcium glycinate
- Vitamin B6
- Niacin
- Vitamin B12
- Folic acid
Ingredients With Research
The following ingredients do have some human weight loss evidence
- Caralluma Fimbriata
- Chromium picolinate (maybe)
Yes, I did include chromium in this list because even though I don’t personally feel it helps ―and the majority of published studies back me up on this ―I have occasionally seen studies showing it works.
Here is my review of chromium picolinate and weight loss. Notice how many studies say it works.
Between those two ingredients, I feel the evidence is currently strongest for Caralluma Fimbriata although it is not a slam dunk either and, if the research is to believe, one might have to use more than is in Plexus Boost if it's going to work.
Plexus Boost vs. Accelerator Plus
In writing this review, I noticed that both of these products contained similar ingredients so let's list them side by side in case anyone was curious.
|
Plexus Boost |
Plexus Accelerator Plus |
| Calcium glycinate 50 mg | Niacin (Niacinamide) 20 mg |
| Vitamin B6 30 mg | Vitamin B6 30 mg |
| Niacin 20 mg | Vitamin B12 500 mcg |
| Chromium picolinate | Calcium glycinate 50 mg |
| Vitamin B12 500 mcg | Proprietary blend 950 mg |
| Folic acid 400 mcg | 1. Yerba mate leaf extract |
| Proprietary blend 900 mg | 2. Higenamine |
| 1. Caralluma Fimbriata | 3. Hordenine |
| 2. Higenamine | 4. Hawthorne leaf extract |
| 3. Yerba mate extract | 5. 5 HTP |
| 4. green tea extract | 6. Green tea leaf extract |
| NuFLOW | NuFlow |
mg = micrograms. mcg = micrograms. Red color indicates similarities. Blue indicates differences between products.
Notice the similarities between Plexus Boost and Plexus Accelerator Plus. While there may be some differences in the amounts of some of the ingredients, looking at these products side by side, Plexus Boost contains all the ingredients as Accelerator Plus except:
Given that some people have reported strange side effects from Accelerator Plus, could Plexus Boost is an attempt to make a “kinder, gentler” version of the Accelerator Plus?
See my review of the Accelerator Plus for more information.
Boost and Accelerator: Better Together?
After I published this review I was told that some Ambassadors may inform customers to alternative between Plexus Boost and Accelerator Plus such that they take the Boost supplement for a little while and then go back to the Accelerator Plus for a while.
I can only imagine that the reason for this might be thinking that people would eventually get used to one of these supplements and that alternating back and forth between both would produce greater weight loss effects.
But, there is no published, clinical proof showing that rotating between Plexus Boost and Accelerator Plus produces better results. I'm also not aware of any proof that people eventually get used to one of these products, necessitating the need to switch to the other product periodically.
Regardless of whether people alternate between both products, do not take both at the same time. Even the Boost label cautions against this.
How Much Caffeine?
The label does not list caffeine as an ingredient. That said, I wonder if caffeine may be in the green tea extract and/or yerba mate extract? If anyone finds out if Plexus Boost does or does not contain caffeine, let me know by leaving a comment below.
Plexus Boost Side Effects
Given the lack of research on the product itself, I can not say for certain what the side effects if any might be. I did notice that the Plexus Boost label contains this warning that I'm going to put into bullet format to make it easier to read:
- “Not intended for expectant or nursing mothers or if you have had a heart condition, high blood pressure or any other cardiovascular condition. “
- “Not intended for children under the age of 18. “
- “Avoid taking this product with cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, PPA or products containing caffeine.”
- “Not intended to be taken Accelerator Plus. “
- “Before starting this or any other supplementation, consult a physician first.”
- ” If unpleasant effects occur, discontinue use. “
I am glad the Plexus Boost label mentions not to take it with the Accelerator Plus supplement. Both supplements contain higenamine, which is a stimulant. Using both products at the same time might increase higenamine to levels that which may be dangerous in some people.
Higenamine can increase heart rate and this effect may be magnified when combined with caffeine. Higenamine might also have a blood thinner effect. As such it may interact with blood thinner medications.
Anyone who has ANY medical condition should speak to a doctor or pharmacist before using Higenamine.
Because of its stimulant content don’t use Plexus Boost before going to bed.
Herba mate has been associated with an increased risk of cancers of the mouth and throat. In several studies on this issue, people who developed cancer drank hot tea beverages containing yerba mate. What about supplements? Would they do the same thing? I have no idea and that's why I'd recommend speaking to an oncologist, ears nose, and throat doctor,s or pharmacist who may be able to shed more light on this.
Stop ALL supplements at least 2 weeks before having surgery. Some supplements/ingredients can increase the chance of bleeding. This is not good if you are having surgery.
Do not use Plexus Boost while breastfeeding in case some of the ingredients are passed to the nursing baby.
How Much To Take?
The label of the product says to take 1 to 2 capsules per day. For those who are going to try Plexus Boost, I recommend being extra conservative and starting with only 1 capsule ―or less than this ―for the first week. This is to reduce the severity of any side effects (if any) you may notice.
If you read my review of Plexus Accelerator Plus, take note of the comments. Some people have reported elevated heart rates, blood pressure problems as well as other issues. Would Plexus Boost do the same thing? I'm not sure. My opinion is starting with less than is recommended is the safest course of action.
Does Plexus Boost Work?
The Plexus Slim website calls Plexus Boost an “alternative companion” to Plexus Slim. That wording is vague. Should it be used alongside Plexus Slim? But the word “alternative” makes me wonder if they are saying Plexus Boost should be used instead of other products (like Accelerator Plus) ―or in place of Plexus Slim (the “pink drink”) itself? The only ingredient with some good evidence is Caralluma Fimbriata. Might the unique combination of ingredients in Plexus Boost work better than Caralluma Fimbriata alone? Anything is possible.
My heart is prone to flip flop right into afib, so I have to be extremely careful of stimulants. I have a relative who sells Plexus…constantly posting on her fb page about the Plexus’ benefits and wonderfulness of the company. I have been tempted to order some, but cannot seem to justify the cost. In your research, have you found ingredients that could cause my heart to afib?
Hi Deb, Because you have atrial fibrillation (afib) I’d be careful of anything that had stimulants. Plexus boost did have stimulants when I reviewed it. So too did plexus accelerator and plexus accelerator plus. Many weight loss products that you see advertised on facebook and elsewhere may contain stimulants. The idea is that if they can stimulant you (and your heart rate) to get up and do more stuff, that you might burn more calories. This in turn might help people lose weight. But, the evidence for stimulants and weight loss is not as great as people think. I see more research on fiber helping weight loss than stimulants. If weight loss is your goal, Id encourage you to find a registered dietitan (RD) who can help you find an eating program that is right for you that does not interfer with the medications you are taking. you can find an RD in your area by going to their website – EatRight.org. Just click yes at their little disclaimer and you can find all the RDs in your area.
Here is something I found on afib triggers you might be interested in:
http://www.webmd.com/heart/causes-risks-triggers-afib
It would be interesting, Deb, if you would ask an ambassador if any of their products are safe for those with afib. I can guarantee you, you’ll have many who will say no and probably several who will claim that it cures or remedies afib. If you do ask any of them, please share the results here.
Here is a response from a Sapphire or Diamond, not sure which level she is at this point.
“I did reach out to someone and there is absolutely nothing to this, as I knew, because I have full faith in this company and the products. Anyone attorney in California can file anything trying to cash in on a successful company. All you saw is one side, what someone filed – it means nothing. Plexus meets all federal and international standards for our products. We would not be where we are now if we did not. And it is not all about the money for me, you have no idea what I really do and how many people who I have been able to help, really help.”
SM
“Plexus meets all federal and international standards for our products.”
Does this guy understand that there are no such standards for supplements?
Hi Michael,
He’s a her, lol. My ex wife. I asked her Sunday so when she says she reached out to someone, I have to believe it was another high ranking Plexus Ambassador.
I will say, she genuinely believes she is helping people but I recall her reading books on how to make money in Network Marketing and she tells me it is a viable business model. I equate these posts and comments to political facebook posts, once someone makes a decision in their beliefs, no amount of information can change their mind.
As Mark Twain said, “It’s easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled.”
Jim
Jim
I would love to ask this person whom she got her response from. You, and I both know.
That person must have forgotten about the warning letter from the FDA PS received some time ago.
And, the main reason PS has been reasonably successful is because of people like her that believe the lies, and deception, and the fraud that MLM companies present.
Jim
Here is an article written by Dr. John Taylor. Dr. Taylor has 25 yrs of studying MLM, and why it is so destructive to individuals, and familieshttp://mlm-thetruth.com/. He lets it be known that MLM, PS, is not a viable business model Maybe your ex may want read.
Thanks Pete. I appreciate your sharing.
Not everything is about weight loss. Ever think about that??
Taylor, if its not marketed for weight loss, then what is it supposed to do? Even the name – “Boost” implies its supposed to boost/improve something. The ingredients are also found in other weight loss supplements. So again, if its not a wt loss product, then tell me what its supposed to boost?
What about lead, Taylor? What is lead used for? Wellness? Plexus Freedom?
http://oag.ca.gov/system/files/prop65/complaints/2015-00285C4059.pdf?
I have not seen or heard one ambassador address the fact that Plexus Worldwide knowingly and intentionally exposed their customers to unsafe levels of lead. According to the court documents, this has been SOP since late 2012.
I hope Taylor can provide some insight into this development.
I am an ambassador and signed up after being on the Plexus Slim for 2 months. It totally kept my back pain at bay (from car wreck) plus my tendonitis didn’t flare up anymore. I added Accelerator + and love it. I loved the Boost as far as curbing my appetite but it made me feel real tired. So I currently drink my Slim and take the Accelerator +. The difference in them is Accelerator speeds up the metabolism more than the Boost. It also is great for people who have anxiety. Boost works better for those who are emotional eaters.
The Accelerator and the Boost are only to be taken if you are on the Slim drink. A person needs to take either the Accelerator or Boost, not both together and not to be alternated. If you’re one for 3 months and want to stop it and try the other, that’s fine but wait a week until it’s out of your system before introducing a new product.
I’ve read all the comments and I all I can say is if you were educated about what Plexus is and does, you would have nice things to say. It has changed my health 360 degrees. Some of the products have literally saved peoples’ lives. We have many doctors, nurses, pharmacists, etc. who are ambassadors. The company is not money hungry. 50% of all profits goes to the ambassadors who work hard to share these amazing products. The other 50% goes back into the company.
Most everyone is strong in their faith, want to help others get healthy, and network with people and better themselves emotionally, physically, etc. It’s by far the best company I’ve worked for and I’ve been with the company less than a year. I’m not rolling in the money but it’s allowed me to stop living paycheck to paycheck. I would never promote or recommend products that didn’t work or were harmful. I give all my customers the ingredient lists for them to share with their Dr or pharmacist before ordering.
I have lost inches, have great natural energy, sleep fantastic, no more back/hip pain, no tendonitis flare ups, Dr took me off hormone pills, lowered my BP medicine to the lowest dose, my son’s acne is totally gone and that was in 3 weeks of being on Probio 5 after years of medications from dermatologists and thousands of dollars. I could go on and on.
I’d rather put natural products in my body than chemicals, if possible. I researched every ingredient in the full ingredient list for all products before signing up.
Cami, thanks for writing. may I ask a few questions?
1. you said that there were many doctors and nurses who are PS ambassadors. Ive heard other ambassadors say this too. Can you give me the names of 3 MDs (and the states where they reside) who are PS ambassadors? I’m just curious.
2. You said you researched all the ingredients in PS. what did you find out about
Hegenamine
Yerba mate
That put your mind at ease?
3. Am I wrong about what I thought were typos on the PS label? I’d be interested in getting the impute from an ambassador on this. I’m no label expert but I’ve thought I’ve seen issues a couple of times.
Yet another ambassador who thinks they know it all.
“I’ve read all the comments and I all I can say is if you were educated about what Plexus is and does, you would have nice things to say.”
Are you for real? Plexus products being banned for containing DMAA. The FDA having to send warning letters over making false claims. A company that refuses to test their products or disclose where they manufacture their products. A company that has gone through more talking points than a politician. A company that has had questionable ties to a “doctor” who has seen legal troubles. And we’re only supposed to say “nice” things?
“The company is not money hungry. 50% of all profits goes to the ambassadors who work hard to share these amazing products. The other 50% goes back into the company.”
You have nothing to back this up other than the lies your upline has told you.
“Most everyone is strong in their faith”
Yeah, I want to address this one. All those people who want to inject their “faith” into Plexus – you may want to brush up on your scripture. Let me give you the kind of faith display a certain ambassador has displayed when going after someone on Facebook who dared to question Plexus:
“”I am the top ambassador in the entire company and I come from a background of VERY successful traditional businesses….I look like a million bucks (Yep…I’m confident too), I feel great (so I’m a better wife and mom), and I make high 6 figures a month. No…that is not a typo…6 figures a month…So unless you are feeling fit and fabulous and you are insanely rich…”
This lady is really displaying some good faith, huh Cami? Does that statement seem to be in line with being a Christian? Braying about how great one is and how much money they make? Let me know what scripture we can reference that says its OK to do that.
“It’s by far the best company I’ve worked for and I’ve been with the company less than a year.”
You do understand that you don’t “work” for this company, don’t you? You’re nothing more than a 1099 contractor that they use to distribute their product. You are not “employed” in any way by these folks.
“I’d rather put natural products in my body than chemicals, if possible. I researched every ingredient in the full ingredient list for all products before signing up.”
What you did was look at Plexus flyers and website info. If you actually researched, you will find information out there that would steer you away from supplements. Ask where Plexus manufactures their products. Ask what kind of quality controls are in place and what the frequency of testing is to ensure accuracy of ingredients. Share that information with us here. Not just words from your upline but some actual documentation. Otherwise, these products are just the same garbage that is being made in China and India and most likely contain contaminants that you aren’t even aware of.
And shame on you for making your child ingest this stuff.
Cami
Every time an ambassador tries to tie religion to MLM, the most deceiving industry on the planet, it makes me sick. Just another tactic that MLM companies like PS use to make them seem on the up and up. Far from the truth. Don’t take my word for it, so here is a link by Daniel J. Korens expressing his views on whether or not a christian should be involved in MLM.http://www.danieljkoren.com/2011/03/christians-network-marketing/
Cami, it is obvious you are a new ambassador believing everything that your upline is telling you, but beware of the “brainwashing” techniques that they utilize.
As far as the distributor, getting 50% of profits, and the company getting the other 50%. How many legitimate companies do you know of that make a 50% profit? Does that tell you anything?
Here’s the kicker, the 50% profit that you think goes to all the distributors. The majority of that money goes to only the top 1%.. Does that seem fair? But there again, it’s MLM, an industry that is responsible for millions of people losing billions of dollars each year.
PS, pyramidal in all respects.
Pete,
Just crunching numbers here on that wild claim of 50/50 split. The “Preferred” cost for a 30 day supply of Plexus Slim is $79.95. According to Cami, that means $39.97 goes back to the company and $39.97 goes to the ambassador line.
We all know how the uplines get their cut, etc., so I want to focus in on the $39.97 that corporate takes in. The price point for any product is normally going to be double what it costs the company. Example, if a widget costs the company $10, they have to sell at $20 to make enough profit to not only buy more widgets but to defer the ongoing costs of business.
If corporate only takes 50%, then that would mean it costs them somewhere around $19.98 (or less) per bag of Slim (30 day supply – roughly .66 per packet) Who in their right mind believes that any US-based manufacturer would be able to offer something like this at .66 cents per packet?
There’s no way this stuff is made in the U.S. with a price point like that and all of the supposed top-notch “all natural” ingredients they talk about. You people ingesting this stuff are most likely running all sorts of Chinese contaminants through your body. Best of luck with that.
On first day of the boost, i will not continue to take it. Within about an hour after taking in I’m so jittery that i can not focus, has upset my stomach, and have a horrible headach. I have not hit the crash stage yet.
Brannon, I hope you are ok! If you don’t feel better, please go to the hospital. Let me know what happens.
I tried the Boost for the first time today. Within 2 hours, I was flushed, dizzy, and my heart rate had jumped to 140!! Six hours later I “crashed” and felt like I had an awful hangover. Will stick to better eating habits and healthier activities!!
Just wondering? Has anyone heard of taking Plexus Boost along with a “slim powder?” Thanks.
Rhonda, I have not. What kind of “slim powder?” Who makes it?
Firstly, I am not an ambassador but have been trying the Plexus Slim (the pink drink- stick pack of powder that you mix with water) because a family member has been telling me how wonderful it makes her feel. That said, I believe the ‘slim powder’ refers to the product Plexus has: Plexus Slim that can be used alone or some use with the Plexus Boost or Accelerator.
Sandy
I agree with you. You mentioned that you have been taking PS products, would you share with the site how they may be working for you?
Thanks
I have been using the Plexus Slim for about 6 months but I am not consistent with it. I consider it part of my vitamin/supplement aresenal and in my mind at least, it all helps me be healthier or at least helps me stay focused on being healthier and sticking to better habits.
I had already lost a few pounds before I started drinking it thanks to increased exercise and healthier eating habits. That said, I did lose another 10 pounds but I believe it was mostly due to my improved habits. Still, for me, the Slim has helped me stay on track and focus on healthy habits and I have to admit that if I don’t take it for a while, I feel more run down. Whether it is mind over matter I can’t say but this is my experience.
I do not/cannot/will not take the Boost or Accelerator because there is just not enough or any safety information on the stimulants in them, and I have an irregular heartbeat issue.
Sandy
Thanks for being honest with your experiences with PS… You admit that it may be the fact that PS helped you change your eating habits, etc. And, put you in the frame of mind of losing weight, but, in your opinion PS was not the main reason you improved your condition, if was you improved health habits.
I find this to be true, most supporters say PS is the sole reason their lives are better, and not give credit to the hard work themselves have put into the process of losing weight, and feeling better. I believe most people on PS experience more of a placebo effect than anything else. Just my opinion, and I can’t prove it.
Thank you for these reviews. I have learned a lot. I am a Plexus Ambassador who has been taking Slim and Boost for about two months. I joined as an ambassador simply because I could get the product cheaper. Just know that if you do that (join as an ambassador) you DO NOT have a 60 day money back guarantee, but only five days. I have had little results.
Because of that I can’t speak highly of it so have not sold any or recruited anyone. When I run out of my present supply, I will stop as it is way too expensive for me to stay on it. It will be a lesson learned, be it an expensive lesson.
I have always believed that anyone can lose weight with better food choices and less of it. Add exercise to that and you have a healthier you. This can be done without spending any money on any supplement. The hardest part is KEEPING weight off. I know. Ten years ago, I lost 60 pounds and I am still maintaining that loss. You have to keep at it.
By the way, you mentioned questioning the amount of caffeine in Boost….I was told by the production department at Plexus Worldwide that one capsule has “about the same as a cup of coffee, which is about 25 mg.” I found it curious that they couldn’t or didn’t just tell me exactly, but that’s what they said.
Dee, thanks for that feedback. A cup of coffee has more than 25 mg of caffeine. According to this post from the Mayo Clinic an 8 oz cup of coffee has about 95 mg of caffeine : http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/caffeine/art-20049372
Did they really say 25 mg?
“The amount of caffeine in Boost is about as much as a cup of regular coffee (+/-) 25mgs.”
This was copied and pasted from their reply email to my question. So, yes, they really did.
Dee, I’ve never heard of a cup of coffee that had 25 mg of caffeine. Has anyone else?
Maybe in decaf coffee but not regular.
Joe, I’m guessing you have an agenda to your “review” of Plexus products…what’s your gig??
Hi Mickey, no adgenda. I want to help better understand supplements so they can make a more informed decision. If you see something in error, let me know and I will be happy to take a look at it.
Mickey, when you accuse others of having an “agenda”, it helps when you aren’t one of those individuals who sells the product and is a Silver Ambassador with Plexus. You are nothing more than a shill for this garbage who has been urged by an upline to come here and defend Plexus. When your upline posts about how great it is to be attending conventions and you’re still at home, remember that whole “agenda” thing.
Joe, thank you for this article. I have been using Plexus Slim for 5 weeks, not exercising (I hurt my back), and not changing my diet (shame on me), but still managed to lose 12 pounds and 50 points off of my sugar level.
So, I decided to add the Boost to my regiment, but noticed I felt flush and jittery after taking it. Your article helped me better understand the ingredients and reasons for why I had these side-effects.
I know my results are only anecdotal, and there is certainly the possibility of a placebo effect, but I haven’t really changed my eating habits. I’ve been satisfied more quickly, and simply eat less (by about a third less).
So, I’m a fan of the Plexus Slim, but I’m going to have to quit taking the Boost.
Happy, I’m happy my review was able to help and also glad to hear about your weight loss. I hope your back feels better soon.
I have been on plexus slim and the accelerator plus for two weeks and lost ten pounds..i do also take the pro bio 5 at night . after the first week i noticed my skin was clearer and i slept better plus my hands did not hurt as much. out of curiosity i switched to the boost -i am only on two days so i will let you know how the switch goes. My mom who has had gastric bypass and breast cancer has been on this product with me and she is feeling better-less gas issues and not getting sick as much and has lost 11 pounds.
I think a good share of the success is drinking half our body weight in water and we both are able to eat healthier seeming we are not as hungry.i personally have friends who it has done amazing things for..that is why i opted to try it-and i am glad that i have.like everything..it may not work for everyone-
Tina, I am happy it is working for you. I will caution you about the accelerator plus and plexus boost. Dont get discouraged if you dont keep losing 5 pounds per week. it will slow down. most of the weight you lost so far is water, when the weight loss slows, that is a sign that you are losing mostly fat.
Here is my review of Plexus ProBio 5 in case you missed it.
Here is my review of Accelerator Plus also.