Plexus Slim Hunger Control (Slim Hunger Control) is an appetite control supplement offered by Plexus WorldWide, a juggernaut in the supplement world. In this unbiased Slim Hunger Control review, I'm going to show you the research on the supplement and also breakdown its ingredients. I'll show how it works and also what I believe its active ingredient is. I'll also reveal something interesting I discovered along the way. Is Slim Hunger Control the real deal or a should you save your money? Let's take a look.
1 Other Plexus Slim Reviews
After you're finished learning about Slim Hunger Control, take a gander at these other Plexus reviews too:
- Plexus Slim (original formula)
- Plexus Slim (new formula)
- Plexus Accelerator
- Plexus Probio5
- Plexus Boost
- Plexus Joyome Anti wrinkle Cream
2 Slim Hunger Control Benefits
This supplement is said to provide people with the following benefits
- Clinically demonstrated to help you lose weight*
- Helps to reduce hunger*
- Supports healthy glucose metabolism*
The asterisk next to these means they have not been proven to occur by the FDA. That's pretty standard for supplement claims. But, looking at the ingredients in this supplement, these claims do make some sense to me. I'll cover these in the research section below.
3 Plexus Hunger Control Label
Each Slim Hunger Control packet (10g) has 20 calories and contains the following ingredients according to its Supplement Facts label:
Ingredient | Amount Per Serving | Percent Daily Value |
Calories | 20 | |
Total Carbs | 8g | 3% DV |
Dietary Fiber | 6g | 24% DV |
Chromium | 200 mcg | 167% DV |
Polydextrose | 6250 mg | N/A |
Plexus Slim Blend : | 531 mg | N/A |
1 Green coffee | ||
2 Garcinia cambogia | ||
3 Alpha lipoic acid | ||
4 Mulberry fruit extract |
In this table “N/A” means no daily value has been established. Each container of Plexus Hunger Control has 30 servings. If a serving is 1 packet and you used 2 packets per day, this means a box would last you about 2 weeks.
The product comes in slim strips which you tear open and add to water. I've seen other supplements use thin strips too. I wonder if the thin strips are for psychological reasons: in other words, thin strips = thin people? This is pure speculation.
4 Other Ingredients
The label also tells us Slim Hunger Control by Plexus contains these additional ingredients too:
- Natural flavors
- Citric acid
- Stevia leaf extract
- Fruit and vegetable juice
- Beet root extract (for color)
- Silicon dioxide
These other ingredients play no role in the hunger controlling effects of this supplement.
5 Slim Hunger Control Research
The package says “clinically demonstrated to help you lose weight.” But As far as can be determined, the Hunger Control supplement – itself – has no clinical studies proving it curbs appetite or reduces hunger. Neither the Plexus website or online databases reveal any clinical research.
I believe the statement about being clinically demonstrated is a reference to one of its ingredients which I'll cover below. It may also be a reference to the original clinical study of Plexus Slim (the pink drink). See the original plexus review for more on this research.
This does not mean Slim HC does not work. To better understand Hunger Control by Plexus, we need to look at the proof for its ingredients. Let's do that next.
6 Slim Hunger Control Ingredients
Let's now look at the hunger control and weight loss evidence for the ingredients in Plexus HC. I'll review them in order as they appear on the label.
Chromium
The form of chromium in this supplement is chromium polynicotinate. This is chromium bonded to nicotinic acid to improve absorption. Supplements may contain chromium for two main reasons:
- weight loss
- regulate blood sugar
While weight loss may be a reason why some supplements use chromium, I believe the goal here is to regulate blood sugar. The idea being if low blood sugar can be prevented, this might reduce the chance of our over-eating. This is an interesting however, the blood sugar appetite theory is controversial. As you'll see below, all the ingredients in Slim Hunger Control have the potential to reduce blood sugar levels.
Chromium is thought to reduce hunger because of how it acts on the hormones insulin and serotonin, both of which play roles in appetite. In one rat study, chromium picolinate (similar to chromium polynicotinate) reduced both reduce food intake and fat intake.
Researchers in North Carolina, gave 24 overweight women either a placebo or 600mcg – 1000 mcg of chromium per day for 6 months. This is more chromium than is in 2 packets of Plexus Hunger Control. While the women taking chromium did seem to have less binge eating, the effect was not significantly greater than the placebo. To be fair, this was a small study. It's possible a larger study might have seen a significant difference.
Polydextrose
Polydextrose (PDX) is a type of carbohydrate used to add fiber to foods and supplements. As a fiber, it's also a prebiotic too, so our gut bacteria can eat it. Because polydextrose has no calories, it makes a good choice for weight loss supplements and shakes. Because it's a fiber, it likely reduces blood sugar and can help curb appetite too.
Each packet of Hunger Control has 6250 mg of polydextrose. That's 6.2 grams. Remember, each packet of Slim Hunger has 10 grams. This means over 60% of the supplement is made up of polydextrose fiber.
This is important to remember.
On the Plexus website they say this “Slim Hunger Control is specially formulated with Polydextrose to help you feel full longer..” Because of this, I believe polydextrose is the key ingredient in Slim HC.
Researchers in Finland, conducting a review of 7 previous research studies concluded polydextrose can reduce the desire to eat during times when we feel full. Thus, it makes sense it would be in a supplement like Hunger Control.
Fiber is well known to have appetite suppressing effects.
-
- See the Metamucil Weight Loss review
- See the Skinny Fiber review
7 Plexus Slim Blend
The Plexus Slim blend contains 4 different ingredients:
- Green coffee
- Garcinia cambogia
- Alpha lipoic acid
- mulberry leaf extract
All the ingredients in this blend add up to 531 mg. While they don't tell us the amounts of each ingredient, we know ingredients must be listed in order of abundance. For example, since green coffee is listed first, it makes up most of the blend. Mulberry leaf extract is listed last so it is makes up the least.
Let's look at each ingredient below.
Green Coffee
Green coffee (Coffea robusta) is popular in weight loss supplements despite evidence it actually works. To be honest , I don't think green coffee works. One component of green coffee is chlorogenic acid. Many supplements – including Hunger Control – call attention to how much chlorogenic acid they contain. The green coffee in Plexus Hunger Control is 50% cholorgenic acid.
All this is nice but, does green coffee or chlorogenic acid reduce appetite or hunger? To find the answer I searched clinical databases for:
- Green coffee appetite
- Green coffee hunger
- Cholorogenic acid appetite
- Chlorogenic acid hunger
I could not locate any proof green coffee/cholorogenic acid reduces appetite, hunger or binge eating. But, there is evidence that cholorogenic acid may lower blood sugar. In other words, better regulated blood sugar may lead to less overeating. Maybe.
Overall, green coffee research has been plagued by small studies (not many people) and research which was not the best in my opinion.
Take for example, the highly touted -and infamous -green coffee study which was so poorly conducted it was actually retracted from publication after it became known the authors of the study were not the people who did the study. This bogus research study resulted in one company paying a 3.5 million fine.
While I have no faith in green coffee as a weight loss or appetite control agent, one problem with cholorogenic acid is roasting coffee beans reduces how much is present. For those who think green coffee supplements work, this is something to ask companies about.
Garcinia Cambogia
Garcina cambogia is popular in weight loss supplements. But, the evidence for garcinia iffy at best. In a previous review, I looked at the weight loss evidence for garcinia cambogia. I found almost as many studies showing it didn't worked as those finding it did. Based on this, I'd like to see bigger, better studies on garcinia.
Some research suggests garcinia cambogia may reduce blood sugar levels.
More scary, garcinia cambogia is linked to liver failure in some people. Some of these people required a liver transplant! While there is likely not much garcina in Hunger Control, because of the liver controversy, Garcinia cambogia is on my list of supplements to not take.
Alpha lipoic Acid
Some studies have noted alpha lipoic acid can reduce blood sugar. So, might alpha lipoic acid be used to regulate blood sugar and in doing so, alter eating?
Researchers in Spain have noted 300 mg of alpha lipoic acid is effective for weight loss in overweight women when taken for 10 weeks. Ironically, another study, from Korea, noted 1200 mg did not help weight loss when it was given to women for 20 weeks.
In this investigation, it took 1800 mg for alpha lipoic acid to work. The fact that a lower amount was shown to work while a higher dose did not, might mean problems with how the research was conducted.
I believe we need better studies on alpha lipoic acid to know if it really works or not.
Mulberry Leaf Extract
Mulberry is another blood sugar lowering ingredient in this Slim Hunger Control by Plexus. It's scientific name is Morus nigra. The Hunger Control label tells us, this supplement contains white mulberry (morus alba). Researchers in Korea noted an extract of white mulberry, given to mice for 32 days, lead to weight loss and fat loss around the liver.
Researchers in the United Kingdom have noted mulberry can reduce blood sugar in people with normal blood sugar levels. While lowering blood sugar is interesting, its effects on weight loss and appetite control require more study.
8 Blood Sugar Lowering Ingredients
The following ingredients in Hunger Control can reduce blood sugar levels:
- Polydextrose
- Chromium
- Green coffee extract
- Garcinia cambogia
- Alpha lipoic acid
- Mulberry leaf extract
Conclusion: Research suggests every ingredient in Plexus Hunger Control has the potential to lower blood sugar. Could this be their common denominator? Maybe, but I think it's hunger reducing effect is simpler than this. I think it's the fiber.
9 How Much Fiber?
Each packet of Hunger Control has 6 grams ofpolydextrose fiber. This fiber likely the main reason why the supplement reduces appetite. For more on fiber and appetite/weight loss see the reviews on
10 How Does Plexus Hunger Control Work?
Based on the ingredients, it seems the supplement is supposed to control hunger and cravings 2 ways:
- keep you full longer (the fiber)
- prevent blood sugar from going to low or high
It's possible the ingredients effect hunger hormones too such as leptin, serotonin and insulin too but I believe the fiber is the real reason you might have a reduced appetite.
11 How To Use Plexus Hunger Control
The directions for optimal results are to tear open a packet and add to 12-20 oz water bottle and shake immediately before drinking. Use Hunger Control use up to twice per day 30-60 minutes before eating.
12. Does It Have Caffeine?
Yes. the label tells us Slim HC has 2% caffeine and this comes from the green coffee bean extract. They call it “natural caffeine” but natural or not, its still caffeine. Plexus does not tell us the exact amount of caffeine but its probably not much.
13 Slim Hunger Control Price
For a one time purchase, Slim HC is $87.95. For those who become preferred customers and get regular deliveries, the cost is $82.95, a 5% savings. If you become a Plexus Ambassador, there may be additional savings too.
14 Buy Slim Hunger Control
Plexus Hunger Control is not sold in stores like Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, Target, Bed Bath and Beyond, Costco, GNC, Vitamin Shoppe or Sam's Club. The supplement can only be purchased at the Plexus website (PlexusWorldWide.com) or from a Plexus Ambassador.
15 Who Makes Slim Hunger Control?
The company is called Plexus WorldWide LLC. The parent company is called Plexus Holdings, Inc. Their website is PlexusWorldWide.com. The company is located at 9145 E Pima Center Pkwy Scottsdale, AZ 85258-4627. The company makes a variety of health supplements previously reviewed here such as:
- Plexus Slim
- Plexus Slim (new formula)
- Plexus Accelerator
- Plexus Probio5
- Plexus Boost
- Plexus Joyome Anti wrinkle Cream
At the time this review was created, The Better Business Bureau gave Plexus Worldwide a rating of “A+.” When this review was created the BBB listed 185 customer reviews of which 62% were negative. The company does respond to negative complaints, which is good. The company has been in business for over 10 years. This is also good. See the BBB file for updates and more information.
16 Is Slim Hunger Control Vegan?
Yes. The supplement is “100% vegetarian.”
17 Does Slim Have Any Gluten?
No. Plexus Hunger Control is gluten free. It also has no artificial sweeteners, flavors or preservatives.
18 Plexus Hunger Control vs. Plexus Slim
Would Slim Hunger Control work better with Plexus Slim (the Pink Drink)? Let's consider this by comparing the ingredients of each side-by-side.
Plexus Hunger Control (1 packet) | Plexus Slim (1 packet) |
Chromium (200 mcg) | Chromium (200 mcg) |
Polydextrose (6250mg) | Xylooligosaccharide (1000 mg) |
Plexus Slim Blend (531 mg) composed of: | Plexus Slim Blend (531 mg) composed of: |
Green coffee extract | Green coffee extract |
Garcina cambogia | Garcina cambogia |
Alpha lipoic acid | Alpha lipoic acid |
Mulberry fruit extract | Mulberry fruit extract |
As you can see, Slim Hunger Control is 99% identical to Plexus Slim. The only difference is:
- Plexus Hunger Control has polydextrose (PDX)
- Plexus Slim has Xylooligosaccharide (XOS)
So what's the difference? Well, XOS is a prebiotic. In other words, it's food for our probiotic bacteria. This is why Plexus Slim (pink drink) is touted to be “microbiome activating.” But, XOS doesn't seem to curb appetite like polydextrose.
I'm sure this will make some people wonder why they didn't just add polydextrose to Plexus Slim instead of XOS. After all, they are both prebiotics.
19 Slim + Slim Hunger Control: Better Together?
I'm not convinced you would have to take both Plexus Slim (microbiome activating) and Slim Hunger Control to get the best benefits. As I already pointed out, they are 99% identical to each other. If you like Plexus Slim, I'd say use one or the other but not both. Remember, both supplements are over $80 per package.
Using both sets you back over $160 per month. That is a lot of money to pay especially when the only difference between them is some fiber.
For those who want to use the microbiome activating version of Plexus Slim and get the benefits of Slim HC, a you can save money by only using the Pink Drink and combine it with a fiber supplement like Metamucil.
Remember, the only difference between them is Slim HC has 6 grams of fiber. You are paying a lot of money for 6 grams of fiber.
20 Plexus Hunger Control Side Effects
Slim Hunger Control is likely safe in healthy people. For those who may not be healthy, here a few things to consider. This is list not complete:
- Start with less than recommended for the first week to see how you respond
- Not recommended for those under 18. The Plexus website says this too.
- Don't take if you are pregnant. The Plexus website also says this.
- Speak to your doctor first if you have any health condition such as diabetes, pre-diabetes or heart disease or take medications for these conditions.
- Because the ingredients in the supplement can lower blood sugar, if you have low blood sugar problems, speak to your doctor.
- Stop taking the supplement at least 2 weeks before having surgery
- Speak to your doctor /pharmacist /dietitian if you take any medications
- Garcinia cambogia has been linked to liver damage
- Fiber may have a laxative effect causing diarrhea
- Slim Hunger Control has some caffeine. This might interfere with sleep if consumed close to bedtime.
- Chromium may interfere with some antidepressant medications
Ironically, a few people have said Plexus Slim made them hungry. Because Slim Hunger Control contains fiber, I think this would be unlikely.
21 Does Slim Hunger Control Work?
If Plexus Hunger Control really reduces appetite- and I think it might- it's because it has some fiber. The ingredients in Slim Hunger Control are the same as regular Plexus Slim except it has some fiber. Could I be wrong? Sure, it's possible all the ingredients might work better together -but this would take research to prove.
Do You Have Any Questions?
Sue says
Thank you for this post! So, I could get the same results if I took polydextrose fiber?
Joe says
Sue, yes I believe so. Polydextrose is the main ingredient in Plexus Hunger Control. Each packet of Hunger Control has 6 grams of this fiber. There are many other weight loss fibers out there some of which do contain polydextrose. Metamuscil contains a different fiber called psyllium which also has some weight loss proof
Heres the Metamucil review
Cynthia L. Stern says
I did a quick search, and it seem that one can purchase an entire pound of polydextrose at Netrition for less than $5. I don’t know whether it’s OK to post the link here…please edit it out if I’ve made a faux pas. Thanks! https://www3.netrition.com/lifesource_polyd_page.html
Joe Cannon says
Hi Cynthia, that’s an interesting point for those who just want to try polydextrose. I’ve not heard of the website you linked to. They may be fine. Just be sure to investigate who you give credit card info to.
Roseann says
I hope everyone reads your review of Glutathione- they will want to increase it in their bodies. Well, they should also read about Vitamin D, Gym Emergencies, and every review you write!! My humble opinion.
Joe says
Thanks Roseann, I hope they do too. I often post them on Instagram, facebook, twitter etc. 🙂
Roseann says
It is all facts, Joe.
I absolutely loved your Glutathione review and recommend everyone read it. A Chiropractor recommended Gluathione a decade or more ago. I learned SO MUCH from that article, a lot about using NAC, which I also purchased. Your article is stuffed with amazing facts. PLEASE EVERYONE READ IT! You must have spent a lot of time in research to list so much about Glutathione! Thank you.
Joe says
Hey Roseann, thanks for saying that! I had a lot of fun writing the glutathione review 🙂
Here my glutatione review for those who missed it
Roseann Zinke says
To Mark Weaver and Joe,
What interesting information about citric acid and natural flavors! Mark, you’ve really done a huge amount of research on those items. I was shocked to hear that some “natural flavors” include MSG! MSG can give me terrible migraines. I always have to ask if they use MSG when I eat Chinese food-often they say “no”, but I can tell that they really DO USE IT if I get a migraine.
Do things like natural flavors trigger an asthma attack in your daughter?
As both of you noted, why don’t companies specify WHAT ingredients comprise the “natural flavors”? I think they avoid that because we may be shocked by finding out that things like MSG make up these flavors!
Personally, I wouldn’t take a product if it has MSG in it because I don’t enjoy getting migraines.
It was also very interesting and discouraging to find out that a lot of what we think are healthy items are made in a lab, especially when they are touted as “health foods/products”.
Joe says
Hi Roseann, yes I agree 100%. Even “health-foods” have issues. Recently there was a report of protein powders containing lead, mercury etc. The organic protein powders contained the most!
Roseann says
Hi Joe, that’s terrible!! We can’t trust our health foods to be healthy. That’s why you and Consumer Labs are so essential for us to read!
Joe says
Hey Roseann, I’m flattered to be mentioned in the same sentence as Consumerlab 🙂
Roseann says
Joe, both you and Consumer Lab do research that’s based on facts and therefore is unbiased. There aren’t many unbiased sources of information out there. You and Consumer Labs are the only ones I have access to, unless I want to do all the research both of you do!
Joe says
Thanks Roseann, that’s really nice of you to say . Hope you are having a wonderful weekend 🙂
Mark Weaver says
I’m more concerned with the other ingredients – Natural Flavors and Citric Acid. Can you comment on those?
Joe says
Hi Mark, citric acid is found in foods like lemons for example. its my understanding its added to things as a preservative. It helps keep the acidity low and prevents bacteria growth. if any ambassadors want to ring on on this feel free to share if I am incorrect here.
As for natural flavors, they are usually things that come from foods but its my understanding they don’t have to be the food. They could be an extract of food. Companies don’t have to tell us what the natural flavors are. Like I wish they told us what foods were GMO, I also wish companies would tell us what the “natural flavors” are. For what it’s worth, I dont think the natural flavors are present in high doses and Ive never heard of them doing us any harm.
Mark Weaver says
Because of my daughter’s troubles with asthma and the ineffectiveness of medical treatments, we went to an MD who uses functional medicine approach. He had her get off gluten and “excitotoxins.” We had never heard the term before, but basically, you avoid any ingredient your grandmother wouldn’t have known.
Our daughter measurably improved. She was running track so it was very easy to see the incredible progress over a 3 week period of time. To be a good dad, I went on the restrictive diet with her and experienced a marked improvement in migraines. That led me to research what all these chemicals are, and what they do to the human body.
Citric Acid used to be derived from lemon peels. Most of it today is not – it’s a lab-grown chemical, and a controversial one at that – http://www.newhope.com/ingredients-general/is-citric-acid-natural.
I have contacted numerous food manufacturers, health food companies, organic food companies and so far all have used the manufactured chemical. It’s not natural at all, potentially GMO, and anything but organic – despite being in organic products.
Natural flavors are often glutamates like MSG and Aspartame, or things that break down to glutamates. They’re referred to as “excitotoxins” because they trick your brain into thinking something tastes like a natural thing. Natural flavors are typically not natural. They’re a chemical, and MSG is the #1 natural flavor. Many people have reactions to MSG because it’s not the MSG that occurs naturally; it’s typically a lab created product.
Artificial flavors are chemicals that don’t taste like a real thing – like Blue Ozone Gummies or things that don’t taste like anything other than Blue Ozone Gummies.
Natural flavors are generally lab-produced chemicals that don’t actually taste like the flavor, but they trick your brain into thinking that it does. So a blueberry flavored drink may not have blueberry in it at all; it may have natural flavors that are chemicals that make you think the drink tastes like blueberries.
Organic natural flavors have to have once been alive, so they aren’t chemicals. It could be the kidney of a pig that for whatever reason tastes like blueberry, but these are generally safe.
Because of the health issues we’ve dealt with, I’ve called numerous healthy food and beverage manufacturers to find out what is in their “natural flavors.” The answer I typically get is that it’s proprietary. When I explain that I need to know for health reasons because I don’t want my daughter having an asthma attack eating or drinking their “healthy” food or beverage, it gets interesting. So I will ask if it’s a lab-produced chemical or something really naturally occurring. Guess which it has always been so far?
If you research excitotoxins you’ll find all kinds of studies and research linking the use of them to numerous maladies. The sad part is that if you want to avoid them, you almost have to avoid health food places. You can actually find canned tomatoes in Safeway and Sams that are free of Citric Acid or Natural Flavors. They have one ingredient – tomatoes. That’s harder to find in health food stores where Citric Acid is in everything and natural flavor in many things.
I don’t know what the Citric Acid and Natural Flavors actually are in Plexus, but I’d like to know. Meanwhile, I’m skeptical because of all the other healthy food and drinks that have these chemicals in them, all while being touted as healthy, natural, and good for you. Personally, I think the absolute worst foods are the ones that are deceptive – being marketed as healthy when they’re full of chemicals that our bodies weren’t made to process.
Joe says
Hi Mark, thanks for sharing all that about your daughter. I’m glad your daughter and you are doing better. I was not aware of the citric acid controversy and appreciate you sharing the link to New Hope. Again, I wish companies were more forthcoming about that natural flavors really were.
Mark Weaver says
There is also a controversy about “Natural Flavors.” – http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2015/12/attention-allergy-sufferers-beware-of-natural-flavors/#.W0N14dJTlPY.
In our case, it’s figuring out if the “Natural Flavors” have any kind of glutamate in it – such as MSG. There are many others. And there are other things in food that can be separately labeled that are glutamates, such as enzymes, hydrolized whatever. Basically if your grandmother wouldn’t know what the ingredient is, you probably don’t want it.
And so with Plexus – whatever they’ve labled as “natural flavors” is suspect. I’d love to know, but from experience with other similar companies, I suspect they’ll say its proprietary. Often when I hear that and keep pressing for it, I hear that it’s lab-created chemicals. Hardly natural.
Joe says
Mark, yes its funny they fall back on the proprietary argument because if a company really wanted to know what was in a competitor, they could just test it and find out. I sometimes wonder if its because they dont want us knowing the info.
I was just thinking about this as I was updating my review of review on Lipoflavinoid, a supplement for ear ringing/ tinnitus. They used to list the actual key ingredient by name. Now they call it citrus bioflavinoids which is vague.
Roseann says
HI Joe,
After reading your review, I think I will buy and take FIBER!! And maybe Chromium. As to what Kim answered: Kim, Joe didn’t say Plexus people are like a cult. Someone who read Joe’s review said it.
Joe says
Hi Roseann, I think that would be the lesser expensive option. Since I wrote this, some ambassadors have told me they don’t recommend people take both plexus slim and plexus hunger control – which is good.
good point about the cult. I think Kim was referring to Rick who said Plexus was cult-like.
I’m happy you made it through your surgeries 🙂
Kim says
I would like to say that we don’t ask folks to take both. It is an either/or in all situations. As far as cult, that’s stupid. We could call your followers cultists. LOL we also do ask our customers to consult the doctors and pharmacist to insure they can consume the products.
Our product, Slim, was developed to address blood sugar naturally and the name Slim came about because most did lose weight while taking it.
Thanks for giving me this video to explain our ingredients. We appreciate it! Have a blessed day.
Joe says
Hi Kim, Im so happy my video helped you! If you ever want me to post a video on another supplement just let me know. I’m having fun with YouTube 🙂
Rick Ireland says
Thanks for the information Joe, my niece is knee deep in the sales of plexus products and I have to say it’s almost cult like.
I always enjoy your reviews on supplements, they are very informative
Thanks again
Joe says
Hi Rick that’s kind of you to say. I have to say I was a little surprised by Plexus Hunger Control. It’s a lot of money to pay for fiber. I think when people realize its just plexus slim with some fiber, they will have a hard time selling it to people who already use Plexus Slim (the pink drink). But, time will tell. The good news is fiber is pretty safe to use so that is something.