Update 7/10/20. Plexus Slim is billed as an “affordable weight management product” that boasts “no ill side effects” based on “extensive clinical research.” Impressive, but does PlexusSlim work or is it a scam? And does it really have no side effects? I was tipped off to Plexus Slim by one of the readers of this website. After looking at its ingredients, I wanted to write a review of Plexus Slim because of the words used to describe the product and because Plexus Slim seemed to have ingredients that I have never heard of before. Let's see what we can discover about this weight loss drink. Also read my review of the Plexus Accelerator Plus (Accelerator +) and Plexus Boost, Plexus ProBio5 and Plexus Hunger Control after you read this, for additional information.
Update: The formula for Plexus Slim was changed a bit since this review was written so also read the review of the new plexus slim formula.
Who Makes Plexus Slim?
According to the Better Business Bureau, the company that makes Plexus Slim – Plexus Worldwide Inc. – was started in 2005 in Arizona. The address of the company is 7440 E. Karen Dr. #400, Scottsdale, AZ 85260.
Update. PlexusWorldWide.com, the company website, now lists this corporate address: 15649 N. Greenway Hayden Loop Scottsdale, AZ 85260. Googling this address shows a large building that says “Plexus Slim” on the outside. That's good.
Update. The Better Business Bureau now lists this address for the company: 9145 E Pima Center Pkwy Scottsdale, AZ 85258-4627
The BBB gives Plexus Slim a rating of “A+” See the BBB file for updates and other information.
To buy Plexus Slim it looks like you either have to buy it from the company or through a PlexusSlim distributor. They call Plexus Slim distributors “Ambassadors“. On the Plexus Slim website, they have a calendar of Plexus Slim events.
These events serve not only to sell Plexus Slim but also to recruit new Ambassadors. Plexus Slim has a multi-level marketing (MLM) aspect to it.
I have no problem with MLM. If the product is reputable, MLM allows people to make an income which can be significant.
Plexus Slim Nutrition Information
In an effort to keep this review up to date, here are the ingredients in Plexus Slim as they appeared in 2016. According to the label shown on the product website, each packet of Plexus Slim has the following nutrition information and ingredients:
| Ingredient | Amount Per Serving | Percent Daily Value |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 10 calories | |
| Total Carbohydrdate | 3 grams | 1% DV |
| Chromium Polynicotinate | 200 micrograms | 167% DV |
| Plexus Slim Blend (composed of the following) | 530 mg | N/A |
| Garcinia Cambogia Fruit Extract | ||
| Green Coffee Bean Extract | ||
| Alpha Lipoic Acid |
In the table above, N/A means no daily value established.
Each of the ingredients will be summarized below. I will leave in the summaries of the ingredients present in the original plexus slim formula too to help others doing their own research.
See the review of the new plexus slim formula too.
Plexus Slim Ingredients
Polydextrose
This is a type of soluble fiber. In theory, this might help weight loss since it has no calories and is a type of fiber. Polydextrose might cause gas and bloating.
Citric Acid
In some products, citric acid is used as a preservative and to enhance flavor. While it naturally occurs in citrus fruits, its use in foods/ supplements may be from natural or synthetic means.
Beet Root
If Plexus Slim uses the entire beetroot, the fiber content of the beetroot might help foster some weight loss because it adds bulk to the stomach contents. That said, I can't locate any evidence that beetroot helps people lose weight. The product label states the beetroot is to give the product color. Beets do have a red color. Beetroot probably contributes to the pink color of the product.
Beets and beetroot juice have gotten attention from the scientific community because of their ability to raise nitric oxide, a compound that can relax blood vessels, allowing blood to more easily travel through the body. See my review of SuperBeets for more on this topic.
Grape Skin Extract
Grape skin contains phytonutrients such as proanthocyanidins and proanthocyanidins which act as antioxidants. While this is very good, does grape skin extract help people lose weight? Other than having some fiber (which might act as a laxative) I can't find any proof that it does.
Update. I'm told Plexus Slim no longer contains grape skin extract
Lo Han Extract
The scientific name for this ingredient is Siraitia grosvenorii. This is also called “lou han guo” and “monk fruit.” By either name, it's often used as a sweetener. This ingredient, like steveia below, is likely added for flavoring.
Stevia
This is a sweetener. Some supplement companies may call it by another name -“rebaudioside A.”
Stevia is added to many low-calorie foods. In theory, using low calorie (or no-calorie) sweeteners might help weight loss but I'm not sure if this is the answer. There are MANY low-calorie foods and beverages on the US market, yet Americans are not slimmer than they were, say, in the 1980s.
Natural Flavors
They don't tell us what these natural flavors are. To be fair, most companies don't. They don't have to under the law. Regardless, I doubt any of them play a role in weight loss.
Green Coffee Bean
This is also called Chlorogenic Acid. One study published in 2010 noted that chlorogenic acid helped weight loss and increased fat burning when in rats that were fed a high-fat diet (37% of calories from fat).
This is interesting even though it's a rat study. Another rat study also noted that mulberries (which also contain chlorogenic acid) helped the weight loss. But was it the chlorogenic acid – or all the other stuff mulberries?
In one small study 16 overweight people were given either a placebo or different amounts of green coffee extract (which contains chlorogenic acid) at either 700 mg or 1050 mg day for 6 weeks (each person was given each treatment for 6 weeks).
People getting the green coffee extract (both dosage amounts) were shown to have significant reductions in body weight, body mass and percent body fat compared to placebo. The type of green coffee extract used in this study was supplied by Applied Food Sciences Inc.
Retracted
It sounds great BUT, the study has been “retracted.” This means it should not be considered as evidence due to errors with how the study was performed. In the words of the authors, the study was retracted because the authors could not “assure the validity of the data.” Click here to read the retraction.
See the Green Bean Coffee Review for more information.
See the weight loss supplement scam review.
Rosmarinic Acid
This is a plant chemical found in many herbs, including rosemary. This is probably where Rosmarinic Acid gets its name from. Rosmarinic acid has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. I was unable to find any studies showing that Rosmarinic Acid helps weight loss in humans or animals.
Hydroxycinnamic Acid
This compound is an antioxidant but whether or not it contributes to weight loss needs further study.
Garcinia Cambogia
This was originally called “Citrin K” when I first reviewed Plexus Slim. Garcinia cambogia is found in MANY weight loss supplements because of some research that it might reduce appetite and help weight loss. Right now, I think all anyone can say is maybe it works or maybe it doesn't work.
In this study, 500 mg of garcinia Cambogia did not help people lose weight. I mention this because if this study is correct, then it might take more than 500 mg of garcinia Cambogia if it's going to work. The entire proprietary blend in Plexus Slim adds up to 530 mg. While Garcinia Cambogia is the first ingredient listed – which presumably means it makes up the most of the blend – how much that equates to, I cannot say.
See the Garcinia Cambogia review
Also, read the review of supplements linked to liver failure.
Alpha-lipoic Acid
This is an antioxidant and it helps it turn carbs into energy. It can also help regenerate other antioxidants, which is pretty snazzy.
There are a few studies of alpha-lipoic acid and weight loss. In one study, alpha-lipoic acid was randomly given to 360 obese people for 20 weeks. Half got a placebo and half got alpha-lipoic acid (either 1200 mg/day or 1800 
In another study, 1127 overweight people were given 800 mg of alpha-lipoic acid a day for 4 months. This study noted that alpha-lipoic acid, at the dosage given, helped people lose about 8% of their body weight over 4 months.
So if you were 200 pounds, alpha lipoic acid might help you lose about 200 x .08 = 16 pounds. That is a significant amount in my book.
One possible problem with this study though was that it doesn't appear that there was a placebo group to compare the weight loss too. I was also unable to determine (because I only read the summary of the study) if people combined alpha-lipoic acid with eating fewer calories (I think they might have ).
Alpha-lipoic acid is the last ingredient listed in the proprietary blend. As such, it likely makes up the least of the 530 mg total.
Oxypregnane Steroidal Glycoside
This is a pretty fancy name but you have heard of this stuff before. Oxypregnane steroidal glycoside – is just a fancy way of saying Hoodia! Here is a study that proves that both names mean the same thing.
I think they call it Oxypregnane steroidal glycoside because they are trying to make the product sound different and special. In reality, it's just hoodia Gordonii.
The other fancy name for hoodia is P57AS3 – you have probably seen this listed in other supplements as “P57“.
I've already reviewed hoodia and weight loss. Other supplements that I've reviewed previously that contain hoodia include the
For at least 10 years, hoodia Gordonii has been in more weight loss supplements than you can shake a stick at – but there is no good proof that hoodia supplements help people lose weight.
Study. Researchers gave hoodia or a placebo to 50 overweight people for 2 weeks. The people in the study were allowed to eat as much as they wanted from a menu provided by the researchers. Results: hoodia did not cause any weight loss.
While no serious side effects were reported, researchers did note that people who got hoodia had higher blood pressures and heart rates compared to people who got the placebo. Hoodia also seems to cause elevations in bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase. What caused these changes I do not know.
Update. Plexus slim no longer contains hoodia. See my review on the New Plexus Slim Formula for more info on how it has changed.
Chromium Polynicotinate
Plexus slim contains a type of chromium they call “amino nicotinate”. This is fancy talk for “chromium nicotinate”. (it is now called “chromium polynicotinate on the label).
You may have heard Dr. Oz talk about chromium polynicotinate on TV. I reviewed what Dr Oz had to say about this form of chromium and I am guessing that this is why Plexus Slim includes chromium nicotinate over the sometimes more popular, chromium picolinate.
Chromium may help lower blood sugar levels but as for its effects on weight loss, I am highly skeptical. For more on chromium, see my reviews of chromium weight loss research and chromium polynicotinate.
Blood Sugar Lowering Ingredients
As a quick reference, the following ingredients might reduce blood sugar:
- Alpha-lipoic acid
- Chromium nicotinate (now called chromium polynicotinate)
Fiber Ingredients
As a quick reference, the following ingredients all might add fiber to Plexus Slim:
- Polydextrose
- Grape skin (no longer in plexus slim) See my review of the new PS formula.
- Hoodia (maybe. no longer in Plexus Slim)
How Much Does Plexus Slim Cost?
One of the slogans for Plexus Slim is “At last, an affordable weight management product.” I guess that depends on how you define “affordable”. On the Plexus Slim website, they have different prices depending on whether you want to buy it just once or be billed each month automatically.
If you want to buy Plexus Slim one time only, its $84.95. If you want to be billed automatically at the 15th of each month, Plexus Slim is $79.95/ month.
Is Plexus Slim OK When Breast-Feeding?
Some women have wondered if they can take Plexus Slim while they are breastfeeding? That's not something I would recommend because if any of the ingredients in Plexus Slim pass into breast milk, then their baby will be getting those ingredients too.
I don't know for sure if any of the ingredients do get absorbed into breast milk, so I do recommend that women take the ingredients in Plexus Slim to their doctor to see if they can get a better answer.
How Much Caffeine?
The Plexus Slim Nutrition label states that it has less than 2% of naturally occurring caffeine. My guess is that the caffeine comes from the green coffee bean extract because this statement is listed next to the green coffee bean ingredient on the label. I'm not sure how much 2% natural caffeine equals.
Plexus Slim and ADHD
Since writing this review I've heard that this product may be marketed to help Attention Deficient Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). A search on Google reveals several testimonials from people saying that it helps. I became curious and searched for “Plexus ADHD research.” I searched Google for this phrase and I also searched the National Library of Medicine too.
I saw no clinical studies on this topic. Therefore, whether it Plexus helps ADHD or not is unknown as far as I can tell. Nobody appears to have undertaken the chore of taking this stuff into the lab and actually tried to really see if it helps or not.
The same thing also seems to be true for bipolar disorder and depression. I cannot find any evidence Plexus Slim directly helps either of these conditions either.
Having said that, lack of evidence doesn't necessarily mean something does not work. Rather, it just means that it seems that, other than testimonials (from people most of us don't know), there doesn't seem to be any good proof for it yet.
How To Contact Plexus Slim
PlexusWorldWide lists this contact phone number: 480-998-3490 which people can call 6 AM-6 PM (PST) Monday -Friday and 9 AM-2 PM (PST) on Saturday.
How To Return Plexus Slim
Plexus Slim products come with a 60-day money-back guarantee. For those who purchased from Plexus Ambassadors, contact that person for details on how to return the product, or call the company itself at 480-998-3490.
Does Plexus Slim Have Any Side Effects?
On the Q and A page of the Plexus Slim website (question 7) where it's asked: “Will Plexus Slim interfere or react with any medications or other supplements?” the makers say: ” No. Extensive clinical research has demonstrated no ill side effects with any medications or other supplements.”
Where is all the “extensive clinical research” on Plexus Slim? As far as I can tell, Plexus Slim has NEVER been tested in published studies to see if it interacts with any medication or health condition.
The only study I've seen on Plexus Slim is a summary of a study they show on their website. This is a study from 2008 where they gave the product to 8 people with type II diabetes. Yes, improvements were seen in blood sugar, body weight and other things, but this is not a published, peer reviewed study. As such, there is a lot we are not told about how this study was conducted. It may be the best study in the world, but if we can't see how it was conducted, then it can't be duplicated by other scientists.
That said, in healthy people, I think Plexus Slim (the pink drink product) is safe. Below are some theoretical side effects based on its ingredients.
Grape skin. Some components of grape skin might interfere with medications such as Coumadin (a blood thinner). I'm not aware of any human evidence of this, but because blood thinners can intact with many things, its best to talk to a doctor about this. Update. grape skin is no longer in plexus slim
Chlorogenic acid. This compound might raise homocysteine levels in humans. Homocysteine is a somewhat controversial molecule because some feel it might be linked to heart disease.
See my review of chlorogenic acid for more info.
Citrin K/ Garcinia cambogia. There is some controversial evidence that Garcinia Cambogia may be linked to liver problems. Personally, I'm not yet convinced it does this. For more info on this see my review of garcinia Cambogia.
Alpha-lipoic acid. This ingredient appears to lower blood sugar. Because of this, alpha-lipoic acid might interfere with insulin and other diabetes medications. Alpha-lipoic acid seems to reduce thyroid hormone levels. This can be a problem for people who take Levothyroxin for hypothyroidism (low thyroid).
Hoodia. As I reported in my book on supplements hoodia Gordonii seems to share some chemical similarity to a class of heart drugs called cardiac glycosides. In fact, if you Google “Hoodia and cardiac glycosides.” I don’t know the clinical significance of this. That said, if you have heart or blood pressure issues please see your cardiologist before using any hoodia supplement, just to be safe.
Chromium may lower blood sugar levels. While this can be a good thing, it also means chromium might interact with blood-sugar-lowering medications. This might – in theory – make blood sugar levels to too low.
As a general, blanket statement, I would be cautious if you have any problems with your heart, blood pressure, kidneys, liver, mental disorders, diabetes or digestive problems. I would not recommend Plexus Slim if you had bariatric surgery either. To their credit, the makers of Plexus Slim do say to see your doctor first if you are pregnant. I agree with this.
The Plexus Slim Accelerator
Update: The Accelerator formula has changed significantly and the product is now called Plexus Accelerator Plus (Accelerator +). Do read my review of the Plexus Accelerator Plus for additional information on the new product.
This is another product sold on the Plexus Slim website. The word “accelerator” is a tip-off that this product is a stimulant.
The Plexus Slim Accelerator contains trace minerals, calcium, and magnesium from seaweed (both are useless for weight loss) and vitamin B6 (useless for weight loss). The accelerator also has a “proprietary blend” of:
- Dark Chocolate – won't help weight loss, unless it has caffeine
- Natural Caffeine – natural or not, it's caffeine!
- Green Tea Extract – probably has caffeine or EGCG
- Vanadium Chelate. This is the fancy name for Vanadium. It won't help weight loss.
- B-Phenylethylamine HCl – might act as a neuro-chemical. Avoid if you take antidepressants.
The Plexus Slim Accelerator also has an ingredient called GeranaX. GeranaX is a reference to geranium oil. Geranium oil is controversial in some circles because it is thought by some to be a natural source of a stimulant called Dimethylamylamineor “DMAA. ” It's scientific name is 1,3 Dimethylamylamine and its also called Methylhexaneamine.
The name “GeranaX” is a made-up word. In other words, the name GeranaX holds no scientific meaning.
Geranium has been the subject by scrutiny by the military, whose research finds that geranium does not contain DMAA. Oddly, the supplement 411 website still lists “geranium” as an alternative name for DMAA in its listings. Currently, it is controversial if geranium is a source of DMAA or not.
As of July 2013, the Australian government warned people about the Plexus Slim Accelerator because they say it had DMAA. This link goes to the Australian government website that discusses the Plexus Slim Accelerator and DMAA.
- In April of 2013, the FDA issued a warning letter about DMAA.
- Here is a New York Times article on DMAA for more information.
The ingredient DMAA seems to act like ephedra or bitter orange (synephrine) which are potent stimulants. As such, it may raise blood pressure and heart rate to dangerous levels. Here is a case report of a 21-year-old man who suffered a stroke after taking 2 DMAA pills.
This does not mean plexus slim will do this. It would depend on whether DMAA really is in geranium and also which part of the plant was used (root, stems ect).
Di methy amyl amine “looks” like amphetamines (“speed”). This may be why question 6 of the Plexus Slim Q and A page mentions that this ingredient may cause a positive result on a drug test for amphetamines. Here is a study showing that dimethylamylamine causes false positive drug tests for amphetamines.
Plexus Slim Bio-Cleanse
This is a laxative. Always remember, the word “cleanse” means laxative. The Plexus Slim Bio Cleanse supplement lives up to its laxative name because it contains magnesium, which is indeed a laxative. Remember “Milk of Magnesia.” Either way, laxatives don't cause any weight loss other than mostly water (and of course, poo). The Plexus Slim website lists 2 prices for this product – $29.95 or $39.95 -both of which are too pricey for me.
Plexus Boost
Here is my review of Plexus Boost. I cover a lot of information in this review and I also compare it to the ingredients in Accelerator Plus as well.
Plexus Slim Fast Relief
The Fast Relief product appears to be a pain relief formula that exists in both a cream
For more information, see the review of Omega XL.
Will Plexus Slim Work?
Honestly, I'm not if it works because Plexus Slim – itself- has no published proof. If you read the comments below, you'll see some people do say it's helped them lose weight. If it works, is it because of the unique blend of ingredients in Plexus Slim or is it because of just a few key ingredients alone?
Here are Plexus Supplements on Amazon
2018 has already started out with several Plexus people I know contracting the flu. Funny, I seem to recall all of them filling their FB pages with claims of “immunity boosting” Plexus products that would make it next to impossible to get sick. Any of you Plexus rubes who still buy into that concept, best of luck.
Hi Michael and everyone else. So sorry it’s taken so long to moderate these comments. It’s been a crazy few months as you probably know.
Glad to see Supplement GeeK back online! Hope it continues. Thank you for all you do Joe!
Thanks so much! So sorry my site has been down. Believe me, this was not my choosing. This post explains everything I’ve been dealing with over the last few months:
Great point Michael! I think you silenced the pinkwashed cult! LOL
Very in-depth review of ingredients in Plexus products:
http://wholefamilyhealthandnutrition.com/blog-2/files/f43e29b997850e5d93933ccd657c7b7d-32.html
Michael, thanks for passing that along. He did his homework. He even mentioned rhabdo which is something I know a thing or two about 🙂
When ambassadors at PS talk about how residual income made through PS will change their lives, history, and changes are they will never see it. To have residual income, there in most cases , has to be a company. To be a credible company, it should have been operating for at least 10 years. Below is an incredible statement made by MLM Rankings, referring to the limited longevity of MLM companies.
Why 10 years? Because as MLM Ranking states that amount of time really seems to matter. For example, according to research since 1956 thousands of different MLM, Multi Level, or Network Marketing companies have opened their doors; and to date only +/- 50 MLM companies have found a way to celebrate their 10th anniversary and still remain in business today.
The article lists the top 25 MLM companies. A lot of criteria involved to be considered in this group, but one that stood out was the 10 yrs, and only 50 has survived this length of time since 1956.
And, no, PS was not in the top 25. lol
Not in the top 25?!?!? Wha?!?!?
The ambassadors over in Hawaii this week on their downline’s dime will certainly not stand for this!!
Don’t just go by the label. Plexus products were banned in Australia and Canada for containing DMAA, an anphetimine type stimulant. Plexus worldwide was also sued for their products containing lead. Moral of the story? Just reading labels on nutritional supplements is not enough. They are not regulated like drugs, and they aren’t required to disclose all ingredients. You don’t really know what you’re ingesting with them.
NO, Plexus is not banned in Australia and Canada. Gosh, keep your hate to yourself
Eduardo, I believe Billy may have been referring to these articles from Canadian and Australian health departments
http://healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/hc-sc/2014/37721a-eng.php
https://www.tga.gov.au/alert/plexus-slim-accelerator-capsules-and-plexus-slim-accelerator-3-day-trial-pack
These are from 2013 and 2014. I’m not sure of the current status in Canada or Australia.
Eduardo
The Canadian and Australian government are just two of the reasons PS was forced to reformulate the proven dangerous Accelerator (DMAA). It was also pulled from the shelves in the US. That, and the fact PS was taking advantage of custom laws helped eliminate PS from these countries. I don’t know the status now.
Seems like to me the company, and your upline are deviating from the truth, which is nothing unusual for PS, or any other MLM company for that matter.
Thanks Pete. They have done their share of reformulations over the years…
Eduardo
How can anyone hate themselves by taking on the initiative of doing the research in finding out the unprofessional ways, mostly illegal, that PS conducts their business. No different. from other MLMers. If you want to get in to that conversation, if would take several pages. Trust me, in time you will become aware of my statement. Would you share with us what level you are enjoying at Plexus.,
Poor Eduardo. He’s simply parroting the whole “Plexus Lives Matter” tripe that uplines have coached him on. If you don’t like Plexus, you’re a “hater”, “dream stealer”, or worthy of a Facebook screed from the McKinney Double Diamond Ambassador. You’re right about becoming aware in time of what Plexus is all about.
All of those big-time party photos of the uplines living it up in Hawaii last week will eventually open the eyes of downlines when they end up spending more than they bring in. The poor fools still post the “I will be there next year” comments despite not understanding how this MLM works and how they cannot possibly achieve enough to become part of the top 1%.
Michael, “Plexus Lives Matter” – really? I had no idea they were using that slogan. I just checked and there is even a plexus lives matter website! I looked up the website and it was registered in 2016 buy someone named Heather Smith. https://www.whois.com/whois/plexuslivesmatter.com when I searched for her name, I saw a Health Smith who is a plexus ambassador. Is that her? who knows. All I can say is Plexus Lives Matter is in very bad taste if you ask me.
You can’t go based off what one person says, or their personal opinion of a product because everyone is different. If you are going to bash a product or company, at least know what you are talking about. Vitamin C, D, E, B12, B6, Aloe Garcinia Cambogia are all plant based and natural.
I personally LOVE the Slim and Xfactor, I am a mom of four and seriously need my products! I feel sluggish and have no motivation without them, even working out daily. I don’t have bad side-affects, if anything a slight headache when I first start it but I have learned to hydrate first, then take it.
One single bottle of water does the job. Xfactor is AMAZING in my opinion, if I were to recommend any product, it would be that. Slim is great too and yes, it does in fact work. I know several people who take slim, cleanse, pro-biotic and LOVE it. If you follow the directions, drink plenty of water and stay on it, it does work. I’ve dropped a full pant size in a month, I have so much more energy to handle all the responsibilities of motherhood. My hair and skin look great, my sweet cravings are almost gone and I used to be addicted to Starbucks. It’s only been a month!! I can’t wait to see the results in a few months from now.
Hi Dawn, thank you for sharing. I hope Plexus continues to work for you and you continue to see results.
Dawn,
I would direct you to multiple studies that have shown that multivitamins have zero benefits and can even be detrimental to one’s health. Simply touting “plant-based” and “all-natural” doesn’t mean that these products somehow bring benefits to the table. Many plants are “all-natural” yet have toxic properties. Coyote crap is “all-natural”, yet I don’t think people want to go ingesting that. Same goes for Plexus products.
Second, whatever you hear about Plexus products is simply marketing hype and unauthorized testimonials. Plexus has never submitted any of their products for 3rd party testing and/or quality control. They have never disclosed where they source their ingredients. They have a history of dangerous ingredients in their products and there’s nothing to prove that they may currently have dangerous ingredients in their products now.
As an ambassador (which we know you are by your appearance here), you need to review your contract with the company before making unauthorized statements and claims:
” I’ve dropped a full pant size in a month, I have so much more energy to handle all the responsibilities of motherhood. My hair and skin look great, my sweet cravings are almost gone and I used to be addicted to Starbucks.”
That’s not approved by the company and certainly not proven by any testing or documents submitted for peer review.
Right before you said coyote crap, I was just thinking in my head, “rattlesnake venom is all natural too” I am right there with you on ur assessment of this. A friend of mine just started posting this online that she’s started this. After looking at it I want to suggest a few other drinks that would be cheaper and wouldn’t have the headache of the MLM Con worked in.
Although MLM fads usually work so well because at the buy in or start there is this mental high similar to that of buying a lotto ticket and how good it feels to imagine what u would do if you won. I have learned that trying to deter them only gets them angry at me for what they take as “negative energy” I don’t ever say I told you so though because I think the feeling that you been scammed by an MLM can feel bad. (especially if you have convinced most of your friends and family to join in.
If you drink a high energy drink that has extra fiber it’s sounding like it will be just as good as this. Part of the weight loss comes from the repeated focused attention. That u are working to lose weight so the routine of the shakes alone would help, then usually people will start exercising more as well to go along with the diet. Which all can be done for a fairly cheap price and probably better.
Although I do kinda love the testimonials written by people who are new to this style of salesmanship. They end up sounding like a stepford wife wrote their shmaltz. I hate MLM
LOL Agreed
I think we need to add hallucinations to the list of side effects that Plexus causes. The Double Diamond ambassador from McKinney is at it again, claiming on FB that someone told her she looks like Melania Trump. If anybody thinks this kook looks like Melania, they need to get off the stuff quick!
http://plexuslearningcenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/20827_10205306340711834_95452381877612556_n.jpg
Michael
Melania Trump? By the looks of her eyes, it looks to me she’s been absorbing a little to much of the Accelerator, and the other junk in the PS products that speed you up. To be honest she looks “crazy” LOL
She is crazy. Certifiable. She spends an untold amount of time posting on FB about fictitious things like this. This is the one who made some sort of claim about wanting to slash someone’s tires in anger and frequently goes off on her kids’ school when things don’t go her way. I could list crazy quote after crazy quote on this one. She is a constant source of entertainment and stellar example of how nutty you have to be to “succeed” in the Plexus pyramid.
Well, if you thought that was bad, she was at it again yesterday. Now its how 3 different people told her she looks like Ivanka Trump.
I don’t point this out for any other reason but to speak to the type of character it takes to be “successful” in the Plexus cult. This lady has the charisma of Jim Jones and claims to live such a perfect life. However, she cannot tolerate anyone who does not adore and admire her. This latest about 3 people telling her the same thing tells me that something is very wrong with her mentally. Someone who posts such fabricated untruths is desperately hunting for an ego boost by baiting her followers to nod their heads and exclaim “yes, you do look exactly like her!” Keep in mind that she is held up by Plexus as one of the top earners. The dimwits who follow her believe they can achieve the same monetary status as she has yet they fail to understand that the dynamics of MLM guarantee that they cannot.
Somehow, Plexus has attained an “A+” rating with the BBB, although not an accredited rating. A 73% negative review rating and nearly 700 customer complaints. Yet ambassadors are all over this A+ rating now.
Could the A+ credit rating that PS enjoys now, be a result of them buying it. Just saying!!
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/business-bureau-best-ratings-money-buy/story?id=12123843
Hello,
6 days ago I began taking Plexus Slim & Plexus Block. At first I felt fantastic and was very optimistic. For the past three days now my skin has unfortunately dried out and almost looks like hives or a rash. I’ve been drinking plenty of water and have been moisturizing.
I’m also noticing that I am feeling a little tenderness where my kidney is located. Other than that I have been feeling fine. I spoke to my Ambassador and she stated that this is a part of detoxing and that the ProBio5 would help with this. She also mentioned that when she started she broke out in terrible acne.
What do you think I should do?
Hi Mike, I recommend you stop taking the products and see if your symptoms go away. If they dont, see your doctor. For what its worth, I don’t believe a detoxing process is causing your symptoms.
Mike,
You’ve been suckered by an ambassador. They are trained to immediately tell you that all side effects are “detoxing”, which couldn’t be further from the truth. In so doing, they always are coached to throw more products at you (convenient, huh?) in an attempt to get you hooked in as an ambassador with the promise of lower pricing if you do that.
What is more likely is that you are having a reaction to the product itself, particularly in the Block product, which is a dreadful thing for anyone to take. Your kidneys and liver are working triple-time to filter out the untested and unregulated garbage that goes into these supposed “all-natural” products.
Ask yourself this: why would a product that claims to do everything under the sun and touts itself as all-natural have such dramatic side effects? Normally, you take some sort of supplement or medication to get better, not worse. Listen to your body and throw the stuff away.
Hi Michael,
Thank you very much for your advice. I have not taken the product since my initial incident yesterday morning. Since then I have contacted my Ambassador to get a refund since I’m still experiencing irritation. She fought me hard and challenged me to find ingredients in Plexus that would cause kidney issues. I did a little research and found out Chromium is known to lead to kidney problems or may worsen kidney issues.
Needless to say she’s going to “keep me updated” in regards to issuing me a refund. This Ambassador is a good friend and I expected more from her. She had the audacity to tell me to see a doctor because there must be some OTHER underlying issue. She also suggested the Biocleanse stating that she’s not trying to sell me that she genuinely wants me to be healthy.
I would never recommend this product to anyone. It may work for some but my body is giving me major red flags.
Mike
You have to believe this. Your ambassador cares nothing about your health. It’s all about the rankings, and the money. MLM and its cult image changes people. You said this person was your friend. Keep in mind, MLM, as PS , is responsible for the destruction of more friendships, and marriages than any other business opportunity on the planet.
It may be a while before you obtain your refund, or get it at all. PS customer service is one of the worst in the industry. If any trouble, report it to the BBB, and that seems to speed things up.
Good luck!
Bingo – the amount of chromium in their products is INSANE. The amount, from what I have researched, is actually harmful rather than beneficial. That’s pretty standard for the supplement industry – if a little can be deemed “good”, then turn it up to 11 and put so much in the product that you can claim the highest.
As far as the Biocleanse, that is nothing more than a laxative. I don’t see how having you sit on the toilet and dehydrating yourself can be healthy but they all recommend it.
Pete is correct.
https://www.truthinadvertising.org/what-you-should-know-about-plexus/
I took plexus for 7 months. I was on antidepressants as well. Within the first week I started to feel terrible. But they said “it’s normal, your detoxing” I held on for 3 months and couldn’t take the side effects I was having. But gave it another shot a month or so later and did another 4 months.
Well those 4 months I was so depressed I was suicidal, very Fatigued. Heart palpitations, constipated, panic attacks, nausea, .. It definitely does mess around with medication.
Ruth
When one of these ambassadors tells you that you are “detoxing” and just keep taking the junk, it will pass, please don’t believe them. Detoxing? You may be poisoning your body, and not know it. Just not enough studies, or to my knowledge, there are 0 proving the safety of this stuff.
The reasons the ambassadors tell you to continue taking the product is just to get you to buy more.
Plexus contains 5-thp which messes with your serotonin levels. These levels are also being affected by the anti-depressant. Definitely not a good combo. I’m glad you got off!!
This John Oliver HBO video on MLM speaks for itself….
https://youtu.be/s6MwGeOm8iI
Happy Hawaii Week Ambassadors! That’s right, Plexus ambassadors head off on the annual trip to Hawaii this week. What’s that, you say? You didn’t get the invite? Well, these things are really only for the top 1% of the ambassador pool. Don’t get mad about this and unfriend your upline, though. You’ll get a FB scolding like this one from the company’s only Double Diamond:
“When you post about your amazing free vacation you worked your booty off for and you get unfriended!!! Ummmmmm…really?? It could be you! Jealousy is super unattractive folks! Don’t know who it was…oh…and don’t care! But, if you want to know how you can be with me and ** next year..hit me up!”
That’s right – just hit her up and you’re all but guaranteed to get there next year!! It’s just that easy!
Around january of 2015 i started seeing the facebook image that said “emerald in 2016. She dreamed she could…… so she did” i would feel sorry for these women who have yet again not achieved the hawaii trip worthy rank of emerald but after three years of “dreaming” youre beyond all hope.
Plexuswatchman
Unfortunately, for most ambassadors, the train has already left the station. In other words, saturation has occurred. When a MLM becomes saturated, everything you are being told by your upline is a lie.
Yes Sir you are absolutely correct. So many lies and yet the ambasadors continue to believe it all without question.
Did anyone see the “praying for my haters” post from mckinney’s own. Oh my those girls are plexus and spice and everything nice until you date speak out against their beloved cash cow. “The biggest blessing from plexus has been weeding out fake,jealous, bitter people from my life that I allowed to use the title of friend. Lucky me!”
Indeed I did see that. This woman, who is supposedly the top earner in the company, has an emotional meltdown when things don’t go her way. If she only knew that 95% of that school wants her to leave, she would have a hissy on the spot. She is so unbelievably hypocritical and emotionally unstable!! If she is so rich and so blessed, then why does one person’s opinion of Plexus throw her into such a tailspin?
If that isn’t bad enough, her children are the most spoiled and bratty kids at the school. If they don’t get their way, “momma bear” as she dubs herself, takes to Facebook to rant maniacally about the horrors her kids have to deal with. I kid you not, here was what she posted on one of the rants:
“I don’t care if you like me or if you are jealous of me…”
Umm, if you take the time to post something like this, guess what? You really, really care if people like you or are jealous of you. This lady is nuts and the way things are going, she’s going to snap – she mentioned having a “wanting to slit someone’s tires” moment this week. I don’t know if Plexus makes a product that addresses anger management issues but either she needs a double dose or the stuff ain’t working!
So one of the McKinney area ambassador twits posts this on FB:
“Well, the verdict is in!!! We already knew this, but NOW we can shout it from the roof tops!!!
Plexus Slim and our Triplex Combo (Slim, ProBio5 & BioCleanse) are PROVEN in clinical studies to cause weight loss!!! Say what?!?! Yep…it’s TRUE!!!”
Mind you, no link to any such clinical studies (plural, by the way) accompanied this claim. A quick internet search shows no clinical studies other than the 2008 study which has been shown to be an absolute farce – 8 study subjects and the study is unpublished and not peer-reviewed.
Once again, let this be the kind of post you refer back to when we have people come in here and defend Plexus. These are nothing more than people who will say anything to sell this stuff. Such a post is a clear violation of the ambassador contract.
Michae
can you possibly find out where the clinicals per products were performed and under what circumstances.
You don’t know what you are talking about. Plexus just completed double-blind, placebo controlled studies on the Triplex combo. If you want the study, ask the ambassador to send it to you.
It kills me that you will listen to drivel slamming a product and never take into account the source. If the review if from someone marketing/selling another product, I would be cautious about what it said.
Can someone post the Plexus Triplex Combo study here. I did a quick online search but could not find it. I’d like to read the study. Thanks.
S Writes:
“If you want the study, ask the ambassador to send it to you.”
If this is such a great study, why isn’t it readily accessible to the public and submitted for peer review? Normally, if it is such a legitimate study with great results, a company would want it public and have it submitted for review. Being that it is Plexus, its going to be questionable at best.
S
I can’t wait to see what kind of study this is.
Well, here’s what a couple of Plexus twits posted. Mind you, this isn’t a published study or peer reviewed. It’s just what Plexus has posted. There is no link to any substantive data or information that I can find.
“Plexus Slim & Plexus Triplex Combo Clinical Results
Plexus has a new study regarding the Plexus Triplex Combo, which includes Plexus Slim. The study investigated the safety and efficacy of the natural dietary supplements on weight loss.
The 8 week study included men and women with a BMI (body mass index) of 27 kg/m2.
Body mass index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on your weight in relation to your height, and applies to most adult men and women aged 20 and over. For children aged 2 and over, BMI percentile is the best assessment of body fat.
The study included 196 subjects who were randomly assigned to either Plexus Slim (one packet, twice/day) or Plexus Triplex combo supplements (one pack of slim, twice/day one capsule of Bio-Cleanse twice/day, and one capsule/day of ProBio5), or the corresponding placebo controls.
Out of that, 175 subjects actually completed the study. The results were as follows:
Plexus Slim Results: The group of subjects who took the Plexus Slim supplement lost an average of 4.46 pounds. Those who were part of the placebo group lost an average of 2.12 pounds.
Plexus Triplex Results: The Plexus Triplex combo group lost an average of 6.11 pounds, whereas there was a small increase in weight over time in the placebo group.
Plexus Slim – Plexus Triplex Combo Research Conclusion
The study showed that 11.1% of the individuals in the Plexus Slim group and 25.6% in the Plexus Triplex combo group lost at least 5% of their initial body weight.
Of those who were part of the other two placebo groups, no individuals were found to have lost as much weight as those who were taking the Plexus products.”
If that’s Earth-shattering (losing an average of 6 pounds in eight weeks), I’m even more amused. Ambassadors – divide 6 by 8 and tell me what you get. I’m coming up with around .75. That’s not even a pound a week. And you’re out there making these great claims about it “working”? I think people could walk around the block once a day and get better results!
It would be nice to know where was the study performed, and who supported the study, PS, or an independent source.
Pete,
As I understand it, Plexus recently hired a “doctor” who previously worked at Herbalife. That leaves little doubt that he was involved in this so-called “study”. They hired him to come up with some unpublished crap so that they could have the ambassadors do the PR campaign.
People won’t sit and read anything and give it scrutiny. All they see is “Take the Triplex and lose weight”. Yeah – .75 of a pound average per week. That’s what you’re losing. That’s if you lose at all. Many people report weight gain when they first get on Plexus. Plexus will not release any more details than they need to on this. Doing so would expose the fallacies in their study.
S,
Just so I understand, you state to be cautious if it’s someone marketing another product but you expect Michael to not question the study being discussed by people marketing Plexus Slim? That doesn’t make sense at all.
Tri Guy
There are many ways the FTC’s ruling of Herbalife will effect most all other MLM’s including PS. The one that stood out to me was that Herbalife’s distributors will not be able to take advantage of auto-ship. The only advantage was to the company allowing them to hit your credit card almost at will. Be sure you read that right. NO MORE AUTO-SHIP!!
http://www.mlmlaw.com/ftc-settlement-with-herbalife-omg/
This article explains the troubles that the Herbalife settlement by the FTC imposes on all MLM companies , large, or, small. It will not be business as usual, since the recruiting aspect is greatly reduced, and 80% of sales has to come from retail sales. This could be the final nail in the coffin for most MLM.
http://theweek.com/articles/637637/herbalifes-pyramid-scheme-problem
I took Plexus and my blood pressure took a nose dive on the first day. 152/92 to 106/72. My sugar was not affected. The next day I awoke with a very severe headache with light and sound sensitivity, and nausea. I took a shower and ibuprofen. I sat on the couch and passed out. I awoke 3.5 hours later with a slight headache. I checked with my friend and she said that headaches were common the first month.! No thank you. I will lose weight another way.
Anita,
These same twits will tell you in the same breath how it cures headaches. It seems they always have some hair-brained excuse when it comes to adverse reactions to this garbage.
I also felt horrible on it. Suicidal actually. And headaches nausea constipation . Basically I was bedridden for a few months hoping for a miracle that they claimed plexus was..
I took plexus slim and probio for a month and quit as it did nothing for me. Now that I stopped I feel horrible though like I’m having withdrawals. It feels exactly like the time I took an antidepressant for several months and then quit cold turkey.
My husband loves the stuff and thinks it must be something else. I don’t know what’s in it but I’ll never touch it again.
Same here, I stopped 2 months ago and still feel off
Detoxing? No. Dehydration? Yes.
Symptoms:
hives and other skin rashes
weight gain
gas
bloating
nausea, vomiting
dizziness
insomnia
inability to concentrate, mental fog
headaches/migraines
diarrhea
constipation
heart palpitations
These are not symptoms of supplement-induced detoxification!!! These are symptoms of dehydration and starvation. When many people undertake a detox plan or a new diet, they dramatically cut their caloric intake and unfortunately the do not consume enough water, or consume substances with diuretic properties which therefore increase their odds of becoming dehydrated.
On day one of a typical ‘detox ‘/ diet, people often feel bad. They are hungry, may experience dizziness or irritability, and feel fatigued. By day two, their body starts breaking down muscle mass to provide them with energy and they may experience additional mood swings, difficulty sleeping, or overwhelming fatigue.
By the third day, they are likely having headaches, muscle pain or stiffness, and even dizziness or nausea. Rolling into the fourth and fifth days (if they have lasted that long), their body has started to adapt to the new situation and slowed down your metabolism so they don’t feel the same degree of hunger, but they still may be dealing with altered mood, headaches, and nausea.
Many people who report a 6-8lb weight loss during the initial period of any detox or diet are truly losing water and a small degree of muscle mass. They are not losing fat! You will notice that when you look at symptoms in this light, they are nearly all truly the result of dehydration and lack of calories, they have nothing to do with ‘detoxing’.
Nice post TJM
Not convinced
Seems way too coached….
Perhaps competition company.. Not sure
Definitely would not base my opinion on this comment.
I’m not for or against plexus.
I will certain have do father research.
Mayo clinic…are they a competitor?
Mild to moderate dehydration is likely to cause:
Dry, sticky mouth
Sleepiness or tiredness — children are likely to be less active than usual
Thirst
Decreased urine output
No wet diapers for three hours for infants
Few or no tears when crying
Dry skin
Headache
Constipation
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Severe dehydration, a medical emergency, can cause:
Extreme thirst
Extreme fussiness or sleepiness in infants and children; irritability and confusion in adults
Very dry mouth, skin and mucous membranes
Little or no urination — any urine that is produced will be darker than normal
Sunken eyes
Shriveled and dry skin that lacks elasticity and doesn’t “bounce back” when pinched into a fold
In infants, sunken fontanels — the soft spots on the top of a baby’s head
Low blood pressure
Rapid heartbeat
Rapid breathing
No tears when crying
Fever
In the most serious cases, delirium or unconsciousness
True Seeker,
Here is a great review for your research. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the article.
http://www.ancestral-nutrition.com/an-unbiased-review-of-plexus/
I have been taking Plexus for about 5 days and I feel worse than I did before I started do not understand please help
Frances, if you feel worse, stop taking it. Are you just taking the pink drink stuff or anything else in addition to that? when you say you feel worse whats going on?
Frances
When you take “JUNK” that has not been clinically tested, in addition to not knowing where the product is manufactured, there is a good chance you are going to feel like “JUNK”.
Hope you feel better soon.
Frances, I’m sorry to hear this. However, most of us know that you were sold a line by an ambassador about how this stuff would cure all of your woes – from weight loss to auto-immune disorders. I would seek a refund and get away from using anything related to Plexus.
As for “feeling worse”, an Ambassador is going to tell you this is due to “detoxing”, which is a fictitious buzzword that is not in any way accurate. Most likely, your body is having a reaction to a specific chemical or chemicals in these products. Supplements like Plexus are unregulated, which means there are no oversight or safety standards in their manufacturing. It could be something as simple as too high of a chromium level for you or it could be that there is a batch of some really weird stuff known to get into supplements made overseas. And don’t let any ambassador fool you with talk of “all natural” and “made in the USA”. Those terms are not part of any regulation through the FDA or other quality control companies.
Finally, if you bring this up to an ambassador, you are going to be told that you need to take some more products from Plexus to combat whatever it is you are feeling. They talk about this being a “synergistic approach” and how the products all work together. It makes sense to get you buying more and more, then enticing you with lower prices if you sign up as an ambassador.
I would urge you to talk to your doctor about not only the Plexus products but also the effects it has had on you.
There is a process that some people go through. There is what we call yeast die off. For some people it is not pleasant. I’m sorry if you sponsor did not tell you this. Go to you tube and look up nasty side effects from plexus. This is something I tell my customers because everyone is different. You can consult your doctor about the products as well.
Tanya, any studies to back that up? Any studies that plexus kills off yeast?
She was just repeating what an upline has told her to say, Joe. Plexus NEVER has any concrete studies or evidence to back up any of their claims.
Hi Michael, yes I thought she might be a distributor also. I like to try to offer distributors the opportunity of presenting proof (not testimonials) to back up the things they say about products. If they respond, great we can all discuss it. If they don’t respond, then my hope is that this lets others know their claims might not be based on clinical studies.
In response to Pete and Michael regarding lead in Plexus Block. Yes, that was one of the products. http://oag.ca.gov/system/files/prop65/notices/2015-00849.pdf As well as Fast Relief and P96 Chocolate Drink.
Thank you scammed. Did not see it in court papers, but I may have seen it on another blog.
Thanks again!
At this point, the question should be “which Plexus product doesn’t have lead in it?”
Having a toxin like lead in your product is a giant red flag for overseas manufacturing. These folks still have never given details about exactly where they make their garbage.
Here is a another great review of Plexus products and the dangers, misconceptions and truth about the ingredients. As an aside, the comments are an entertaining read too.
http://www.ancestral-nutrition.com/an-unbiased-review-of-plexus/
That article is so weak
Eduardo
Enlighten us on what information you think is weak in the article posted by Anonymous?
Interesting note:
Since, 1956, the real beginning of MLM as we know it today, only 50 out of thousands survived over 10 yrs. Think about that ambassadors as your company, and upline talk about residual income.
This information provided by MLM Rankings.