Ever since the Great Run and Herbalife Campaign, I have become much more aware and more suspicious of networking marketing (just pointing out my bias up front). Organisations such as Timeless Vie and Bot Watch are great resources if you want to read more about how they target the vulnerable and leave many far from healthy or wealthy.
Herbalife are just one brand and you may be familiar with others such as Juice Plus and Forever Living.
Recently, I have noticed more and more posts on social media about skinny coffee from Valentus and I was delighted to see that many were deserting it; realising that it had zero evidence and, from their accounts, that it was not even registered in the UK.
One such seller was Charlotte Thomas. I read about her online and she spoke strongly about integrity and how it was more important than money. She had this to say about Valentus:
Charlotte just oozes integrity
Although some might argue that being busted by Trading Standards might have prompted her actions, given that she had happily sold the unproven coffee for six months, I feel that it was brave to speak out in public about a product and company that she had only the month before been praising.
Don’t we all just love coffee?
So, when this job creating entrepreneur with integrity spoke excitedly about a new product whose scientific research she was this time certain about (we all make mistakes), I just had to find out more. As someone who has struggled with my weight for most of my life and who has always dreamed of being a #bossbabe , I saw this as an opportunity of a lifetime.
After all, she did cite “Fact” and who am I to argue with that?
Charlotte is certain that this product is backed by science. Fact.
However, life has taught me to be cautious and I asked Charlotte for this evidence and science for a Slenderiiz Review. She kindly sent me links to case studies and to product details, but sadly no scientific research. Here was me waiting to be as impressed as she was and unfortunately, there was no evidence to be found.
I pressed further and was added to the DNA 24 First Look Facebook Group where myself and 3,500 others were being educated about the Ariix product Slenderiiz.
There were videos galore and one interesting post from Erika Elmuts who serves on the Ariix Scientific Advisory Board. If anyone could provide the science and evidence, it would be Erika. After all, she did have a Harvard degree and she had spend years working in a homeopathic pharmacy. She boldly and without an ounce of irony stated that Ariix products were: “better than the products that we used to sell”.
What, better than homeopathic medicine?
Just Take It
But before they did, I wanted to find out more about Slenderiiz and with the links Charlotte provided, I went digging.
According to Ariix: “The easy-to-follow Slenderiiz system will do what nothing has ever done before. Slenderiiz gives you the edge you need to conquer your cravings and take control of your weight. The all-natural and clinically tested ingredients of the Slenderiiz drops curb your appetite, slow the absorption of carbs, boost your metabolism, increase satiety, lower your stress hormones, and help you sleep. Trust us, Slenderiiz is backed by real science and is like nothing you’ve ever tried before”.
Trust them, they said.
Throughout their marketing material and videos they focus on the fact that a multi- faceted approach to weight loss and weight management is key for staying healthy and on this, we can agree. So, I decided to read on and to read about all the scientifically researched and proven ingredients.
SLENDERIIZ REVIEW
Spenderiiz comes in the form of two bottles of drops that you take before breakfast, lunch, dinner and bed. 90 drops in all across the day.
It might as well be homeopathic medicine
Ariix and their distributors promote at length the scientifically proven ingredients of Slenderiiz, so without any evidence provided, I decided to use my trusted pals at Examine.com , pubmed and a couple of dietician pals to research them all and to help me compile this Slenderiiz review.
PRE-MEAL DROPS
Listed below are the ingredients of the Pre- Meal Drops and I have searched for the research that matches the claims of Ariix. I have considered their source, relevance and conclusions and I hope that you will too. For the record, I am not a medical professional, but I do advise the Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine and I have written for the British Medical Journal Blog. Now, that might not trump Erika Elmut’s New York Times articles and while I do not have a Harvard degree, I do know how to read and interpret research (and when I do not, I ask others who do).
It’s a Food Supplement, not a Magic Potion
- 150mg White Kidney Bean Extract – According to Ariix (ATA) it helps delay the absorption of simple, starchy carbohydrates so your body burns fat instead of excess sugar. While White Kidney bean does have such a reported effect, the research shows this being achieved by supplementing with greater doses of 4-6g https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2446948
- 85.2mg Cacao Bean Extract- ATA it positively affects the hormones associated with hunger, effectively and healthily suppressing appetite. Again, this is a very low dose and with daily recommendations of 500-1000mg, I have to wonder about the efficacy of the Slenderiiz drops, especially when I couldn’t find any peer reviewed research on its effectiveness.
- 49.5mg Green Coffee Bean Extract – ATA it contains healthy, natural caffeine that boosts metabolism and increases the body’s ability to burn fat In research, a minimum dose of 440mg was shown to be effective while 140mg had no effect https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18035001
A systematic review of research on the properties of Green Coffee in regards to weight loss concluded that there was a high risk of bias and that they were of a poor methodological quality. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20871849
- 19.8mg Green Tea Extract Another caffeine based ingredient and another example of a very low dose. According to Examine: “ Significant effects in humans are noted only at high doses, such as 400-500mg EGCG equivalent per day”
- 15.9mg Guarana Seed Extract – ATA it helps boost metabolism and contributes to increased fat burning. You might be seeing a trend here but 50-100mg per day is quoted as a recommended dose while there is not sufficient evidence for its efficacy.
- 7.95mg Cinnamon Bark Extract -ATA it helps the body maintain normal blood glucose levels, which in turn curbs cravings. The “well documented diabetics blood sugar level” research that Ariix refer to cites doses of 1-6 g daily https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18234131
- 300ug Biotin – ATA it helps boost metabolism and contributes to increased fat burning. A mice study was 2500ug PER KG of weight, so I have to ask what a total intake of 300ug for a human supports? https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23724165
- 40ug Chromium- ATA it helps control blood sugars to avoid spikes and crashes in blood glucose levels. Research shows that supplementing with 250ug daily resulted in a modest drop in blood glucose in diabetics.
A review of literature concluded that there was “no current, reliable evidence to inform firm decisions about the efficacy and safety of Cromium supplements in overweight or obese adults”. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24293292
In summary, not one of the Slenderiiz Pre-Meal Drop ingredients met or even came close to the recommended daily dose reportedly used in the clinical research above.
BEDTIME DROPS
What’s in the Bedtime Drops
- 100mg L-theanine – ATA it is a natural substance found in green tea, aids weight loss by preventing fat accumulation and promoting relaxation and sleep. 100-200 mg is the normal dose and in this, Ariix meet the lower range and the research supports its use as a relaxant.
- 25mg L-glutamine – According to Examine 5g is the normal dose and Ariix do not provide any reason for its inclusion in their literature and the research does not support its use https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20181080
- 10mg Fructo-oligosaccharides is er a sweetener
- 5mg Acerola Fruit Extract – ATA it improves healthy gut ora, which aids digestion. There is no research (that I can find) that supports this. It is however a fruit rich in Vitamin C which we usually requires about 200mg each day and generally get in a normal diet.
- 5mg Holy Basil Powder – ATA it helps to lower cortisol levels and regulate stress levels that lead to fat accumulation. You guessed it. According to science it’s 100mg per day https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19253862
- 5mg Cordyceps Powder – No claims by Ariix on this one, but research again shows the need for high doses https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4621640/
- 5mg Astragalus Root Powder – ATA it encourages feelings of calm and well being – essential for stress-level maintenance. This is a herb that is very popular in Traditional Chinese Medicine where 4-6 g is recommended. Ten times as much as contained in Slenderiiz
Again, we have a range of ingredients that are mostly backed by science but again at much larger doses.
There is no independent evidence that Slenderiiz provides any results. When I put this to another Ariix representative they informed me that Ariix had in fact paid a third party to independently conduct consumer trials and the results were “insane”!!!
Insane or otherwise, I asked if they felt this was credible evidence given that they had paid for it? At this point, I was advised to speak to someone who knew what they were talking about as she just helped build businesses (no doubt supplying #bossbabes with “haters gonna hate” memes) and had seen “insane’ results using the product herself.
Again, take my money
However, remember when Ariix spoke about a multifaceted approach to weight-loss? They were not lying. At the heart of their weight-loss programme is:
THE PERFECT WEIGHT LOSS
PROGRAMME
At the core of this perfect weight loss programme is an instruction to keep your daily intake under 1,250 calories eating only Ariix approved foods
The Ariix approved foods are listed here and generally a diet consisting of these would be a healthy one. You wouldn’t struggle for choice and you wouldn’t feel hungry
In fact, the Slenderiiz Programme is all about not being hungry .
Unless of course you were being restricted to under 1250Kcals per day and like me have a BMR of 2800kcals. If you ask me, the secret to Slenderiiz success stories is down to the usual culprit…calorie restriction.
If you consume 500-1000 kcals a day less than your BMR for a prolonged period, you will see “insane” weight-loss results. I know this because I did it. I lost 174lbs in 12 months with a calorie restricted diet. Insane, I know!
To reduce stress levels and aid weight loss, I would urge you to get enough quality sleep, see friends (my current major failing) and enjoy the great outdoors. Track both your calories in and out using MyFitnessPal and a fitness tracker and take lots of small steps (read THIS for some great tips) to a healthier and happier you. Most importantly, I would advise ensuring that mentally and emotionally that you are ready to lose weight. To be successful you will benefit from having clear picture of why you want to lose weight and why it means so much to you.
You will not need to spend £130 per month (I kid you not) on Slenderiiz drops that have no independent research or evidence supporting their effectiveness and that, Charlotte Thomson, is a Fact!
So before buying into the Ariix brand or buying their products, please look at the science and the research that they are quick to cite but hesitant to discuss or publish. In fact, I will leave you with an image that summarises the importance of evidence within the Ariix community
You cannot argue with evidence
34 comments
I have personally spoken to Charlotte’s upline when I asked for the clinical studies of these products. Her response “we haven’t done any” and also “I didn’t think to ask to see them”. Nice!
That is so disappointing, Dominique. When a business and distributors continuously mention evidence, it helps to actually have some.
[…] Obesity […]
hi i have found a lot of blogs destroying products like these and basically saying they don’t work. i really like mlm marketing and want to get into it. but i cannot stick with a product I don’t believe in and that doesn’t work. what are you recommendations for a company that has either vitamins or weight loss products that are good for you and actually work? i am having a lot of trouble finding anything??
thanks for the article i just saved myself alot of money
I am glad that this review helped you, but I am sorry. There is not a single MLM product that I can recommend. Not only because of the lack of evidence for many of their claims, but also because I do not agree with the business model. There are however products available that have shown to be support weight loss when taken in conjunction with a healthy diet and an active life. Rather than just name them without any clinical evidence, I’ll do a post, Isabel
have you reviewed the Shaklee products?
Hi Diana, you might notice that I am not a fan of mlm products. With Shaklee, I’d suggest looking at the ingredients and cost. Compare against dosage in clinical trials and look for possibly cheaper options that are not putting money in someone’s upline.
You should write about Juice Plus+ 😀
Jenny, I offered every Juice Plus+ rep i knew the opportunity to have me review their products. Still waiting for someone to take me up on it
hi stephen, i enjoyed your article. Having “retired” from the Ariix company because mlm’s work for the very few 1% who are recruiting monsters of which I am not, I was very interested in seeing the new labeling, Day and Night; simple, but overcomes the challenge of explaining the bottles and how to take. More importantly, and much to my chagrin, the ingredient list is vastly changed. And not for the better. At the time of my “ownership”, the labeling is ALL herbs (no doubt just as powerful as a placebo). I still have product and am able to compare, but I would have recognized the difference just the same. Ariix touted itself as being different from all other mlm’s, yes in the pay department, but also in product ingredients/manufacturing. I visited the manufacturing site in Bountiful, Utah (prophetic name, isn’t it?!!) and attended lots of trainings. One small ingredient that was NOT used in their supp line and they heavily promoted as EVIDENCE of “see how we are different” from all other supp lines is magnesium stearate. WELL. They are now using it. Poo poo Ariix for having slipped into the mainstream mlm goo.
I have to say this; I made money selling products and counseling folks to loose weight. I left the industry in total for the sham artists it attracts, be it Ariix, Market America, etc
Thank you for the reply. Ariix did not enjoy my article and I am glad to hear that you moved on. People are often desperate for results and quickly and too many (not saying all) in mlm prey on this. It sounds like you genuinely helped people
Yep I tried it wasted 1000.00 dollars sucker me as it did not work for me but they are pushing it with photos and it seems to wor for others but in my experience my fitness pal works just as well and walking 30 minutes a day you will lose slowly and it will stay of and if you want extra zing use a protein powder make up your own yummy smoothies and will achieve the same for the quarter the price and you don’t have anyone drumming in to you to sell sell and how wonderful you are because you making the ones on top of the pyramid rich so as I say it’s up to you everything works if you follow the plan and how much you want to spend at least Isogenix wasn’t so pushy you could order any time as long as you paid the yearly fee anyway good luck to the ones that have lost weight but I am not a believer in this product even though I so wanted it to work ??
I’m very sad that these products did not work for any of you. Fortunate for me i followed the instructions, it did curb my appetite and I didn’t count calories. I did take their recommendations and I followed the approved food lists and I have made a complete lifestyle change, which is the reason I have been able to keep the weight off. I honestly don’t get all wrapped up in where I buy products, what I get wrapped up in do they work and after seeing so many of my friends and others lose the weight I decided to give it a go…and it had a money-back guarantee which also impressed me. I dropped 43 lbs in 2018 and I have for the first time in my life kept it off because of the education that came from using the products. With my success, my husband gave it a whirl and he lost 50 lbs. The lifestyle i was taught by following the 3x program that I used with it taught me so much about my hormones, my gut health and how it all works together to make you healthy and with increased health, my body was able to release the weight.
Hi, well done on your fat loss, but I would suggest that this was down to your efforts and not because of any magical properties of the product
Good one
Good one for us
So basically this is a placebo effect that brings you will to loose weight in-line with the hope that your money is being spent on a product you believe will discipline your body to conform to your desire to loose weight
What to sell this for my self.. How can i do this
Maybe read the blog, Becky, and if you still want to sell it, I don’t know what to say
So I know from sales it doesn’t matter what the product does for you it’s what the customer believes it does for them. If it’s a placebo that’s making me stay at 1200 calories a day and I’m spending my money on getting healthy vs. eating unhealthy then I still win. Perception is reality. There is no magic pill to shed weight and keep it off. As far as the ingredients I understand you did a lot of research in finding good information which is appreciated but I didn’t see anything on the effect of ingredients combined? What is the effect of all ingredients when taken together?
You are correct in saying that there is no magic pill. Placebos can and do help, but it’s all about weighing up the cost and sustainability. As for the synergistic interaction of all the ingredients combined, no I haven’t reviewed that, but there is nothing in the literature that would suggest this.
“As for the synergistic interaction of all the ingredients combined, no I haven’t reviewed that, but there is nothing in the literature that would suggest this”.
Is there anything in the literature that suggests the synergistic interaction of all the ingredients combined doesn’t work?
Not sure that’s generally how scientific research papers are commissioned.
Thank you so much for this information. If it sounds too good to be true ….well dang.
LaDonna
Yes, you have to be very careful when looking at any product promising “insane” results.
I was almost suckered into it, kept seeing posts on instragram from one person – pictures of success stories. I admit I’m looking for a quick fix to weight gain/peri-menopausal symptoms, so I’m probably prime person they’re marketing to – feeling down about myself and weight and how I look.
I enquired about the food list and pricing and got sent the info. I thought the food list looked healthy but it didn’t state that calorie restrictions were also part of it; but I did think maybe people are losing weight because they’re totally overhauling their diet and cutting out foods at the same time as using the drops (eg no dairy).
The last couple of days I’ve started seeing other posts on instagram from people spruiking the same product. Coincidentally, last week I came across a youtuber who does MLM stories and how they operate, and how influencers deceive/falsify posts and so I’d watched a few. Because of that, I thought is this an MLM. None of the instragram accounts post the info on how to buy, no links in their bios to a website with information, it’s all “message me privately for info”, very secretive. So I just googled to find more info on who the company is, how people sell it etc, and if it is an MLM and came across your post.
As posted above – if it’s too good to be true….
Jodi, I know from my own experience how attractive these products can be, but at the heart of many of them lies a calorie deficit.
I have finished a complete box of this stuff. I walk 3 to 7 miles each day. I haven’t loss any weight. No I haven’t followed the 1200 calorie intake. My opinion is if eat right and continue the exercise I can lose the weight without these drops that have no benefit. Waste of my money. I was hoping to get an extra boost and that didn’t happen. It didn’t curb my appetite at all. I’m 5’2 and 150lbs. I’m 65 years old. I just have to stay consistent with my walking and watch what I eat. No more gimmicks for me. My husband took the drops also. No change. Thank you all for your reviews to support what I have found out that these drops do nothing.
Thanks for providing some insight into your personal experience. I am form believer that walking (or generally keeping active) and having a sensible diet is the best approach. I have personally found some joy with intermittent fasting, but it is essentially just a calorie deficit. I do take some supplements with peer reviewed results that do support good health and most of us should take them, but that might be another blog.
As much as I care about the friend selling I, and her personal success at losing weight, I am sucker for research and peer reviewed scientific evidence. Thank you for your insight and clarity that I “craved.” I have already lost 90lbs the slow and steady way, but was curious about these touted “miracle drops.” Onward I shall continue with couning calories and 30 minutes/day on my recumbent bike. Money will never buy happiness or weightloss… One only achieves that through hard work, consistency, and dedication!
Congrats on the 90lbs loss. It must be life changing. And thanks for the kind words.
Thank you for this article! I will pass it along!
Slinderiiz is a great product. Great results. Yes there is clinical trials. Just look at partner co. I have lost 21 lbs and my fasting glucose went from 106 to 99 in a month and a half. Plus my total cholesterol dropped from 139 to 124
Firstly, well done on improving key health markers. Can you please link me to independent trials and which did not rely on a calorie deficit? I have in the past had similar results by eating mindfully and walking more. Not saying that it is as easy as that, but I would argue that there is no need to spend money on a formulated product.