Herbalife For Weight Loss: Effectiveness, Pros, And Cons

Trying to reduce weight quickly has both advantages and disadvantages. Herbalife produces several rapid weight-loss supplements that have recently attracted a lot of attention. But is herbalife healthy? To help you out, we have discussed Herbalife weight loss in detail below. Herbalife makes meal replacement shakes that claim to help people lose weight and improve their fitness levels, appearance, and self-esteem. The benefits and drawbacks of Herbalife meal replacement shakes are discussed in this article. Keep reading to learn more!

Trivia

Herbalife was started in Orange County, California, in 1980 by a 22-year-old named Mark Hughes.

Pros Of Herbalife Products For Weight Loss

• Herbalife weight loss products are set to offer healthier lifestyles. Their weight loss programs are very simple to follow, and they offer a variety of meal replacements and shakes to provide every individual’s taste.
• The herbalife nutrition supplements, shakes, snacks and protein bars are easy to take.
• The careful monitoring of fat and calorie intake helps you to eat well and live healthy.
• Herbalife products are soy-based. Soy-based meal replacement products, in combination with lifestyle changes, have been found to aid weight loss and show improvement in body composition parameters of individuals with obesity (1), (2).
• Soy protein is one of the major ingredients of Herbalife meal replacement shakes (3). It is said to improve cardiovascular health, though more studies are required to prove the same (4).

Jessica, a YouTuber, tried Herbalife products for 7 days and documented her weight loss journey results. In one of her vlogs, she reveals, “I am super excited about my results because I was able to lose a little over three pounds in one week and want to continue this journey (i).”

Quick Tip

Most Herbalife products, like the nutritional shake mix, capsules, tablets, and personal care products, have a shelf life of two years. Products like protein bars have only a one-year shelf life.

Cons Of Herbalife Products For Weight Loss

Herbalife products have quite a number of cons.

• The products can be quite expensive compared to other weight loss products available in the market with the same effect.
• As per WHO recommendations, only 5 % of the total calories you consume should come from sugar (5). However, Herbalife meal replacement shakes are high in sugar and exceed this limit.
• Herbalife produces healthy protein shakes and bars, special supplements, and snacks to change your unhealthy eating habits. However, there is no proof so far that these products have any positive effect on your health.
• There has also been evidence in the past that the weight loss supplements made by Herbalife contained some dangerous ingredients.
• Most Herbalife products contain these three ingredients that pose some risks to your health:
• Caffeine: Some Herbalife products for weight loss contain caffeine as it boosts metabolism (3). But, caffeine has numerous harmful effects. It increases blood pressure significantly (6). A fluid ounce of coffee contains about 63 mg of caffeine (7). On the other hand, Herbalife teas, tablets, and supplements contain more caffeine per serving. These products can also be dangerous for anyone who is allergic to caffeine. Caffeine also depletes the body of minerals and can cause anxiety and blood sugar level imbalances, leading to people eating more or craving sugar or carbs. Therefore, it is advisable to check the product label for the ingredients.
• Protein or Soy: Protein shakes and protein drinks are important when it comes to losing weight. Herbalife products contain phytoestrogen (plant-derived estrogen) that has an impact on sexual health and behavior (8). Moreover, some people are allergic to high doses of protein concentrates. Soy is a common allergen and if unfermented, can contribute to hormonal issues and digestive issues.

• Shellfish: According to Herbalife, many of their weight loss products contain shellfish. Shellfish include oysters, mussels, crabs, and lobsters. If you are allergic to any of these, check the ingredients list before ordering any product.
• Many case studies have reported that taking Herbalife supplements can be dangerous for the liver (9), (10)
• Reports of Herbalife products being contaminated with the bacterium Bacillus subtilis where the patients suffered from liver injury (11).
• These products help with appetite control by suppressing or killing your hunger and curbing your natural hunger-satiety cycle. This may lead to nutritional deficiencies.

If you are pregnant or lactating, consider seeking your doctor’s advice before starting any type of weight loss program. These weight loss drinks and capsules advertised on television and online never warn you about the harm they may cause to your health. So, it should be your decision if you would like to adopt “unhealthy” means or healthy food and exercise to cut down the excess flab.

Weight Loss With Herbalife – How Effective Is It?

The most important meal of the day is breakfast. It kick-starts your metabolism, gives you the much-needed energy for the day, and keeps you full till lunch. But, many breakfast meals do not contain enough carbohydrates and proteins.

The Herbalife Formula 1 Shake contains a balanced combination of carbohydrates, proteins, and vitamins that equals a healthy meal. It kickstarts your metabolism without the intake of unnecessary foods. However, the calories per serving of this shake are not sufficient to meet the daily requirement. This low-calorie/high-protein shake helps you shed some weight, and drinking a liter of water along with it helps release toxins by increasing your urinary output. But, do not depend on herbal supplements too much because once you stop taking them, you may gain back all the lost weight.

Apart from this, the Herbalife meals also consist of a range of other nutritionally balanced products designed to support overall health and wellness. These include Herbalife Formula 2 Multivitamin Complex, which provides essential vitamins and minerals for overall health, and Herbalife Protein Drink Mix, which is a protein supplement to be added to shakes or used as a snack. The meals also include Herbalife Herbal Tea Concentrate or Afresh, which is a low-calorie, energy-boosting tea available in different flavors, Herbalife Aloe Concentrate that supports digestive health, and Herbalife Protein Bars and Herbalife Healthy Meal Nutritional Bars that offer balanced nutrition on the go.

Infographic: Advantages Of Herbalife Products For Weight Loss

Herbalife is one brand that offers a variety of fascinating weight-control and management combos and drinks. Their products have delicious flavors and offer both nutrition and taste. In the infographic below, we have included a few benefits that will undoubtedly be useful. Take a look.

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Herbalife vegan?

It varies. Some Herbalife meal replacement shakes contain milk while others don’t.

Do Herbalife products contain lead?

As per the nutritional labels on the products, Herbalife products do not contain any lead.

Is Herbalife FDA-approved?

Dietary supplements do not need approval from the FDA before being sold. However, Herbalife follows all the FDA guidelines while manufacturing its products.

How much weight can I expect to lose with Herbalife?

Herbalife can boost metabolism and help in weight loss, but it also depends on several factors like the starting weight, diet, and physical activity. It is recommended to aim for a slow and steady weight loss of 1 to 2 pounds weekly.

Is long-term use of Herbalife for weight loss recommended or safe?

Herbalife products are labeled as safe, but some ingredients used in their products are associated with adverse effects like headaches, digestion problems, and palpitations. Long-term use has also been shown to cause hepatotoxicity in some subjects (12).

Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team

Losing weight with Herbalife products can be great, but what happens when you reach your goal? Find out if you can stop using Herbalife products in this video!

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Kate DriverND

 

Kate Driver is a Naturopath, Women's Health Coach, and Perimenopause Practitioner and has been consulting for over 22 years. She specializes in women's health, especially perimenopause and menopause, and is dedicated to helping women feel empowered and at their best using diet , nutrition, lifestyle changes, and supplements. She is a member of The Australian Natural and Traditional Medicine Society,...more

Priyanka SadhukhanNutritionist, CDE

Priyanka is a nutritionist and a Certified Diabetes Educator. She has over 8 years of experience in nutrition and dietetics with a strong research background. She is passionate about science and how it can be applied to one’s daily lifestyle. According to her, food is the best medicine, and proper nutrition is key to achieving good health. She has also...more

Arshiya SyedaSenior Editor

Arshiya Syeda is a senior editor at StyleCraze with 7 years of experience. Prior to that, she was a content writer and combined her writing and research skills to write over 200 high-performing articles on hairstyles, hair care, and skin care. She holds a bachelor's degree in literature and psychology from Osmania University, Hyderabad, and a post-graduate diploma in psychological...more

Aparna MallampalliHealth & Wellness Writer

Aparna is a professor-turned-content writer with over 5 years of experience in life sciences. Her passion for writing and interest in the healthcare and wellness industry pushed her toward a career in content writing. She has a master’s degree in microbiology from Osmania University, Hyderabad, and a diploma in nutrition from Fab Academy. She aims to use her knowledge of...more