Can it help you lose weight?
The Herbalife diet is designed to help people lose weight by reducing calorie intake with meal replacement shakes and boosting metabolism with supplements.
There haven’t been any studies on the full Herbalife weight loss program, but the meal replacement shakes do appear to help with weight loss.
How does it work?
Getting started on the Herbalife diet requires a few simple steps.
Step 1: Connect with an Herbalife independent distributor
Since Herbalife is a multilevel marketing business, their products are only available for purchase through Herbalife independent distributors.
You can connect with a distributor directly on the Herbalife website or via personal connections if you know a certified retailer.
Step 2: Choose your weight loss program
The next step is to pick the Herbalife weight loss program that’s right for you. There are three versions to choose from:
The Quickstart Program: includes meal-replacement shakes, a powdered tea drink, a multivitamin/mineral (MVM), and a metabolism-boosting supplement
The Advanced Program: includes everything from the Quickstart Program, plus two more supplements for increasing energy and reducing fluid retention
The Ultimate Program: includes everything from the Advanced Program, plus two additional supplements for blood sugar management and digestion
These programs range in price from roughly $121–234 per month.
Step 3: Begin the Herbalife diet
Following the Herbalife diet is relatively easy.
Simply replace two meals each day with Herbalife shakes and take the supplements that come with the program you purchased.
There are no dietary restrictions on the Herbalife diet, but it’s generally advised to drink plenty of water and eat small, frequent meals and snacks that include plenty of fruits and vegetables.
There are no official recommendations for how long you should stay on the Herbalife diet, but most people continue until they reach their weight loss goal.
Benefits of Herbalife
In addition to aiding weight loss, the Herbalife program has a few more benefits.
It’s easy and convenient
Meal replacement shakes like the ones used in the Herbalife diet can be attractive for busy people or those who lack the time or interest to cook.
To make the shake, all you have to do is mix 2 scoops of powder with 8 ounces (240 mL) of nonfat milk and enjoy. The powder can also be blended with ice or fruit for a smoothie-style drink.
Drinking shakes instead of cooking can dramatically cut down on time spent planning, shopping, and preparing meals. The Herbalife program is also very easy to follow.
Soy-based shakes may be good for your heart
The main ingredient in most of the Herbalife meal replacement shakes is soy protein isolate, a type of protein powder that comes from soybeans.
Some research suggests that eating soy protein may lower cholesterol levels and reduce your risk of heart disease (8Trusted Source).
However, nearly 50 grams per day are needed to realize these effects (9Trusted Source, 10Trusted Source).
Two servings of Herbalife meal replacement shakes contain only 18 grams, so additional soy foods would need to be included in your diet.
A soy-free, dairy-free formula is available
For those with allergies or sensitivities to soy or cow’s milk, Herbalife offers an alternative meal replacement shake made with pea, rice, and sesame proteins.
This product is also made from nongenetically modified ingredients, for those who wish to avoid GMOs.
Downsides of the diet
While the Herbalife diet program has some benefits, it also has quite a few downsides.
Shakes are highly processed
Herbalife meal replacement shakes are made with highly processed ingredients, such as protein isolates, sugars, gums, fibers, synthetic vitamins, artificial flavors, and emulsifiers.
They also contain a variety of added vitamins and minerals to make up for the nutrients these processed ingredients lack.
One of the biggest drawbacks is that the shakes are very high in sugar — 40 percent of the calories in each serving come from added sugars, primarily fructose
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends getting no more than 5% of your daily calories from added sugars, which equates to roughly 25 grams per day for the average adult (11Trusted Source).
Two servings of the Herbalife shake provide 18 grams of added sugar, leaving very little room for other sources throughout the day.
It’s generally advisable to get your nutrients from less processed foods, such as high quality proteins, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats.
Could make you hungry
Although Herbalife shakes are described as meal replacement shakes, they don’t contain enough calories to constitute a true meal.
When mixed with nonfat milk, the shakes have just 170 calories, which will likely leave you feeling very hungry throughout the day.
Blending the shake with fruit can help increase the calorie and fiber contents but won’t add any additional protein or fat to keep you satisfied.
Can be expensive
Each container of Herbalife meal replacement mix contains 30 servings and costs just over $40.
Herbalife’s recommended two shakes per day equates to roughly $80 per month for the shakes alone, not including the cost of supplements.
While swapping meals for shakes may save you money on groceries, these savings may not be significant enough to justify the additional expense of smoothies and supplements.
Herbal supplements may cause liver damage
The Herbalife weight loss programs recommend several supplements that contain a myriad of ingredients.
These supplements haven’t been tested for effectiveness and aren’t regulated by any government agency for quality or purity.
It’s important to watch for signs of adverse reactions to supplements, as these can occur.
In fact, there have been several reports of suspected liver damage due to Herbalife weight loss supplements, sometimes requiring liver transplants or even causing death (12Trusted Source, 13Trusted Source, 14Trusted Source, 15Trusted Source).
Additionally, some Herbalife products have been contaminated with an overgrowth of the bacteria B. subtilis, which is also linked to liver damage (16Trusted Source).
Keep in mind that adverse effects and liver damage can occur with many over-the-counter medications and supplements.
It’s unclear whether the risks associated with Herbalife products are any greater than those of other supplements (13Trusted Source).
One study that Herbalife funded showed that protein-rich diets, supplemented with Herbalife Formula 1, didn’t adversely affect liver function (17Trusted Source).
Not appropriate for everyone
The Herbalife diet program is not appropriate for everyone.
People with allergies, sensitivities or intolerances to the ingredients in the shakes or supplements should not follow this program.
Since so many supplements are included, it’s important to check with your healthcare provider to ensure they don’t interact with your medications or medical conditions.
Foods to eat
Though most of your meals will be shakes while on the Herbalife diet, you can have one regular meal and two small snacks of your choice each day.
Herbalife doesn’t give detailed diet advice about what to eat aside from the shakes and supplements, so you can technically have whatever you want.
However, to promote weight loss, the Herbalife website recommends a diet rich in lean protein, fruits and vegetables, nonfat dairy, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and healthy fats.
Foods to avoid
No foods are strictly forbidden on the Herbalife diet, but you should aim for low calorie mealsrich in lean protein, fruits, and vegetables.
High calorie or high fat foods are allowed but should be enjoyed in moderation if you want to lose weight on the Herbalife diet.
Source: https://www.healthline.com
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