The Food and Drug Administration plays a key role in regulating the food in the industry. FDA is a body that keeps the public safe on all food products they consume. 

As a result, many people will trust products that have FDA approval. Herbalife, on the other hand, is a popular weight product. 

The product has many users, leading to many questions about its performance and more. The main question to explore here is – Is Herbalife FDA approved. Read along to find out more.

Is Herbalife FDA Approved?

No. Herbalife is not FDA approved. Many people may find this surprising, but it is the truth. Do not worry about it yet since there is more about this fact. As much as FDA is a regulatory body, Herbalife products do not fall under its jurisdiction.

In the past, up until 1994, FDA was in charge of security and safety checks and regulating manufacturing and processing of nutritional supplements. However, the United States government changed this through new laws.

FDA is required to inspect products that supplement companies choose to use, but they do not need to approve them. Nutritional companies such as Herbalife are free to determine the safety of products they use.

However, the secret is that the products that Herbalife decides to use will always be checked and deemed safe before use.

It does not mean that such companies work with full liberty. There are rules and regulations they must operate within. For example, they cannot claim to cure symptoms or signs of a medical condition.

In addition, FDA is in charge of investigating whenever a supplement company introduces new ingredients into their products.

How Safe Is Herbalife?

From the fact that Herbalife is not FDA approved, the question of its safety is obvious. Many people also consume Herbalife, and it is crucial to know this.

To understand the safety levels of any products, you must know about the ingredients used. For Herbalife, their ingredients are very clear. They use essential vitamins, minerals, proteins, and safe carbs.

The ingredients mentioned here are considered safe for a person who does not have any existing medical condition.

As much as Herbalife products are safe, it is crucial to check the ingredients before using them. Once you check ingredients, make sure you understand how they affect your current health condition to be on the safer side.

Herbalife… What is it, and how does it work?

First, Herbalife is a company that manufactures and sells nutritional supplements in over 90 countries worldwide. The company has been in operation for several years. Their products are mainly for weight loss.

Herbalife products design is a program that takes a specific time then helps a person lose weight within a short time.

Since it is not a one-time product, you have to enroll in the program and follow all the required steps as guided by the company.

Herbalife Process

Here is the process that outlines how to start and use the Herbalife diet program.

Stage 1. Get Herbalife Independent Distributor

For this first step, you have to get Herbalife’s independent distributor, who will work with you and enable you to get the products. This is because the company is multilevel. Products can be purchased from such distributors.

Two ways to get the distributor is by direct connection through the company website, or you can get a connection from their certified retailer.

Stage 2: Select your preferred program

Herbalife offers three types of weight loss programs one can choose from.

• The Quickstart Program- This is the most basic program, and it contains shakes for meal replacement, multivitamins, powdered tea drinks, and metabolism-boosting supplements.

• The Advanced Program- Here, you will get everything from the Quickstart Program, and in addition, you will receive two supplements for boosting energy and lowering fluid retention.

• The Ultimate Program – This is the best and most advanced program you can get from Herbalife. For this program, you receive all the products from the Advanced program and additional supplements for digestion and management of blood sugar.

Stage 3: Kickstart Herbalife Diet

Herbalife’s diet or program involves you including their supplements into your daily meal. You do not have to do it at once but introduce the supplements slowly. All you have to do is replace two of your daily meal with the Herbalife shakes plus supplements provided in the program.

It is advisable that when you are taking Herbalife, you take a lot of water, eat small, frequent snacks and meals, and vegetables and fruits.

In addition, Herbalife does not give a guideline on how long you should be on their diet. The company allows people to take the diet until they achieve their desired weight.

Main Supplements By Herbalife

Herbalife recommends several supplements for weight loss. They include the following.

• Total Control- This supplement contains ingredients such as ginger, caffeine, pomegranate, black, oolong, and green tea, for energy-boosting.

• Formula 2 Multivitamin – This is just a standard one with several types of minerals for your nutrition.

• Cell-U-Loss is a supplement made with dandelion, parsley, electrolytes, asparagus root, and corn silk extracts and lowers water retention in the body.

• Formula 3 Cell Activator – The ingredients in this supplement include aloe vera, Rhodiola, pine bark, pomegranate, alpha-lipoic acid, and resveratrol. The supplement helps in metabolism, nutrient absorption, and mitochondrial health.

• Snack Defense – The snack defense supplement comprises Gymnema Sylvestre and chromium, boosting carbohydrate metabolism.

• Herbal Tea Concentrate- This one comes as a powder from a mix of caffeine and tea extract, boosting energy levels and acting as an antioxidant.
• Aminogen – Containing protease enzymes, Herbalife claims that the supplement is crucial in improving protein digestion.

Why Is Herbalife Not Available In Stores?

Herbalife is not available for sale in stores. The main reason is that the product is for a specific group of people interested in wellness. As a result, the company prefers to target such people by distributors.

The company sells its products through individual distributors to ensure counseling and training, among other customer services, creating a broader base.

Downsides Of Herbalife

Like any other product, Herbalife has its share of downsides, as discussed here.

1. Makes you hungry

The human body requires enough calories to remain stable and fit the needs. However, shakes provided by Herbalife are shot of calories. Although the company claims they are food supplements, they do not have enough calories compared to a real meal.

This means that once you replace your meal with supplements, you will not be getting enough calories to push you for the whole day. As a result, the chances of getting hungry are high.

People opt to blend fruits that help add calories and fibers, which are good.

2. Not fit for everyone

Not everyone can take Herbalife products. Ingredients used on Herbalife products are not suitable for everyone, especially people with intolerances, allergies, and sensitivities toward products used in supplements and shakes.

It is advisable always to check the type of ingredients used before buying and using any of these products.

3. Highly Processed Shakes

Products by Herbalife especially shakes, are made of highly processed products/ingredients such as gums, fibers, synthetic vitamins, protein isolates, emulsifiers, and artificial flavors. In addition, they have added minerals and vitamins.

The replacement shakes end up having very high levels of sugar. This is because up to 40% of the calories are made of added sugars such as fructose.

The downside of this is that it is not advisable to get so many sugars from added sources. The recommended way is by use of non-processed or less processed foods such as healthy fats, fruits, vegetables, or whole grains for better body health.

4. They are expensive

Herbalife products can be pretty expensive. For example, for 30 servings of replacement shakes container, you will have to pay over $40.

With Herbalife recommending two shakes every day, this means you will be spending over $80 for the shakes alone. When you add the supplements, then the cost climbs too high.

5. Possible liver damage

The fact that Herbalife products contain a lot of ingredients is an issue. These ingredients have a high possibility of causing liver issues if not well checked. In addition, the effectiveness of the ingredients especially working together, has not been tested or approved by the government.

Conclusion

Herbalife is a company that has operations in several countries worldwide. Their products are also commonly used, although they are not FDA approved. However, it is crucial to compare their ingredients with your body condition to ensure no expected effects before using them.