Does Plexus Work For Gut Health? - Honest Vitamin Guy (2024)

“Gut health this, gut health that…”

If you’ve ever heard a Plexus Ambassador talk, you know that the magical benefits of gut health are central to their Plexus pitch.

They’re not wrong: there are tons of benefits to having a healthy stomach. Harvard Medical School reminds us the “gut is often called the body’s ‘second brain.’”

But the real question is: Does Plexus actually help gut health or not?

We’ll start with a brief summary of why gut health is important.

We’ll then examine three different Plexus products and the scientific evidence (fully footnoted!) regarding their effect on gut health.

Table of Contents

Why does Gut Health matter?

Benefits of Gut Health

Gut health is closely linked to overall health and well-being. The digestive system is home to trillions of microorganisms, collectively known as the gut microbiome, which plays a crucial role in maintaining a healthy gut.

A healthy gut microbiome can help to regulate the immune system, protect against infections, and aid in the digestion and absorption of nutrients. It can also have a positive impact on weight management, skin health, and even brain function.

Studies have shown that individuals with a diverse and balanced gut microbiome tend to have better metabolism and are less likely to be overweight. They also have healthier skin and a lower risk of developing certain skin conditions.

Problems of Gut Sickness

When the balance of gut bacteria is disrupted, it can lead to a variety of health issues such as inflammatory bowel disease, autoimmune disorders, and even mental health conditions like anxiety and depression.

The gut and brain also have a close connection. It’s been shown that the gut microbiome can affect the brain through the production of neurotransmitters and inflammation. These can have an impact on mood, anxiety, and cognitive function.

Does Plexus Slim Work for Gut Health?

Plexus Slim is a dietary supplement product whose name makes it clear is intended to help you look slim and trim–to help you lose weight.

The scientific evidence shows that the ingredients of the Plexus Pink Drink (as Plexus Slim is known) does have some positive effects on weight loss.

That same deep dive into the scientific evidence shows the Plexus Slim ingredients have some positive effects on your gut health as well!

Plexus Slim ingredients that help your gut health

Chromium

Chromium is an essential mineral that positively affects the body’s biological function and health1. It is not produced in the human body, so you must ingest it via external sources like food.

The positive effects of Chromium2 on gut health are that it might help regulate and maintain glucose homeostasis3 (the medical term for well-regulated blood sugar without extreme dips and spikes) while also preventing damage caused by heat stress.4

Chlorogenic acid

Chlorogenic acid is an ingredient similar to caffeic acid.

It can be found and extracted from green coffee beans, but it is also present in apples, blueberries, tomatoes, potatoes, and strawberries. According to studies, Chlorogenic Acids might have beneficial effects in battling and reducing the impact of metabolic endotoxemia5, which is systemic inflammation that affects the whole body, but especially the digestive tract. In medical terms, it’s the condition of elevated LPS (lipopolysaccharide) levels6 (a cause and marker of inflammation).

If you have an infection or other health problem, inflammation for a short time is good, because it’s your body fighting the infection. However, if you have chronic inflammation for no good reason, it can be linked with a variety of problems including leaky gut syndrome

Caffeine

Caffeine is most commonly sourced from coffee beans and is vital as a nervous system stimulant.7

The caffeine in Plexus Slim, extracted from green coffee beans, might have a preventive effect against multiple pathologies, especially a number of inflammation-based diseases. This is accomplished by improving gut health by keeping that food moving through your gastrointestinal tract nice and fast from entry to exit.8

Another study has shown that the regular consumption of caffeine from coffee increases the quantity of Bifidobacterium in the GI tract. This bacteria is considered a beneficial probiotic in aiding digestion and GI or gut health.9

Does Plexus VitalBiome Work for Gut Health?

Plexus VitalBiome is a probiotic supplement made by Plexus Worldwide. It is a blend of probiotics and enzymes that is intended to improve the health of the digestive tract and help increase the number of beneficial bacteria in the gut.

As a result, Plexus VitalBiome and other brands’ probiotics help maintain a healthy gut, where more than 70% of the immune system is located.

What does science have to say about the benefits of this product’s ingredients on the gut?

Let’s find out!

Plexus VitalBiome ingredients that help your gut health

Lactobacillus helveticus

Lactobacillus helveticus is a bacteria that can thrive in temperatures between 105,8 and 251,6 degrees Fahrenheit. It is a microorganism used for the fermentation and production of milk and multiple cheese varieties.

As a type of lactic acid bacteria naturally found in the gut, Lactobacillus helveticus seems to provide multiple benefits. It helps prevent gut infections, improves the immune system response, promotes protection against pathogens, and boosts the reproduction of intestinal microbiota.10

Moreover, Lactobacillus helveticus might help relieve elevated blood pressure11 and prevent periodontitis12 by improving alveolar bone resorption.

Bifidobacterium lactis

The Bifidobacterium lactis is a probiotic bacteria present in large quantities in the human gut. It improves the overall immune system response.13

These probiotic bacteria apparently help battle metabolic syndrome, diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity in humans. By successfully battling these conditions, Bifidobacterium lactis might decrease the chances of cardiovascular disease in people with metabolic syndrome.14

Another study also proves the beneficial effects of dietary supplementation with this bacteria. It seems to help increase the number of resident bifidobacteria in the gut. At the same time, it reduced the Enterobacteriaceae count (disease-producing bacteria found in the gut).15

Bifidobacterium longum

Another probiotic strain (type of probiotic bacteria), the Bifidobacterium longum, is a strain of bacteria found in the gut that is tolerant of stomach acid.16

This bacteria’s benefit is its active battle against inflammatory bowel disease. If intestinal infections are present in the gut, the microbiota numbers become unbalanced, resulting in irritable bowel syndrome, chronic diarrhea, intestinal disorders, or colorectal cancer.

The mechanisms of Bifidobacterium longum seem to have preventive and protective effects on inflammatory bowel syndrome. They might increase the numbers of positive and beneficial microbiota, increasing the immune system’s response.17

Lactobacillus plantarum

Another beneficial gut bacteria in Plexus VitalBiome, the Lactobacillus Plantarum, is a lactic acid bacteria with a starter probiotic function. Because of its properties, it is widely used in the food industry.18

According to scientific studies, Lactobacillus Plantarum has been proven to aid gut health, including obesity, high blood pressure, and other metabolic disorders. It also prevents inflammation in the bowel, dyslipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes.19

Lactobacillus acidophilus

The last essential ingredient of Plexus VitalBiome I want to mention for gut health is Lactobacillus acidophilus.

Lactobacillus acidophilus is an important gut probiotic isolated from the human gastrointestinal system in 1900. Today, it is one of the most well-known and used probiotic supplements in healthy diets.20

The positive effects of Lactobacillus acidophilus are related to possibly treating diarrhea.21

Does Plexus ProBio 5 Work for Gut Health?

Plexus ProBio 5 is the last dietary supplement I want to mention and review in this article to answer the question, “Does Plexus work for gut health?”

Plexus Worldwide intends it to pair well with Plexus VitalBiome as a complementary product. The Plexus ProBio 5 dietary supplement comes in capsule form, and each capsule contains ingredients beneficial to gastrointestinal function. It is a healthy addition to any diet with various enzyme and probiotic blends paired with vitamins C and B6.

This product is primarily meant to increase the response and stabilize the natural imbalance in the intestines. It might help battle digestive disorders and constipation while expanding the number of good bacteria in the gut.

Let’s see which of these product’s ingredients work in favor of promoting better gut health.

Does Plexus Work For Gut Health? - Honest Vitamin Guy (1)

Plexus ProBio 5 ingredients that help your gut health

Plexus ProBio 5 is a blend of two categories of ingredients: enzymes and probiotics.

Enzymes

Protease

Proteases are classes of enzymes that contribute to proteolysis. This process terminates protein activity, converting old protein molecules into new ones.

These new molecules are then transformed using the proteolytic process into biologically active components needed for the healthy function of gut bacteria.22

Chitosanase

The chitosanase enzyme is mainly derived from fungi and bacteria.23 It might help ease the absorption of nutrients in the intestines by assisting in the degradation process of chitin.24

Serrapeptase

Serrapeptase, also known as Serratiopeptidase, is another proteolytic enzyme produced naturally in the digestive tract of silkworms. They use this enzyme at birth to break down their cocoons.

Serrapeptase has therapeutic properties and has shown significant analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.25

Probiotics

The probiotic blend of ingredients within Plexus ProBio5 consists of the following components:

Bacillus coagulans

Bacillus coagulans is a spore-producing probiotic bacteria widely used for medicinal and food production purposes. It seems to positively affect several gut-related diseases, such as diarrhea, bowel irritability, constipation, and inflammation.26

Saccharomyces boulardii

A non-pathogenic yeast, Saccharomyces boulardii is an effective probiotic possibly capable of combating and preventing infectious and antibiotic-associated diarrhea.

It might work to prevent damage to and restore the intestinal barrier, enabling gut microbiota to function and exchange resources properly.27

Other probiotic elements within the blend

The other probiotic elements within the Plexus ProBio 5 blend include the following:

  • Lactobacillus acidophilus
  • Bifidobacterium longum
  • Lactobacillus plantarum.

I’ve already discussed the benefits of these probiotic elements in the previous section when I talked about the Plexus VitalBiome. You can find more relevant information about them in that part of the article.

Grape seed extract

Grapes are vitamin and fiber-rich fruits used in traditional treatment for thousands of years. Various studies have confirmed grape seed extract provides a reduction in inflammation, hypertension, and diabetes.28

Vitamin C and B6

Vitamin C, also called ascorbic acid, is not produced in the human body, so it needs to be ingested through food and other supplements.29 Vitamin C has been proven beneficial for gut microbes because it might help increase their population and reproduction rate.30

Vitamin B6 is an element involved in over 150 biochemical reactions in the human body. It might help process carbohydrates, amino acids, and lipids and has antioxidative properties.31

Because of its vital role in cellular interaction, a deficiency of Vitamin B6 in the gut leads to reduced microbiota activity. As a result, the lack of this element leads to significant negative alterations in microbial composition within the stomach.32

Conclusion

Now we know why the Plexus Ladies talk so much about gut health! The ingredients of some of their most popular products focus on improving gut health.

And the science backs it all up and highlights the importance of maintaining gut health as a key linchpin for your whole body’s health. This includes not only physical, health but also the all-important mental health.

So we should all buy Plexus products to help our gut health, right?

Not so fast. While Plexus products are beneficial in various ways, they are always way overpriced compared to comparable products. You’d be much better off with Probiotic 10 and Chromium from Puritan’s Pride for most of the same benefits at a fraction of the price.

If you MUST buy the expensive Plexus Products, at least do yourself the favor of getting an honest, low-pressure Plexus rep.

What do you think? Does Plexus work for gut health? And if not, then why not? Feel free to leave your opinions and experiences in the comment section below.

Sources

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Footnotes

  1. Lukaski HC. Chromium as a supplement. Annu Rev Nutr. 1999;19:279-302. doi: 10.1146/annurev.nutr.19.1.279. PMID: 10448525.
  2. Wang G, Li X, Zhou Y, Feng J, Zhang M. Effects of Dietary Chromium Picolinate on Gut Microbiota, Gastrointestinal Peptides, Glucose Homeostasis, and Performance of Heat-Stressed Broilers. Animals (Basel). 2022 Mar 27;12(7):844. doi: 10.3390/ani12070844. PMID: 35405834; PMCID: PMC8997060.
  3. Röder PV, Wu B, Liu Y, Han W. Pancreatic regulation of glucose homeostasis. Exp Mol Med. 2016 Mar 11;48(3):e219. doi: 10.1038/emm.2016.6. PMID: 26964835; PMCID: PMC4892884.
  4. Wang G, Li X, Zhou Y, Feng J, Zhang M. Effects of Dietary Chromium Picolinate on Gut Microbiota, Gastrointestinal Peptides, Glucose Homeostasis, and Performance of Heat-Stressed Broilers. Animals (Basel). 2022 Mar 27;12(7):844. doi: 10.3390/ani12070844. PMID: 35405834; PMCID: PMC8997060.
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Does Plexus Work For Gut Health? - Honest Vitamin Guy (2024)

FAQs

Why was Plexus banned? ›

Historically, Plexus was called out by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for making unsubstantiated health claims.

Does the Plexus even work? ›

Research shows that diets featuring meal replacement shakes are effective for weight loss, so you may lose weight by replacing two meals a day with Plexus Lean shakes ( 40 ). However there's currently no evidence to confirm the effectiveness of Plexus supplements for weight loss.

Who should not take Plexus? ›

Anyone who has an allergy, injury, illness, or other medical condition should always consult with a physician prior to taking Plexus products or starting any exercise regimen. The same is true for anyone who is taking prescription medications, pregnant, or nursing.

How long does it take for the Plexus to start working? ›

Plexus Block starts working immediately and works while it travels down your digestive system with the food you consume.

Why is everyone leaving Plexus worldwide? ›

Concerns regarding product effectiveness, financial viability, and ethical controversies have contributed to the exodus from Plexus. Individuals are increasingly seeking alternative wellness solutions that are backed by scientific evidence, offer fair financial opportunities, and operate ethically.

Can Plexus cause elevated liver enzymes? ›

Both the fruit extract itself as well as HCA have been postulated as a potential cause of hepatotoxicity when consumed in sufficient amounts. This serves as a potential cause of the elevated liver enzymes observed in this patient.

What is the Plexus Worldwide lawsuit? ›

The settlement resolves allegations by the United States that Plexus presented mail to the United States Postal Service (USPS) for delivery with postage that was based upon and calculated with attributes not associated with the items mailed, which resulted in underpaid postage.

What is the average weight loss on Plexus reset? ›

^Participants in the Plexus Reset clinical trial lost an average of 5.36 pounds, 1% Body Fat and about 2 cm from waist and hip areas in 3 days. Individual results will vary based on starting point and commitment to program.

Is Plexus good for liver? ›

Aid the body's natural recovery process, while providing joint support, relief from occasional muscle soreness, and fortification of liver cell vitality, allowing healthy cells and tissue to thrive.

Does the Plexus help with inflammation? ›

Anti-inflammatory Herbal Medicine. Plexus Ease contains natural ingredients that can help ease the occasional discomforts of an active lifestyle, like joint pain. Maintain your good health and relieve discomfort, with Plexus Ease.

What are the long term effects of the Plexus? ›

As with cases of brachial plexus injury in adults, there are many long-term effects of brachial plexus injury at birth. In severe cases, these can include issues with balance and coordination, arm strength, lower body strength and severe range of motion limitations.

Can Plexus help with IBS? ›

Who should use Plexus ProBio CA? ProBio CA is for adults who want to work towards or maintain good intestinal flora or who may be experiencing the effects of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. ProBio CA is perfect for those who recognize the importance of the gut and want to focus on gut health and overall health and wellbeing.

Is plexus a good way to lose weight? ›

Plexus slim products help in weight loss by making you feel full. It also claims to reduce blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Kindly note there is no reliable clinical data on Plexus, so physician opinion is recommended.

How many times a day do you drink plexus? ›

Adults drink 1 serving up to twice daily. For weight loss — adults drink 1 serving 30-60 minutes before 2 main meals daily. Simply tear the Slim packet and pour into your 12- to 20-ounce bottle of water and shake immediately.

Can you drink coffee while taking plexus? ›

Plexus Active contains 100 mg of caffeine. With the safe daily limit for adults at approximately 400 mg of caffeine, you can easily enjoy Active along with your morning cup of coffee or combine it with Edge or MetaBurn and still be within a beneficial daily amount.

What is the controversy with the Plexus? ›

Pyramid Scheme Accusations: The structure of Plexus has drawn comparisons to pyramid schemes, where earnings are predominantly from recruitment rather than sales, sparking legal and moral questions.

What does Plexus do to your body? ›

Plexus Slim is a powdered weight loss supplement, which you need to mix with water before consuming. It turns the water pink; hence it is also known as “Pink Drink.” Plexus slim products help in weight loss by making you feel full. It also claims to reduce blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

Is Plexus a pyramid scheme? ›

No, Plexus is not a pyramid scheme. Unfortunately, a lack of understanding and misconceptions, especially on social media, can incorrectly label direct selling or multi-level marketing companies.

Do the sister wives sell Plexus? ›

Janelle's daughter, Maddie Brush, and Christine's daughter, Mykelti Padron, have both become Plexus saleswomen along with their mothers. Promoting Plexus seems like it has been a beneficial source of income for Christine and Janelle, but it seems unlikely that their daughters will want to continue selling it long term.

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