Are you curious about Arbonne‘s line of gut health products? As someone who‘s always looking to optimize my digestive wellness, I decided to give them a try for myself. In this Arbonne review, I‘ll share my personal experience, dive into the ingredients and research, and help you decide if their products are worth the investment.
What is Arbonne?
First, a little background on the company. Arbonne is a multi-level marketing brand that‘s been around since 1980. They sell plant-based, "clean" health, beauty, and nutrition products through a network of independent consultants.
While Arbonne offers a wide variety of supplements, skincare and cosmetics, I was specifically interested in their lineup for gut health. This includes:
- Detox teas
- Prebiotic and probiotic blends
- Digestive enzymes
- Fiber powders
- Herbal cleanse formulas
Arbonne claims these products contain premium botanical ingredients to soothe the GI tract, improve nutrient absorption, promote bowel regularity, and "restore balance" to the microbiome. The packaging is sleek and the branding definitely appeals to the health-conscious crowd.
My Arbonne Gut Health Experiment
I decided to try Arbonne‘s most popular gut health protocol: 30 days of the Herbal Detox Tea, Digestion Plus prebiotic powder, and Greens Balance blend. The total came to about $200 with shipping and tax (yes, definitely a splurge!)
The detox tea had a mild minty, earthy taste that was pleasant enough. The Digestion Plus was easy to mix into smoothies and oatmeal. And the Greens Balance, while a little grassy tasting, wasn‘t too bad mixed into juice or water.
I‘ll be honest, I was hoping these products would be a magic bullet for my chronic bloating and irregular digestion. But after religiously taking them for a month, I didn‘t notice any groundbreaking improvements.
The detox tea did seem to make me have more frequent bowel movements at first. But by the end of the 30 days, things were back to my normal baseline. The fiber and probiotics didn‘t make a huge difference in my day-to-day digestive comfort either.
Of course, this is just my own anecdotal experience – your mileage may vary. However, I think it‘s important to have realistic expectations about what supplements can (and cannot) do.
Arbonne Ingredients: Miracle Workers or Overhyped?
To be fair, Arbonne does use some well-researched ingredients in their gut health line. This includes:
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Ginger root: A 2018 meta-analysis of 18 studies found that ginger supplements significantly improved nausea, bloating and abdominal pain in IBS patients. (Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6341159/)
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Peppermint leaf: Several clinical trials have shown that enteric-coated peppermint oil capsules can reduce IBS symptoms like pain, bloating and irregularity. One theory is that peppermint helps relax the smooth muscles of the intestines. (Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31039287/)
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Prebiotics: Arbonne‘s Digestion Plus contains inulin derived from chicory root. Inulin is a type of prebiotic fiber that feeds the beneficial bacteria in your colon, helping them proliferate. A 2019 review found inulin supplements significantly increased populations of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli (two key groups of good gut bugs). (Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S095869461930076X)
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Probiotics: Greens Balance contains a proprietary probiotic blend with 4 billion CFU per serving. Numerous studies have shown probiotic supplements can improve a variety of GI issues like diarrhea, constipation, and IBS. However, the effectiveness depends on the specific strain and dosage – not all probiotics are created equal. (Source: https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/probiotics-what-you-need-to-know)
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Digestive enzymes: Arbonne includes amylase, protease, lipase, and cellulase in some formulas. These enzymes help break down the carbohydrates, proteins, fats and fibers in your food. Supplemental enzymes may provide relief for certain GI conditions like lactose intolerance and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. (Source: https://www.health.harvard.edu/vitamins-and-supplements/are-digestive-enzyme-supplements-the-solution-to-gi-symptoms)
So there is some legitimate science backing Arbonne‘s star ingredients. The issue is, it‘s impossible to know if Arbonne‘s specific formulations contain the optimal therapeutic doses – most companies don‘t disclose that information.
Lack of Transparency & Regulation
Another qualm I have with Arbonne is their lack of transparency around ingredient sourcing, testing, and quality control. Unlike medications and food products, dietary supplements are not tightly regulated by the FDA. Supplement companies don‘t have to "prove" their products are safe or effective before bringing them to market.
Arbonne claims all of their ingredients go through an "extensive third-party testing process for heavy metals, pesticides, and other contaminants." But when I reached out to customer service for more details, I got a pretty vague response about their "global network of trusted suppliers."
What I do know is that Arbonne products are not certified organic or non-GMO. Some of the herbal ingredients are wildcrafted, but others are conventionally grown. And as with most supplements, there‘s always a risk of heavy metal contamination or inconsistencies from batch to batch.
To be clear, I‘m not saying Arbonne products are unsafe or low quality. But I do think it‘s important to be aware of the lack of oversight in the supplement industry as a whole. Don‘t just take a company‘s purity and potency claims at face value – do your own research on their manufacturing practices.
How Arbonne Compares to Other Gut Health Brands
Out of curiosity, I did some digging on how Arbonne‘s gut health line measures up to other leading brands. Here‘s a quick comparison:
| Brand | Key Ingredients | Avg. Price Per Serving | Third Party Tested? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arbonne Digestion Plus | Inulin, FOS, ginger, peppermint | $0.89 | No |
| Renew Life Fiber Smart | Flaxseed, acacia, pea fiber | $0.43 | Yes |
| Garden of Life Colon Care | Cascara sagrada, aloe, triphala | $0.69 | Yes |
| Schiff Digestive Advantage | Ganeden BC30 probiotics | $0.40 | No |
As you can see, Arbonne definitely falls on the pricier end of the spectrum. You could argue that you‘re paying for higher quality ingredients. But without transparent third party testing, it‘s hard to say for sure.
One thing I do like about Arbonne is the convenience factor. It‘s nice to have detox teas, fiber powders, enzymes and probiotics all from one cohesive line. With other brands, you‘d likely have to purchase multiple different products and piece together your own regimen.
Is Arbonne Right For You?
At the end of the day, whether Arbonne‘s gut health products are worth it comes down to your individual needs, preferences and budget. If you‘re dealing with severe digestive disorders like Crohn‘s, colitis, or SIBO, relying on supplements alone likely won‘t cut it. Working with a GI doctor or registered dietitian to get to the root cause is crucial.
But if you‘re simply looking to maintain digestive wellness, boost your fiber intake, or find a little symptom relief, Arbonne could be an option. Just keep your expectations realistic and don‘t buy into overblown marketing claims about "detoxing" or "gut healing." (Spoiler alert: no supplement can undo a poor diet or chronically stressed lifestyle!)
Another factor to consider is if you feel comfortable supporting an MLM brand. If you have ethical qualms about the industry‘s recruiting practices, Arbonne may not sit right with you, no matter how much you like the products. There‘s also the potential awkwardness of your Arbonne consultant friends constantly posting about "toxins" and trying to get you to join their downline. Personally, I prefer to keep my health choices separate from my social circle.
At the end of my Arbonne trial month, I didn‘t hate the products, but I didn‘t fall in love with them either. The detox teas and Digestion Plus were helpful for mild constipation. But $200 a month is hard to justify for supplements that didn‘t make a major difference in my overall digestive health. I‘ve honestly had just as much success increasing my veggie intake, reducing stress levels, and taking a generic psyllium husk supplement from Costco.
That said, I know several people who swear by Arbonne‘s protein powders and Greens Balance for keeping their energy and digestion on track. A family friend even credits the Gut Health line with helping her overcome chronic bloating after years of struggling.
The bottom line? Arbonne is not a miracle cure, but it may be a helpful piece of the gut health puzzle for some. As with any supplement, it‘s best to consult with a qualified health practitioner before adding something new to your regimen. And remember, no powder or pill can replace a holistically healthy lifestyle in the long run.
Tips for Optimizing Gut Health Holistically
In my years of studying nutrition and natural health, I‘ve come to realize that true digestive healing requires a multi-faceted approach beyond supplements. Some of the most impactful changes I‘ve made for my own gut include:
- Eating a diverse array of plant foods to feed my microbiome
- Reducing processed foods and added sugars that can feed harmful bacteria
- Incorporating fermented foods like sauerkraut, kefir and miso for a natural probiotic boost
- Staying well hydrated with filtered water and herbal teas
- Managing stress levels with meditation, deep breathing and time in nature
- Getting regular exercise to stimulate peristalsis (the natural contractions of the intestines)
- Identifying and eliminating personal trigger foods (for me it‘s gluten, dairy, and garlic)
Could adding an Arbonne supplement to this routine potentially help? Sure. But it‘s not going to be the end-all-be-all. I‘ve found the most profound changes come from getting back to the basics of nourishing my body and mind.
I hope this honest Arbonne review has given you some food for thought as you navigate your own gut health journey. Remember, there‘s no one-size-fits-all solution. Trust your intuition, do your research, and don‘t be afraid to experiment until you find what works for you.
And if Arbonne doesn‘t end up being your cup of detox tea (pun intended), that‘s ok! There are plenty of other avenues to explore on the road to a happy, healthy gut. Wishing you all the best on your wellness path.
