Youngevity: 13 startling truths you might not know [Review]

youngYoungevity has made a pretty big footprint in the world of nutrition MLMs, and they’re not losing steam anytime soon.

Their products consist of superior ingredients along with careful packaging and handling and Youngevity claims that this is what makes their nutritional supplements different from the others.

But are they right for you?

We’ll let you decide.

FAQ

1. What does Youngevity sell? Youngevity sells products related to health and nutrition, food and beverage, spa and beauty, fashion, and essential oils. They also sell a slew of home and business services, including road assistance, internet, and phone.

2. What are Youngevity’s most popular products? They’re probably best known for their wellness product. The BTT 2.0 Citrus Peach Fusion is an advanced multi-vitamin mineral complex that gives you the essential nutrients your body needs for optimal health. The Freelife Himalayan Goji Juice is the original standardized goji juice, rich in bioactive Lycium barbarum polysaccharides to give you all the antioxidant benefits of goji fruit. Youngevity also contains a full line of natural cleaning products. And for weight management, their Tru Keo shake is a meal replacement shake that supports the ketogenic diet.

3. How much does it cost to join Youngevity? To become a member and be eligible for paychecks, you’ll pay just $25. To start your own business, you’ll need to buy a CEO Mega Pak for $499.95. Here’s you have a lot of options. Just choose the category that you want to build your business around: nutrition, home and family, spa and beauty, apparel and jewelry, food and beverages, or services.

4. Is Youngevity a scam? No, it’s a publicly traded company that’s recognized in the industry.

5. What is Youngevity’s BBB rating? A+

6. How long has Youngevity been in business? Since 1997

7. What is Youngevity’s revenue? $142 million

8. How many Youngevity distributors are there? 25,000

9. What lawsuits have been filed? In 2016, Youngevity sued Todd Smith and Wakaya Perfections for starting a competing company. [1] In 2018, the court granted Youngevity’s motion for sanctions against Smith for witness tampering. [2]

10. Comparable companies: Forever Living, Shaklee, Kannaway

So should you get involved?

Product-wise this company might be legit, but if you’re just interested in the business opportunity, there are better options out there…

Click here for my #1 recommendation

Either way, here are 13 startling truths you might not know about Youngevity.

#13. Founded by a “pioneer in biomedical research”

Mineral doctor Joel D. Wallach founded Youngevity. He’s been a pioneer in selenium research for almost 40 years now.

He received the Klaus Schwarz Commemorative Medal, recognizing the work of pioneers in the field of trace elements, in 2011, for his groundbreaking discovery regarding cystic fibrosis. He’s even successfully petitioned the FDA to establish Qualified Health Claims for the mineral. [3]

#12. Sel-what-ium?

Selenium is an essential mineral that helps the body synthesize antioxidants and perform important thyroid and immune system functions.

According to Dr. Wallach, supplements containing the mineral have innumerable health benefits, including the ability to reduce the risk of certain cancers. [4]

#11. Elevator pitch is 90 essential nutrients

Dr. Wallach found that the body needs 90 essential nutrients to reach optimal health, but the human body loses 90% of its essential nutrients because it can’t digest them.

So, like any good MLM, Youngevity adopted a catchy little slogan – “90 For Life”.

And they claim that their product has a 90-98% absorption rate, which is almost unheard of. They claim it’s because they’re plant-based and have a natural negative charge, which aids in digestion.

#10. Massive product line covering every industry

Youngevity is basically an entire shopping mall of nutritional products.

They now have over 2,000 products, 31 brands, and 15 different product categories. In addition to their 90 For Life flagship products, they have beauty products, grooming accessories, food and beverages, home, garden, and pet products.

Coffee, essential oils (see: Young Living), mineral makeup, photo keepsakes, food storage, and prepackaged snacks are all included in their individual product inventory. And in 2018, they entered the hemp oil market with a proprietary line of CBD products. [5]

They could also stock an entire store with all the different starter packages they offer, from their 90 For Life starter package, to their Be the Change, starter package, to packs designed to help athletes, lower blood sugar, support bones, help your heart and brain, and even repair the digestive system.

Oh, and they’ve got a weight loss starter pack. Of course they do.

#9. Questionable product colloidal minerals

Despite Dr. Wallach’s work and research on selenium, there’s still not enough evidence to show his specific products actually work. They rely on the health benefits of colloidal minerals, which is still a very questionable field. [6]

In fact, the Food and Drug Administration refuses to verify statements made by health supplement manufacturers, and it’s impossible to know the true source and safety of any liquid colloidal mineral supplement.

#8. Big international presence

They’ve got their fingers all up in just about every corner of the globe.

From they’ve got over 25,000 distributors spread across 65 different countries.

#7. Standard commission, nice bonuses

You can earn up to 30% on retail sales commissions, which isn’t terrible (if you make it up there), but it isn’t great either.

However, they do have some bonuses that offer good perks. They have a 30% Quick Start Bonus, and for every four distributors you sign up, you get another $100 bonus.

#6. Start-up costs with hidden fees

It costs $115 for the start-up package, which is already a little pricey, but you do get some product.

However, you also have to pay an Enrollment Fee of $25. And, in order to move up in status quickly and make decent money, you really have to buy the “CEO Start-Up Pack,” which costs $499. Not so cheap anymore, especially compared to wellness company Monat.

#5. All-star athlete brand ambassadors

This company has a roster of athlete ambassadors from every NBA and NFL triple letter acronym you can name.

Just to count a few…

  • Theo Ratliff, former NBA player
  • Mike Glenn, former NBA player
  • Drew Pearson, former Dallas Cowboy (not to be confused with Drew Brees and Advocare)
  • Gene Nelson, the greatest natural bodybuilder in the world
  • Steve Hess, co-founder of Forza Fitness and strength and conditioning coach for the NBA’s Denver Nuggets

#4. Huge sustainable growth

They’ve reported record revenue for the second quarter of 2016, reaching a massive $42.5 million in just three months. That puts them up 9.7% from that time last year. [7]

Before that, they were seeing a nice, steady increase in gross revenue. They netted about $85 million in 2013, $134 million in 2014, and $156 million in 2015. [8]

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#3. Acquiring new companies left and right

Nature’s pearl, a grower, manufacturer, and direct seller of muscadine grape products was recently acquired by Youngevity, including exclusive rights to their technology. This will make Youngevity the only direct selling company in the world to offer Muscadine personal care products. [9]

They also picked up Renew Interests, a nutritional coffee product for weight loss and energy that uses the coffee berry as a critical ingredient. [10]

In 2018 alone, they added ViaViente, Nature Direct, and Gigi Hill.

ViaViente gives them a highly concentrated whole fruit drink that’s rich in antioxidants and naturally occurring vitamins and minerals. [11]

Nature Direct is a green alternative to cleaning products that aligns with Youngevity’s mission of supporting a healthy lifestyle. This Australian company manufactures essential oil-based nontoxic cleaning and care products for personal, home, and professional use. [12]

Gigi Hill handbags and accessories are a stylish and functional addition to Youngevity’s fashion and jewelry products. [12]

Basically, they’ve got their pieces all over that Monopoly board.

#2. CMO is a marketing king

They aren’t playing around, and their staff picks prove it.

In 2016, they hired a Chief Marketing Officer who’s huge.

He’s worked with Mary Kay, the MLM Queen.

But he’s also worked outside of MLM, something you don’t see a lot in this field. He’s marketed for Chanel, Estee Lauder, Revlon, The Body Shop, and more. This guy knows what he’s doing and is futher proof that Youngevity has big plans for the future. [13]

#1. They have a charitable foundation

“Be the change” is the foundation’s mantra, and it does all kinds of charitable work around the world. They hold big conferences and fundraisers to help support their efforts. [14]

If you need those warm fuzzies to keep you going, there you have it.

Recap

Youngevity has proved that they aren’t just any other nutrition MLM. They’ve got a global presence and great support behind their products.

As far as money-making goes, it may be possible. I mean, if you’re into hitting up family members and old high school friends on Facebook or throwing living room parties.

Look, I’ve been involved with network marketing for over ten years so I know what to look for when you consider a new opportunity.

After reviewing 200+ business opportunities and systems out there, here is the one I would recommend:

Click here for my #1 recommendation

Meet the Author

JP

JP teaches network marketers how to build a real business. Far from a hater, he still LOLs at 3-way calls and building "downlines". If you like Monday morning conversations with your kids by the pool, you might like this.

1 comment… add one
  • Gloria Arroyo Sep 16, 2018, 12:22 am

    I am an old customer with Youngevity, have been taking the Healthy Body Start Pak for about five years. Reasonly, I went to Europe for one month and there, I messed my leg thinking it was my knee cap. I was in bad pain until an xray was recommended. Thank God it was not my knee, but my Orthopedic quoted me these words:,
    “you are 82 years and the xray shows your knee bone to be like for a 50-60 year old women”. It was my tendon that was found to be imflammatory. For those that are starting these products, don’t give up, keep on taking them and you can combate any illness.

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