Juice Plus+ Review: Do These Supplements Really Work

Juice Plus+ supplements are made from the juices of around 30 fruits and vegetables. It is marketed as “the next best thing to fruits and vegetables.”

As such, they contain vitamins, minerals, and other plant compounds from these juices.

However, they aren’t intended to replace fruits and vegetables in your diet.

Instead, the company suggests that these supplements can help bridge the gap between your recommended and actual intake.

You may wonder if Juice Plus+ really provides benefits, and whether or not it’s worth it — or if it’s all just hype. This article reviews Juice Plus+ supplements, their potential health benefits, and whether or not you should try them.

In short, in our book, the brand isn’t worth it. Juice Plus+ failed Healthline’s vetting process.

The brand makes health claims that are consistent with the FDA’s definition of dietary supplements, but does not abide by labeling requirements for supplements. In addition, the brand uses a multi-level marketing scheme. While these are legal, they’re often predatory and exaggerate claims about participants’ ability to make a profit.

The core products offered by Juice Plus+ are fruit and vegetable supplements. They come in capsule or chewable form, from one of three blends: fruit, vegetable, or berry.

The adult dose is two capsules of each blend per day, preferably at mealtimes. Children under 13 are advised to take one capsule of each blend per day.

Supplements are available from the company’s website or from a Juice Plus+ distributor. Each order includes a 4-month supply.

Juice Plus+ also sells plant-based omega supplements, meal replacement shakes, protein shakes, and bars.

Juice Plus+ is designed to make it easier to get more vitamins and minerals into your diet. It may be a good option for several groups, including:

• People with a busy schedule: Juice Plus+ supplements are intended to be an easy and convenient way to help meet your nutrient needs. If you have a busy schedule and don’t always have time to prepare nutritious meals or snacks at home, it could be a good option.
• Athletes and gym-goers: Juice Plus+ has a protein shake called “Perform” that’s formulated to support healthy energy levels and promote recovery, making it a potentially appealing option for those with an active lifestyle.
• Families: Juice Plus+ offers a range of chewable supplements made with fruits and vegetables, which are designed for children and adults who dislike swallowing tablets or capsules.

Juice Plus+ also claims its supplements can support multiple aspects of health, including heart health, immune function, skin health, and inflammation. While all these promises may sound appealing, research on supplements and their benefits is limited.

Juice Plus+ supplements are made by juicing whole fruits and vegetables. The juice is then dried and mixed to make the supplement blends.

This is what gives Juice Plus+ supplements some of their vitamins, minerals, and plant compounds. They contain dried juice from the following fruits and vegetables:

• Fruit Blend: apple, peach, cranberry, orange, mango, lemon peel, acerola cherry, pineapple, prune, date, and beet
• Vegetable Blend: broccoli, parsley, tomato, carrot, garlic, beet, spinach, cabbage, lemon peel, rice bran, and kale
• Berry Blend: raspberry, bilberry, blueberry, cranberry, pomegranate, concord grape, black currant, blackberry, elderberry, artichoke, and cocoa

The supplements also include a number of added ingredients, including:

• calcium
• vitamin C
• vitamin E
• carotenoids
• soluble fiber (glucomannan)
• enzymes
• dried probiotics (Lactobacillus acidophilus)
• folic acid

The exact quantities of ingredients in Juice Plus+ supplements are not listed. This means the exact nutrient composition isn’t available.

However, they are generally considered to be high in vitamins C, E and A (from beta-carotene), as well as folate and various antioxidants and plant compounds.

The company that sells Juice Plus+ asserts that it can provide serious health benefits — though scientific evidence does not always support their claims.

Keep in mind that while Juice Plus+ claims to be supported by over 40 peer-reviewed publications, many of the studies were funded by the company itself.

Improved nutritional status

Juice Plus+ is claimed to help increase nutrient intake. This claim is supported by several studies showing that Juice Plus+ may increase the blood levels of several important nutrients.

One older study from 2007 determined that Juice Plus+ raised people’s blood levels of the following (1):

• beta-carotene: 528%
• lycopene: 80%
• vitamin E: 30%
• folate: 174%

These results are partly supported by other older studies showing that Juice Plus+ may increase blood levels of beta-carotene, folate, coenzyme-10, vitamin E, and vitamin C (2, 3, 4, 5).

While these nutrients are all found in fruits, Juice Plus+ is also enriched with these nutrients, meaning they are added to the supplements to increase their nutritional value and to replenish vitamins that are lost during production.

It is unclear whether Juice Plus+ is any more effective than other, cheaper supplements that supply these nutrients, such as a standard multivitamin.

Better heart health

Juice Plus+ is said to improve markers of heart health. This includes levels of an amino called homocysteine, which may be linked to an increased risk of heart disease.

Some older studies suggest that Juice Plus+ could decrease blood levels of homocysteine (1, 5, 6).

However, other tests haven’t observed this effect (7, 8).

Older studies measuring the effect Juice Plus+ has on other risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure and cholesterol, have found mixed results (4, 9).

It’s important to note that multivitamins are also associated with lower levels of homocysteine (10, 11, 12).

Moreover, given that Juice Plus+ is fortified with vitamins, it’s unclear whether the benefits are due to the juice extract itself or its added nutrients.

Finally, it’s also unclear if reducing homocysteine levels by taking vitamin supplements can actually reduce your risk of heart disease (13).

Reduced stress and chronic inflammation

Inflammation is a natural process that helps your body fight illness and heal itself.

However, long-term inflammation — known as chronic inflammation — may lead to health problems, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers (14).

Fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants and may help protect against chronic inflammation (14).

One study conducted in 2013 found that women who took a powdered fruit, berry, and vegetable supplement from Juice Plus+ for 8 weeks experienced significant reductions in several markers of inflammation, including tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) (15).

Another small study had similar findings, noting that taking an encapsulated fruit and vegetable juice concentrate decreased markers of chronic inflammation in people with obesity after 8 weeks (16).

However, more high-quality, recent research is needed, as most studies available on the anti-inflammatory effects of Juice Plus+ are funded by the company.

Immune function

Juice Plus+ is claimed to support immune health. A few older studies note that the supplements can increase the activity of some immune cells (17, 18).

In one 2011 study, healthcare workers taking Juice Plus+ had 20% fewer sick days than those who took a placebo (19).

However, other studies investigating the effects of Juice Plus+ on immune function have not seen a reduction in the frequency or duration of illnesses (17, 18).

No studies have looked at whether Juice Plus+ was better than a multivitamin or vitamin C supplement at improving immunity (20).

Improves skin health

Two older studies on people taking Juice Plus+ observed better skin hydration, thickness, and circulation (15, 21).

Nonetheless, taking vitamin C and E supplements is also linked to improved skin health (22).

Currently, there aren’t any studies examining whether Juice Plus+ is better for skin health than regular vitamin supplements.

Improves dental health

One 2012 study found that Juice Plus+ supplements improved gum health in 60 people with gum disease, or periodontitis (23).

Other research suggests that getting enough vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, and B vitamins could benefit gum health (24).

However, a review concluded that there was not enough evidence supporting the role of diet or supplements in preventing and treating gum disease (25).

In addition to the core supplements, there are also a range of Juice Plus+ Complete products, including a selection of meal replacement shakes and bars.

The shakes are available in chocolate or vanilla and are made with a blend of plant-based ingredients, including:

• soy
• chickpea powder
• pea protein
• rice protein
• amaranth
• millet
• quinoa
• radish sprouts
• broccoli sprouts
• alfalfa sprouts

They also offer bars for a nutritious snack between meals, which are available in two flavors: Dark Chocolate + Fig and Tart Cherry + Honey.

Juice Plus+ is accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and holds an A+ rating from the organization, which is based on factors like the company’s complaint history and business practices.

On TrustPilot, the company currently holds a rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars, with 2,138 customer reviews. On the review site, many customers note that the supplements are convenient, tasty, and easy to order.

Conversely, less favorable reviews report experiencing issues with customer service, unauthorized charges, misleading health claims, and difficulty canceling recurring orders.

In 2020, the Federal Trade Commission was issued Juice Plus+ a warning letter for making claims on social media that its products could treat or prevent COVID-19 (26).

The company was also subject to a fine from Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration, a government agency that regulates therapeutic goods, such as sunscreens, prescription medications, minerals, and more. Juice Plus+ was fined for not complying with advertising requirements. In this case, the penalty was related to unapproved medical claims and health professional endorsements, which are regulated in Australia (27).

Additionally, Juice Plus+ is a multilevel marketing (MLM) company, meaning that distributors make money by selling products and recruiting new distributors. While not illegal, MLMs are predatory and often make false and extravagant claims about participants’ profit-making capability.

Some have also criticized Juice Plus+ for making unfounded health claims on their website and failing to disclose potential biases and conflicts of interest in company-funded research trials.

Finally, because the company relies on a MLM business model, it’s likely the people selling these products are not properly trained in nutrition and do not hold the necessary credentials to provide supplement recommendations.

In addition to Juice Plus+, there are many other companies available that offer similar products.

Here is a closer look at how Juice Plus+ compares to a few of its competitors:

You can view the complete selection of products available from Juice Plus+ directly on their website to find options that fit your needs.

Most of the company’s supplements will automatically ship to you at regular intervals. This information is displayed next to the price as you browse the company’s website.

Once you find the products you’d like to purchase, you can add them to your cart and select whether you’d like to make one payment in full or several monthly payments.

For certain products, like the Fruit and Vegetable Blend Chewables, you can also choose whether you’re purchasing for children or adults to adjust the number of servings you’d like to receive.

After adding products to your cart, you can check out, either as a guest or by creating an account on their website. If you were referred by a distributor, you can also input their name or partner ID before providing payment information.

Juice Plus+ offers free shipping within the United States.

Keep in mind that orders for most products are delivered in recurring monthly installments. If you need to cancel your subscription or make changes to your order after submitting it, you’ll want to contact the company directly.

Is Juice Plus+ good for you?

Juice Plus+ products contain several nutrients that can support certain aspects of health. However, there is no research to suggest that Juice Plus+ is more beneficial or effective than taking other generic supplements or consuming fruits or vegetables as part of a balanced diet.

What do doctors say about Juice Plus+?

On its website, Juice Plus+ lists healthcare professionals, including doctors, who recommend their products.

However, it’s unclear whether these individuals receive compensation for their endorsement. The website states that the professionals listed are “independent Juice Plus+ business partners.”

Is Juice Plus+ FDA-approved?

While the FDA sets strict standards for labeling supplements, it does not regulate supplements the same way that it does medications.

This means that the FDA does not oversee the actual production of and what ingredients go into dietary supplements. Therefore, Juice Plus+ supplements are not FDA approved.

Does Juice Plus+ have side effects?

Juice Plus+ is generally associated with few side effects when used as directed. However, like any supplement, it can cause adverse side effects, especially if you have an allergy or sensitivity to one or multiple ingredients.

Be sure to talk with a doctor before using Juice Plus+. This is especially important if you’re taking other medications or have underlying health conditions.

Taking a Juice Plus+ supplement increases your vitamin and mineral intake.

However, there’s no evidence that Juice Plus+ is any better at this than a regular multivitamin.

Furthermore, taking supplements like these is no substitute for eating whole fruits and vegetables.

It’s also worth noting that many of the studies on Juice Plus+ have been widely criticized for being industry-funded and poorly designed.

It’s common for companies to fund research on their own products, but the results of these studies should be interpreted with skepticism — as they may be biased (28, 29).

Considering the high cost of these supplements and the lack of evidence of any real health benefits, you should think twice before buying them.