(Update: I’ve been made aware that some people have been having issues with some of the images loading in on here. I don’t know the cause, but I’ll be looking into it and trying to fix it. Sorry for the error. Thanks for letting me know and for your patience as I try to fix this.)
At the beginning of the year, (god, it seems so long ago already…) I ran another Twitter poll asking which type of post my followers would like to see. The majority asked for another MLM Deep Dive. I didn’t get any requests to cover a specific company in the comments, but I did get a suggestion from a friend of mine – one that took me down a bit of an unexpected rabbit hole. So today, I’ll be taking a look at Zija.
Some of you may be thinking “Zija… who?” That was initially my first thoughts when my friend first started mentioning them to me, back when I was first starting up the blog. It isn’t a name that gets brought up when listing off examples of MLMs. There’s a simple explanation for this – Zija International isn’t around anymore. At least, not as its own company. Back in January 2020, it was acquired by another MLM that you might be more aware of: Isagenix.
So why even bother talking about Zija if it’s no longer around? Well, I figured this would be an opportunity to look into the history of a now nearly defunct MLM and its products.
The Ghost of Zija Past
The problem with looking into an MLM that isn’t really around anymore is that a lot of information about it is no longer available. The original website, promotional material, pages and groups, reviews… a lot is lost when everything is shut down and distributors move on; either to rebrand to Isagenix, or to seek new ventures. I hope at least some people managed to get out of the MLM industry altogether after the acquisition.
Old links for Zija sites either no longer work, or predictably redirect to Isagenix. As such, my resources are limited. Researching this has been awkward, but not impossible.
The company was founded at some point in 2004-2006 (different sources list different years, creating an odd inconsistency to the story from the get-go.) According to the Better Business Bureau, it was incorporated in 2004, but started in 2005. It was founded by Ken Brailsford and was based out of Lehi, Utah.
For those not in the know, Utah is considered to be the capital of multi level marketing in the United States, as well as being a hotspot for ponzi schemes. There is a theorized connection between this being the epicenter for MLMs and also for a certain religion, but that is a topic for another day…
Just like the food chains we were all taught about in our early school days, Zija seemed to be involved in a chain of network marketing acquisition. A smaller fish called XanGo, also based in Lehi, Utah, was acquired by Zija in 2017, before the even bigger fish known as Isagenix came along and snatched up Zija in 2020.
Brailsford founded Zija, apparently, after watching something on the Discovery Channel that depicted people living off of a plant known as Moringa, or “Moringa oleifera”. It was probably the documentary called “Moringa – The Miracle Tree”. He supposedly then went on to study the plant and its possible medicinal properties, which I’ll get more into in just a bit.
Zija was one of the many, many MLMs for “health and wellness.” From what I can find, they sold products claiming to help with weight management and energy levels, as well as “Supermix” products. The “Zija Supermix Moringa” was basically just moringa, fruit flavors, sugar, and artificial sweetener.
(I had to do a double take, because I was pretty sure silica was toxic to humans. Turns out I am partially correct. Depends on the form. It can take a water soluble form, which can be found in some plants and animal products. So don’t worry, Zija wasn’t selling drink mix powders containing the same type of silica found in those little white packaging packets!)
A box of 32 packets at standard retail price was $99.95, plus sales tax and shipping. That’s right. Nearly a hundred dollars for a month’s worth of a powdered drink. That’s about $3.12 per packet. Hun logic dictates that this is less than someone spends for their daily cup of Starbucks (news flash – not everyone drinks Starbucks daily), but this isn’t your morning coffee. This is the equivalent of spending 3 dollars for a single packet of Crystal Light.
A defunct distributor site also had a listing for a “Moringa Superfood Drink” featuring the staple plant, acai berries, blueberries, turmeric, ginger, and black powder.
However, it seems this product was actually from a company called Sherpa Nutrition, (I had to look up this information on Amazon, because I couldn’t find the Supplement Facts anywhere on Sherpa Nutrition’s site) which still seems to be in business to this day. While I can’t find anything about them being an MLM, they do offer an affiliate program, and you can get a discount for signing up for monthly deliveries (monthly inventory?), so I’m gonna remain skeptical, but bookmark them for perhaps another day.
Without the monthly subscription discount (or any other possible discounts that may or may not come with the affiliate program), a box of 30 packets sells for $74.99 plus sales tax (free shipping appears to be included through both the company site and Amazon). That’s still about $2.50 per serving. For an over glorified Crystal Light.
Zija had other various mixes and supplement pills, and bundle deals such as their Energy bundle and Weight Management bundle. While these are no longer available to purchase, it seems the listing for the Weight Management bundle features products from Isagenix.
When these were incorporated, I’m not quite sure. I couldn’t find any of the Zija products that Isagenix still sells within their weight loss bundles, though.
It’s hard to get a good grasp on just everything that Zija sold back in its heyday. Whatever is left takes a bit of effort to seek out on the Isagenix shop page, since searching “Zija” or “Moringa” brings up zero results. I managed to find them by scrolling through the Weight Loss System section. They might be under other categories as well, but frankly I can’t be bothered to sift through the entirety of the Isagenix catalog.
Traces of customer thoughts of the company still linger in places like the Better Business Bureau website. The few customer reviews there are a mix of what may be distributors singing their praises (though one oddly admits that they have not “experienced 100% results from [their] use of the products”), and angry customers calling it out.
“Stacy v” complains of very poor customer service and roundabout means of trying to fix issues with the Loyalty Reward system, while also bringing up the questionability of the products. This review was left right before Zija was bought out.
“Ann P” flat out calls them scam artists, citing their faulty refund system.
There are 8 logged complaints on the site, 6 of which involve issues with a product or service (it looks to me like they mostly involve customer service when trying to sort out refunds or other issues with transactions), while the other 2 are for billings/collections.
Abby Langer, a registered dietician, gave the following verdict to the question of “Is the Zija Weight Loss System for Real?”:
“No. Not in a million years. In my opinion, please don’t be fooled by Zija’s flimsy science and vague, seemingly nonsensical claims. Moringa isn’t magical. You know what is magical? Eating real food, and feeling great because you’re not spending hundreds of dollars a month on a scam.”
Abby Langer, Diet Review: Is the Zija Weight Loss System For Real?
Not So Super Supplement
For anyone who, like me, only heard about Zija after it was bought out, I feel an insider perspective is important to understanding it better. That’s why I asked to interview my friend, who we’ll call “Raz”, about it, given that one of his family members was involved with the company. Here’s what he had to say.
MLMess: You first brought my attention to Zija by mentioning your mom was involved.
Raz: Yes, they were always looking for a way to increase their income. I guess the hip term would be a “Side Hustle” of some kind.
MLMess: What was her level of involvement with the company? Did she sell the products, or did she just buy them from another distributor?
Raz: She was a distributor. Even has a wellness page on Facebook where she promotes the products and talks to people about getting more of the various products.
MLMess: Did she ever try to get you or your loved ones involved?
Raz: Oh yeah. I’m still technically listed as one of her subs even though I’ve never sold a product in my life. Though, she has used my account to order different products when she doesn’t want to do it from her own. Never really understood that bit to be honest.
(Note: This is a tactic often used in MLMs to qualify for bonuses, since the purchases made are technically done through the downline. They will sign up family members, spouses, etc. who aren’t even interested in selling and buy under their accounts to meet their goals through a loophole – and their commission offers them a means to get a percentage of their own money back.)
MLMess: When did she sign up as a distributor?
Raz: I wanna say around 2015-2016? I think I was still living there when she started, but I can’t be too sure.
MLMess: Zija products supposedly were supposed to promote “nutrition, weight management and skin health.” What did your mom think of the products?
Raz: She likes them and swears by them. Though, she was more interested in their CBD products and some kind of anti stress thing. I can still find the Zija teas and other supplements in her medicine cabinet. I haven’t witnessed her take them in a while, but she says that she still does.
MLMess: What were your thoughts on the products?
Raz: Honestly? I don’t think they work. At least they didn’t for me. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a big guy and have always had a resistance to medications and the like, but it’s not normal for me to feel nothing. A diluted effect, for sure, but never nothing. It’s why I stopped taking her up on the offers to use her samples.
MLMess: From what I’ve been able to research, it seems like Zija products primarily featured a plant called Moringa, or moringa oleifera. Do you know if your mom did any research into this plant?
Raz: I don’t think she did, though she’d probably tell you that she has. If anything, I think she might have looked over what the company has to say about the plant, and maybe some surface level research.
Before I go on with the interview, I’d like to go over a few things about Moringa that I found out through my own surface level research.
Moringa oleifera is also called The Tree of Life, or the Miracle Tree, and grows in Asian and African countries. The name of this plant, however, has nothing to do with any medicinal properties it may or may not possess. It actually earns its name from being an economically valuable plant. It grows fast and is drought resistant, and the nutrients within the plant make it beneficial, particularly in third world countries.
It does contain a variety of vitamins, minerals, and proteins, and is known for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibiotic properties.
While it has been used in folk medicine for a variety of purposes, lab testing for it is still ongoing, and still in the animal testing phase.
Some of the treatments it’s been used for are questionable, in my opinion. For example, it’s been used to treat ascites (abdominal swelling caused by excessive fluid.) However, from what I could find, it’s recommended to not try to treat ascites with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory substances. One piece published on the Mayo Clinic website says that “nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents… that inhibit prostaglandin synthesis can precipitate HRS and should be avoided in patients with ascites.”
It has also been used to treat venomous bites (research has shown it does help neutralize certain snake venoms), rheumatism (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can help with this), pneumonia (antibiotics can help), and circulatory disorders (treatments vary, depending on the disorder/disease).
It is thought to possibly reduce weight gain, lower cholesterol and blood pressure, and to help with energy levels. However, as I previously said, testing is still in its preliminary stages; and while few side effects have been reported thus far, Moringa may have anti-fertility properties. As with any supplement, it is recommended that one consults a doctor before use.
The reason I bring all of this up is that I want my readers to have a better understanding of the main ingredient that Zija was so heavily focused around. Many of these products were encouraged to be taken on a regular basis, so it’s important to know just what distributors/customers were constantly putting in their body.
My main concern is what Moringa is most known for: its anti-inflammatory properties. Substances with such properties can be beneficial, but also have risks related to long term use.
An article on Harvard Health Publishing by Robert H. Shmerling, MD, states the following about nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs):
“No medication is completely safe, and that’s certainly true of NSAIDs. At the top of the list are digestive problems including stomach upset, heartburn, and ulcers. Kidney injury, easy bruising or bleeding, and mild allergic reactions (such as rash) are common as well. Less common side effects, including severe allergic reactions and liver injury, can be serious. NSAIDs can also raise the risk of heart problems, though this risk varies depending on the particular NSAID and the person taking it. NSAIDs can be hazardous for unborn babies; the FDA recently updated warnings for pregnant women, advising them to avoid NSAID use during the last half of pregnancy.
Still, the vast majority of people taking NSAIDs in the recommended doses who have appropriate monitoring (such as the occasional blood test) have no major problems with them.”
Robert H. Shmerling, MD, Are You Taking Too Much Anti-Inflammatory Medication?
I have a bit of anecdotal evidence on this as well. Someone in my family a couple of years ago started taking turmeric capsules daily. Turmeric is another substance that can help with inflammation, among other things. I myself was once recommended by a doctor to take turmeric capsules instead of worrying about a prescription. Noted, the doctor also gave a recommended dosage, and told me to not use it for more than two weeks. I only needed it for one week.
I am not sure if this family member was recommended turmeric by a medical professional or not, but from what I can remember they had read about the benefits of it online and started taking it everyday without monitoring of any kind.
That is, until they started showing symptoms that made us think they were anemic.
Surprise surprise, one of the potential side effects of taking tumeric is iron deficiency. They were consuming so much turmeric that the iron in their blood was being absorbed, making them feel weak and sick. As soon as they stopped taking the capsules, they started feeling much better.
In my opinion, it is very important to do thorough research on any supplements and to consult a medical professional before regularly consuming it. You may never know what possible side effects there may be, or how it might react to other medications you may use, or even what risks there may be if you already suffer from certain conditions.
Within MLMs, these sorts of precautions are often thrown to the wind. Distributors are wired to immediately trust their company and their upline to provide all important information about the products they are selling and consuming, but the companies don’t have the integrity to give full disclosure on the risks of their supplements. There is an increased chance of people consuming something labeled with “miracle tree” or “superfood” or “energy boost”, without knowing just what they’re putting in their bodies.
I’m not saying that Moringa is inherently dangerous. I’m just saying that consumers should be wary of it since it hasn’t gone through much testing, and should be aware of the risks that come from daily consumption. Since these products are still sold through Isangenix (and other companies such as Sherpa Nutrition), I would simply advise caution to anyone interested in them.
With all of that said, let’s continue the interview with Raz.
MLMess: It seems like the most beneficial use of Moringa is for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, as this is what we’ve seen the most evidence for. Did/does your mom have a medical condition where she would need to regularly use a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory substance? If so, did she consult a doctor before starting on Zija products?
Raz: Anti-inflammatory yes, but no conditions that she’d need them for that I’m aware of. It was mostly used as a preemptive measure to combat possible infections, or as a soother for aches and pains and the like.
MLMess: Zija products seemed to encourage the regular consumption of Moringa, including a Zija Daily Tea. Consuming too much anti-inflammatory substances can lead to several health risks, such as stomach pain, heartburn, ulcers, kidney injury, liver injury, & easy bruising and bleeding. To your awareness, did she experience any of these issues that could be connected with the products?
Raz: I think she’s had stomach pains, but chalked it up to period cramps or other issues. At this point I don’t know about anything too serious. However, it was offered to me when experiencing my own health issues. Personally, I’ll stick with Aleve and a hot bath.
MLMess: Zija also promoted weight loss products, though admittedly through their own distributor sites, some of those products were just laxatives, like their Core Moringa® Premium Tea. (Apparently one box of 30 tea bags could go from 40-48 dollars for the retail price!?) While there are some studies that show that Moringa may be able to help with weight loss, many of those studies are still in the preliminary stages and have only been conducted on animals. Did your mom use the products with the hopes of losing weight?
Raz: Weight regulation might be a better term, but she has recently posted her own account of weight loss while using the products, so I can assume so.
MLMess: In early 2020, Zija was acquired by Isagenix, and now only a couple of items featuring Moringa can be found on Isagenix’s website. Did she continue as an Isagenix distributor, or did she leave when the company was bought out?
Raz: Oh she still distributes all kinds of stuff.
(Note: Raz clarified that she switched to Isagenix.)
MLMess: Does she still use Zija/Isagenix products today?
Raz: Oh yeah. She still offers me ‘patches’ and other things from time to time for everything from joint pain, relaxing and focusing my mind, to even helping on my own weight loss journey.
MLMess: From the looks of it, do you think your mom is turning a profit through Isagenix – that is, making more money through them than she is spending to run the ‘business’?
Raz: At first I think she was losing money, to be honest. Now it seems like she only ever orders new products when someone orders from her. Not to include the occasional personal purchase when she’s running low on her own stock.
MLMess: Do you think your mom keeps track of their expenses and earnings in the company?
Raz: More of the money that’s coming in, I think. Though, she has talked to me before about how “no one’s been buying recently’ so I think the outgoing funds might be something she’s keeping more track of now.
MLMess: Do you worry about her being involved with Isagenix? If so, why?
Raz: Not too much. She’s always been very business minded and savvy, so I think if she thinks it’s a sinking ship or that it becomes a real problem, she’ll probably get out of it. Maybe. My issue is more of the fact that she swears by the products while I, personally, feel like it’s more of a placebo effect.
MLMess: Do you believe your mom would be open to a discussion about the risks of participating in a Multi Level Marketing company? Or have you attempted to have such a conversation with her before?
Raz: We’ve talked about it before and it didn’t end very well. It was when she first started and I told her that this sounded like a pyramid scheme, but she swears that it’s not and that she could actually make money from it. Honestly, I think she might be more open to it now, but it would be difficult to do so without her feeling attacked.
MLMess: Any final thoughts you’d like to share about Zija/Isagenix, the business model, or the products?
Raz: A couple of people swear by them, so I can’t truly comment on whether or not they work, but without the set prices by distributor and the further study that is needed by their products, I would recommend looking towards more tried and true methods of obtaining the outcomes you’re looking for. While placebo can be effective, it’s better to work with the thing that has been proven to work how you want it to for less strain on your wallet. In all honesty, I’d probably compare it to Gweneth Paltro’s GooP. Overpriced things that you could, in all honesty, probably do without and masquerading as personal health.
A few days after the interview, Raz messaged me about something he had found out.
Raz: She is no longer a distributor for Isagenix. Wasn’t making the money, people weren’t interested, and she doesn’t like the new product that Isagenix is pushing in the pandemic. She still swears by their Super Mix and Mx+.
So it seems at the very least, Raz’s mom is no longer a distributor.
Many thanks to Raz for his thoughts and time.
Present Day Problems
Now that Zija has been bought out, it isn’t heard of much anymore. Again, some of their products are still sold through Isagenix, but the luster of the magical miracle tree company seems to have dulled. Still, the bigger fish in the food chain is still stalking the waters, taking advantage of those who seek self improvement and financial freedom.
Now that we have looked at Zija, I feel it is only fair that I also take a look at Isagenix. That will be a post for another day, though. I’ve already gone on long enough in this one.
Thank you as always for reading. If you like this content, please consider following the blog, and checking out my Twitter, Facebook, and Youtube.
Special thanks to Raz for both giving me the idea for this post, and for letting me interview him!
-Tori, Not Consuming Moringa Daily
SOURCES
Zija Company Profile – MLM Legal: https://mlmlegal.com/profiles/zija-international.htm
Zija International – Better Business Bureau: https://www.bbb.org/us/ut/lehi/profile/health-and-wellness/zija-international-inc-1166-22012668
Zija Acquires XanGo – Direct Selling News: https://www.directsellingnews.com/zija-international-acquires-xango/
Official Zija Products – Defunct Online Store: https://moringaproducts.shop/
The Dangers & Risks of Taking Silica – LIVESTRONG.com : https://www.livestrong.com/article/526746-the-dangers-risks-of-taking-silica/
Sherpa Nutrition: https://sherpanutrition.com/
Moringa Instant Superfood Mix – Amazon Listing: https://www.amazon.com/Moringa-Oleifera-Super-Mix-Powder/dp/B084R8QKB3
Moringa oleifera Supplement – Examine.com: https://examine.com/supplements/moringa-oleifera/
What Makes Moringa Good for You? – Medical News Today: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319916
Ascites and Hepatorenal Syndrome: Pathophysiology and Management (Lewis R. Roberts, M.D. and Patrick S. Kamath, M.D.) https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(11)63752-X/fulltext
Inhibition of Viper Venoms Induced Toxicity by Moringa Oleifera Leaves Extracts – Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences: http://www.tjps.pharm.chula.ac.th/ojs/index.php/tjps/article/view/147
Snake Bites: Roles of Medicinal Plants in Management – ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/315767149_SNAKE_BITES_ROLE_OF_MEDICINAL_PLANTS_IN_MANAGEMENT
Are You Taking Too Much Anti-Inflammatory Medication? (Robert H. Shmerling, MD) – Harvard Health Publishing https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/are-you-taking-too-much-anti-inflammatory-medication-2018040213540#:~:text=At%20the%20top%20of%20the,liver%20injury%2C%20can%20be%20serious.
Turmeric – WebMD: https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-662/turmeric Diet Review: Is the Zija Weight Loss System For Real? – Abby Langer Nutrition: https://abbylangernutrition.com/ask-the-dietitian-is-the-zija-weight-loss-system-for-real/
Multi Level Mess 
Really Appreciate this article, how can I make is so that I get an email sent to me when you make a new article?
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Hello! If you follow the blog, WordPress will send you updates on new content via the WordPress Reader or email, depending on what your settings are. 💜
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For your research I would recommend you The Way Back Machine https://web.archive.org/web/20180628072555/https://www.zijainternational.com/
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I’ll look into it and try to see what the issue is. Thanks for letting me know!
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