A Dietitian’s Review of the Forever Living C9 Diet: What Is It and Does It Work?

The Forever Living C9 Nutritional Cleansing Programme (formerly called the Clean 9) is a short-term detox and diet plan that advertises rapid weight loss.

Diets that promise quick results often attract a lot of attention, and the Forever Living C9 plan is no different.

That said, many people who try trendy diets struggle to maintain weight loss, and some of these approaches are unsafe for prolonged use.

This article examines the Forever Living C9 plan, outlining what it involves, its requirements, and whether it’s worth considering.

DIET REVIEW SCORECARD

• Overall score: 0.9
• Weight loss: 1
• Healthy eating: 0
• Sustainability: 1.25
• Whole body health: 1.25
• Nutrition quality: 0
• Evidence based: 2

BOTTOM LINE: The Forever Living C9 programme is a very restrictive nine-day detox that can produce short-term weight loss. However, it is extremely low in calories, depends largely on manufactured supplements, and isn’t suitable for long-term use. Because of its limited scientific support and highly restrictive nature, it’s a diet we recommend avoiding.

What is the Forever Living C9 diet?

Formerly marketed as the Clean 9 Diet, the Forever Living C9 Nutritional Cleansing Programme — often called Forever C9 — is a nine-day detox regimen intended to promote quick weight loss.

It’s a calorie-restricted plan that centers on meal replacement shakes and various weight-loss supplements. It serves as the introductory phase of the Forever F.I.T. Programme, which comprises three stages:

• Forever C9 Nutritional Cleanse
• F15 Weight Management
• V5 Sports Performance

Supporters of the programme say it can “cleanse” the body and help you feel lighter, look better, and drop weight within nine days.

To follow the plan, you must buy a Forever C9 kit from Forever’s website or one of the company’s distributors.

Pros and cons at a glance

How does the Forever Living C9 diet work?

To participate in the plan, you purchase the Forever C9 kit. The package contains:

• two 1-liter (34-ounce) bottles of Forever Aloe Vera Gel
• Forever Lite Ultra with Aminotein meal replacement powder (15 servings)
• Forever Therm herbal supplement (18 tablets)
• Forever Garcinia Plus herbal supplement (54 softgels)
• Forever Fiber (9 packets)
• a shaker bottle
• a tape measure
• an information booklet that includes an exercise plan

According to the booklet, the C9 plan is divided into three phases.

Part One: Days 1–2

• Breakfast: 2 Garcinia Plus softgels (wait 30 minutes), then 1/2 cup (120 mL) aloe vera gel mixed with 1 cup (236 mL) water
• Workout: 30 minutes of low-intensity activity after breakfast (yoga, gentle walk, etc.)
• Snack: 1 Forever Fiber stick with 1 cup (236 mL) water
• Lunch: 2 Garcinia Plus softgels (wait 30 minutes), 1/2 cup (120 mL) aloe vera gel with 1 cup (236 mL) water, 1 Forever Therm tablet, and one meal replacement prepared with 1 1/4 cups (285 mL) skim milk
• Dinner: 2 Garcinia Plus softgels (wait 30 minutes), 1/2 cup (120 mL) aloe vera gel with 1 cup (236 mL) water
• Evening: 1/2 cup (120 mL) aloe vera gel with 1 cup (236 mL) water

Part Two: Days 3–8

• Breakfast: 2 Garcinia Plus softgels (wait 30 minutes), 1/2 cup (120 mL) aloe vera gel with 1 cup (236 mL) water, 1 Forever Therm tablet, and a meal replacement drink made with 1 1/4 cups (285 mL) skim milk
• Snack: 1 Forever Fiber stick with 1 cup (236 mL) water
• Lunch: 2 Garcinia Plus softgels, 1 Forever Therm tablet, and a meal replacement shake made with 1 1/4 cups (285 mL) skim milk
• Workout: 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise after lunch (for example, running or swimming)
• Dinner: 2 Garcinia Plus softgels and a 600-calorie meal; men may add an extra 200 calories or another meal replacement shake
• Evening: at least 1 cup (236 mL) water

If you prefer, you may swap the larger meal to lunch instead of dinner.

Part Three: Day 9

• Breakfast: 2 Garcinia Plus softgels (wait 30 minutes), 1/2 cup (120 mL) aloe vera gel with 1 cup (236 mL) water, 1 Forever Therm tablet, and one meal replacement made with 1 1/4 cups (285 mL) skim milk
• Snack: 1 Forever Fiber stick with 1 cup (236 mL) water
• Lunch: 2 Garcinia Plus softgels, 1 Forever Therm tablet, and a low-sugar 300-calorie meal (instead of the shake)
• Workout: 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise after lunch
• Dinner: 2 Garcinia Plus softgels and a 600-calorie meal; men can add 200 extra calories or an additional meal replacement shake
• Evening: at least 1 cup (236 mL) water

Additional guidelines

During the nine days, you must also follow these rules:

• Drink plenty of water.
• Avoid fizzy and carbonated beverages.
• Do not use salt — season with herbs and spices instead.
• Eat as many “free foods” (listed below) as you like.
• Weigh yourself on days 1, 3, 6, and 9.
• Wait 30 minutes after taking Garcinia Plus before drinking the aloe vera gel.

What you can eat

Besides the supplements included in the C9 kit, the Forever Living C9 plan lets you eat some foods freely or as one to two servings per day.

One-serving foods

You may have one serving of the following fruits or vegetables each day:

• apricots (3 total)
• apple (1 medium)
• artichoke (1 medium)
• blackberries (1 cup)
• blueberries (3/4 cup)
• boysenberries (3/4 cup)
• cherries (1/2 cup)
• figs (2 small)
• grapes (3/4 cup)
• grapefruit (1/2 medium)
• kiwi (1 medium)
• orange (1 small)
• peach (1 medium)
• pear (1 small)
• plum (1 medium)
• prunes (2 medium)
• raspberries (1 cup)
• edamame (1/4 cup shelled)
• strawberries (8 medium)

Two-serving foods

You may have two servings daily of these vegetables or fruits:

• asparagus (8 spears)
• cauliflower (1/6 head)
• bell pepper (1 medium)
• snow or snap peas (3/4 cup)
• tomato (1 medium)

Free foods

The following vegetables are allowed in unlimited amounts:

• arugula
• celery
• green onion
• lettuce (any type)
• endive
• broccoli
• cucumber
• eggplant
• kale
• leeks
• spinach
• string beans

Vegetables (aside from artichokes and edamame) should be eaten raw or lightly steamed and without oil or dressings. Other allowed foods should be consumed only as part of your single daily meal allowance and should follow the company’s recipes.

Evidence behind the supplements

The C9 programme includes three supplements the manufacturer claims assist detox and weight loss. Below is a closer look at each.

Aloe vera gel

The principal supplement in the C9 kit is aloe vera gel.

Aloe vera gel comes from the inner gel and pulp of the leaf after the outer rind is removed during processing.

The inner leaf is over 96% water, with the remainder made up of soluble fiber and sugars.

It also contains trace amounts of amino acids, enzymes, vitamins, minerals, organic acids, and anthraquinones — compounds known to have laxative effects.

Oral aloe has been associated with possible benefits like improved digestion and has been proposed to have antidiabetic, antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticancer properties in some reports.

However, high-quality human trials are scarce. Much of the supportive evidence comes from anecdotal reports or animal and lab studies.

In one older trial of 136 people with obesity and untreated type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, participants who took aloe vera capsules for eight weeks lost about 1% body fat versus none in the placebo group.

While that may seem encouraging, the observed benefit was minimal and the study had notable limitations, including reliance on a single 24-hour diet recall, no thorough monitoring of physical activity, and use of bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) to estimate body fat.

BIA measures body composition using electrical currents; while convenient, it’s not the most accurate method and can be influenced by recent food and fluid intake.

Overall, more robust research is necessary to determine whether aloe vera supplements meaningfully assist weight loss in humans.

Garcinia Plus

Garcinia Plus contains extract from garcinia cambogia, a fruit-derived supplement marketed for weight loss.

Garcinia cambogia is rich in hydroxycitric acid (HCA), which is considered its active component.

Some proponents claim garcinia cambogia promotes fat burning during diet and exercise and helps suppress appetite, but the evidence is limited and inconsistent.

An older review found a modest advantage — about 2 pounds (0.88 kg) greater loss versus placebo — but when only high-quality trials were analyzed, the benefit disappeared.

A more recent review also questioned its efficacy, concluding that most research doesn’t provide strong support for garcinia cambogia as a weight-loss aid.

Studies on the topic report mixed results. Furthermore, concerns have been raised about safety: some weight-loss products containing garcinia cambogia have been linked to serious adverse events like pancreatitis and liver injury. Because of these safety signals, long-term use of garcinia-containing products is discouraged until more data are available.

Forever Therm

Forever Therm is marketed as an herbal supplement to boost energy and increase metabolic rate.

Its primary components include raspberry ketones and green tea extract, both investigated for potential weight-loss effects.

Green tea consumption and extracts have been associated with modest weight loss, potentially from a slight metabolic increase and appetite suppression. However, the effects are generally small and may not apply to everyone, particularly habitual caffeine consumers.

Raspberry ketones are compounds found in red raspberries that attracted attention as a possible fat-loss agent.

Almost all studies of raspberry ketones have been in animals or lab settings. Some of these showed increased fat breakdown and weight reduction but only at very high doses that would likely be unsafe for humans. Other studies found no benefit beyond calorie restriction.

Only one human trial has examined raspberry ketones directly; it reported significant weight loss, but the tested product also included many other active ingredients (caffeine, capsaicin, ginger, garlic, bitter orange), so the effect cannot be attributed to raspberry ketones alone. The trial was funded by supplement manufacturers, introducing potential bias.

In short, the ingredients in Forever Therm have limited high-quality evidence and are unlikely to produce substantial, reliable weight loss.

How much does Forever Living C9 cost?

At the time this article was written, the Forever Living C9 Nutritional Cleanse is priced at $143.05, roughly $15.89 per day.

After finishing the nine-day cleanse, the programme suggests proceeding to F15, which costs $156.59 for a 15-day supplement supply.

The company then recommends continued use of some of its supplements as part of an ongoing maintenance plan.

Is the diet effective for weight loss?

As with many commercial programmes, there are numerous anecdotal accounts of both positive and negative outcomes with the C9 plan.

To date, there’s no formal, independent research proving the effectiveness or safety of the Forever Living C9 regimen.

That said, because the diet is very low in calories and promotes daily activity, initial weight loss is likely simply from creating a calorie deficit.

However, a portion of early weight loss is often water and glycogen (stored carbohydrates) rather than fat.

Unless you adopt long-term changes in eating and activity, regained weight is likely once normal eating resumes.

Moreover, the programme doesn’t teach sustainable cooking or food-planning skills such as meal prep or label reading, making it easier to revert to prior eating patterns.

Regarding “detox” effects, many people report feeling more energetic after a detox period, but this is typically attributable to removing alcohol and unhealthy foods rather than a special cleansing action of the supplements.

For lasting weight change, a more sustainable approach that encourages a modest calorie deficit with regular exercise and whole, minimally processed foods is recommended.

Is the Forever Living C9 Diet safe?

There are several side effects and safety considerations to know before trying the C9 programme.

Very low-calorie diets can cause fatigue, moodiness, headaches, nausea, and lightheadedness.

Although aloe vera is generally well tolerated, some people report adverse effects. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has received reports of:

• stomach discomfort
• nausea
• dizziness
• fatigue
• allergic reactions
• liver toxicity with prolonged use

Aloe can also produce laxative effects, especially at higher intakes — noteworthy since the protocol encourages drinking aloe vera throughout the day.

The C9 regimen is not advised for people with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, epilepsy, or dementia.

Pregnant and breastfeeding individuals should avoid the diet because it’s extremely low in calories and relies on supplements that lack strong safety data.

If attempted, the programme should be limited to nine days; exceeding that timeline increases the risk of significant nutrient shortages.

Customer reviews and brand reputation

At the time of publication, Forever Living’s website shows a 5 out of 5 rating for the C9 programme based on 21 reviews, though internal reviews on vendor sites are often biased.

On Amazon, the kit scores about 4 out of 5 stars. Supportive reviews praise rapid weight loss and ease of use.

Negative feedback commonly notes that weight loss is temporary, the kit is costly, some products taste poor or feel ineffective, and adverse effects such as headaches, nausea, dizziness, and palpitations can occur.

Importantly, Forever Living did not pass Healthline’s vetting due to questionable business practices.

Forever Living sells via a multilevel marketing (MLM) model. While not illegal, MLMs are frequently predatory and make exaggerated claims about earning potential. Because downline sellers often fail to turn a profit, MLMs are widely considered unethical, and Healthline does not endorse them.

Forever Living has also faced multiple lawsuits related to business conduct and false health claims.

Should you try it?

The Forever Living C9 cleanse is restrictive, expensive, and heavily dependent on supplements that lack solid scientific backing. It’s unlikely to produce meaningful, lasting weight loss.

Additionally, the company’s MLM distribution model raises ethical concerns.

For these reasons, it’s generally best to avoid the Forever Living C9 programme.

Alternatives to consider

If your aim is sustainable weight management, focus on a balanced lifestyle: nutritious eating, regular physical activity, adequate sleep, and stress management.

Working with a qualified professional, such as a registered dietitian, can help you create a personalized, maintainable eating plan.

If professional help isn’t an option, structured programmes like WW (formerly Weight Watchers) or Noom can be useful starting points.

Meal planning and delivery services that provide nutritious prepared or semi-prepared meals are another option. Examples include:

• PlateJoy: A meal-planning app developed with dietitians that creates personalized meal plans based on goals, preferences, and budget.
• Daily Harvest: Offers mostly organic, preportioned meals and snacks to simplify mealtime.
• Factor: Pre-made meals designed by registered dietitians and chefs; recommended by some nutrition editors as a top prepared meal service.
• Purple Carrot: A fully plant-based meal kit service suited for those seeking a vegan approach to healthier eating.
• HelloFresh: Family-friendly meal kits that are often more affordable than many competitors, including a Fit & Wholesome menu for weight-conscious consumers.
• Sunbasket: Healthline’s pick for best overall meal delivery, offering plans such as Mediterranean, Lean & Clean, Diabetes-Friendly, Vegetarian, and Carb-Conscious.

Finding the approach that fits your life may take a bit of trial and error, but long-term adherence is the key.

Frequently asked questions

How many times can you do the Clean 9?

The Forever Living C9 (formerly Clean 9) is designed as a nine-day programme. After finishing C9, the protocol recommends moving on to the F15 phase for 15 days, followed by a maintenance phase called V5 (Sports Performance).

Given how restrictive C9 is, it shouldn’t be followed for longer than nine days. If you choose to repeat it, allow several weeks between cycles to ensure you restore sufficient nutrients and calories.

Who shouldn’t try the Clean 9 diet?

Forever Living lists people with the following conditions as unsuitable candidates for the C9 programme:

• diabetes
• heart disease
• kidney disease
• dementia
• epilepsy
• pregnancy or breastfeeding

In addition, anyone with a history of disordered eating or a current eating disorder should avoid this plan.

Given its restrictive nature and the lack of strong supporting evidence, most people are better off not attempting the C9 regimen.

The bottom line

Very low-calorie regimens can produce short-term weight loss if you adhere to them.

The Forever Living C9 plan may help some people lose weight quickly due to its strict structure, but weight is often regained unless you move to a more sustainable approach.

The programme is costly and lacks convincing evidence for its supplement components.

Overall, because it’s not a long-term health solution and may encourage an unhealthy relationship with food and body image, we advise skipping the Forever Living C9 diet in favor of more sustainable choices.