If you’ve spent any time on social media lately, you’ve probably noticed spammy-looking supplement ads specifically targeting women in perimenopause and menopause.
Sometimes they’re by ‘MenoDaily,’ and often they’re by ‘Happy Mammoth’. These are both the same company. (Dr. Gundry does this too, as I discovered in my review of him)
I probably don’t have to tell you that it’s a huge red flag when companies talk about large amounts of weight lost ‘without even trying’ and in short periods of time.
Weight can’t be ‘flushed out,’ (at least, not fat weight). The use of this term is another huge red flag.
And 87%? Overblown claims seem to be Happy Mammoth’s M.O., as you’ll see.
Is Beyond Body the personalized diet you need? Read my review here.
Happy Mammoth Research and Science
Happy Mammoth claims that their products are well researched, however I couldn’t find any studies on the products themselves.
They also have this claim on their website:
This doesn’t mean Happy Mammoth products themselves are scientifically backed or that they’ve been featured in these outlets. It just means that some of their ingredients have been mentioned – maybe even in another context – at some time.
Shady and misleading.
Happy Mammoth products
Happy Mammoth has a lot of products, most notably their hormone balancing supplements and weight-loss ‘protocol.’
Just as an aside, I have literally never seen the word ‘protocol’ used to describe any sort of diet or eating plan that I would recommend as a dietitian.
Happy Mammoth’s entire business model appears to be built on targeting women in midlife. There’s a laser-focus on weight and body size with Happy Mammoth, just like with many diet and supplement companies. They know that all the women who grew up dieting are now aging into menopause, that we have discretionary income, and that we’re insecure about our changing bodies.
How much protein do we need every day? Read here.
This all adds up to potential income for diet and supplement companies, regardless of if they’re selling effective, safe products or not. There is no reason to believe that Happy Mammoth’s products are unsafe.
As I poked around on their site, Happy Mammoth promised to give me ‘a new lease on life’ if I spent 5 minutes completing their quiz to see which products I need.
Ick. Talk about hyperbolic.
These quizzes are usually just garbage, made to sell as many products as possible while giving the impression that you’re getting personalized recommendations when you aren’t.
Also: self-diagnosing health issues based on totally random online quizzes can lead to misdiagnosis and misguided self-treatment. This can delay proper medical evaluation and treatment for underlying health conditions.
I took the quiz, and as I always do with these things, I tried to game the system by selecting the following answers: between the ages of 18-25, have Crohn’s disease, low energy, ‘mystery symptoms,’ endometriosis, severe abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, parasites, diabetes type 1, anxiety and depression.
Any reputable company would have safeguards in place to advise someone with all of these diagnoses to not proceed with purchasing supplements, and to see a doctor. (Reputable companies would probably not use a quiz in the first place, so there’s also that)
Not Happy Mammoth! Instead, they told me that ‘a complete hormonal rebalance is recommended.’
But wait! How about my ‘parasites’?!
They gave me ‘urgent recommendations’ to ‘reclaim control over my life.’
Excuse me? Not only are my hormones ‘unbalanced,’ but now I’ve lost control of my life?
I’m wondering if they’d say the same thing to a man. What do you think?
Food and mood: what’s the connection? Read here.
I even got an auto email from Matt, the CEO of the company, implying that my ‘health score’ is ‘impacting’ my body and ‘potentially sabotaging’ my health.
I can’t go further with this review without stating right now that this sort of verbiage – all of it – is incredibly manipulative. From the insinuation that I don’t have my sh*t together and that their supplements can help, to the attempts to pressure and scare me into buying products I don’t need, it’s all very gross and unethical.
Happy Mammoth seems to believe that their supplements ’empower’ women:
As I always say, convincing women that something is wrong with their bodies, then selling them an unproven ‘solution’ using fear and misinformation, DOES NOT EMPOWER ANYONE. Actually, it does the opposite.
And, just because 13,000 women MAY have purchased one or more of these products, doesn’t mean they all had positive experiences with them. 12,999 of these women may have hated their Happy Mammoth supplements.
The $229.97 ‘system’ that was recommended to me as a result of the quiz, included the supplements Ultra Potent Hormone Harmony, and Hormone Harmony Plus+. How many red flag are in this sales pitch?
Apparently, Hormone Harmony has 14,087+ studies to ‘back it up.’ I’m wondering how that is, since a search of ‘Hormone Harmony’ and ‘Happy Mammoth’ in Pubmed comes up blank.
Could it be that these are studies on some of the ingredients in this product, done in different doses and combinations with other things, on animals, with completely different intentions? Probably.
Just another example of misleading marketing.
Hormone Harmony has plenty of plant-based active ingredients in proprietary amounts, meaning that we have no clue as to how much of each ingredient is in the product. This is problematic. How do we know if ingredients that have some positive research behind them – like ashwangandha – are in therapeutic doses in Hormone Harmony?
We don’t!
Other ingredients in Hormone Harmony, such as maca, chaste berry, fennel seed, and wild yam, have been used to alleviate menopausal symptoms, but studies are mixed. There’s really no slam-dunk effective ingredients here.
The ‘MenoShred Complex’ (because don’t all menopausal women want to be ‘shredded’?) also contains berberine, gymnema, and rosemary, which are unremarkable in the research for anything weight-related. And MenoMood contains rhodiola, which has some positive research behind its mood-related effects.
Hormone Harmony Plus+ has inositol, which has been shown in some studies to increase insulin sensitivity, in particular in women with PCOS. One review and meta analysis found that inositol may help decrease BMI, but only in the short-term and not in a clinically meaningful amount.
It also has pomegranate extract, which one study found may lessen the symptoms of ulcerative colitis. That’s about it.
Lastly, they recommended I take Prebiotic Collagen Protein. Apparently it ‘stops thinning hair,’ ‘obliterates bloating and digestive sensitivity in 9 days or less,’ and ‘reduces food and sugar cravings almost instantly,’ among other things.
I’m not sure how a collagen product does any of this, especially in the described duration. Collagen doesn’t help thinning hair, and the product has nothing in it that would effectively reduce cravings. Probiotics may work for digestive issues, but this is highly specific. And, any protein may help curb hunger.
Happy Mammoth has a lot of other products, plus a weight management program, but really, do we need to go through them to know what I’m going to say?
Nope. We do not.
The Happy Mammoth’s products seem to have some marginally effective ingredients, and lots of unremarkable ones. In terms of menopause, there doesn’t seem to be research that supports most of the ingredients’ efficacy in alleviating symptoms. And, proprietary blends mean that we have no idea how much of these ingredients are in the supplements.
Supplements may provide temporary relief of symptoms, masking underlying health concerns and delaying proper medical evaluation. This can have serious physical implications.
Over-reliance on supplements can foster a sense of dependency. Individuals may come to believe that they can’t manage their health without these products, leading to emotional distress and anxiety.
Happy Mammoth customer reviews:
The Happy Mammoth’s website provides detailed descriptions of each product, including their benefits and ingredients. However, it’s worth noting that the abundance of exclusively positive reviews on the website may raise questions about their authenticity. When considering these reviews, it’s wise to seek a balanced perspective and consider external sources of feedback.
That being said looking into external sources of feedback and reviews The Happy Mammoth does have company reviews posted on a Trustpilot and on Better Business Bureau. On these sites you will find positive comments like the ones posted directly on their website but you will also find numerous negative comments and one star reviews claiming the product did not work.
Is the Galveston Diet a good way to manage menopause? Read my review of it here.
The Happy Mammoth’s social media presence raises significant concerns, particularly in its targeting of middle-aged women. The company’s use of certain marketing tactics and promises can be both misleading and potentially harmful.
Check out these examples of Happy Mammoth’s social media ads:
Completely unbelievable, in so many ways.
Women’s bodies are supposed to change. While many women experience uncomfortable symptoms during perimenopause and menopause, Happy Mammoth ads often use exploitative diet verbiage that preys on the vulnerabilities of middle-aged women. They use phrases like ‘miracle weight loss,’ ‘getting your old self back,’ or ‘natural rejuvenation.’ One of the ads talks about making your belly ‘flat as a board.’
The time frames and percentages meant to demonstrate product effectiveness seem extremely made up. When something looks THIS unrealistic, it probably is.
The use of the term ‘meno-belly’ shows me that this company is making menopause out to be the enemy of women’s ‘beauty,’ rather than a normal physiological state. It’s preying on our insecurity, which is disgusting.
Yes, our weight redistributes to our bellies because that’s the normal effect of a drop in estrogen. It’s not something to be ashamed of, and it certainly doesn’t make us less beautiful.
Fasting for menopause: read my review of Mindy Pelz’s Fast Like a Girl, here.
And the unrealistic timelines for ‘results’ – mere hours and days from first taking the supplements – seem improbable and overpromised. A bottle of supplements is not going to give you your ‘happiness’ back.
Happy Mammoth review, in short:
The Happy Mammoth’s social media presence targeting middle-aged women can be a cause for concern due to its use of what appear to be misleading marketing tactics and promises. The company’s exploitative diet language, overblown claims of results, and unrealistic expectations can potentially harm consumers by fostering false hopes and encouraging reliance on quick-fix solutions.
Claims of rapid, all-encompassing results should be tempered with the understanding that health is a multifaceted journey, requiring lifestyle changes, dietary adjustments, and professional medical guidance. Quick-fix solutions in the form of a single pill is not realistic for addressing health issues.
Ultimately, individuals seeking to improve their health should consult healthcare professionals before investing in random supplements. Sustainable results come from comprehensive approaches that consider all aspects of well-being, both physical and emotional.