I wrote about Herbalife because I was curious about what it was and why I was seeing it so much in my community.  I didn't realize it until my mother, who was a former consumer, introduced me to it.
 After that, I started to notice that there are a lot of these Herbalife nutrition clubs in my community.  I have handed out a lot of flyers Herbalife nutrition clubs invitations to these clubs.  Students at my school have even been seen drinking the product from a cup that says "Herbalife." These kinds of centers are everywhere in Boyle Heights. They can be found in unmarked storefronts, garages, in the back of Zumba classes, and even on street corners.  There is no sign indicating what is inside or what time it opens.  The fact that so many people start arriving at the same time gives the impression that you need to be a member to get in.
 Many distributors are drawn into the business in hopes of striking it rich.  According to Gonzales, Latinos account for 65% of the Herbalife kit price business in the United States. Distributors make money from product sales as well as commissions on sales from people they recruit to sell the product.
 This business model is at the center of a debate among some of the world’s leading investors.  In December, hedge fund manager William Ackman said Herbalife was operating “the best-run pyramid scheme in the history of the world.”  Ackman has charged that more than 90 percent of distributors make no money, or actually lose money, while those at the top do.
 Even though there are numerous of these clubs, some members of the community are unaware of their existence. Herbalife clubs are almost a secret group.  To join one and find out its location, a person must receive an invitation.
 On the corner of Whittier and Soto streets, a woman parks her car in front of an unidentified building with bright green curtains. She gets out of her car with a box full of powdered herbal supplements.
 A line of men, women, and children form a line in front of her when she opens the store door. Herbalife distributor Esther, who asked that her last name not be published, always greets her customers with a warm greeting.  She has been doing so for five years.
 I think these clubs are so popular because the distributors gain the trust of consumers by giving them personalized attention.  The distributors then talk to them about the product and give them examples of how using it will make them look and feel better.
 My own mother spent between  and a month on Herbalife products.  She thought they made her feel better and helped her protein shakes weight. Personally, I didn't understand why she didn't change her diet and eat more fruits and vegetables.  When my aunt tried it, she didn't see the results she expected.  In the end, what I observed led me to believe that the product doesn't work well in everyone's system.
 To achieve their goals, many distributors promise the success of the health and weight loss product.  Esther, speaking to a group of women, said: “This is going to help you lose weight and slim down.  Your fat will disappear and your body will stay firm if you take your pills too.”
 When consumers buy the product and prepare it at home, the distributor's job is to explain how to use it and keep track of it.  However, many distributors have started selling products as shakes on their own due to the high cost of some of them. Because Herbalife does not control how the shakes are prepared or sold, there is the added concern of not knowing what may have been added to the shake.
 Competition among distributors and pressure to sell can also sometimes lead to false claims.  A distributor told a Boyle Heights Beat reporter that Herbalife products can help diabetics while they were at one of these Herbalife Clubs.