We’ve all seen ads or heard about how great Meal Replacement Shakes are for weight loss. But like everything else, can you really believe what you see and hear in these ads? If what they say about them is true, then just what are the best meal replacement shakes for weight loss available? Concerns such as these are constantly being brought up and with good reason. The number of Americans and people all over the world who are overweight has increased dramatically the past decade. To make matters worse, the statistics continue to rise each day. In addition to this, many people are now looking to stay fit, exercise more and eat and live healthier.
Because of those reasons, the meal replacement shakes market has exploded and grown the past few years. Still, that is not to say that the benefits which meal shakes offer are not real. The truth is that when used properly, meal replacement shakes can really help you lose weight. Marissa Moore, R.D.N., says that in short, “Meal replacement shakes can help you lose weight.”. She is a registered dietitian nutritionist in Atlanta, GA.
Proof of how the most effective meal replacement shakes work can be found in researches. In a study performed by Diabetes Spectrum, participants had 2 of their daily meals replaced with a shake. Others, had their meals replaced by either soup or hot chocolate. Those that used a meal replacement drink lost about 7.8% of their weight. All this happened in the course of a 3 month period. Other similar studies had comparable results for those looking to shed a few pounds using diet shakes.
How Often Should You Use Meal Replacement Shakes?
A question or concern individuals looking to use meal replacement shakes often have is how often or for how long to use them. While some who want to lose weight at a faster pace replace 2 meals, some only substitute one. Research has shown that in order to keep the pounds off, replacing one meal should be the norm. That is not to say you should only drink one a day though. If you are very active, you can drink 2, depending on your activities. Also, some people usually replace their largest meal of the day with a shake.
As far as how long you should use meal replacement shakes for, the numbers can vary. In most cases, it is recommended that if the program or plan you are on last a month, then that should be plenty of time. If after a month you have lost the weight you wanted, you can go back to regular meals. However, you need to make sure that you continue to eat healthy and balanced. In the event that you see the weight loss stop or you begin to gain a few pounds, start using them again.
What Makes A Weight Loss Shake Good?
The most important factor into using or buying a meal weight loss shake is how good it is. Although there are many different brands out there, not all of them are good or even good for you. In addition, some may not be the best recommended shakes for you at all. But just what makes a weight loss shake great? For one, the first thing to look for is the amount of supplements in the shake. The more protein a shake has, the more likely you will go longer without feeling hungry. Keep in mind that some shakes contain more nutrients than others. That means they are better for you than one which do not have as many vitamins or minerals. The amount of calories in the shake are also something to consider. Typically, a shake will have around 200 to 400 calories each.
Another factor to contemplate is the taste of the protein or meal shake. Since you are going to be drinking this everyday for at least a month, the taste is extremely important. Many people do add their own fruits or other ingredients to their shakes to make them taste better or to their liking anyway. You also want to look for shakes that have ingredients which are healthy for you.
Avoid shakes that contain lead or gluten. Also, if you suffer from any allergies or take medication, you need to watch which shake you choose. If you are on medication or have allergic reactions to certain ingredients, consult your doctor first. Women that are pregnant or nursing, should consult their physician or doctor as well. The reason behind this is that some shakes do contain ingredients you may be allergic to or that could cause problems with a medication.
Now that you know what to look for in a shake and what to avoid, the next step is choosing one for you. Below are some of the best meal replacement shakes for weight loss on the market today.
IdealShake
IdealShake is often confused or thought to be IdealShape. But in reality, IdealShakes are a primary products of IdealShape. It is just another part of their weight loss meal supplement program they have. Some of the ingredients found on IdealShake are whey protein, maltodextrin, protein concentrate and sunflower oil creamer. Others are potato protein extract, inulin, vitamins and minerals and the IdealShape Hunger Blocker Blend.
Those looking to purchase a gluten free shake, can appreciate IdealShake since it has none. The food replacement shakes contain 270 milligrams of sodium, 5 grams of dietary fiber, 5 grams of total fat, 11 grams of carbohydrates, 11 grams of protein and only 100 calories per scoop. Although some users did find the taste to be too sweet, others simply added more ingredients such as fruits to offset it. The texture is a bit gritty, as with most shakes. The IdealShakes ingredients did provide some who drank it appetite and craving control. That in turn, helped them with their total calorie intake. The cost IdealShkes are about 30 servings for around $45. That comes out to about $1.50 per shake. Overall, we gave IdealShake a score of 4.6 out of 5.
Herbal Life
Herbal Life is a very well known supplement company that offers many health and weight loss products. The Herbal Life shakes for weight loss contain a substantial amount of good supplements for your body. They are fibers, vitamins, minerals and protein. Some of the ingredients are soy protein isolate, lecithin powder, fructose, calcuim caseinate and corn bran, among others. One issue some people had with Herbal Life lose weight shakes was that they contain soy. There have been some reports of possible health dangers to using soy.
Herbal Life shakes contain about 135 milligrams of sodium, 9 grams of protein, 13 grams of carbs, and only have 90 calories. A can with 30 servings cost around $35 so the price per shake is around $1.33. That is about the average price for good meal replacement shakes. When it came to taste, the Herbal Life reviews were mixed. Some found the taste to be pleasing for a natural health drink. Others though, had some issues saying that it tasted like cardboard or liquid play-doh. Like all shakes, the taste preference and review of it, will vary depending on the person. In all, Herbal Life scored 3.9 stars out of 5.
IdealShape
IdealShape meal replacement drinks are considered one of the best weight loss shakes available today. The IdealShape smoothies work to curb your hunger via their powerful nutrients. These include a product called Slendesta. The protein Slendesta is found right under the skin of a potato. A natural extract of P12 or pretienase, Slendesta promotes the release of a chemical in your body called cholecystokinin or CCK. The CCK ingredient works because it sends a message to your brain telling your stomach that it is full.
One of the great things about IdealShape is that it comes available in seven flavors. They are mocha, cookies ‘n cream, vanilla, chocolate, orange cream, chocolate cream pie and strawberry. The taste of the healthy meal replacements are also good, although you may find it a bit bland. However, if that is the case, you can always try a different flavor or add ingredients to your shake to change the taste. IdealShape comes in a powder form. That allows you mix it with either milk, water, juice or other ingredients. It has a grainy texture and the powder is thin and fine.
When it comes to nutrition, IdealShape has a lot to offer. Each shake contains about 3.5 grams of fat, 100 calories, 1 gram of sugar, 11 grams of protein and 10 grams of carbohydrates. Since they only have 100 calories per shake, you can add fruit or other ingredients without having to worry too much about total calories. The price of IdealShape meal supplement shakes average around $1.50 per shake. Overall, IdealShakes received a total of 4.7 stars out of 5 total.
Visalus Vi-Shape
Another healthy meal replacement shake to come on the scene is the Visalus Vi-Shape weight loss drinks. The Visalus smoothies are made with a combination of pre-biotics, vitamins, fiber, protein blend and aminogen ingredients. Visalus Vi-Shape lets you replace either one or 2 meals a day with a power drink. There are no known possible side effects to using Visalus shakes. According to their website, Visaulus Vi-Shape meal replacement shake diet drinks help reduce your appetite. They contain a total of 25 vitamins and minerals. The smoothies are also certified as OU Kosher.
Vi-Shape nutritional shakes contain 75 mg of sodium, 12 grams of protein and only 90 calories. When it came down to the taste, some users found the flavor to be better than other shakes. At the same time though, others complained about not tasting that good at all. This is a common issue with supplement shakes since people have different preferences. The price for a bag with 24 meals cost around $42. That is a bit higher than many other shakes on the market at around $1.75 per shake. Overall, we gave the ViSalus Vi-Shape nutritional shake mix a 4.1 score out of 5.
Vega One – All in One Nutritional Shake
When it comes to natural meal replacement shakes, Vega One – All in One Nutritional Shake stands out among the rest. That’s because it is the only one actually made from plant based protein. It is also GMO free and does not contain any dairy. Vega One is full of organic ingredients and among the healthiest on the market. It contains organic acacia gum which is a naturally occurring fiber. It also has organic broccoli, saviseed protein, organic gelatinized maca root, calcium and several other ingredients.
Vega One is a healthy meal replacement shakes for weight loss due to what it packs in each serving. Each shake contains 150 calories, 20 grams of protein, 6 grams of fiber and antioxidants vitamins A, C and E. It also has 240 mg of sodium and 330 mg of potassium. As far as the taste, most people found it to be really good for such a natural product. The texture is a bit chunky and hard though.
Unlike other meal replacement shakes, Vega One offers users a full breakdown of ingredients and nutritional contents. The pricing for the Vega One All-in-One Nutritional Shake is about $45. for a 30.8 oz tub. That amounts to about $2.05 a shake though. The price is among the highest in our list of the best weight loss protein shakes. Overall, we gave the Vega One a total of 4.0 stars out of 5.
Shakeology
Shakeology diet shakes for weight loss are one of the most popular and top rated diet shakes around. The brand is produced by Beachbody, LLC and they come in about 5 flavors. They are greenberry, chocolate, vanilla, cafe latte and strawberry. Using a combination of minerals, protein, fiber and vitamins, they work to help keep you full longer. The ingredients also curb your cravings. Shakeology contains essential amino acids which are aimed at controlling hunger urges.
Each Shakeology weight loss milkshakes contains between 150 to 200 calories. They also have 3 grams of dietary fiber, 200 mg of folic acid, 100 mg of sodium and 15 grams of whey protein. A problem some had with Shakeology was the taste. Some users found that the chocolate, vanilla and strawberry flavors were unpalatable or too flavorless. That can be expected though from a shake full of so many supplements and nutrients. Another downside to the Shakeology drinks was the price. They cost around $130 for 30 shakes – or $4.33 a shake – which is by far the 2nd most expensive in our list. Overall, the Shakeology food replacement shakes scored 4.0 stars out of 5.
Advocare 24 Day Challenge
Unlike other meal replacement drinks for weight loss, Advocare, comes packaged as a 24 day challenge. The challenge includes an app, some coaching and a daily guide to help users lose weight. The daily guides contain a total of six different ones in the program. These are the Herbal Cleanse, Advocare Spark, MNS 3, C or E, Advocare Cleanse and the meal replacement drinks. While many people did lose weight with the Advocare program, some had some problems. They included some side effects and other issues. Some complained of breathing problems, gas, loose stools and skin lesions. That may be due to the gum arabic ingredient found in the meal replacement drinks.
If you do decide to use Advocare, then be prepared to spend a substantial amount of money for the shakes. They cost around $200.00 for the 24 day challenge. That averages to $8.33 a shake. This is by far the most expensive of any other shakes we have covered on this top rated meal replacement shakes review. The taste was on par with other similar shakes with some liking it, while others did not. Overall, we only gave Advocare 24 Day Challenge 3.8 stars out of 5.
Garden of Life – RAW Organic Meal Shake & Meal Replacement
For those searching for an organic and natural meal replacement shake, the Garden of Life – RAW Organic Meal Shake & Meal Replacement may be for them. The Garden of Life shakes consist of moringa, buckwheat, chia seed, brown rice protein and other protein supplements. Unlike a few shake diet plan for weight loss that contain artificial ingredients, RAW Organic has a substantial amount of natural supplements. With each scoop of the Garden of Life meals, you get 21 whole food minerals and vitamins. You also get 40 grams of natural organic protein which come from 13 seeds and organic grains.
The Garden Of Life Raw ONE is also packed with enzymes and probiotics for you. Each shake contains 140 mg of sodium, 7 grams of dietary fiber, 70 mg of potassium and 130 calories. Perhaps because it is organic, but the taste on the Raw One was not considered very likable. Some complained that it tasted like soap or very bland. Still, there were many who found the taste to be just what you expect from a natural diet shake. The pricing for the Garden of Life was average around $44.00 for a bag of 36.6 ounces. That averages around $1.49 a shake. Overall, we gave the Garden of Life RAW Organic Meal Shake & Meal Replacement shakes a 4.1 stars out of 5.
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