Shakeology is a brand of meal replacement shakes that are said to help you lose weight thanks to a combination of superfoods. Shakeology also contains adaptogens to help you handle stress, digestive enzymes, and immunity boosting antioxidants.

Shakeology claim that the drink can increase energy levels, help control blood sugar, build muscle, and that it has a whole host of other health benefits. There are currently five different shakeology flavors and you can choose from vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, greenberry and café late. They may make a lot of promises, but is Shakeology really a great meal replacement? What about the ingredients? We're here to answer the question of “does Shakeology work?”

Shakeology Ingredients

Pea Protein

Legume pea extract. This is an incomplete protein that lacks proper levels of amino acids cysteine and methionine. This protein should be supplemented with additional proteins.

Sacha Inchi

This plant is found in South America and it contains plenty of essential fatty acids. It also lacks amino acids methionine and phenylalaine. As such you might want to supplement it with other protein sources, much like with pea protein.

Cordyceps

Cordyceps is a kind of fungus that grows o caterpillars. It's used to improve athletic performance and boost immunity.

Camu Camu

Camu Camu is an Amazonian fruit. Even though many swear by camu camu the jury is still out on how beneficial it is.

Rose Hips

Rose hips are a source of vitamin C taken from rose flowers that can be used to boost immunity. The effects can be weakened by processing and handling the ingredient however and some may be allergic to it.

MSM

MSM is a chemical extract that can be found in plants and animals as well as humans. There are supposedly a number of health benefits attached to MSM but it is also known to cause some adverse side effects including bloating, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Schisandra

This is a plant that contains chemicals that are believe to help in the production of liver cells. It is said to also have other benefits but comes with some potential adverse effects including an upset stomach and itching.

Chlorella

This is a freshwater algae that contains fats, vitamins, and carbohydrates. There are some people who are sensitive to chlorella and it can cause sensitive skin, gas, stomach pain and diarrhea in these people. It can also make you sick if you have a weak immune system.

Spirulina

Spirulina is a blue-green algae that is used to reduce fat levels in the liver and improve brain health. Just be careful with it as it can also contain heavy metals that damage the liver.

Non-GMO Fructose

This is a syrup that is extracted from fruits and is considered to be one of the worst sugar sources in terms of health. Fructose can lead to blood sugar problems and high blood pressure. The body also has trouble processing it and may just store it as fat instead.

Conclusion

You might have your eyes drawn to Shakeology thanks to the promises it makes and the wide availability, but you need to do the research and look at what customers have to say. Many of the ingredients in Shakeology can cause adverse side effects and some of the positive side-effects haven't been studied enough. There are also customer complaints about the taste and price of Shakeology.

There are some better alternatives out there on the market including 18Shake. 18Shake contains only whey protein and their official website has their amino acid score. There are also plenty of testimonials from customers who have used 18Shake to successfully lose weight. They use an all-natural formula to help customers lose weight and offer their customers a complete 30-day money back guarantee to ensure you are satisfied and know you are purchasing a quality product.