There are many different weight loss shakes on the market, all of them promising easy weight loss by just drinking a simple shake. Shakes might be filled with a lot of carbohydrates in order to encourage exercise without having to eat more food; while others have a lot of proteins which can supposedly replenish lost muscle following a workout. One such shake product is Shakeology, which is marketed as a weight loss aid and meal substitute. But is Shakeology safe, and does it work?
Overview
Shakeology is a weight loss aid and meal substitute shake. It is dissolved in water, milk, soy milk, or any dieter’s favorite liquid. It comes in different flavors. Shakeology is typically taken in lieu of a meal, although it can also be used as a cleanse mechanism in order to rid the body of toxins.
Products
When Shakeology is referenced, there is generally one product available: the powdered shake and meal substitute, which comes in three major flavors: strawberry, chocolate, and greenberry. This shake can be taken once a day as a substitute for one meal, as it has enough calories to substitute for a meal. This shake can also be used as a Cleanse: that is, it is taken for a period of several days as the substitute for all meals. This Cleanse system provides the body only with the nutrients that it needs, eliminating possible toxins that the body might receive from a regular diet. This Cleanse system also prepares the body for further detoxification and weight loss later on.
Shakeology shakes, however, have sub-products. For instance, the strawberry
flavor is also completely vegan. This provides a substitute for vegan dieters and exercise enthusiasts, who want to have the meal substitute without milk or dairy contents.
Ingredients
Shakeology contains many different natural ingredients, including Luo Han Guo, coconut flower nectar, moringa, and Himalayan salts in its 2012 formulation. It also has what BeachBody calls super foods, which include Sacha inchi, Sprouted flax, Sprouted Chia, Pea fiber, Quinoa, and amaranth. Shakeology also has Super Fruits such as Acerola Cherry, Pomegranate, Camu-camu, Apple pectin fiber, Bilberry, Goji berry, Blueberry, Acai berry, Citrus bioflavonoids, Decaffeinated green tea, Rose hips, and Grape seed.
Shakeology has super greens such as Spirulina, Chlorella, Hydrilla, Spinach, Barley grass, Kamut grass, Oat grass, and Wheat grass. Shakeology has good bacteria including those induced by digestion of Yacon root, Bifidobacterium longum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus acidophilus DDS-1, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus casei, and Streptococcus thermophilus.
Shakeology has adaptogens, such as Maca root, Astralagus root, Ashwagandha root, Maitake mushroom, Cordyceps, Reishi mushroom, Holy basil, Ginkgo, and Schizandra. Finally, Shakeology has enzymes including Amylase, Papain, Protease, Lipase, Lactase, Cellulase, and Bromelain.
Nutritional Information
Shakeology provides the body with its daily allowance of Vitamins A, C, D, E, and K; as well as most complex B vitamins, including thiamine, riboflavin, and pantothenic acid. Shakeology also contains calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, iron, iodine, zinc, manganese, chromium, and molybdenum.
Price
Shakeology will cost around $120 a month, which translates to around $4 a shake for each day. This cost can go up with the Cleanse, which goes for a few more days at 3 shakes each day.
Alternatives
There are similar shakes on the market, although they might not have the same caloric and antioxidant content. Shakeology is similar to Slim-Fast, Body by Vi, Isagenix, and Herbalife.
Reviews
According to reviews, Shakeology users felt more energized and ready to exercise with Shakeology. Some users also reported that they slept deeper and woke up more refreshed. They also reported that they had healthier nails and skin because of using Shakeology. The reviews on weight loss were mixed: although BeachBody claims that people’s cholesterol should go down, some people did not report the same, and had no weight loss changes. Some people also claimed that Shakeology made them jittery.
Social
Shakeology is widely visible online through its mother company, BeachBody. It is on Facebook, where its page has over 220,000 likes. It is also on Twitter, where it has over 230,000 followers. It has over 29,000 subscribers to its Youtube page.
