If you're shopping around for meal replacement shakes, you should know that there some potential pitfalls out there! It's important to avoid meal replacement shakes that have unhealthy ingredients. Like most things in life, some things are better than others and meal replacement shakes are not the exception. Whether you are trying to lose weight or just need a boost of energy during your busy days, you need to find a meal replacement shake that gives your body what it needs.
Here are 4 things to avoid in meal replacement shakes:
Sugar makes the world sweeter…and fatter. Sugar is scientifically-proven to be highly addictive. Cutting down sugar cravings will not only help you shed pounds but also make you feel better. Less sugar means less cravings. Sugar also contains extra calories which can de-rail your weight loss goals. Lastly, sugar causes energy spikes and dips which wreak havoc, which is why you’re exhausted by 2:30pm every afternoon. They set the stage for energy dips which leave people feeling tired and depressed. The benefits to cutting out sugar are endless which is why they shouldn’t be in your meal replacement shakes.
When you avoid meal replacement shakes that contain sugar you are ensuring that you are receiving the best possible nutrients for your body. Having these nutrients will keep you full, which in turn keeps you on your diet as well as keeping your energy up. Just because something doesn’t contain sugar doesn’t mean that it tastes bad. There are great sugar-free formulas which are just as tasty as their sugary counterparts. In my opinion, the best sugar substitutes in meal replacement shakes are natural sugar substitutes. You don't need to choose shakes with Aspartame or other controversial ingredients. Natural sugar substitutes are better choices for your health and well-being.
This food additive is found in some meal replacement shakes and it's made from Chondrus crispus, which is a red seaweed that is often referred to as Irish Moss. Carrageenan doesn't have any value nutritionally and it's used in order to emulsify and thicken food and drink. We recommend choosing shakes that don't contain this ingredient, as studies have shown that it may trigger stomach problems and that it may cause malignancies.
While evidence isn't conclusive at this point, why take the chance? You will be able to find shakes which are thickened and emulsified with healthier ingredients, so be sure to stay away from shake products that list carrageenan among their ingredients.
We already talked about the fact that drinking meal replacement shakes that contain Aspartame or other artificial sweeteners isn't necessary. Natural sugar alternatives are safer and many of them taste amazing. The truth is that artificial sweeteners may actually trigger weight gain, especially when they are relied upon over the long-term.
One study showed that thousands of San Antonio, Texas study participants who used artificial sweeteners for a decade were at double the risk for becoming obese. These participants drank a lot of diet colas. The more artificially-sweetened sodas they drank, the higher their risk of obesity became.
Artificial sweeteners are lab-created sugar substitutes. They are chemicals. You don't need them, so stick to natural sugar alternatives which won't drive up the risk of weight gain. Most people who buy meal replacement shakes do want to lose weight and some people who buy them don't realize that the artificial sweeteners in their shakes may actually make it harder to slim down.
Look for meal replacement shakes which are sweetened with Stevia. It's a natural sugar substitute which is plant-based. It's delicious and good for your body.
Lastly, you should pay close attention to calorie counts when you're considering meal replacement shake formulas. In general, a shake of this type shouldn't have more than ninety calories per serving. Some shakes have way more calories, in part because they contain sugar and other unhealthy ingredients. When you choose a meal replacement shake mix with just ninety calories per serving, you'll get pure and powerful nutrition, without taking in too many calories. In particular, if you're replacing meals with shakes in order to reduce your weight, you should be very careful about choosing high-calorie meal replacement shakes.
Now that you know 4 things to avoid in meal replacement shakes, you'll be ready to choose shakes that have all of the good stuff (superfood greens, fifteen grams of protein per serving, fiber, vitamins, minerals and probiotics) and none of the bad stuff!