Shakeology: Meal Replacement or Protein Shake?

The biggest problem with Shakeology (that’s right, there’s actually a problem with Shakeology!) is that it’s really hard to classify.

It’s not a meal replacement — nor is it just a protein shake. So what is Shakeology?

By placing it in a category, you’re limiting how dynamic this shake is. So let’s break it down.

Is Shakeology a Meal Replacement?

By itself, Shakeology does not replace a meal. That being said, it can be part of a balanced meal when consumed along with healthy foods like fruits, nuts, seeds, nut butters, avocados, various milks, or whatever else tickles your fancy.

Or what about drinking it before your meal? “Wait!” you say. “Won’t that ruin my appetite?”

It does — but in a good way! Among other ingredients, Shakeology contains protein and fiber — two things that help you feel full.

So drinking it before breakfast, lunch, or dinner is what’s referred to in clinical circles as “pre-loading,” or consuming a pre-meal snack to suppress hunger and decrease food intake.

In other words, Shakeology can be considered a healthy way to tide you over, keep you from “pigging out,” and help you stay on course with your balanced, healthy diet.

That said, it’s not just a plain old protein (and fiber) shake!

Is Shakeology a Protein Shake?

With 16 to 17 grams of protein per glass, depending on your flavor, Shakeology comes in at roughly the same protein level as a serving of Greek yogurt (18 grams per 7 ounces) or tofu (16 grams in 7 ounces).

And it surpasses eggs, which check in at 12 grams for two eggs. While it’s not as high as meat or fish, it still has enough protein for it to count as a red container in the Portion Fix Container system.

So, yes, Shakeology is a protein shake.

That said, regular protein drinks tend to focus almost exclusively on, well, protein. Therefore, they may have more protein grams at the expense of other nutrients.

This isn’t the case with Shakeology, given it includes a variety of nutrients, like phytonutrients, antioxidants, enzymes, pre- and probiotics, fiber, adaptogens, vitamins, and minerals.

Shakeology is even low glycemic index-tested by an independent laboratory.

Shakeology works to benefit your overall health, helping to support healthy energy†, curb junk-food cravings, and support your digestive health.

So while you can certainly drink Shakeology to add protein to your diet, you’re missing the big picture — and some of the prime benefits — by focusing exclusively on this one macronutrient.

So what do you call Shakeology? The marketing gurus at Beachbody have gone around in circles with that one for a while and landed on this: “Your Daily Dose of Dense Nutrition.”

Sure, that’s a spot-on tagline, but given Shakeology’s diversity, it’s a hard product to pin down.

So instead of spending all this time focusing on how to categorize it, let’s do what we’re supposed to do with the stuff: Drink it, stay active, eat right, and get healthy.

† Vitamins C, B6, and B12 contribute to normal energy-yielding metabolism.

from The Beachbody Blog http://ift.tt/2lffhOj
via IFTTT