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There are a number of different reasons that people make or buy healthy meal replacement shakes. If they are purchased in a can, mixed from a powder, or stirred up within a blender, it is important to be sure that they really are healthy and are not just full of excess sugar or unhealthy kinds of fat.
Why do people drink healthy meal replacement shakes?
They might be consumed for the following reasons:
* Weight control: Shakes might be consumed to either help with gaining or losing weight.
* Convenience: Some people find it convenient to replace breakfast or lunch with a tasty shake that also supplies them with a meal’s worth of nutrition.
* Proper nutrition: For a variety of reasons, some people may not be able to consume enough solid food during the day in order to stay healthy.
Some of these shakes may even meet more than one of these needs. For example, there are some delicious breakfast shakes on the market. They can help people save time and control their weight. Ensure and similar brands are mostly intended for people who have medical conditions that make it difficult to consume enough nutrients any other way. On the other hand, products like Instant Breakfast are simply meant to save time.
Commercial Healthy Meal Replacement Shakes
You can find plenty of healthy meal replacement shakes at the market. They may be located by dry breakfast foods, or they may be in health food or diet aisle of the supermarket.
Some companies specifically produce health meal replacement shakes that are high in protein, fiber, vitamins, and calories and low in calories to help people control their weight. On the other hand, there are some good and nutritional shakes that contain lean sources of protein, like whey powder, for folks who want to gain weight or build muscle.
It is a good idea to read the ingredients and small print on any of these shakes. In some cases, they may contain a lot more sugar and salt than people really intend to consume. Just because products are labeled as healthy does not always mean that they really are.
DIY Meal Replacement Shakes In The Blender
There are a number of good recipes for people who would prefer to make their own shakes. There are also some good reasons for doing this, and these include the fact that ingredients can be controlled and it may work out cheaper. Of course, the right shake really depends upon the goal.
Meal Replacement Shakes For Adding More Produce
Doctors keep telling people that eating more fruits and vegetables to remain healthy. Lots of folks figure that this means that they have to eat more salad. But one great way to get more servings of fruits and vegetables is to blend up a delicious shake. Here is one suggested recipe that can accomplish this goal and also provide protein, fiber, and a low-calorie drink that tastes great.
Ingredients:
* 1/2 cup milk or non-dairy milk substitute
* 1/2 cup ice
* 1 frozen banana (Simply peel the banana, cut it into chunks, and freeze for at least two hours.)
* 1 packet Stevia or Monk fruit extract
* 1 carrot (diced)
* 1 tablespoon of chia or flax seeds
Add the milk, ice, and banana chunks to the blender, and bend on the setting for frozen drinks. Once these are blended, add in the sweetener, carrot, and chia or flax seeds. Blend again until the drink is smooth like a milk shake.
Some optional things that can be added to this drink include unsweetened cocoa powder, half an orange, or half an apple. Carrots might seem like a strange addition, but they are actually amazingly sweet when blended into drinks, and they are packed with nutrition! Also, a teaspoon of cinnamon adds a great hint of spice, and it also is believed to help control blood sugar.
Monk fruit extract and Stevia both come from natural sources, and they are low- or no-calorie sweeteners that make this taste more like a shake.
If you want to change this into a drink that will help with adding muscle or weight gain, add a serving of whey powder. This lean source of amino acids will help the body gain weight in a healthy way. The bananas really help thicken the shake, so it seems more like a real milkshake. If you want to gain weight, go ahead and add some more bananas!
Why add chia or flax seeds? Studies show that these seeds work best when they are ground up, and the blender is a great way to do that. Both of these seeds are good vegetable sources of protein, essential fatty acids (the good kind of fat), and fiber. They also contain other vitamins and minerals.
Chia seeds also help to thicken shakes because they absorb a lot of moisture, so they might be somewhat preferred over flax seeds. Also, chia seeds are pretty tasteless.
Healthy Shake Powders
While some shakes can be purchased in a can, others are powders that are simple to mix with a liquid. These vary, but they are usually either mixed with water, juice, or milk to produce a tasty cool drink that also helps support the body with the right nutrition.
Should You Rely Upon Shakes For Meals?
Not many nutritionists or doctors would suggest having a shake to replace every meal. In fact, they are mostly suggested to have once a day. In some cases, people might have a couple, but one might be a snack instead of a meal.
The trick to staying healthy over the long term is to enjoy a balanced diet. Most people won’t be happy on a liquid diet every day. That is why they are usually suggested either for short-term use or for enjoyment once a day. However, because of the nature of shakes, they can provide a good way to get some extra nutrition or control calories.
