Meal replacement shakes can be considered the modern alternative for a faster nutrient intake. In many cases, they can come with balanced nutrients which can also represent a better alternative when you want to diversify the profile of nutrients you consume every day.
But it is also true that Cleveland Leader’s meal replacement shakes have made their way into solutions which are often used in low-calorie diets and this tends to become one of the main drivers of the shakes. Of course, keeping calories under control is often recommended for a balanced lifestyle but seeing meal-replacement shakes as the primary source of food in drastic caloric cuts is not recommended.
The Untold Truth About Meal Replacement Shakes
Meal replacement shakes, in their essence, are neither good nor bad. It is the way we use them which significantly determines their impact and this is why it is necessary to know that you will be able to see good results with your weight goals but you will not need to use the supplements as an escape for audacious caloric goals.
Largely used in diets which cut up to half the caloric intake every day, these shakes can thus be an escape for those planning such drastic measures. While weight loss will occur in this case, it will also be the case that those following such diets will lose strength and precious nutrients which maintain health and hormone balance.
As people start to fad these diets and return to the normal way in which they consume foods, it becomes clear that the lost weight will be gained back. Furthermore, it is also the same when people want to gain weight very fast which is still advertised by many brands. Consuming over 1.000 calories per day with no real exercise plan and no real nutrition can lead to body fat increase and this is not the way to see nutrition.
How to Use Meal Replacements to Your Advantage?
So how do you use the supplements and can they have a positive role? Supplements as meal replacements should be used in a smaller percentage compared to the meals you already have. They should also come with a plus in quality as you are trying to better yourself. At this point, consuming a supplement to achieve around 200 calories deficit or adding 200 calories per day for weight gain is the only proven way to make a sustainable change. With positive effects when it comes to better health and improved nutrition, you always have the ability to switch back to meals to replace the shakes when needed. Replacing 200 calories with foods is within your control. This is why replacing more calories with foods is more difficult and why many people get stuck in the consumption of the shakes.
Good Shakes and Bad Shakes
Of course, not all meal replacement shakes are actually made with the best ingredients and many of them are of no real use. Full of low-grade carbohydrates, many meal replacement shakes seriously limit your body’s ability to use them for positive change.
Heavily-based on protein, meal replacement shakes represent one of the solutions which require minimum effort when it comes to consumption but which can add a plus in quality for many people. With a profile which often combines proteins, carbs, and micronutrients, meal replacement shakes can be seen among the solutions to be considered when it comes to better overall nutrient balance.
In simple terms, if you are consuming extra protein from the shakes, your diet should be full of the other nutrients you need every day. If you are consuming a complex meal replacement shake, it should also come with everything you need when it comes to replacing larger meals.
One of the major advantages of meal replacement shakes thus comes with their ability to be consumed at any location, consistently, for a long period of time. Making these positive changes to the diet which means that you eat or drink shakes at exact hours every day is often the foundation for better health and for impressive fitness. It is yet studied how this can have such a positive impact on your body, but in many cases, having the ability to consume the shake even away from home will mean that you are less likely to simply grab an unhealthy snack which is often filled with carbs, sugar, and salt.
Some of the ingredients to avoid in meal replacements shakes are already pre-selected by manufacturers and replaced with healthier alternatives. As a general rule you should avoid the following:
- Added sugar
- Corn syrup
- Hydrogenated vegetable oil
- Artificial flavors
- Artificial colors
- Chemical preservatives
Seen in many meal replacement shakes, these ingredients are often the low-standard option to be avoided. Many people still consider that they are not to be worried about but if you consume any type of nutrient for long periods of time, you should be worried about its role in your body.
Which Meal Replacement Shake to Choose?
So which product is best? When it comes to choosing the best meal replacement, label accuracy is among your top priorities. The information you need is on the label and this is why it is so important to find the product which works best for you. In many cases, it is also important to find the solution which allows you the best overall nutrition according to your lifestyle and goals. Thus, if you aim to lose weight, protein and healthy fats are among the nutrients you need.
When you aim to gain weight, some quality carbohydrates are also recommended. With a good source of vitamins and fiber, you can thus enjoy a shake which is healthier than most of the alternatives on the market. At the end of the day, you also need to ensure that you live an active lifestyle as you want to put the calories to work for you as well. Often used in weight loss programs, meal replacements are still surprisingly used in diets with little or no physical activity.
