The quest about weight loss is more popular today, and people are willing to do everything and anything within reach to achieve it. You may find yourself wondering whether meal replacement shakes can really aid weight loss.
Social media pressure, the urge to remain fit, and the modeling industry are some of the basic reasons why people chase after weight loss today. One technique that’s widely applied for weight loss is the use of meal replacement shakes. Unlike protein powders and shakes, they are meant to provide the body with all nutrients while helping a person shake extra pounds. However, based on the ingredients and the composition, people wonder whether they really aid in weight loss. Peer into this article and learn everything you need to know about meal replacement shakes.
They are a convenient way to avoid unhealthy meals
With the busy work or school schedules, finding enough time to cook healthy foods might be difficult, making one fall into the trap of eating unhealthy heavily processed foods as the easiest alternative. However, you don’t have to fall victim to this with meal replacement shakes since you can take them without worrying about your health. This is especially important since processed foods are a great enemy of weight loss. They are heavily loaded with fats, sugar, refined carbs, and added ingredients that fight weight loss tips. In addition, their nutritional benefits range from little to none; hence they add no value to the body. Besides, some have lots of salt and sugar and are fond of activating the sweet sensors, making one feel like eating more and more, ultimately hardening weight loss.
They are great at meeting your nutritional needs
Weight loss mechanisms usually come with the challenge of nutrient deficiency, but with meal replacement shakes, you can lose extra pounds without compromising your nutritional needs. This is because every meal replacement shake serving has about 200-400calories, which is way lower than what typical meals have but still provide the body with every nutrient. The body needs minerals, fibers, and vitamins, and the shakes offer all these. In fact, as most foods lack iron, calcium, folate, zinc, and vitamin D, meal replacement shakes will take care of all these.
Meal replacement shakes can actualize your weight loss quest fast
The key to losing weight is cutting back on calorie intake, and meal replacement shakes can help you achieve this goal really fast since they reduce your calorie intake. In fact, they make it even easier because they help you feel full for longer with a few calories. Recent studies now recommend meal replacement shakes as a weight-loss strategy since they have proven better than other weight shedding techniques, including a low-calorie diet. For instance, in one study, people who substituted one or two meals per day lost an extra 2-3kg in two months than their counterparts who only depended on a reduced-calorie diet.
Furthermore, diabetics have also benefited from taking meal replacement shakes to lose weight. In a particular study, diabetic patients took either meal replacement shakes or diabetic exchange meals. At the end of the study, the first group on shakes achieved 1-2% greater weight loss. Besides, another study established that after losing weight, taking meal replacement shakes would be ideal for maintaining the new weight while still feeling full and satisfying the body’s nutritional needs.
They are high in proteins
Although the nutritional composition of meal replacement shakes varies from one to another, most of them have protein, one of the body’s most needed nutrients. Proteins help build muscle and are the cells’ building blocks. Besides, proteins are great for weight loss since they help one feel satiated for long, cutting back on calorie intake. With the reduced urge to bite something late into the night or huge cravings, one can control his calorie intake and maintain weight quite easily. Proteins have other benefits since they boost physical performance due to improved muscle build-up, increase lean mass, and fight belly and body fat. One study investigated the effect of high-carb, and high-protein meal replacement shakes on weight loss, and the two had similar effects after 12weeks. However, high-protein shakes registered the added advantage of reducing cholesterol levels. Since the meal replacement shakes vary in composition, choosing those with low and high sugar and protein contents, respectively, will help you achieve weight loss faster.
Challenges with taking meal replacement shakes
Despite their many benefits in weight loss and helping one feel satiated for long, meal replacement shakes have their problems, including;
a. They are not ideal for changing unhealthy eating habits
If you are looking forward to fixing some unhealthy eating habits with meal replacement shakes, you will be in for a rude shock since diets often don’t work for weight loss. In fact, the moment you will stop taking the shakes, you will get back all the lost weight. Therefore, for an effective pattern, you need a complete lifestyle change to lose and maintain weight.
b. They are not a long-term fix
Most people cannot survive with the shakes for a long time. First, most events and gatherings have food, and taking shakes may seem socially isolating. In addition, you eventually will need whole foods since the shakes do not have phytochemicals, antioxidants, and enzymes packed in whole foods.
c. Some feature unhealthy ingredients
While most shakes will feature essential minerals and vitamins, some have unhealthy additives, including refined sugar, preservatives, hydrogenated oils, and corn syrup. Sadly, some are packed with more sugar than protein and fiber, making it crucial to read the ingredient list.
Conclusion
Meal replacement shakes aid weight loss effectively since they leave one feeling satiated for long despite the low-calorie count. Besides, they may have most nutrients not present in traditional foods. However, taking shakes has its challenges, including being unable to fix bad eating habits and only ideal for a short time. In addition, some have unhealthy additives, making it crucial for one to read the ingredient list before buying a meal replacement shake.
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