There is no denying that diet shakes have gained popularity over the years. Also referred to as meal replacement shakes, the best diet shakes can be a convenient option if you don’t have the luxury of time to prepare your own meals.
Shopping, preparing and cooking your own meals can be a challenge particularly if you are trying to lose or maintain weight. This is why diet shakes are preferred by those who are always on the go but still don’t want to miss out on essential nutrients that their bodies need to keep going.
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How Do The Best Diet Shakes Work?
Diet shakes are designed to replace or substitute 1-2 meals per day. These are actually made with special formulation so that they can aid in weight loss and /or maintenance. The best diet shakes should be able to provide you with the right amount of essential nutrients.
Ideally, the shake should be low in calories and carbohydrates yet high in protein. Most diet shakes come in powdered form, some already in small packets so that it will be easier to pack and carry around with you anytime.
Why Take The Best Diet Shakes?
At first, you might think that a diet shake is not something you would try. But once you become more aware of its advantages, you’re likely to change your mind. Practicality is one benefit especially if you’re the type of person who’s always on the run.
Having a trusted meal replacement shake with you anytime guarantees that you can have something to drink or consume when you’ve forgotten to eat a regular meal.
These shakes are also very convenient — they won’t take up much time to prepare. They’re ideal for busy individuals and professionals who need to jump from one responsibility to another.
How To Choose The Best Diet Shakes?
The first thing you need to consider is if the shake can offer an appropriate balance of protein, calories, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber. There should be no (or at least low) sugar, trans-fat and saturated fat. There are shakes that are high in sugar so you need to look into that more closely.
If the shake contains too few calories, it may only cause you to eat more instead of feeling fuller. When this happens, your goal of losing weight may only be defeated. This goes the same with diet shakes that contain high amounts of sugar.
If you’re on a low carb diet, you should obviously look for a meal replacement shake that’s also low in carb. Don’t hesitate to compare several brands first so that you’ll know which one offers the best balance of nutrients.
Other weight loss and fitness enthusiasts also consider the taste of the shake, particularly if you want to consume it long term. You can easily tell by the products’ reviews if the shakes taste good or not.
You may also want to consider the variety of shakes available if you will be choosing a particular brand. There are people who look for specific flavors, while others also want a shake that can be mixed with milk or juice instead of just water alone.
While there are plenty of meal replacement or diet shakes available on the market today, we’ve narrowed down the list of the best diet shakes that you can choose from. Check out our best reviewed diet shakes below.
1. EvoShake
EvoShake is a healthy diet shake that you can consider if you are trying to lose weight. It’s a great addition to your weight loss program because it contains green coffee bean extract, acai berry and whey. These ingredients are all known to effectively and swiftly aid in weight loss.
The company that manufactures this shake is Evolution Slimming. They were founded in 2007 and currently offer innovative weight loss supplements and products. Although based in the UK, the company has a lot of US customers, too.
EvoShake is gluten-free and can be taken by anyone who is 18 years old and above. It can healthily replace one or two of your daily meals. Aside from its weight loss effects, it may also help in reducing blood pressure, stabilizing blood sugar and increasing metabolism rate and energy levels.
Just having 2 servings of this diet shake per day will be enough to help you burn calories and fats. You can choose from its 3 different flavors – Chocolate Delight, Delicious Vanilla and Strawberry Sensation. The ingredients used in this shake include skimmed milk powder, guarana, acai berry extract, green coffee bean extract, riboflavin, D-biotin and other ingredients.
Because the formula uses skimmed milk powder instead of the regular kind of milk powder, there will be fewer calories and fat. Skimmed milk is high in protein and with enough minerals, making it even more beneficial to people who are into weight loss and maintenance.
Pros:
- easy to prepare, either by using a shaker or a blender
- suitable for vegetarians and vegans
- great tasting flavors
- with several great reviews online
Cons:
- not for people who are lactose intolerant
- contains sugar
2. Equate Shake
Another product on our list of best diet shakes is the Equate Shake. The exclusive distribution of this shake is now under Walmart, which is also the same with their other products. Equate offers a variety of products for pain and allergy relief, hair and skincare, first aid, supplements and vitamins.
It is marketed as a meal replacement for people with active lifestyles, who are already too busy or occupied to prepare their own meals every day. With this shake you don’t have to think about what you should eat for your lunch or dinner, or when you’re looking for a healthy snack to try.
It is recommended for people who are above 18 years old, and if you are pregnant or lactating, it’s best to consult with your doctor first before consuming Equate Shake. It is also not for dieters who plan to lose more than 30 pounds.
As per advertising claims, Equate Shake is best combined with exercise and a healthy diet. There are 4 flavors that you can choose from: strawberries and cream, dark chocolate royale, french vanilla, and creamy milk chocolate.
The shakes are ready-to-drink and may be over ice or just chilled if you want. You can choose to drink it immediately after opening or put it in the refrigerator to consume for later. It contains vitamins, minerals, fiber, protein and calories.
According to some user reviews, the packaging of this product has recently changed and it somehow affected the taste of the shake.
Pros:
- ready-to-drink
- convenient to bring anywhere
- can be ordered directly from Walmart or bought at physical stores
Cons:
- contains milk and soy
- may cause certain allergic reactions
- negative reviews about the taste
3. Metashake
Metashake is one of the best diet shakes to try if you want to be healthy and lose weight as well. It works by providing the body with whole food proteins, adaptogens, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, probiotics and prebiotics.
These components will all work together in making sure that weight loss will be supported. They will also help in maintaining healthy cholesterol levels, boosting energy, stimulating probiotic growth, improving digestion and enhancing the immune system.
Metashake contains oat bran powder which is good for digestion. Aside from aiding in weight loss, it may also be effective in preventing constipation and cardiovascular diseases.
The formula also features maca which can enhance libido and balance your hormone levels. Other ingredients include apple pectin, aloe vera, yacon root powder, guar gum powder, wheat grass powder, barley grass powder and spirulina algae powder.
They also used several plant food extracts such as rose hips, cinnamon, bilberry, basil, artichoke, cauliflower, pomegranate, collars, reishi mushrooms, spinach, acerola berry, maitake mushroom and citrus bioflavonoids.
When you buy a box of Metashake, you will get 7 packets in powder form. You may either use a shaker or a blender to prepare it. You can also add some extra twist to it if you wish, such as mixing fresh fruits like blueberries, strawberries or bananas.
Pros:
- easy-to-carry packets
- fresh fruits may be added for additional flavor
- available through their official website and also on Walmart
Cons:
- processed in a facility that contains eggs, soy, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat and milk
- very few reviews online
- not available on other merchants such as Amazon
4. 18Shake
18Shake is another meal replacement shake that promises to make you feel full even when you would skip an actual meal. They have 2 flavors available for this brand which are vanilla and chocolate. Both flavors contain less than 90 calories each, which are far lower than that of solid foods.
Taking this shake will get you through dinnertime without feeling hungry. They boast of a formula that they call “high-quality dual protein.” However, it is important to note that the product contains no compounds that can help burn fat.
You can only take 18Shake once per day, as meal replacement. Please note that it is designed to be part of a balanced and healthy diet. This is why the manufacturer only recommends it to be taken once a day.
The formula contains Fibersol-2 which is a patented compound that can naturally suppress the appetite. It is said to have the ability to reduce hunger, and is made up of vanilla or cocoa extract and high amount of whey protein isolate. You can also find a variety of vitamins and minerals, as well as natural stevia which is used as sweetener.
Ordering this shake directly from the manufacturer’s website will entitle you to a 30-day money back guarantee, as long as you have used or consumed only one sachet. The refund will be less of a 20% restocking fee, as well as the shipping and handling charges.
Pros:
- with money-back guarantee
- low in calorie
- made in the USA
- ingredients are FDA-certified
Cons:
- some negative reviews about the taste
- a short and sudden energy burst may occur after consuming
5. Consult Beaute Shake
For the last item in our list of best diet shakes, we have Consult Beaute Shake. This one claims to be a good shake for people who are on a high protein or low carb diet. The product contains protein, fibers and nutrients that will help you achieve your weight loss goal even when you have an active lifestyle.
The Consult Beaute line was created by Dr. Terry Dubrow and his wife, Heather Dubrow. Heather is a TV personality while Terry is a plastic surgeon. They have a wide range of products that are for anti-aging, nail, hair and skincare. They only have one shake variant, as the rest of the products are vitamins, serums and topical creams.
Although there is no official website for this brand, you can order from evine.com which is their official retailer. With this shake, you can have more vitamins and minerals, stay fit and have healthier skin. You will be able to control your appetite, as well as calorie intake. It claims to make you look and feel beautiful.
Consult Beaute shake has a protein blend which is a combination of rice and pea protein. These proteins are rich in fiber and antioxidants. You will also find maltodextrin, omega-3, inulin, oat fiber, flax seed, hyaluronic acid and a variety of vitamins and minerals.
Pros:
- lactose-free
- sugar-free
- gluten-free
- low in fat
- no claimed side effects
- good for the skin
Cons:
- no official website
- evine reviews are too old/not updated
- low ratings due to bad taste
- price is quite expensive
Conclusion
Choosing the best diet shakes is no rocket science, but it’s definitely not something that you could just decide on right away. It involves careful thinking and consideration, especially if you have special dietary needs that you have to address.
Make sure that the meal replacement shake of your choice will provide you with the essential nutrients so that your body will stay energized and healthy as you lose weight. Keep in mind that these shakes are only used for convenience, and not to replace all meals entirely.
You can always add variety and flavor if you wish. This will keep you from getting bored and tired of diet shakes. Comparing different brands will help a lot and don’t forget to list down all the essential factors to consider. Doing so will help you choose easier and wiser at the same time.
There is nothing wrong with wanting to keep your body fit and healthy. However, this does not mean that you’d freely choose and consume weight loss products without consulting a healthcare professional first.
Make it a point to always prioritize safety and wellness above anything else. If you have any medical condition, allergy or anything that you should be concerned about, address it right away.
With the help of the best diet shakes, you can replace at least 1 or 2 of your meals per day without feeling guilty about it. Now you no longer have to worry about what to eat next or where to get your next meal from – you just have to pack enough diet shake packets into your bag and you’re good to go.
Don’t forget to complement that with exercise and healthy eating habits, too. If you are able to remember all these, you’re surely on your way to losing weight in a healthy and effective way.