Top 3 Criteria When Choosing a Shake
Indicators – How to pick a winner?
What is an “indicator”? We call indicators ingredients that can easily be seen on the label that highlight whether a shake is as good as it seems. For example, do you see inexpensive and or controversial ingredients like soy or rice proteins on the “ingredients” label? Are there artificial sweeteners like aspartame, sucralose, or high fructose corn syrup in the mix? All of these are indicators of lower quality. They suggest that your shake maker is cutting corners, possibly at the expense of your health.
Balanced Proteins/Formulations (balanced scale?)
Individual types of proteins are very different from one another. They come with varying biological values and absorption rates. Clinical studies show that blended proteins provide much more sustained hunger suppression than any single source of protein. This means that blending different types of proteins is far superior for weight loss.
Since the average person can only absorb 10-15 grams of protein per serving, facilitating weight loss is less about the amount of protein in a shake than the quality and type of proteins. Whey protein has the highest BV (biological value) and is considered the premier protein (and usually the most expensive). There are several types of whey protein, all of which play different, specific roles in absorption, energy-generation, and satiety.
Ability to keep you full
The optimum combination of proteins will fill you naturally and make you less hungry for your next meal. There are hunger-suppressing attributes inherent in certain shake ingredients; for example, whey, pea, hemp, and fiber all control hunger. Don’t waste your time investigating fancy trademarked names for appetite suppressants. In our opinion, they make little difference. Instead focus on the core engine — the proteins — and how they work together.
Great advice that I started following years ago. I don’t touch anything with soy protein, especially in powder form. And I also do not dare have artificial sweeteners in my shakes as I take qty 2 shakes a day…this would be way to much poision. Great article.
I have heard whey protein has always been the best, highest BV, etc.. but I’ve also wanted the weightloss benefits of plant based proteins…what do you recommend?
If you are look to supplement your whey protein with a plant based protein in order to lose weight we highly recommend you take a look at pea protein. Pea protein is clinically proven to curb your hunger by suppressing ghrelin levels that signal your brain that you are hungry. Pea, who would have thought?
Great information. I’ve been researching carefully for a meal replacement shake and you guys have nailed it. I’ve been using a pea/whey protein combination blend for the past few years now and no combination of proteins even compare for supplying my daily nutrition but even more importantly keeps me full all day!
I have found a meal replacement shake that fits this profile! Love it and it truly meets the “gold standard” in meal replacement shakes! Thanks for the info.
Hi Grace! 310 Shake contains whey protein isolate.
So my question is these products all have Whey in them so why not just buy the whey. What’s the difference.
Hi Nicole,
Great question. Short answer is that whey protein comes in different types (WPC, WPI, MPC, etc) and each has very different rates of absorption, satiation, and atttc.. Many whey are bolstered by additive products, appetite suppressants, extra vitamins and nutrients, and so on. Whey is like a car, many different kinds, with many possible upgrades.
I am allergic to Whey… What is the best substitute for a protein shake?
if you are aller admin
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Submitted on 2013/06/18 at 10:37 pm | In reply to Maureen McHugh.
if you are allergic to whey you may want to plant based proteins… pea, rice, sachi, hemp, etc…are great examples.
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Top 4 Criteria When Choosing a Shake
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gic to whey you may want to plant based proteins… pea, rice, sachi, hemp, etc…are great examples.
I’m a breast cancer survivor and am so confused about all this. I want to do a meal replacement shake in the morning, but ever thing I look at has some type of soy. What shake do you recommend? Thanks for your help
Hi Pam, our hats off to you! You have many soy free options as more manufacturers are eliminating soy from their blends. We encourage you to look through this website and pick a soy free shake that suits you.
This was great advice in narrowing down selection to taste and ingredients. Our family is allergic to soy to begin with so finding a shake without soy has been a challenge and to find that its an ingredient to shy from is good. One shake not on this list is called Core Power that I have tried simply because there is no soy. It leaves me full and gives me the energy I need for my mornings. This product should be on the list. Thanks again for this article!