8 Questions to Ask Before Buying a Weight-Loss Shake

The right shake allows you to simplify your diet and maintain proper nutritional levels while losing weight. With so many weight-loss shakes on the market, though, it can be difficult to know which one offers the best overall nutrition, taste and value for you. Ask the following eight questions when shopping for shakes to ensure you buy the right kind: Q1. Does the shake contain artificial flavors? A: The answer to this question should be no. Certain artificial flavors can cause allergic reactions and irritations. Research has shown that laboratory animals fed these substances can develop cancer. Q2: Does the shake contain artificial sweeteners? A: Again, the answer should be no. Look for a weight-loss shake with natural sweeteners, such as organic evaporated cane juice, luo han guo and Stevia. EvolvHealth uses these sweeteners, which also have a low glycemic index, in its shakes. In fact, it doesn’t use artificial sweeteners or artificial flavors, making one of the more popular shakes with health conscious dieters. Another bonus: a naturally sweetened shake won’t have the aftertaste that comes with artificial sweeteners. Q3: How many calories does the shake have? A: You likely consider this the most important question of all if you are attempting to lose weight, but remember to keep the answer in context. For example, as noted above, EvolvHealth uses natural sweeteners instead of artificial sweeteners for an overall greater health value. It has 130 calories per serving. When looking at EvolvHealth and Visalus, another shake on the market, side by side, you might be tempted to go with the latter as it has only 90 calories. Don’t. Visalus uses artificial sweeteners to get its caloric value so low and the health concerns associated with them are not worth the 40 less calories when looking at your overall health. Look for a weight-loss shake in the middle range when comparing against other products. Q4: How many grams of sugar does the shake have? A: Again, this answer should be evaluated in context with the second and third question. If you do opt for a naturally sweetened shake, it will have sugar in it, as opposed to an artificially sweetened product. Again, look for a weight-loss shake in the middle range when comparing against other products. Q5: Will I feel full after drinking the shake? A: You won’t know this for sure until you try it, but you can look for the right mix of carbohydrate, fat and protein as an indicator. For example, the EvolvHealth weight-loss shake mentioned above has 17 grams of carbohydrates per serving, 3 grams of fat and 12 grams of protein. This combination serves as a balanced nutrient profile that will keep you feeling fuller longer. The product features ModCarb and Calorie ControlTrim, both designed to boost satiety among other dieting and nutritional benefits. Q6: Does the shake taste good? A: If the store or other seller does not offer taste tests, purchase the smallest amount of the shake mix that you can to determine whether or not you like its taste. Q7: Is the shake organic? A: Weight loss often requires a complete overhaul of your diet. Why not include in that overhaul organic status? Consuming organic foods and drinks reduces the amount of chemicals and in your body and their affect on your health. EvolvHealth, one of the rare organic shake products on the market, actually contains six organic ancient grains: oats, amaranth, buckwheat, millet, quinoa and chia. Q8: How much does it cost per serving? A: You will consuming this weight-loss shake for breakfast each day and possibly for lunch, so you want to make sure the cost doesn’t prove prohibitive. Do the math and compare the cost per meal to what you typically spend. Odds are the shakes will prove a less expensive option, especially if you’re going from fast food to diet food. If you ask these eight questions when shopping for weight-loss shakes, you will be well on your way to finding the one with best overall nutrition, taste and value. One final bit of advice: Shakes are just one part of a weight-loss program. You best bet is to choose a shake, such as EvolvHealth, that comes with a weight-loss program complete with tools, guidance and support to help you make the lifestyle changes necessary for weight loss and maintenance. You can certainly choose an unhealthy diet shake that works short-term, but long-term success comes from programs that incorporate nutrition, exercise and lifestyle changes.