Can Meal Replacement Shakes Help You Lose Weight?
For most people trying to lose weight, finding an easy way to reduce daily calories is the ultimate goal. That’s the concept behind meal replacement shakes.
Can Meal Replacement Shakes Help You Lose Weight?
For most people trying to lose weight, finding an easy way to reduce daily calories is the ultimate goal. That’s the concept behind meal replacement shakes.
A typical meal replacement contains about 200- 400 calories per serving. Much fewer than a normal meal would contain and is often seen as a convenient option for busy weight watchers.
But what exactly are weight loss shakes?
These are high-protein powders or drinks mixed with healthy fruits and vegetables that you can use to replace a meal. They're considered as a safer option as they provide the very similar nutritional benefits a meal would. In addition, as weight loss shakes contain a good amount of protein and fibre, they will keep you full for longer.
How Meal Replacement Shakes Work For Weight Loss
1. You Get All The Nutrients
A common side effect of drastically cutting back on calories for weight loss is that you might not get all the nutrients your body needs. However, this is not the case with weight loss shakes.
This is why they work well for weight loss because they provide you with all the right nutrients. A typical bottle of meal replacement will provide you with enough protein, fibre, and healthy fat.
These are nutrients you would lack on diets such as cabbage soup diet or military diet. In addition, some commercial meal replacements actually come fortified with vitamins and minerals.
2. A Healthy Alternative
Many people struggle to lose weight fast due to their busy jobs and family schedules. They’re not able to have healthy filling meals and will often opt for fast food options full of unnecessary calories.
That changes when you choose to replace these unhealthy meals with weight loss shakes. For example, if you often have a burger or french fries for lunch, making this switch can drastically reduce your daily calories.
In addition, they’re convenient, easy to prepare as they often take less than 5-minutes to mix up and you can carry them to work.
3. It Can Help You Lose Weight Faster.
To lose weight you need to cut back on calories and for most people, that’s what they aim to achieve with meal replacements.
Even though weight loss diets can help you achieve this easily. It’s not always as simple and convenient. Some diets will leave you hungry and constantly feeling like you’re in starvation mode.
In addition, some diets such as low-carb keto cut out entire foods groups and it might be a big struggle for you. However, that’s not the case with weight loss shakes.
In fact, a study has shown that participants lost more weight with meal replacements than those on a typical weight loss diet. In addition, those who used meal replacements were less likely to drop out of the program.
4. Some Are High In Protein
Adding protein-rich foods to your diet is one of the best weight loss tips you can use to lose weight faster. Protein is one of the most important macronutrients for weight loss as it keeps you full and boosts your metabolism.
Weight loss shakes high in protein will help you eat and snack less by keeping you full for longer.
Can You Drink Only Meal Replacement Shakes To Lose Weight?
No, you should not drink meal replacement shakes only to lose weight. Even though meal replacements are formulated to replace your meals, this should be for 1- 2 meals and not entirely.
You cannot replace the nutrition you get from whole foods with meal replacement shakes. Besides, this might actually affect your health negatively.
Furthermore, as a weight-loss strategy, it cannot be sustained and hence this is not a strategy you should consider at all.
A typical meal replacement contains about 200- 400 calories per serving. Much fewer than a normal meal would contain and is often seen as a convenient option for busy weight watchers.
But what exactly are weight loss shakes?
These are high-protein powders or drinks mixed with healthy fruits and vegetables that you can use to replace a meal. They're considered as a safer option as they provide the very similar nutritional benefits a meal would. In addition, as weight loss shakes contain a good amount of protein and fibre, they will keep you full for longer.
How Meal Replacement Shakes Work For Weight Loss
1. You Get All The Nutrients
A common side effect of drastically cutting back on calories for weight loss is that you might not get all the nutrients your body needs. However, this is not the case with weight loss shakes.
This is why they work well for weight loss because they provide you with all the right nutrients. A typical bottle of meal replacement will provide you with enough protein, fibre, and healthy fat.
These are nutrients you would lack on diets such as cabbage soup diet or military diet. In addition, some commercial meal replacements actually come fortified with vitamins and minerals.
2. A Healthy Alternative
Many people struggle to lose weight fast due to their busy jobs and family schedules. They’re not able to have healthy filling meals and will often opt for fast food options full of unnecessary calories.
That changes when you choose to replace these unhealthy meals with weight loss shakes. For example, if you often have a burger or french fries for lunch, making this switch can drastically reduce your daily calories.
In addition, they’re convenient, easy to prepare as they often take less than 5-minutes to mix up and you can carry them to work.
3. It Can Help You Lose Weight Faster.
To lose weight you need to cut back on calories and for most people, that’s what they aim to achieve with meal replacements.
Even though weight loss diets can help you achieve this easily. It’s not always as simple and convenient. Some diets will leave you hungry and constantly feeling like you’re in starvation mode.
In addition, some diets such as low-carb keto cut out entire foods groups and it might be a big struggle for you. However, that’s not the case with weight loss shakes.
In fact, a study has shown that participants lost more weight with meal replacements than those on a typical weight loss diet. In addition, those who used meal replacements were less likely to drop out of the program.
4. Some Are High In Protein
Adding protein-rich foods to your diet is one of the best weight loss tips you can use to lose weight faster. Protein is one of the most important macronutrients for weight loss as it keeps you full and boosts your metabolism.
Weight loss shakes high in protein will help you eat and snack less by keeping you full for longer.
Can You Drink Only Meal Replacement Shakes To Lose Weight?
No, you should not drink meal replacement shakes only to lose weight. Even though meal replacements are formulated to replace your meals, this should be for 1- 2 meals and not entirely.
You cannot replace the nutrition you get from whole foods with meal replacement shakes. Besides, this might actually affect your health negatively.
Furthermore, as a weight-loss strategy, it cannot be sustained and hence this is not a strategy you should consider at all.