Update 3/10/20. Have you been asked to try Shakeology – or become a Shakeology Beachbody Coach? I have – several times. I've been asked to try this product so many times from so many different people that I decided to write this Shakeology review so you know the facts. Is Shakeology safe? Will Shakeology help weight loss? These are the questions I will address. As always, I'll link to the research so you know I'm not making stuff up. I don't have a dog in this fight. I only want you to have the best information available -free from testimonials, and internet hype – so that you can make the best decision for you. Also, see the review of Ultimate Power Greens as well.
Also see my review of vegan chocolate Shakeology.
Shakeology is one of the products sold by the company, BeachBody. Beachbody markets many health and fitness products, probably the most popular of which the P90X workout by Tony Horton. If you want to know how Shakeology tastes, check out my Shakeology Taste Test.
What Does Shakeology Mean?
The suffix ology means “the study of” so Shakeology literally means “the study of shakes“, In this case, it's a health and weight loss shake that contains various fruits, enzymes, vitamins, protein, etc.
It's a catchy name and gives the impression that there is some science behind Shakeology. But, when I entered “Shakeology” into the National Library of Medicine website, I found no published peer-reviewed studies on this product.
Most health and weight loss shakes don't have any research to back up what they are saying but I wanted to double check just in case because the name of this product stood out to me.
On the Shakeology website, I noticed a reference to a study that drinking Shakeology can lower cholesterol levels but there doesn't appear to be any published studies to back up this claim. At the bottom of the website (Shakeology.com) I see a reference that says :
“In a 90-day study, participants replaced one meal per day with Shakeology, ate a balanced diet, and exercised moderately three times per week. Total cholesterol was reduced on average by 30% and LDL cholesterol was reduced on average by 38%.”
But, this doesn't seem to be a published peer-reviewed study. Questions I asked myself included:
- Who were the people in this “study”?
- Were they men? Were they women?
- Did they have normal cholesterol or high cholesterol?
- What was their LDL levels before the study?
- Did exercise play any role in the outcomes?
They don't tell us any of this information – and this is important stuff to know if we are to analyze how effective shakeology really was.
Fruits contain soluble fiber and Shakeology has a lot of different fruits, so the study outcomes kind of make sense. But, would the same effect be seen if people just blended up some fruits themselves?
I don't know.
Losing weight can also reduce cholesterol. So, did cholesterol and LDL levels change simply because of weight loss, rather than because of Shakeology? I don't know because it doesn't look like the subjects were compared to those who did not use Shakeology.
Shakeology Ingredients
There are a LOT of ingredients in Shakeology. Below you will see that I copied the ingredients from the Shakeology.com website (I used the chocolate version) and separated them into different sections to make this review easier.
| Total Calories | 140 |
| Calories from fat | 10 |
| Total fat | 1 g (2% DV) |
| Cholesterol | 15 mg (5% DV) |
| Sodium | 100 mg (4% DV) |
| Total carbohydrates | 17 g (6% DV) |
| Dietary fiber | 3 g (12% DV) |
| Sugars | 9 g |
| Protein | 17 g (34% DV) |
The total calories are based on 1 scoop (48 grams) mixed with water.
This doesn't look too bad to me. In fact, the calories, protein, fat, etc. are similar to other popular protein mixes. A scoop also has 135 mg of the sweetener, stevia.
Super Fruit Blend
Shakeology also has several types of what they call Super Fruits. Here is the list:
| Acerola powder (fruit) | Cordyceps |
| Camu-Camu powder (fruit) | Maitake powder |
| Pomegranate powder (fruit) | Reishi powder |
| Bilberry powder (fruit) | Citrus bioflavonoids |
| Blueberry powder (fruit) | Rose Hips powder (fruit) |
| Lycium (Goji) powder (berry) | Schisandra |
| Açai powder (berry) | Suma powder (root) |
| Acerola powder (fruit) | Gingko powder (leaf) REMOVED |
Update. Here is my review of the camu camu fruit research.
We are not told how much of each fruit is in Shakeology, only that the total of everything equals 2075 mg (or about 2 grams). I'm OK with that given that small amounts of phytonutrients (plant nutrients) tend to pack a big punch when it comes to health.
In the list you will noticed citrus bioflavonoids. This is technically not a fruit but rather a plant-nutrient (phytonutrient).
A couple of ingredients in this list did stand out to me. One is ginkgo. I suppose they added ginkgo to Shakeology because it has some antioxidant properties. But ginkgo also has anti-blood clotting properties that in theory may interact with blood thinner medications. There is also evidence that – in mice – ginkgo causes liver cancer. I'm not aware of any human evidence of this.
Ginkgo may also interact with medications used to treat:
- seizures
- diabetes
- cholesterol
- depression
Ginkgo is listed as the last ingredient, so I'm guessing there is not a lot of ginkgo in Shakeology but I felt this was worth mentioning.
Given that Shakeology has probably not been clinically tested in people who take prescription medications, I personally would prefer they remove ginkgo from Shakeology just to be safe.
Update: Ginkgo has been removed Ginkgo from Shakeology according to this page of the BeachBody website.
Cordyceps also caught my eye. In some circles, cordyceps is touted to improve aerobic exercise performance. But there isn't much proof that cordyceps works and some research that cordyceps doesn't help exercise. See this video for more insights.
Shakeology also contains acai berry, which is one of the principal ingredients in MonaVie reviewed previously. For more information on acai also see Acai Berry A Review Based on The Facts and The Acai Berry Diet.
Nondairy Probiotic Blend
Shakeology also contains several probiotics. These are basically friendly bacteria. They are as follows:
| Bifodobacterium longum | Lactobacillus bulgaricus |
| Lactobacillus acidophilus | Lactobacillus casei |
| Lactobacillus acidophilus DDS-1 | Streptococcus thermophilus |
Probiotics appear to have a wide range of potential uses such as helping irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and diarrhea.
People who have immune deficiencies like HIV should be cautious with probiotics and consult their doctor before using.
We are not told how much of each bacteria is in this blend but only that its total is 150 mg. Often the amount of probiotics in a supplement are reported as colony-forming units (CFU). People may want to ask how many CFUs are in this 150 mg.
Tip. ask “are the bacteria alive now?”. Sometimes the probiotic bacteria are alive when the product is made but die off the longer the product is not used. This can reduce their effectiveness.
Proprietary Enzyme Blend (135 mg)
| Amylase | Lipase |
| Papain | Protease |
| Cellulase | Bromelain |
| Lactase |
What is an enzyme? It's basically a protein. What happens when protein reaches the stomach? Its digested. Our bodies treat enzymes just like protein from whey, soy, chicken, etc. It breaks the protein up into amino acids, absorbs the amino acids and uses them to do whatever it needs – whether it be help to build muscle or repair a cell in your pinky finger.
While I can sort of see how enzymes might help those who have digestion problems, I never understood why healthy people needed enzyme supplements.
Other Ingredients in Shakeology
| Ashwagandha powder 100 mg | Grape seed extract (seed) 50 mg |
| Barley grass 100 mg | Green tea decaffeinated extract 50 mg |
| Kamut grass 100 mg | Holy basil powder (leaf) 50 mg |
| Oat grass 100 mg | Amaranth (Amaranthus hypochondriacus) 50 mg |
| Wheatgrass 100 mg |
Ashwagandha
Sometimes called “Indian ginseng” this herb appears to have several effects like helping the immune system. Most effects, however, have not been well studied. One warning that is sometimes mentioned (but hard to corroborate) concerns pregnant women: ashwagandha may cause premature birth of the unborn baby. For 
Ashwagandha for hypothyroidism
Barley Grass
A few studies suggest that barley may lower cholesterol and LDL. As such, this may be one of the ingredients responsible for the observations in the Shakeology study mentioned above. Shakeology is said to be gluten-free.
Grape Seed Extract
This is a popular antioxidant and is mostly studied in people who have heart disease. Shakeology only contains 50 mg of grape seed extract which is less than that used in grape seed extract research.
One study noted that taking grape seed extract (1000 mg/day) along with 500 mg of vitamin C increased blood pressure. Shakeology does not contain this much grape seed extract but I thought it was worth mentioning if any readers have high blood pressure.
Holy Basil
At least one study has noted that holy basil might lower blood sugar levels after eating. As such it may interact with diabetes medications. Holy basil may also interact with blood thinner medications.
Amaranth
I could not turn up much on this ingredient. Some research hints that amaranth can lower cholesterol levels.
The Shakeology Clinical Trial
Thanks to someone who left a comment, I became aware of a Shakeology clinical trial posted on YouTube (the video has since been removed). The study was commissioned by BeachBody and administered by Medicus Research.
Medicus is a Contract Research Organization (CRO), which means that they are contracted by various pharmaceutical, and supplement companies to do research on their products.
According to the YouTube video above, this was how the clinical trial was designed:
- The study contained 50 people and lasted 90 days.
- Medicus researchers measured people's weight, BMI, and various other health factors including cholesterol and AIC levels.
Tip. Hemoglobin A1C is a measure of how bad diabetes is getting. Having 6% or less is usually considered normal. The higher the number, the higher the average blood sugar level is – which basically means diabetes is getting worse.
- Everybody drank 2 Shakeology shakes per day ―one for breakfast and one for lunch each day for 90 days.
Tip. From the video, it appears that people used Shakeology in place of foods they might ordinarily eat. This is important. Keep reading.
- The people did not alter their diet or exercise program (except for drinking Shakeology in place of food at breakfast and lunch).
Study Results
According to the video, Dr. Udani, CEO of Medicus Research, notes that:
1. Statistically significant reductions in the desire to eat lunch were noted after drinking Shakeology for breakfast.
Since hunger, after lunch, was not mentioned in the video, I take this to mean that drinking Shakeology at lunch time had statistical significant effect on the desire to eat at dinner.
2. The video notes that the average weight loss was 9.3 pounds. The greatest weight loss in the study was 24 pounds after 3 months.
3. The average reduction in total cholesterol was 7% after 3 months. The greatest reduction was 50% in some of the participants.
4. Hemoglobin A1C (A1C) was reduced by an average of 5% after 3 months. Some of the people experienced as much as a 19% reduction in A1C levels.
What the video does not tell us:
Here are some things that I was unable to determine from the video:
- How many people in the study were men and women?
- What were the ages of the people in the study?
- Did the study participants have any health problems (high cholesterol, elevated A1C, etc.)?
- Were the average reductions in body weight, A1C, and cholesterol statistically significant?
- Did Shakeology have different effects on body weight, A1C, or cholesterol levels in men vs. women?
- Was there a placebo group? Having a group in the study that did not drink Shakeology would make these results more meaningful.
Toward the end of the video Dr. Udani says ” say:
“The results we are seeing are only due to Shakeology.”
That's a powerful statement. How do they know the results they saw were not simply due to weight loss?
By drinking 2 Shakeology shakes per day (in place of breakfast and lunch) people have reduced their total calorie intake for the day. Reducing calories also can also:
- Reduce body weight
- Reduce cholesterol
- Reduce A1C levels
Based on what was stated in the video, I don’t think we can tell if these values decreased because of Shakeology or simply because the people lost weight.
Dr Udani also states the in the video that the study is valuable because “it isolates the effect of shakeology,” In my opinion, the study, as depicted in the video, doesn’t do this because there is nothing to compare the effects of shakeology to.
For example, in my opinion, a better study would be:
- Take those same 50 people and randomly give them shakeology ―or nothing at all ―to see how they differ from each other after 90 days.
Or
- Randomly give the people either Shakeology or something that had similar calories to see what happens after 90 days.
Of course, I would have to see the actual study to know exactly what happened. My comments are based on watching YouTube video alone.
I hope BeachBody Coaches will let me know if this study ever becomes published in a clinical journal so I can make more informed comments. Until that happens, I'm of the opinion that the effects discussed in the Shakeology Clinical Trial video are simply the results Shakeology causing weight loss – and it's the weight loss that is causing reductions in cholesterol, body weight and A1C levels, rather than a direct effect of Shakeology itself.
I believe almost anything that causes people to lose weight can also cause reductions in cholesterol and A1C levels. See the “Shakeology and Weight Loss” section below for more about this.
Shakeology Side Effects
For healthy people yes, Shakeology is safe but for people who may not be healthy, here are some general things to think about. This list is not complete
- start with less than recommended for the first week
- stop taking at least 2 weeks before surgery
- if you take any medications such as blood thinners talk to your doctor
- Pregnant or nursing – ask your doctor first
In June 2013 the website, Consumerlab.com found lead contamination in Greenberry Shakeology. They found 12.7 micrograms of lead per serving of Shakeology. Beachbody, the maker of Shakeology, responded to this by stating:
“While they seek to inform consumers, they may be actually misleading consumers by not distinguishing between harmful heavy metals and those that are naturally occurring in plants, vegetables and minerals.”
Consumerlab, on their website, fired back stating:
“Lead contamination of plants generally occurs to do contamination of the environment in which they have grown – often caused by industrial pollution or proximity to roadways, where in the past, cars used leaded gasoline. “
So, it sounds like Beach Body is saying that lead is a natural occurrence while Consumerlab is saying, the lead is present because the plants used were contaminated by the environment in which they are grown.
Here is a link to the Dr. Oz Show website shows Beach Body response to the Consumerlab findings.
In 2015 Consumer Reports noted that Shakeology had been reformulated and they no longer detect lead. Shakeology is now in the “approved” category. For more on this, see my Vegan Chocolate Shakeology review.
Other Meal Replacement Shakes
Other meal replacement reviews worth looking at
Shakeology And Weight Loss?
In the Shakeology program, people are instructed to replace one meal a day with Shakology. They are also supposed to exercise 3x a week and eat a healthy diet. This is similar to the reasoning behind other weight loss plans you've probably already heard of. For example:
- SlimFast: drink 2 shakes and eat a sensible dinner
- Special K diet: eat 2 bowls of cereal and eat a sensible meal
If you read my review of Right Size Smoothies, you may remember that the Right Size Smoothie plan was to replace 2 meals with 2 smoothies.
So, the idea behind Shakeology for weight loss makes sense; just use the shake to reduce the calories you eat.
The same thing is also true for many of their competitors like the Isagenix Shake
So for people who don't have the time to eat well or make their meals, I can see how something like Shakeology (or similar weight loss shake) would be attractive. People are more likely to do things that are easy.
How Does Shakeology Taste?
Does Shakeology taste good? I had a chance to try Shakeology thanks to a friend who gave me some samples. Here are the results of my Shakeology taste test.
Also, see the Vegan Chocolate Shakeology review for how it tastes.
How Much Does It Cost?
When I wrote this review, the cost of Shakeology was $119.95 a month (30 servings). This comes to about $4 per shake. You may be able to get it cheaper than this if you are a Team Beachbody coach and have other Beachbody coaches selling products under you on the pyramid. As such, some people may become Beachbody coaches as a way to get Shakeology cheaper.
Who Makes Shakeology?
Shakeology is made by the company Beachbody also known as Beachbody LLC. Beachbody is not only is behind Shakeology but a wide range of other fitness-related products ranging from P90X to Insanity to name a few.
According to the Better Business Bureau, BeachBody LLC is located at 3301 Exposition Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90404 .
Their contact number is (800) 998-1681.
What is a Team Beachbody Coach?
These are the people who often sell Shakeology and other Beach Body products. Team Beachbody Coaches may or may not have a background in fitness, health or wellness. On the TeamBeachBody.com website it says only that:
“You don’t need to be a fitness or weight-loss expert to become a Beachbody Coach. You just need to be ready to commit to changing your life.”
That's a little vague, so do ask about the credentials of a Beachbody Coach before you take any specific health advice from them.
The name Beachbody Coach is actually smart marketing. Instead of calling the people who sell Shakeology (and other Beachbody products) Beachbody distributors, they call them “Coaches”. It's like Walmart calling their sales staff “Associates”.
To be a Team Beachbody coach, people pay $39.99 to start. Beachbody coaches receive a commission for sales they make. Fortunately, Beachbody coaches do not have to buy Shakeology or other Beachbody products before they sell them. Team Beachbody coaches also are used to help people reach their fitness goals. The extent to which they can help would depend on how smart -fitness-wise they are.
Remember Beachbody coaches don't have to know anything about fitness, health or wellness.
Beachbody coaches also try to recruit others to become Beachbody coaches. They in turn, receive commissions on what their recruits sell.
So, Team Beachbody has a multi level marketing aspect. I'm not against MLM companies but it does by nature give incentives to coaches whose main goal is to recruit new people rather than selling the product. This ultimately might dilute the quality of the coaching service.
So Does It Work
Despite the hype, Shakeology is just a low-calorie meal replacement shake. If you follow the plan, you'll likely lose weight. But that's because of your eating fewer calories. Don't believe the hype. It's all about eating fewer calories.
Here are less expensive options
What do you think?
Joe,
Another GREAT Review. I hope that some day all we (the professionals in the fitness industry) learn from the marketing that goes into these types of products can be put into products and services motivated by people who want to truly help others through scientific, evidenced based, peer reviewed studies and not just someone looking to make a quick buck off the ignorance of the general public.
Keep up the GREAT Work,
Dwayne Wimmer
Owner
Vertex Fitness Personal Training Studio
Dwayne, thanks I appreciate that!
Shakeology is all natural there are no artificial anythings in it. As for customer service the number is on your coaches website and your bill. Beachbody is awesome about everything. There’s nothing hidden about them. They back all their products 100%. Maybe you should ask your relative who hooked you up. 😉 this review is also has not much to stand on as the person who writes them doesn’t even full test his products he reviews. There are no shakes on the market like shakeology, but with any product you can’t please them all.
Hazell, I had to reply since you mentioned me. I stand behind my shakeology review 100% and I still believe I am one of the few unbiased people on the web to review Shakeology. While I did not try “the program” where I used it for several weeks, I did try shakeology (taste-wise) (I wrote about it also separately).
I dissected the ingredients in shakeology and showed people the scientific research (minus the hype) on each ingredient so that people can make a more informed decision. I wrote a VERY detailed review on Shakeology and team beachbody coaches know this because they keep trying to link their BB coach websites to my site when they leave their comments.
As for my review having “not much to stand on” Hazell, it stands on science and rational thought, and those are very sturdy rocks.
Your opinion of my review is just that – opinion – and your entitled to it.
The only sweetener that Shakeology has is stevia which is a natural sweetener not artificial. If there is an artificial sweetener, what is it? I have never had a problem reaching the company. The phone number is right on the receipt and they have always been helpful.
Thank you for the very informative and unbiased article. I have been trying Shakeology for 30 days since one of my relatives ask if anyone was interested in a 30 day weight loss challenge. the shakes are a nice and quick breakfast for me, but i really don’t like the artificial sweetener and didn’t notice that it had it until your article.
Also the company does not make it at all easy to contact them and doesn’t not list a customer service number on their webpage. I went to great lengths to find the number, when I had a question about an order. Kinda shady if you ask me.
Liz, I have updated my review to include Beach Body contact numbers in case anyone else has the same problems. Thanks for mentioning this.
I was able to easily cancel my Shakeology subscription as soon as I wanted to do so. Pay attention to the fine print when you initially order (or go back to that info), because the info for getting out is right there.
FYI, I have purchased only Beachbody fitness videos until a short, short stint with Shakeology, which sounded like a good breakfast on-the-run to me, but which had a pronounced effect on my hormone levels. Beachbody’s exercise routines are very solid and well-done, so the company delivers in this regard, and their basic nutritional information is tried and true. I tend to be wary of any kind of supplements and don’t buy or use them them. The pyramid scheme from BB is not something I support; I’ll buy their fitness videos, which are a good value generally, but I will leave it at that.
Kathy sorry you feel that way. Beachbody is not a pyramid scheme those are illegal and don’t usually get an A+ Rating from BBB. It does involve multi-level marketing and if I’m not mistaken when you buy something from the grocery store the cashier makes money from you then the supervisor, then the manager, then the director of operations, then the VP, then the President and ultimately the CEO. Realistically every type of business operates multi-level just instead of a store front Beachbody chooses to have real people share their experience with the product as simple referrals.
Tim, just curious, are you a BB coach? Its ok if you are. Its no problem. I just think people appreciate it when they know whose comments they are reading.
Nope Joe sorry I am not a BB Coach.
Tim, no sorry needed. I just was curious 🙂
Kathy, can you explain the effect on your hormones? Because I think I may be experiencing them also-which would really stink because Shakeology is really helping with my sugar cravings
Liz what exactly is the “artificial” sweetener?
Joe thanks for the honesty behind Shakeology and its ingredients. Personally it is very expensive compared with other drinks like MetRx, Syntha 6 etc. My friend wanted me to join beach body but I am not in favor or MLM schemes. So thanks but no thanks. Your honesty is very much appreciated in the market place.
Karl, thanks thats very nice of you to say.
Susan, yes I have tried the strawberry flavor. I was able to get a few packages from my Beachbody coach. I loved it and thought it tasted great. I mix my shakes with 8 oz of coconut milk and 4 oz of water. Some people have complained about tasting “chalky” which I did notice but vaguely – not enough to bother me. Unfortunately though as much as I loved the new strawberry flavor, it’s too expensive for me to buy on a regular basis.
Has anybody tried the new tropical strawberry flavor SHAKEOLOGY????? I am interested in some feedback before I spend the money on this flavor. I love the chocolate flavor shakeology mix!!!
Thanks for the great review, Joe. As a Personal Trainer and Zumba® Instructor, I see that many of my peers are Team Beachbody coaches and promote the heck out of the shakes, so I’ve been real curious about the nutritional aspects of the product and how the program works.
So glad I found a non-biased review that answered both my questions! Like you, I can see where it could have a place in a person’s lifestyle and it seems nutritionally sound, I would just rather promote healthier eating instead of buying into another product. But time and convenience will always win that argument, so sometimes I just have to bite my tongue LOL! Thanks again for all the great info!!
Interesting article and thoughts. I am researching online Arbonne vegan shakes (and the 30 day program) and Shakeology products as i have been recruited to rep both products. I promote clean eating plus gluten, dairy, soy, peanut and corn free for our 21-30 day programs plus six week challenge.
Thank you Joe
Today, It is the first time I heard about those shakes 🙂 but it was from an objective review that I’m getting into final conclusions.
By the way, every person who works on sales if they want to be successful in their job they must be very pushy and find a lot of innocent people who believes them completely.
Not true. I got into being a BeachBody coach just for the discount, and I NEVER push my opinions on others. I do post my results and how much better it makes me feel, which leads to people asking me about it and wanting to try it too. But definitely not pushy, and the people I have who joined my team are not innocent sheep either. All did their research, and All chose Shakeology based on what they found and believed. 🙂
Thanks for doing your best to write an objective review. I know some people who rave about shakeology being some miracle substance. The level of SEO and marketing regarding this stuff is nauseating to me. The lack of peer reviewed, scientific studies combined with all the claims for amazingness are extremely frustrating.
Multi-level marketing creeps me out. All this is enough to make be avoid buying the product. The results of the ‘study’ of 90 people couldn’t possibly give us any definitive information on shakeology itself. My sister swears by shakeology, and had me try a sample. It was gross.
Joe, I tried some Dymatize today. Yes, beachfitrob tries the competing products. 🙂
Comments on Dymatize: nicely smooth, Not as chocolatey as Shakeology, TWO kinds of artificial sweeteners. Splenda and Aspartame. I try to avoid those when I can. I have gone to xylitol and stevia for coffee, baking, etc.
The new Vegan Shakeology has no animal protein, lots of other benefits, and about 2/3rds the protein.
I realize straight up protein shakes are cheaper, but you’ll almost always see artificial sweeteners and that’s all you get, protein. 60 cents for one ingredient–protein– or $3 for Shakeology and over 70 ingredients?
*Two* Vegan flavors now. Chocolate just got added. More superfoods too.
Does Shakeology interfere with birth control pills?
Lisa, I’ve never heard of this happening and while I’m not sure, I dont think that it will. Take it to your pharmacist and show him/her the ingredients.
Shakeology does contain maca, which can alter sex hormones. I do not use birth control pills, but used this product a couple years ago as a nutritional supplement, not as a weight loss aid. I was drinking about 3 shakes a week, and after about a month, this practice had shortened my normal, hyper-regular menstrual cycle considerably, from 5 weeks to 3weeks. As soon as I stopped using this product, I went back to normal.
The only ingredient I can identify that potentially could have this effect is the maca. If it can alter my hormones so much when I’m not taking BC, I would be concerned that it could interfere with such for others.
I am glad I found your web site, but I am one of those people that suffers from paralysis by analysis. I tried the P90x recovery formula, and did like it, but I thought I would do some more looking around to see if it was “As good as they it is.” It doesn’t appear that you think it is “bad” (correct me if I am wrong), but more that you think more affordable options can be had (which may also be better).
SO I also started researching Shakeology. Well of course I find myself here. I wasn’t sure which thread to post this in, since it kind of addresses both. But since in this thread you mentioned that you had used Dymatize and liked it, I wanted to ask some related questions.
I looked at the nutrition info for dymatize, and one thing that concerned me a bit was the Cholesterol. A few years back I started taking a GNC whey mix (unfortunately I can’t recall which one), and after about a year, I went to a doctor, and my cholesterol had sky rocketed (he thought it was from too many burgers). I quite the GNC thing, and within 30 days my cholesterol had dropped back down to normal. Now at the time I was not exercising, and was using the mix a a breakfast replacement.
So anyway, I wanted to find a replacement with a lower cholesterol count, and stumbled upon natures way metabolic reset.
Since this February, I have been working out regularly, and without any supplements *just eating healthier, and exercising a LOT, have lost about 20 pounds (5’4″ was 158 now 138). But now I am also considering trying to add muscle while still losing another 7 pounds or so of fat.
So I looked at Dymatize, per your (not really) recommendation, and of course was awe struck but the quantity of things in the GNC. I, of course, bought nothing. But suddenly decided to compare it the metabolic reset I have on my shelf, and still drink every once in a while.
It seems like all these things are pretty much the same. Now the Dymatize notes specific amino acids in the proteins where Reset does not, but I can’t imagine that means they aren’t there? OR does it? Not sure what “type” of protein each uses, and how much that matters.
So anyway, I copied below the nutrition info for Reset, please give me your opinion, good or bad, for its use as a “protein shake” and not necessarily as a specific meal replacement diet shake. Suffice it to say, this has all gotten pretty confusing, and I want to decide if I want to take any of these, and if it matters if it is for “after workout” or just general health
Nature’s Way Metabolic ReSet™ Shake Mix Vanilla Directions
To make a satisfying shake, add 2 scoops (45g) of powder to 8 ounces of cold water. Shake or stir briskly into a smooth consistency. If desired, blend in fruit or other healthy ingredients. May also be mixed with skim, soy or other milk.
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 2 Scoops (45 g)
Servings per Container: 14
Amount Per Serving % Daily Value
Calories 130 *
Calories from Fat 5 *
Total Fat 0.5 g <1%
Cholesterol 2 mg 1%
Total Carbohydrate 13 g 4%
Dietary Fiber 6 g 22%
Soluble Fiber 4 g *
Sugars 2 g *
Protein 21 g *
Vitamin A (as beta carotene) 1667 IU 33%
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) 20 mg 34%
Vitamin D (as ergocalciferol) 133 IU 33%
Vitamin E (as d-alpha tocopheryl acetate) 10 IU 33%
Thiamin (as thiamin mononitrate) 0.5 mg 33%
Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) 0.57 mg 33%
Niacin (as niacinamide) 6.67 mg 33%
Vitamin B6 (as pyridoxine HCl) 0.67 mg 33%
Folic Acid 133 mcg 33%
Vitamin B12 (as cyanocobalamin) 2 mcg 33%
Biotin (as biotin triturate) 100 mcg 33%
Pantothenic Acid (as d-calcium pantothenate) 3.33 mg 33%
Calcium (as dicalcium phosphate and from Whey Protein Isolate) 500 mg 50%
Phosphorus (as dicalcium phosphate) 330 mg 33%
Iodine (as potassium iodide) 50 mcg 33%
Magnesium (as magnesium oxide) 130 mg 33%
Zinc (as zinc oxide) 5 mg 33%
Copper (as copper gluconate) 0.67 mg 33%
Sodium 150 mg 6%
Potassium 125 mg 4%
Whey Protein Isolate 23 g *
Viscofiber® Proprietary Blend (Viscofiber® Oat Beta-Glucan Concentrate; Inulin (chicory root extract); Xanthan Gum) 8 g *
Stevia Extract (Leaf) 63 mg *
*Daily value not established.
Other Ingredients: Xylitol, natural flavors, maltodextrin.
Hi Russell
yes your correct my biggest issue is that i think shakeolgy is overpriced and lacks the good research to justify the cost.
as for the cholesterol in dymatize, its low in cholesterol. 1 scoop = 15 mg cholesterol which is only 5% of the daily valye ( DV). when reading food lables & supplement labels just remember these 2 things
1 – anything that is 5% or less is considered “low” in that nutrient
2 – anything that is 29% or more is considered “high” in that nutrient
since cholesterol is 5% , its low in cholesterol. the Reset shake is also low since it has 1% next to cholesterol
when it comes to looking at protein shakes, just focus on these things
serving size (how many scoops are needed)
how many servings are in the container
calories per serving
Calories from Fat
Total Fat
Cholesterol
Total Carbohydrate
Dietary Fiber
Soluble Fiber
sodium
Sugars
Protein
look for 5% or less next to total fat, cholesterol and sodium and iron
look for 20% or more next to fiber (and or soluble fiber). I also look to look for close to 20% next to potassium but i usually dont see that.
as a rule healthy people dont need to worry about vitamins or minerals – the often list these to make them look better – and vitamins are cheap too. most shakes give you a lot of vitamins and minerals anyway. most shakes are lowin iron also.
I think the reset shake looks ok, just know you need 2 scoops to get what it has. with dymatize its just 1 scoop.
you are not alone in being paralysis by analysis. thats why i like to keep things simple. in case you missed it here is my snmoothie recipe it can alsobe used as a recovery / heath drink -or even breakfast.
here is something I wrote about dymatize protein but overall the reset protein looks ok also
hope that helps Russell!
Joe, the more important portion of Morgan’s statement isn’t related to Shakeology at all. I think her biggest statement is the fact that she has been working out consistently 4 times a week for 2 years and has not seen any results. This is a big red flag for her to see her doctor. The shakeology may help for a month to lose some weight, however, if she has a medical issue that is contributing to her lack of weight loss, she certainly will not see results she is wanting. Even though I sell Shakeology as an independent team beachbody coach, when I hear comments from potential clients like Morgan’s, I have them check with their healthcare providers too. There are FAR too many health issues that impede the weight loss progress. 2 years of trying is more than long enough to go to her healthcare provider and have some things checked out.
My personal example: I workout between 1 1/2 hours-3 hours a DAY. I eat clean, whole foods, no gluten, minimal dairy (no milk, no cheese). I keep my food and exercise journals. I regulate my caloric intake and output (use a polar heart rate monitor too). I have GAINED 6 pounds after a year of this.
My doctor and I did extensive labwork and found that after drinking Shakeology for >6 months my lipid panel was perfect, my blood panel was perfect, BUT my thyroid panel was awful, my hormonal panels were awful, and my leptin was through the roof. So regardless of what I did, my metabolism is such that I start the day 800 calories BEHIND the normal healthy person. So…. I need serious medication to help with the weight loss. Now I am certainly an extreme example of this, BUT, the weight loss struggle is no stranger in my life.
I have dealt with weight issues since my college days. Now with my own doctorate, I have a better understanding of these conditions, but when I see comments like Morgan’s, the true issue is NOT whether or not Shakeology is “worth it”, but instead, they need to see their healthcare provider and discuss it with them. And yes, I am still drinking Shakeology myself as part of my supplemental diet. I feel better when I drink it, and my lab panels continue to look great (even WITHOUT weight loss).
Laura, good point. I do hope she gets with her doctor.
I was wondering if I were to take Shakeology for one month would I keep the weight off that I lost if I still continued to work out normally? I’ve been working out for at least 4 time a week for a couple years now and still find it hard to lose weight. My weight never changes, but I am not happy with that. I don’t want to continue taking Shakeology because it is so expensive, so do you think one month would actually be worth it? I don’t want to gain the weight back and feel like I wasted my time and money.
Morgan, I think if you went back to eating the way you did before you used shakeology, you probably would re-gain the weight. But, if you exercised more OR if you substituted something in place of shakeology that was the same calories, then you probably would not re-gain the weight.
Thank you for your review. You are now added to my favorites and I will continue to visit your blog.
First, let me state that I am also a Team Beachbody Coach and I currently use Shakeology.
I’ve been using the stuff for about 3 weeks now and I haven’t noticed any difference in energy or anything else positive. And, other than Shakeology, I haven’t changed my diet at all and just got out of the hospital for an small bowel obstruction. Did Shakeology cause it? I don’t know, but the coincidence is too much to discount…
Prior to adding Shakeology to my daily intake, I was (and still am) in fantastic shape. I eat plenty of veggies and fruits, in addition to appropriate amounts of lean protein and whole grains (starting to question the grains though). Using P90X alone (and eating right), I lost a total of 62 pounds and ~20% body fat. This was without Shakeology…
I’m still on the fence about it and honestly, the only reason I’m using it right now is because it satisfies my monthly coach point requirements. However, after the hospital incident, I’m not sure if I’m going to continue with Shakeology or as a TBB coach.
Rob,
Did you use the regular or the vegan formula?
Are you still using Shakeology? And if so, have you had any other bowel issues?
I had a similar experience with the Arbonne shakes, and I did some research and found that maybe it was the soy/whey isolates which the Shakeology vegan formula doesn’t have. So far so good but who knows. It might just be my digestive disorder in general.
Anyway, I am getting ready to have a bowel resectioning and would like to be able to use Shakeology during my recovery if it isn’t going to cause any problems.
Meg, show the list of ingredients in Shakeology to your doctor and ask for permission before you use it during recovery. Saying a prayer that your surgery and recovery goes well!
Arbonne shakes are made with pea, cranberries and brown rice protein. No gluten , soy or whey
Linda, I have some Arbonne shakes here. they are on my list to look at 🙂
Shakeology is almost fat free. In an otherwise low fat diet, supplemented by a nearly nonfat shake, you may not be getting enough fat. That can potentially lead to bowel obstruction.
Hi Joe, great information. I know this is an older article, but I wonder if you were ever able to find any independent studies or trials for this product since you originally posted?
Gilbert, thanks. I keep an eye out for new stuff on Shakeology but as far as I can tell BeachBody, the company that makes Shakeology, has not published any studies. When/if they do, I will definitely update this review with that new information.