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?
Paul I appreciate your feedback. I do stand behind my review and consider it to be one of the most in depth reviews on shakeology currently on the web.
My review is also one of the few unbiased reviews given that when it comes to Shakeology it seems to me that practically everybody who writes how wonderful is also a beachbody coach.
As for the research on the ingredients, there is a big difference between research on individual ingredients and on the finished product (shakeology). What I mean is that just because a bunch of different things does something, does not mean that they all work the same when they are mixed together.
I dont think anyone on the web besides me has addressed potential shakeology side effects. Since people will be taking it who also take medications, this needs to be considered-and its why I highlighted ginkgo. There is no need for ginkgo – a compound with aspirin like qualities – in a health shake.
As for shakeology research I dont consider the original test group “research”. my litmus test is “published peer review studies” – and shakeology does not yet have this.
Beachbody is making millions of dollars on this product.
So why dont they get 500 people and randomly give them either shakeology for 3 months or a well blended calorie equal fruit and veggie smoothie that has a little protein. Lets see how the people differ on blood tests. Beachbody can afford this study. Why aren’t they doing it?
I agree that people eat pretty badly and I’m all for making America more healthy. But for $119 a month on health shake, it can be done better and cheaper.
As for “superfoods” Paul this is a made up word popularized by Dr Oz and Oprah. All fruits and veggies area superfoods. In fact there is more clinical proof for fruits and veggies you get in the supermarket than the stuff in Shakeology.
We will have to agree to disagree on this Paul but Im glad you gave me the opportunity to share more of my thoughts.
I really enjoy your reviews, however I’m not sure how in depth I would consider this review being someone who is familiar with Shakeology and did a lot of my own research before taking it. I would have thought as a someone who has written books on supplements you should be familiar with some of the ingredients, considering many are currently touted as the best superfoods on the planet.
You are correct that currently there have been no research studies of Shakeology, other than the original test group, however University studies are being prepared at this time.
There are however many studies available showing the benefits of the ingredients in Shakeology.
Anyone would be hard pressed to collect all the ingredients in shakeology and make it not taste like the bottom of a fish tank or to come even close to the relatively low cost of Shakeology.
As for the cost. It is most definitely a better way to spend $4 than most peoples daily coffee. I have seen first hand the effect it has had on the health of my family and others.
Lastly Beachbody offers a 30 day bottom of the bag guarantee.
Yes, I am a Beachbody Coach
Tara, WOW Shakeology is $119 per month! That’s $1428 per year – no wonder they keep pushing this stuff on people!
Beachbody charges $119 per month for a product that has ZERO published proof. Juice Plus has over 10 published clinical studies and is only $40 per month. Incredible…
Juice Plus is $40 per month vs Shakeology at $119… i will have to check out your review on JP…I tried it a long time ago when it came out. I dont like taking pills much but it seemed like a good thing if you didnt eat fruits/veg much.. I signed up as a distributor and then you get a discount on product. Ive done that often, you dont actually have to sell anything just pay a small fee each year and get a decent discount on the product whenever you buy it. Its only worth doing with products that have a lower distributor fee…Its been awhile since Ive done that tho…Im alot less likely to try “everything” like I used to be…lol
Tara, yes juice plus is something that I have had an interest in since I first heard of it several years ago. Here is my review in case you missed it http://supplementclarity.com/juice-plus-review-of-research/
How much does shakeology cost? I didn’t know Juice Plus was “much less”.
Sandra, You are right on with the coconut milk, Ive heard lots of good things about it…
I get it about the whole “you would have to consume this to equal that” concept…However, yes there’s so much you miss by just not eating “that”…But if you dont like veggies then im sure its a good alternative…Also, in an earlier comment Joe mentioned Juice Plus. I used to take them. I always felt like while I enjoyed veg I could still never get my recommended allowances in….Juice Plus was easy and costs much less….
Sandra, that’s a good point but since they bring up all those veggies and fruits it does give me the impression that they are in Shakeology. Also, fruits and veggies are not only healthy because of the vitamins but rather the phytonutrients they have. Its the phytonutrients that give fruits and veggies their real punch. I hope people realize what you did about their marketing tactics.
Joe/Tara,
Re: raw milk: I have actually switched to organic coconut milk. That is all I drink now. Much better for you than cow’s milk……..or so I have read from several different sources.
Re: Shakelogy ingredients: I believe you are misunderstanding the advertisement. The vitamins and minerals that are in Shakeology are the same that you would get from eating a lot of fruits and vegetables. For example, while Shakeology doesn’t actually have broccoli in it, it has the same nutrients that broccoli would. And while it is probably better to just eat the broccoli and other vegetables, I hate vegetables so I drink the Shakeology to get the same nutrients. Plus I like the super-greens, super-fruit, and prebiotic and probiotic blends that are also in Shakeology. Just hate the cost.
Tara, wow thanks for writing that. While I am not the FDA, it sounds like Shakeology is taking some liberties when they compare their product to fruits and veggies – when the fruits and veggies don’t even exist in their product.
thanks for the links on raw milk. I will have to read up on it at some point. I still like Horizon organic fat free myself 😉
Sandra, glad you are enjoying Shakeology. Have you seen anywhere on your packets that shakeology contains vegetables and fruits? Tara, who posted above said they are saying implying – during the Insanity workout DVDs – that shakeology that you would have to eat tons of fruits and veggies to get the same benefit of Shakeology. But if Shakeology doesnt have these things I reason that they cannot make this claim. I cant locate any fruits/veggies in the ingredients list I see on beachbody.com or on the shakeology packs I have. Have you seen these ingredients?
Joe, etc.
There are a lot of people who love the taste of Shakeology and I happen to be one of them. Chocolate and Greenberry. I add frozen berries or mango to the Greenberry and coconut milk to the Chocolate. Yummy!! They do not make vanilla because you can’t make vanilla flavor without adding artificial ingredients which Beachbody won’t do. The new flavor they are coming out with is Tropical punch. I happen to think the ingredient list is great which is why I keep buying it. Lots of healthy stuff in it. At least in my opinion. The downside is the outrageous price so unfortunately I’m not sure how long I will keep buying it. You did give me a smoothie recipe a while ago which is very good. As far as the raw milk info that Tara posted, two of the nutritionists I follow both recommend raw milk. In fact, one recommends no dairy at all because it is so pasteurized and processed these days that it’s not good for you at all. I can’t bring myself to go raw but I at least get organic. Just my opinions:)
Hi Joe, yes I agree it could be too late for shakeology, by the time a vanilla comes out I will be too into making my own…
Raw milk…so that is the thing apparently they have us believing that milk “needs” to be pasteurized because of all the “bacteria” (assumed to be bad). From what I have read when cows are milked on smaller natural run organic farms the milk is safe to drink, one because the environment and milk itself is kept clean and two, because the bacteria that occurs naturally IS good for us, safe…
check out these links.. http://www.realmilk.com/where1.html
http://www.organicpastures.com/
Also, today after Insanity I wrote down the list of foods that Beachbody claims…”to match the nutrition of 1 shake you would have to eat”…
1 whole pineapple
2c blueberries
1c acai berries
2c gochee..?
4c broccoli
7 whole carrots
10c cauliflower
3c romaine lettuce
4c white mushrooms
3 onions
1c peas
4c radishes
4c nonfat plain yogurt
1 shot of wheatgrass
Its crazy because yes it was easy at first listen to think that it would be great to have all that in my system everyday by just drinking one little shake…But hmm, none of these things exist in the shake actually!…and your right, part of the benefit of all those foods is actually eating them…something only blending your own will do pretty much….then do you really even need supplements??
Tara thanks for the feedback. Yes stick with the natural route. I’m told Beachbody is coming out with a better tasting shakeology, but for me that’s just too little too late. They knew it was horrible tasting from the start and yet they pawned it off on people who ate it up thinking it was something special – and its not. Its just over priced and very bad tasting.
And the idea that they are trying to make people think its as good as eating tons of fruits and veggies is crazy since shakeology has none of those ingredients to my knowledge.
As for the raw milk, I have not looked at it very much. since its not pasteurized Im guessing that it might be dangerous in people who have poor immune systems who cant battle off the bacteria.
Hi Joe, Ive actually only seen the ad on the insanity DVD itself, So every time you pop in the dvd to exercise you get a brief beachbody and shakeology promo…I think your right its sneaky marketing..Because it lists larger amounts than most of us would sit down and eat of a large variety of vegetables/fruits and claims to get the “nutrition” thats in just 1 glass of shakeology you would have to consume allll of this (insert picture of large pile of fruits/veg)…
Yes I did read all your links since I last wrote and I have to say you and TONS of other people say shakeology is just an awful tasting drink.
Lots of people like the chocolate but unfortunately im not much of a fan of chocolate, never have been. Call me crazy but sweets have never been my issue…My problem is fattening items like anything dairy and breads, meats, pastas…
Sooo I know I wouldn’t like the chocolate, I do like vanilla anything and it seems that would have made the most sense to have that flavor as well but apparently they haven’t figured that out yet…I had planned on the green one because Im one to prefer the Naked Green Machine drink…However, the green one got the absolute WORST feedback..like 1/20 liked it.
I thought mixing it with a banana would be fine but its so expensive I dont feel like the hassle…nor do I want to go thru the hassle of getting some coach to mail me samples because there’s a chance that this drink is sooooo horrible that I need to sample it first!!…..forgetaboutit!!!…Ive decided to just go the natural route, fruits/veg in a blender….
One thing Ive been getting into lately is raw milk/yogurt products. People who are looking for aid in digestion and immunity may be interested in looking into using raw milk/yogurt in their smoothies…Ive read that the idea that our milk must be pasteurized is just a bunch of hype and that actually the only reason its done is because the milk that is obtained at the corporate type processing plant is so badly tainted with bacteria from the dirty dairy environment that it must be heated, pasteurized before consumption…
But there are a ton of small clean dairy farms where you can get/consume whats termed “raw” milk that is unpasteurized and be absolutely fine. Whats more is that the pasteurizing KILLS all of the GOOD things that you get from the raw product…Ive tried it and it tastes just like regular milk! My problem is I dont regularly consume it quickly enough by itself before it will go bad. Thats the downside is that a 1/2 gallon keeps for about a week only.
However, I think if I use it for smoothies it would be just the right amount.
Yes, maybe adds a few more calories or fat but maybe the health benefits are worth it when im exercising…
Do you have an opinion on raw?
Hi, Tara, If you see that ad that referenced the veggies, do forward it to me in an email. When I wrote my shakeology review I took the ingredients right from the beachbody website. They have pdfs of the ingredients.
I never saw that shakeology had broccoli, cauliflower etc. I think its just marketing hype. Beachbody is very good at marketing their products and making people think they are superior.
While for healthy people, I do not think its bad (but it is bad tasting. did you read my shakeolgy taste test post?), I just don’t think its any better than what I am recommending. Again if you can find that ad email it to me and I will take a look at it for you.
Hi Joe,
Just started doing Insanity where Beachbody has and ad for shakeology. I read your review and all the comments…my question is you offer up other shake options one can make at home by throwing some fruits/vegs and various protein powders together. Ive done that before and definitely agree its good in many ways.
So im wondering how that compares to the ads claim. Its about alllllll the items the ad says you would have to eat to get as much of all the good things in those items as you would get out of one glass of shakeology….I mean its like cups of broccoli, cauliflower, peas, radishes, etc. I cant remember them all but just know it was quite a lot of great veggies I don’t always eat and I actually am a big fan of eating raw veggies. Have you seen it ?
I didn’t see them listed on your ingredient list…but I was wondering if thats even whats in it because the ad says that in order to get the good stuff in one shake you would literally have to eat all this, not that this is necessarily whats actually IN their product…
Mo my pleasure!!
Great 🙂 you just saved my $120! thanks
Hi Sarah, weight loss is very much about the amount of calories you use.. Your question is very similar to what someone asked me on my personal site and I described there are 3 things that burn calories:
resting metabolic rate
exercise/daily activities
digesting/metabolizing food
Here is more on this http://www.joe-cannon.com/home/wp/what-weight-loss-supplements-work/
Of these, its the first that uses the most calories in a day. So, I would focus on not eating too many calories rather than a weight loss supplement. Shakeology doesn’t have a lot of calories and so that’s why people lose weight.
If you want to try a protein shake after exercise I have no problem with that. there are a few our there that are about 200 calories and have around 30 grams of protein. Of you could make your own. if you scroll up in the comments I cover a shake I make myself.
hope that helps Sarah, and I’m glad you enjoyed my review.