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?
Finally , it is so refreshing to read an unbiased review of Shakeology. I get so annoyed when i see the BB “Coaches ” becoming fanatical about it and they cant even answer a simple question without feeling defensive.
I have tried the shake and i love it . The BB coaches are doing more damage to this product by coming up with ridiculous claims of this shake curing cancer and anyone that’s has not tried this shake will die soon without knowing the benefits ever…well, of course I am exaggerating a bit about the ‘die soon’ part, but that’s how aggressive they are with the crazy marketing.
I like your review and it makes sense that people that lost weight on this shake ALSO used common sense, like Exercise and eat smart.
KC thanks for your feedback. Yes, about the BB coaches, I have no idea what goes on at their meetings but I’m guessing that the pressure to sell this product may be causing some to be overly aggressive -or as I say “ravenous’. I have not heard any of them say Shakeology can cure cancer and I hope I never do – for their sake! Again, thanks much for taking the time to write 🙂
Thank you Joe for hearing me out and for the well wishes. I look forward to seeing a review after 30 full days if you get your free bag. I do want to add to be sure to make it in a blender when you do try it again. I didn’t the first time and it was a huge difference in taste for me.
P.S. With all the ingredients that Shake-O has it is not surprising that some people would want to add some other things to it as everyone tastes things just a bit different plus variety is the spice of life.
Hi Colleen, I’ve been thinking about my 30 day challenge and I’ve changed my mind. Ive already written an unbiased review of Shakeology (Shake-O, catchy nickname by the way) and I honestly want to review other products. I’m sure it will cause weight loss if people follow the plan but that’s also true for other products as well and honestly I just dont like the taste.
As an aside, I’m really finding it interesting that BB coaches usually never leave comments on my site but as soon as I let one BB coach leave her website, almost immediately, several others start chiming in to leave comments – and their website… Coincidence? This has happened once before until, I put an end to it. I’m going to say it again that this goes to the “ravenous blood in the water” nature of many people who sell Shakeology.
Joe –
I will talk to my team tonight about seeing if we can get you a 30 day bag. I think by being able to mix other things in your shake is to let you have variety so you are not having the same thing all the time. Just make it fun & again it’s a Meal so if I can mix it with my Coffee and make a banging Mocha that beats any Starbucks I’m all game. At $4 a glass where can you get a healthy meal like that??? Last I checked no where.
As for the Clinical Research I just think the Results Far our weight any research ever done because it can be Manipulated. And I point out again that if Foodfacts.com has Shakeology @ #1 &; #2 over I really think that has to say something.
Oh and I mix mine 12oz of water 7 ice in a shaker….but you can put as much in as you want. You might like it with milk better if all up to the person.
And You might love it in the blender with peanut butter almond milk & ice who knows. But this is 100% the best tasting shake out there if you mix it right in my opinion. And when I see myself changing I don’t think twice about the cost. My kids love it too…..I give them a half serving….I even make the Ice Cream with it!!!
Ok Margaret, just so you know my review will still be totally unbiased. The clinical research on shakeology would be more effective for me than testimonials. Testimonials can be influenced by various factors but a well done study should in theory be free of this.
hey Joe –
I appreciate the review on Shakeology.
I didn’t read through ALL of the comments but I wanted to address your research concern. Beachbody is currently conducting studies on their new flavor of Shakeology, Tropical, which is due out this fall. If we are provided with that information I will be sure to pass it along.
As far as my personal experience with it, I have had several friends and family members lower cholesterol, BP, weight, etc with Shakeology.
I think one of the reasons that Beachbody doesn’t make the claims that “Shakeology alone will cure you” is because it goes against the companies philosophy of a well-rounded approach (fitness + nutrition + support).
There is no “magic bullet” for improving your health but Shakeology is an excellent tool for the average person’s toolbox (and budget) in my opinion.
Before Shakeology I would have a protein drink, “greens” drink, anti-oxidants, etc… it cost WAY more than $3.50/svg (coach price) and didn’t taste nearly as good.
You should really give Shakeology another taste test… try some different recipes and find one that you like… I’ve yet to meet someone who hasn’t found a recipe that they enjoy (and I have about 100 customers)…
Anyways, good article. Keep up the good work.
HI Mark, I’m curious when you say Beachbody is “conducting studies”, are these clinical studies on the health effects of shakeology or just taste tests to see how / if the public likes the new Tropical flavor of shakeology? I only ask because taste tests are just for marketing purposes rather than “lets see if this stuff really helps people”.
I am all for people getting healthy but one of my big questions is why would BeachBody add things to Shakeology that make no sense. Just a few of the things that make no sense to me are enzymes and ginkgo. Ginkgo in particular worries me because of its potential for blood thinning. If Shakeology was just a low calorie shake – without all the other stuff – I would feel better about it.
I just had a shakeology shake last week (I have some samples left) and it didn’t taste any better. Again, for $119 per month why do I have to add anything to it to make it taste better? Also, if all those other ingredients are so good, why again, would I have to add things to it?
Appreciate your feedback and glad you are enjoying my reviews 🙂
I have read in entirety what was written here by everyone and have some new items to contribute. At Christine above who purchased it off of Ebay…this is not authentic product so you’ve wasted your money (BB nor its coaches sell on there).
As for the taste Joe, I wish somebody would have mixed it up for you personally to get a better idea as indeed the package is not to most people’s liking as it is too thick.
I think BB should change this to what most people like, 12 oz. of liquid and 2/3 cup of ice and it tastes awesome! Also, I appreciate your honest and unbiased reviews however to get a more accurate picture of what it can or can’t do for you I’d of liked to seen that you tried it yourself for 30 days and then gave it your full review.
If you wouldn’t want to try that because of the taste then I would recommend adding 1/2 banana and some natural peanut butter or better yet PB2 and nobody yet has complained about the taste.
I think honestly one cannot give a complete review on the product unless trying it for a full 30 days to have an accurate opinion.
I can honestly say that I didn’t take it for weight loss but to see for myself what all the hype was about and see if it could help me with some depression I was dealing with.
It 100% changed everything for me in regards to that. It was like night and day. I went from fetal position and in bed sleeping my time away to literally jumping up feeling rested and doing the toughest workout at 4 a.m…there was not other explanation as I changed nothing.
Since I have had worse things to deal with such as my Mother’s passing and still able to steer away from depression. My energy is as good as when I was in my 20’s, my sweet tooth less, and my migraines vanished entirely. Yes if I juiced I could probably have the same benefits but I find this easier for me.
I was skeptic prior to this and now am a firm believer that this is what made my body come alive! I am so grateful to no longer struggle with some of my previous issues and for that it is priceless….
Thank for allowing me to share.
Colleen, I’ll tell you what, if there is a BB coach who will give me a 30 day supply of Shakeology I will try it and write another review of how I feel. Is there a Beach Body coach reading this who will give me a 30 day supply of Shakeology?
I’m looking at a pack of Shakeology right now (my last pack) and I promise that this week I will try the 12 oz water with ice recipe you mentioned and see if It tastes any better and I will let you know.
Regardless of what happens to me, I am very glad you are feeling better and you do have my condolences on the passing of your mother. I unfortunately, am all too aware of what you have been going through. I will say a prayer for you.
hi Joe….I am a Team Beachbody coach so I can get the Shakeology product at a reduced cost….let me begin with a quick overview of myself…..I am a two time colon cancer survivor and after my second bout had post operative chemo which caused my weight to skyrocket….being 6’5″ at the time was 270 pounds, after the chemo was 385lbs….I started using this product Labor Day 2010 and by ONLY using this product replacing 1 meal and only casually watching what I ate dropped over 35 pounds by the middle of November…..THEN began a walking routine starting off with a mile to a mile and a half graduating to 5-6 miles a nite the weight started melting off….by Christmas was 299lbs! also, my overall cholesterol went from 203 down to 173 and triglyceride dropped from 182 to 76….this being documented & if anyone wants I can send proof……….SHAKEOLOGY WORKS!!!
Paul, I am very happy that you have beaten cancer and also that you are more healthy now. I believe however that you lost weight because you reduced your calorie intake by using 1 shakeology per day. I cant find nothing in shakeology that makes it a different weight loss solution than other low calorie shakes.
Your weight loss (and the exercise you did) was also the main reason why your cholesterol and triglycerides decreased as well. Again, this all very great news. I just want you to give yourself some of this credit. YOU beat cancer and YOU lost the weight. Shakeology may have been part of your weight loss solution, and while that’s good, YOU 99% of the work. I want you to know that.
Thanks again Joe about your honest opinion on the supplement regarding your response to Margaret
Larry, Thanks for saying that. I appreciate your feedback
hey Joe if you have a twitter, Carl daikler the CEO of Beachbody is on there see if you can get a direct answer from him on there.
Hi Larry, I appreciate you telling me that. Im really only interested in the research on shakeology specifically not research on ingredients. If there ever is any research on it, Ill hear about it and discuss it here.
Joe,
Glad you had the opportunity to taste Shakeology. The reason I started drinking it was because I was doing P90X and burning tons of Calories and I could not get my eating under control. So I decided that since others were having such great results with Shakeology I had to try it.
It took my about 3 months to make this decision. It was the best decision I could have ever made for me. Yes I started off replacing it for my breakfast….it is a meal replacement. I now have it when ever I’m on the run and can’t stop to eat even a snack. I take it with me when I’m on the run and know the only thing to grab would be fast food, my body craves it when I don’t have it and that is because all the wonderful things it is. The Energy I have is well loved since I run after a 4.5, 3.5, & 2 year old and they have endless energy. Well now I can say I have that too!
As for the controversial ingredients which are the following Algae Blue Green & Flavor(s) Natural Vanilla (check for why foodfacts.com/food/Meal-Replacement-Drinks/Shakeology-Chocolate-Meal-Replacement-Shake-14-oz/57988) note I put this here so other can check again for themselves.
I am not a Doctor and I don’t think that you are either, so if you are on any medication it is Always Best to ask your Doctor if any product is safe for you. Anyone who drinks Shakeology will be more than willing to share information on the product so you can show your doctor. All you have to do is ask. 🙂
I do know I personally have seen this shake change peoples lives as far as Cholesterol levels going down & Blood Pressure it is amazing. So unless you have tired it for a full 30 or more I just don’t think you know what the product really does. To my understanding of this review all that has been done is tasting it once and reading the label…To me it’s like reading a book by it’s cover and just not a well rounded review of a product.
Skin, hair and nails….My hair; nail are growing faster so that can’t be because of weight loss. My skin is the best it’s ever been I had acne scars on my face from taking Accutane as a child and I had gone to several Plastic surgeons to see if anything could be done (told there was a 50/50 chance), tired scrubs everything, And with in two months of me drinking Shakeology I looked myself and was in Ah…I could not believe what I was seeing, my acne scars were practically gone…Now my face is smooth & my scars are invisible.
That can’t be from weight lose either. My weight was gained over the years of having 3 children and a year after my last when I was still 200 pounds I decided I had to take action. This has been a gradual change in my body and Yes Shakeology helped me reach my goal weight.
So in closing my weight loss is not just because of Shakeology it is because of my exercise & learning how to cook clean it just happens that Shakeology is the Healthiest Meal I can have and it starts my day off right. A meal I will never give up because it give me far more nutrition than I could ever get in just one meal I prepare.
Margaret, I’m really glad you think its helped you and you are right I am not a doctor. I have however been investigating supplements for about 15 years. When I looked at shakeology I reviewed each ingredient according to the clinical evidence and I do believe I have written one of the most complete and unbiased review of shakeology on the internet. While testimonials can be a starting point for scientific study, they alone are not enough for me to say “this works”. I need clinical proof.
When it comes to cholesterol, it is the weight loss that caused the reduction in cholesterol more than shakeology. There is a lot of research that weight loss can lower cholesterol levels. There is no proof that shakeology directly reduces cholesterol.
I’ve wondered many times why Beach Body does not do a study the benefits of Shakeology. They make a lot of money on this product. They could easily commission a study and get it published. I wonder why they dont do this?
While I cannot comment on why your skin and nails are looking better, I can say that shakeology did not give me any extra energy.
As for the controversial ingredients, I need to point out potential side effects because this stuff is being recommended to people who may be taking medications -and the recommendations are coming from beach body coaches who probalby have no training in pharmacology or any biological science
Even if that was not the case, we do not know how shakeology interacts with medications because its never been clinically tested. This is true for a lot of supplements too. Because of this, I cant just say “talk to your doctor first”, because odds are that doctors dont know what some of these ingredients are.
I also wrote my review because the MLM aspect of shakeology seems to me to be almost ravenous. I’ve been asked to join up with various supplements in the past but never before was I approached as many times and by as many people as with Shakeology. It actually concerned me because it seemed that there were legions of people touting a product without any regard to what the health of the person might be. Again, just saying “talk to your doctor” doesn’t cut it with me. That’s just “cover your butt” language.
Beach body coaches often say to me that they are trying to get people healthy but when they approach me, all they talked about was how much money could be made or how much they were making. Im sure thats not all BB coaches but its been my experience. I’m all for making money and in healthy people I think Shakeology is pretty safe but when it comes to people who may not be “healthy” I just needed for people to hear some things that Beach Body Coaches would probalby not equipped to discuss.
Oh and Joe if you want a sample I would be happy to send you one! 🙂
Margaret, Ive already tried Shakeology. I really dont like the taste. 🙂
I am a beachbody coach I have been drinking shakeology for 8 months now. The amount of energy it has given me is unbelievable, My hair, skin, nails are healthiest it’s ever been, I have lost over 30 pounds using this product and working out daily. It is not just a weight lose shake. It is a meal replacement to help curve your cravings and help you nutritionally. Unlike most shakes this has over 70 ingredients in it.
Also if you have some kind of health issues it is always best to check with your doctor to make sure it is safe for you. But you should Check this out Shakeology is ranked #1 & #2. foodfacts.com/public/products.cfm?category=20&sub=321&subsub=1821
I am telling you that you need to try it. Also you should know that Beachbody backs ALL their products 100% so if you hate something you can return it within 30 days and get your money back….so really you have nothing to lose! Good Luck to all of you! 😉
Margaret, thanks for telling me about food facts I was not aware of that site. I did look up the link you provided and it also says -as I do – that shakeology has “controversial ingredients”. For example, as Ive said before Ginkgo needs to be removed from shakeology. This is an example of an ingredient that should not be in any health or weight loss shake. It will interact with many medications.
I’m glad you lost weight with shakeology but I must tell you that it was not because of anything special in shakeology. I really believe you lost weight only because you replaced 1-2 meals a day with it. I also have to ask the question, is your skin and nails better because of shakeology -or because you lost 30 lbs?
I have to ask these questions because so few others ask them, and these are good things to think about 🙂
Krzysztof Congratulations on your weight loss! For me, you losing weight is what is important. It doesn’t matter how you do it as long as its healthy and it seems that what you are doing -watching portion sizes etc – is great!
when you start exercising (you knew I was going to mention this!), start slowly. As your fitness improves you’ll be able to do more. This will help keep you energy high, help you keep your muscle tissue – and build more! Here is something I wrote on exercise training tips for when you do start
http://www.joe-cannon.com/home/wp/exercise-workout-training-tips/
keep up the fantastic progress!!
To start with I am not a BeachBody Coach or a fitness connoisseur. I am fairly overweight and decided that I needed to change my eating habits.
I started taking the Shakeology on recommendation from a neighbor… also not a BeachBody coach. I changed my eating habits to a much healthier diet and used the shake once a day M-F. With that I started watching portion sizes and what I was eating… still haven’t notched out the time to exercise but that is coming.
I started at 308.8 lbs… I am at 289.5 as of this morning at 5 weeks into it. I consider that a good start. I don’t know how much of that was the change in diet and what was the Shakeology but it couldn’t have hurt. It does seem to give me extra energy in the morning. All in all I am happy with the product and until I see otherwise I will continue to use it… I am not on any medications so I can’t speak to the Shakeology interactions with meds.
Thank you for the review of the product!
Joe, as far as I know, it is only available through the company’s website or by calling them. Here’s the direct link. There is an organic version, which I haven’t ordered because this contains some organic vegetables according to the label, and the fully organic greens is much more expensive.
http://www.purityproducts.com/purityEcommerce/control/productDetail?productId=triple-greens-powder
Bear in mind, the retail price of this isn’t cheap either. I think part of that is to persuade customers to opt for the auto-ship option. I’ve avoided that by ordering initially on a special and then once on the email list, they inundate you other specials, which make it much more affordable.
The only drawback is that it does not contain any protein, but you could mix with cow’s milk, soy milk, or unsweetened protein powder if you want to make this into a protein drink. Sometimes I use plain egg white protein.
During a Vitamix demonstration at Whole Foods, the representative recommended adding cinnamon to kale to help cut down on the bitterness, but something else to sweeten is also needed. I’ve used cantaloupe or banana and carrots or you can add your own sweetener. It’s something you have to experiment with.
Hi Cindy
I did not mix shakeology with anything. I did exactly what it said to do on the label. I’m glad you have found a product that is working for you and I agree with you, it will work IF you follow it to the letter. But the same is true also for any diet. The important thing is to find something that works and stick to it.
My biggest beef with shakeology is that for $119 per month I shouldn’t have to mix it with anything. people shell out all that money and they still have to buy other stuff to make it taste good. I just dont like that part.
Again, I’m really glad its working for you. As long as you are losing weight in a healthy way, that’s whats important I’m very happy for you.
Joe/Tina,
I am not a Beach Body coach or a fitness/diet expert to say the least. I was looking for a good product to assist me with weight loss and energy level. I used to do the slim fast plan, but I was always hungry. That is when a friend of mine suggested Shakeology. What I can tell you is that if you stick to the shake with a consistent plan, it definitely works.
Also, if you drink the shake without any fruit or other ingredients, yes it does not taste good. I have been drinking it now for 3 weeks and I love the taste. I have also been gradually dropping weight which is perfect for what I was looking for.
Don’t let the skeptics change your attitude, the taste for me is like dessert! (water, 1/2 banana, 2 strawberries & 1 tblspn peanut butter). Don’t forget to add 4 – 6 cubes of ice for thickness, it will help fill you up! Joe, my question to you is……..did you try it with any of the suggested recipes?
http://www.shakeology.com/web/shakeology/recipes-chocolate
Hi Tina, the important thing is that you lose weight. I have no doubt that if you follow the plan to the letter, that you will lose weight. Since your brother is a beach body coach, get him to help you with recipes if you dont like how it tastes.
Don’t let me or anyone else give you mixed emotions about this. the important thing is that you have taken a step forward. if Shakeolgy can be used a vehicle to help you lose weight than that’s whats important and I’m happy.
Yes do keep me posted on your weight loss too 🙂
Hi Joe,
your review on shakeology is really good, I only wish I had read it prior to ordering. My brother is a beachbody coach and he swears by this shake. He claims it will help me with weightloss.( i am at least 100lbs overweight). I really don’t know what to think about the shake, i ordered it yesterday so I am hoping to have it soon. I will let you know what it does for me weight wise..if anything..
Judy, I have not heard of Tripple Greens. can I get it at vitamin shoppe etc?
I once put kale in my smoothie, thinking it was spinach. You ain’t kidding about the bitter taste lol
That does sound good, and I do make shakes when at home. My Vitamix is good for juicing the kale, unlike the Bullet I use for quick blending. I keep experimenting with kale in recipes. Too much and it can be bitter.
When at work, I usually take along a shaker cup and some protein powder.
Joe, have you ever heard of a product called Triple Greens by Purity Products? I used to take it all the time. It’s sweetened with stevia, and I think it has a good taste, but the company doesn’t have any peer reviewed research.