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?
Kyle – Satiety was important for me because I have a voracious appetite. Shakeology didn’t help curb my hunger at all. I tried the chocolate shakeology with ice – I was hungry less than an hour later. I tried it with peanut butter added, didn’t help. I tried greenberry plain (yuck) and greenberry with fruit (still yucky). Shakeology did not work for me. Adding whole psyllium husk to my diet did the trick and provides more fiber than what you would consume in a glass of shakeology.
One thing that a few people touched on that is not really discussed at length is the satiety factor. I’m looking at Shakeology right now and am curious about that aspect of it.
I have taken many different protein supplements over the years and most of them leave me very hungry an hour later. For anyone who is prone to binging (as many who are overweight are) this is an important thing to avoid. I’ve mixed them with various fruits, yogurts, whatever.. and pretty much the same thing occurs. So *if* BB has figured out some combination of ingredients that does not induce a gag reflex, provides more than just protein and can curb hunger for ~2-3 hours for 140 calories, then perhaps their product is superior to others (?)
Comments on satiety from those who have used Shakeology? How long after the shake does hunger return?
Ok, I haven’t read through all of the posts simply because I couldn’t get past an obvious answer to a question. If you are using Shakeology as a meal replacement, the reason to add to it is so your body is getting ample calories and fats! If you are eating sensibly, I’m a 29 year old, 5’8″ female, I weigh 154 lbs., and I work out 3 times a week doing mainly interval/cardio and my calorie intake depending on if I’m trying to maintain or loose should be between 1650 and 1850 a day.
Now eating sensibly you should be eating about every 3 hours. For me, I’m up enough hours for 5 meals so I am looking at 330-370 calories per meal. Now, I’m not a doctor but I can tell how I feel. Shakeology is golden for me. I throw it into my blender in the morning, pour it into my cut and drink it on my way to work every day. Perfect for me. I’m not a big breakfast kind of girl. Shakeology helps (for me and others I know personally) with regularity which if you ever had any struggle in that department know anything that can help is priceless! The other thing I’ve noticed since drinking shakeology (aside from loosing 7 pounds since starting it 3 months ago, and no, I didn’t change a single other thing in my routine) is a leveled feeling of energy through the day. I used to drop off around 1-2pm and I don’t get that energy drop like I used to.
As I said earlier, I didn’t get a chance to actually read everything but I truly hope you got to give it a go for 30 days and really enjoyed playing around with flavors and ingredients. Also, I didn’t see mentioned that Shakeology gives you a 30 day money back guarantor!!! Literally, they ask you to sent back the empty bag. That’s something to think about!
Hi Jenny, I’m very glad you have lost weight and I see on your website that you are also a BB coach. Have you had any of your clients send shakeology back? If somebody were to return shakeology what is the protocol? do you just have to call and say I want my money back or do you have to send back the unused packs of shakeology? How do people send shakeology back?
This is such an active topic! I have enjoyed the conversation so far. After trying shakeology more than once, I decided it wasn’t for me due to taste, price and not curbing my hunger. What works for me now is making fruit and veggie smoothies – mango, kale, banana, blueberries, ice, yogurt etc…and adding 1 teaspoon of psyllium husk for bulk.
Sometimes I use flax seeds instead of the husk or sometimes I use both. 🙂 It tends to keep me satiated until my next meal or snack time and helps me to get more fiber into my diet. I also try to eat whole foods as much as possible and eat lean meats & fish. If I’m going to be super active on a particular day, I’ll add whey protein to my smoothie; leave out the husk (or else it gets too thick), but add flax seeds or flax oil.
Yvette, Im going to have to try Psyllium in my smootie! I keep forgetting to grab some when I go to vitamin shoppe!
Thanks Joe, although I don’t agree 100% on how you conducted your review, I respect your professionalism. It’s the negativity from the comments from others mainly………
Thanks again and good luck in your future endeavors.
I am not a beach body coach and far from any type of fitness guru or nutritionist. This product DID work for me and not only have I been committed to it but I have curved my eating habits. I used to be a slim fast person, but Shakeology has done what’s it’s supposed to do (keeps me full with low calories) hands down. Not everything works for everybody, but that doesn’t make it a scam. Please remove me from the thread. I’m tired of reading negativity.
Thank you
Thanks
Cindy, no negativity here, just answers based on facts and rational thought. When BeachBody was featured on Nightline on 10/17/11, the reporter called it Cultish”. I don’t think I would call BB a cult but it is promoted aggressively – especially to people in the fitness field. This is likely because of the MLM aspect of BB. I’ll bet 99% of the websites the discuss shakeology never mention any of the stuff this website does. I’ll take you off the list. Continued success with your goals.
Finally a honest review.
I tried shakeology for a long time almost half year and all that happened to me was gain weight. Worse decision I ever made that’s what I get for falling into the scam. Glad the product works for the coaches.
Thanks for the compliment Grisel!
Thanks for the review Joe. I have recently begun drinking the chocolate shakeology. Personally, I think it tastes pretty good, and I feel like I’ve noticed an increase in my energy level. However, this could just be the placebo effect. When you’re paying top dollar for something, we all know your brain can deceive you into thinking it’s going to be great, regardless of whether it really is or not. Typical human nature.
Also, I am curious/skeptical like you about its safety and efficacy, as there have been no randomized controlled trials performed. I am just finishing up pharmacy school, and have had training on drug literature, statistics and evaluation, and I think many people out there don’t realize what you’re actually talking about when you say you’re looking for some peer-reviewed trials. I agree with you on that though, studies need to be performed showing significant results before I would ever advise, recommend, or sell this product to my patients.
But as for myself, I’m going to continue drinking shakeology, at least for awhile. Whether it’s true results or the placebo effect, who knows… but I do feel a slight positive change in my body and my energy level. Being a student, I don’t always eat right and get proper nutrition, so a shake that has many of the vitamins and supplements in it that I am not getting from my meals seems to be a good option for ME at the moment. That definitely does not mean it’s the right option for everyone. Regardless, I appreciate you taking the time to review shakeology and touch on the research you have come across. Have a great day!! 🙂
Hi Elly, thanks for chiming in and Im glad that you are having more energy while drinking shakeology. I have a list of terms and concepts in the questions page of my site where I talk about what a published peer reviewed study is. I do hope people look over those terms. fantastic about Pharm school – that sounds like a LOT of fun 🙂
Hey, Joe
Thanks! Im a beachbody coach and think this is a very fair review and agree with your conclusions. I’m also a chemist, and coming from a science background makes me a skeptic. I will say I have experienced some positive effects with shakeology that I have not had with any other supplement. That is not proof anything. Just persevered positive response on myself. I also agree it is not the best tasting shake out there.
In response to what some other folks on here have said about supplements. Let me say I have been testing all kinds of supplement for over 20 years and the fact is at worst many are complete BS and at best the results are inconclusive. There is actually more evidence to support Vitamin C helps cancer cells resist treatment than that it helps your body resist or recover from a cold.
That does not mean supplements are not a good tool.
In my mind supplements are a tool with several uses. They are great for people like me who eat 7 to 9 times a day and need a little variety. They are quick which is also great when you are short on time. Vitamins maybe viewed as cheap form of insurance. We know our bodies need them and get them from fresh food sources. We do not fully understand their function or if vitamins in supplement form are effective. Finally if a supplement like shakeology or any other can be used to get someone started on a healthy lifestyle. Then it has done its job.
Bottom line no supplement is needed for anyone who eats healthy meals and exercises regularly. All they provide is convenience in variety and ease of preparation. Everything else is speculation.
PS I have not heard or seen any BB coaches claiming anything about Shakeology having anything to do with helping cancer. If you do please report them to customer relations and or the compliance office.
Mark thanks for writing. I appreciate your feedback.
Well to each his own lol. Eating 1200 calories a day and working out for 1 hour a day seems like an awful way to live. You can eat more calories and work out less and achieve the same results if not be healthier. Shakeology or athletic greens or multivitamins with supplements all get you to this goal with less work and the fact remains that you actually can’t get the amount of nutrients etc that are in these super drinks from whole foods alone. Same goes for protein drinks vs eating 20 chicken breasts a day. It’s just much more convinient and without the added gag reflex from stuffing your face trying to get all the vitamins and nutrients from whole foods.
Dont get me wrong whole foods are great but you physically can not get the same thing from just them for the same price as a shakeology shake. I dont care if the shake was 20 dollars a shake. You still could not at a grocery store buy all the ingredients to equal the same benefits of this or other super drinks/supplements. There’s people that wait for studies to prove things which could take 10 to 15 years especially if you want the FDA involved and then there’s people that just do it and reap the benefits.
Me, I work out 2 times a week for no more than 30 minutes at a time and have a cheat day every week where I eat whatever I want and still lose weight and build muscle. My blood test levels have never been better. I not only feel healthy. I am healthy.
PS
At 4 grams per meal (no more than this due to adverse health effects) Cinnamon is used to reduce the glycemic index of a meal up to 29% it can also lower LDL cholesterol and Triglycerides. It slows the rate at which food leaves the stomach making you feel full faster. You need it to be fresh though. Saigon cinnamon is the best though cassia cinnamon works just fine.
325mg EGCG four times a day with decaffeinated extract has great effects without caffeine. Increases GLUT-4 recruitment to the surface of skeletal muscle cells while inhibiting GLUT-4 recruitment to fat cells. Causes fat cells to kill themselves rather than shrink.
Matthew, I just have to chime in.
I really felt you were belittling Tina’s chosen weight loss avenue (that’s how I intemperate it – you laughed at her!) . I agree 1200 calories is not a lot but she has not indicated anything but good results and I have no doubt that when shes achieves her goal she will slowly titrate up her calories to a more palatable level.
Where is the published peer reviewed proof that supplements can cause faster / better weight loss with less effort than what Tina is doing?
I disagree with what you say about so called “super drinks” being better than food. Please show me the proof. Is there any published peer reviewed proof that Athletic Greens or Shakeology are BETTER in any way than real food? Ive looked at athletic greens and I am not impressed.
I’ve not heard that EGCG causes fat cell death. can you please provide me with the reference? Id like to review that study.
I dont need the FDA involved to prove something works or not work – They dont do supplement research anyway. I’m very open to seeing research from universities and even supplement companies themselves.
cinnamon may lower glycemic index (not sure if it does or doesn’t) but so does protein. protein also slows digestion. I’m not against cinnamon but wanted to mention that alternatives exist. Also not all research finds cinnamon helps type II diabetes. Weight loss alone can also lower cholesterol and triglycerides.
Matthew you still didn’t answer my question about giving me a reference about cinnamon causing weight loss…
Hi Joe,
I don’t know if you remember me but I posted a comment awhile back. I had purchased shakeology to help me lose weight ( prior to reading your review ) and I had promised to give you and update. First of all everyone who is giving you a hard time about your review are obviously just mad because…your actually 100 % right.
Well as you know I purchased the shakeolology and I was determined to lose weight on it… The first week I lost 10 pounds… I don’t think it was from the shakeology..only because I barely drank it….it was so disgusting I could not bare to get it all down.. I would mix it with a bunch of ice and water as it tells you to do and it would take me hours to get it down…horrible.. this was the chocolate…the greenberry is even worse..its like throw up in a fancy bag.
The 10 pounds I lost was from not eating.. calorie reduction.. like you said.. I stopped shakeology after a week because I just couldn’t bare torturing myself any longer.
I am happy to say I am down 47.6 pounds…and I did it without shakeology…I followed your suggestions on calorie reduction..I eat 1200 a day and I exercise for 1 hour a day. I couldn’t be happier..and its no thanks to shakeology
Tina WOW 47.6 pounds that’s fantastic! I am so very happy that you have been able to do that – and yes I do remember you 🙂
continued success Tina!!!
Wow! I am not shocked at all….I asked to be removed and I was not….But I’m glad I was not because 1st of all this Review was fine UNTIL You Joe brought in comments about BB Coaches. This review had NOT ONE thing to do with BB Coaches it was about a SUPPLEMENT and you should have kept it that way.
Also I think ANY product anyone ever tires you have to give it 30 days other wise you don’t know the full effects of what it can do for you or for that matter what it won’t do.
You says you don’t like the taste fine, but that is no reason not try the product for 30 days seeing how you were reviewing it. You can not get the effect of something just by a few tastes of it. The benefits from Shakeology are a gradual change not something over night.
You could have tired a bag for 30 days and if you completely hated it Beachbody would give you every penny back. So you would have lost nothing. You should have stuck to your word, but instead you continue to put invaluable responses to every comment made trying to justify and saying we aren’t getting the results from Shakeology. I am 100% sure you had your mind was made up BEFORE you ever took your 1st drink and it shows in all your comments.
Shakeology give you natural energy over time…for me that is not feeling sluggish, makes me sleep better, and I can push myself harder….these are just a few things I’ve notice, but you would not notice if you were not paying attention to what your body was telling you. My skin, hair, & nails are the best they have ever been and that is because all the yummy ingredients in the shake….this wouldn’t happen because I’m working out. None of these would you experience from just a week or a few days of drinking again it’s a gradual change in your body. For those who need to lose a few pounds it will help you along the way….And yes it is because you are taking in less calories HELLO, that’s the whole point in getting people healthy we intake way too many calories that our bodies can not process!! Geez Rocket Scientist we are!
Margaret,
first of all I did remove you from getting updates so If you are still receiving them Im not sure why but I will look into it.
second, as Ive said before, if BB coaches make crazy claims about this product I will mention it. You should not take this as a personal reference to you. My review was intended to be on the product alone but after learning about claims made about what this product might do, the conversation took another direction. That happens sometimes.
Instead of getting mad at me, address BB coaches who imply things that have no proof. Just google “shakeology cures cancer” and you will see websites from people who imply that it will help people who have cancer. WHERE IS THE PROOF???
Shakeology is a supplement that has ingredients that NOBODY knows what they do when combined with cancer treatment -or other medications. Yet there are BB coaches say “its a super food” and “It maybe what you are looking for” and “it may benefit chemotherapy patients”. In my opinion this is wrong. For example, shakeology has antioxidants right? so it may INTERFERE with chemotherapy or radiation therapy! This might be true for ANY antioxidant.
Third. where is the scientific proof that I have to take it for 30 days to feel the effects? Margaret there is ZERO proof that 30 days is needed. I originally wrote my review on the ingredients and felt that a taste test was needed to fully describe the product. Thats all I was interested in. I will leave the testimonials to others. I was only interested in facts and my personal unbiased opinion on the product I refuse to subject myself to a product that tastes bad – and I wont mix it with other things to improve the taste. I know others like the taste and Im happy for them. Don’t begrudge me because I’m not one of those people.
Margaret, I’m not a rocket scientist but neither are most BB coaches.
For what it’s worth, I applaud Joe for sticking to his convictions in presenting an unbiased review. If others don’t appreciate it, no one is forcing them to read it, but to stoop to name calling, is not only uncalled for, but also mean spirited. I take various supplements myself including protein products and am very particular about what I take. It is a personal choice, and I see no reason to bash someone who doesn’t want to use a product.
Also, since supplements are not regulated, I appreciate knowing if claims are evidenced based, rather than anecdotal.
Thanks Judy 🙂
I thank Mathew for commenting on what I felt the same thing that you were bad mouthing people and implying things that weren’t really how they are. Thanks Matthew for not being the first to notice. Plus if you give someone your word that you will try a full 30 day product that was offered to you as free then you should be your word, period. There is much more to this product then weightloss and much more that I have personally experienced with no other explanation as nothing else had changed other then drinking this nutritional shake. Depression and severe migraines gone is priceless. I am with Mathew and will not be reading any further as a man of his word is a man of everything regardless of the reasons that you changed your mind. I don’t add anything else to my shake and it is very doable and even if it tasted less then desirable I would drink it merely for how good I feel because I do. Mathew feel free to find me on my facebook site I would love to be friends with someone that says it like it is! Thank you truly! C
Colleen, I hear what you are saying but I just don’t like the taste and unless good studies are done, I prefer to spend my time on other topics. When I accepted the “challenge” I freely admit it was a mistake on my part, born out of frustration with the propaganda of shakeology more than anything else. Soon after I decided to let my review stand and comments for itself and just move on. BB coaches can judge me if they like. It doesn’t matter and I wont be influenced. I write my reviews for the people who seek answers from those not affiliated with supplements. I think I am one of the few people who do not give a pass to shakeology and I continue to feel that my words have some value. I can take criticism but it is sounding like some BB coaches cannot, which is unfortunate.
This article was a pretty good read until I read the comments and realized you are a closed minded jerk. I won’t be reading anything else from your website based on these comments. This lady was going to pay for you to have a 30 day supply to test it out and you started bashing her and all BB coaches for that matter. I’ve never even tried the stuff nor am I affiliated with BB or coaches in any way but the claims you make for not trying the shake are ludicrous.
The benefits of this shake and the fact that it replaces a meal make 4 dollars per shake just fine. If you really think that adding ingredients to a protein/supplement shake to make it taste different or break up the monotony makes the shake invalid then you have no idea what you are talking about period. You obviously don’t take supplements or protein in shake form very often which means you have no basis for anything you are saying. Anyone can look up ingredients and sound smart.
Btw this drink has cinnamon and green tea extract among other things that do promote weight loss even though you claimed it doesn’t. Get your facts straight. The ingredients in this shake seem to be some of the finest in cutting edge health, wellness, and weight management. I haven’t even tried this shake and I know it’s better than the comments you made. Seems to be a tastier version of athletic greens that can actually replace a meal. Get your head out of your *** Please and thank you
Matthew, let me try to address your concerns with what I wrote about shakeology.
I’ve already tried shakeology and I did not like the taste. That is why I decided to not drink it for 30 days – and because there are many other supplements that I want to devote my time and energy to investigating. I remain convinced that shakeology is just a low calorie drink and if you replace 2 meals with shakeology then weight loss will occur , but that is only because it causes a reduction in calories. I do not see anything remarkable in this product to make me think its superior at helping weight loss.
When people say its $4 / shake its actually a little more than this because you have to mix it with other things.
Let me be clear about supplements. I am not anti supplement and I do in fact take some supplements myself. I normally do not discuss what I take because I dont want to influence anyone. I have in the past mentioned that I do use Dymatize protein power and muscle milk. I am also fond of RTD 51 protein shakes. I also take vitamin D, fish oil, a cheap multi vitamin and a whole food supplement. Therefore the question that I dont take supplements is not valid.
When you say ‘anyone can look up the ingredients”, I agree, if you know where to look and how to interpret the research you can. So Matthew, WHERE are all those other websites that do that?
Most websites that review supplements use their reviews to market other supplements. I dont do that. Most of the shakeology websites I’ve seen are from people who sell shakeology. When they write how great this product is, they are giving their opinion. I’m giving my opinion also and also backing it up with what research I could find.
I try to be as unbiased as I can however when I hear people tell me of BB coaches say shakeology can cure cancer, I have to speak up. I know those people are not a reflection of all BB coaches and I’m sure most are very nice people. But, for the person who is looking for an opinion that is not “the party line” I think my words are of value when someone is looking for both sides of the story.
Matthew, you say that cinnamon and green tea extract “promote” weight loss. Matthew if I can “geek out” for a moment, the word, “promote” weight loss does not mean the same as “cause” weight loss. The word promote is a Structure Function claim that supplement makers use to make you think something has an effect. It’s what the US law makes them do. Structure /Function claims hold very little scientific weight.
Matthew, EGCG – the main green tea extract used in supplements – might help weight loss in some people but the research is mixed with other research finding it might not work. Also if the research is to believed, then EGCG might have to be combined with caffeine to work. Here is the study http://www.ajcn.org/content/91/1/73.long. This is likely why most weight loss supplements that have EGCG also contain caffeine.
As for cinnamon and weight loss, I will challenge you to show me a study where cinnamon caused weight loss in humans. I was interested in your claim that cinnamon caused weight loss and so I checked. I cannot locate any research on this. Most of the health related research on cinnamon has to do with diabetes and blood sugar levels. Again, if you can show me a “cinnamon causes weight loss study” I will be very happy – and appreciative – to read it.
Lastly, as for your claim that I am a “jerk” and have my head “up my $%#”, well, I think I’m a pretty nice guy – but I’m biased.
Can you please remove me from receiving updates about this review? I am tired of reading about you bashing Beachbody Coaches…which by the way has nothing to do with Shakeology.
If you don’t like the shake, hey that’s ok it’s not for everyone, but now your “unbiased” review has now gone into a whole different direction and it’s about the Business which has absolutely noting to do with what Shakeology can do for someone. Unless you have tired it for a full 30 days I really don’t think you get the full effect of it. And further more Beachbody Backs ALL their products 100% so if you don’t like something you LOSE NOTHING it can be returned with in 30 days all money back no questions asked.
I have said it before the results are Amazing and there are thousands and thousands of people who drink Shakeology every day and it’s changed their lives. I’m one of them. When I see Shakeology #1 & #2 on foodfacts.com I think it’s pretty dang sweet. I started drinking it because I was burning so many Calories doing P90X and I could not get my eating right and it helped me level out so I was not starving all day long.
So Joe when you do reviews maybe you should try to keep it on the subject and not let it turn into something else because I mean this was a review about Shakeology Right?!?!?
Margaret as requested I stooped you from getting updates. While it is not my intention to “bash” BB coaches I don’t feel I can separate totally BB coaches from shakeology because of what I have seen and heard from others. Your comments in the past have been well thought out and helpful and Im really glad shakeology has helped you. I remain convinced that shakeology is only a low calorie meal replacement drink. Im also glad foodfacts thinks highly of shakeology. That’s a plus for BB. Foodfacts does agree with me though that shakeology also has “controversial ingredients”.
Wow! I’m not a Beachbody coach, and I’m not affiliated with them at all. I’m not a fitness freak or a supplement guru, a personal trainer or a PR person. I’m a busy professional and a single parent, which means I’m busy, and I either eat lunch out, or use a product like this one. And I’m with you on the Greenberry flavor (though it’s almost decent blended with some frozen mangoe chunks and a banana), but I’ve gotta say, the chocolate is pretty good blended with almond milk, a banana and ice. NO supplement shake tastes excellent (Slimfast? ew!), as far as I know.
What’s important is how a supplement product makes you feel, and that’s why people take it. You might not like it, and that’s fine- no harm, no foul- but I think chickening out on your proposal to try it for a month with some different recipes speaks to a negative attitude rather than an unbiased curiosity. Just sayin’…
Caren Im glad you like it a lot of people are with you. when I posed my “challenge” it was out of frustration with BB coaches who make it seem like its the best thing since sliced bread! If people like Shakeology and can afford it, as you say no harm no fowl. I am convinced that its not going to help weight loss better than anything else out there and I just refuse to mix stuff in a product that is $119 a month just to make it taste better. I tried shakeology and I didn’t like it and I am just not convinced that its ingredients make it healthier. After mulling it over I just decided that there are a lot of other supplements that are more interesting to me than Shakeology. But I am really glad you are liking it 🙂
Juice Plus makes a shake called Complete available in French vanilla and Dutch chocolate that costs $27.75 per can (15 servings). It’s made with tofu powder and pea protein and has many of the fruits and vegetables found in the Juice Plus capsules. The original JP capsules (Garden and Orchard Blend) has been extensively research (see Joe’s other review), but I’m not aware of any separate research with the Complete.
Thank you, Joe!
Love your article/review/research, thank you for all the info. I got my shake as a 7 day sample, which I used for at least 10 lunches–just used 1 spoon, because 2 is too rich for me. Loved the taste and how easy shake dissolves. Hate the price and promises that have no science to back them up.
Is there a shake, preferably in the powder form, that taste ok and dissolves in the handshaker, but not made by BB and cheaper? Thank you!
Inna, thanks much Im glad I was able to help you. I like Dymatize chocolate powder myself and I’ve enjoyed some samples of Protein Plus protein powder (by PowerBar) I received recently. Obviously taste will vary between people but those are what I would try.
WOW! Thank you so much about sharing a truly unbiased review on shakeology. I began to think BB had bought out every reviewer on the web. THANK YOU! I will not buy shakeology. It is more of the same, with a kick a$$ marketing plan.
Jacque, thanks for the nice words. I apprecaite the feedback. I hear what you are saying about Shakeology and that’s another reason I investigated it. That’s a really cool website you have! I wish I could have built my own computer when I was in school. I wish you much success 🙂