Update 3/10/20. Have you been asked to try Shakeology – or become a Shakeology Beachbody Coach? I have – several times. I've been asked to try this product so many times from so many different people that I decided to write this Shakeology review so you know the facts. Is Shakeology safe? Will Shakeology help weight loss? These are the questions I will address. As always, I'll link to the research so you know I'm not making stuff up. I don't have a dog in this fight. I only want you to have the best information available -free from testimonials, and internet hype – so that you can make the best decision for you. Also, see the review of Ultimate Power Greens as well.
Also see my review of vegan chocolate Shakeology.
Shakeology is one of the products sold by the company, BeachBody. Beachbody markets many health and fitness products, probably the most popular of which the P90X workout by Tony Horton. If you want to know how Shakeology tastes, check out my Shakeology Taste Test.
What Does Shakeology Mean?
The suffix ology means “the study of” so Shakeology literally means “the study of shakes“, In this case, it's a health and weight loss shake that contains various fruits, enzymes, vitamins, protein, etc.
It's a catchy name and gives the impression that there is some science behind Shakeology. But, when I entered “Shakeology” into the National Library of Medicine website, I found no published peer-reviewed studies on this product.
Most health and weight loss shakes don't have any research to back up what they are saying but I wanted to double check just in case because the name of this product stood out to me.
On the Shakeology website, I noticed a reference to a study that drinking Shakeology can lower cholesterol levels but there doesn't appear to be any published studies to back up this claim. At the bottom of the website (Shakeology.com) I see a reference that says :
“In a 90-day study, participants replaced one meal per day with Shakeology, ate a balanced diet, and exercised moderately three times per week. Total cholesterol was reduced on average by 30% and LDL cholesterol was reduced on average by 38%.”
But, this doesn't seem to be a published peer-reviewed study. Questions I asked myself included:
- Who were the people in this “study”?
- Were they men? Were they women?
- Did they have normal cholesterol or high cholesterol?
- What was their LDL levels before the study?
- Did exercise play any role in the outcomes?
They don't tell us any of this information – and this is important stuff to know if we are to analyze how effective shakeology really was.
Fruits contain soluble fiber and Shakeology has a lot of different fruits, so the study outcomes kind of make sense. But, would the same effect be seen if people just blended up some fruits themselves?
I don't know.
Losing weight can also reduce cholesterol. So, did cholesterol and LDL levels change simply because of weight loss, rather than because of Shakeology? I don't know because it doesn't look like the subjects were compared to those who did not use Shakeology.
Shakeology Ingredients
There are a LOT of ingredients in Shakeology. Below you will see that I copied the ingredients from the Shakeology.com website (I used the chocolate version) and separated them into different sections to make this review easier.
| Total Calories | 140 |
| Calories from fat | 10 |
| Total fat | 1 g (2% DV) |
| Cholesterol | 15 mg (5% DV) |
| Sodium | 100 mg (4% DV) |
| Total carbohydrates | 17 g (6% DV) |
| Dietary fiber | 3 g (12% DV) |
| Sugars | 9 g |
| Protein | 17 g (34% DV) |
The total calories are based on 1 scoop (48 grams) mixed with water.
This doesn't look too bad to me. In fact, the calories, protein, fat, etc. are similar to other popular protein mixes. A scoop also has 135 mg of the sweetener, stevia.
Super Fruit Blend
Shakeology also has several types of what they call Super Fruits. Here is the list:
| Acerola powder (fruit) | Cordyceps |
| Camu-Camu powder (fruit) | Maitake powder |
| Pomegranate powder (fruit) | Reishi powder |
| Bilberry powder (fruit) | Citrus bioflavonoids |
| Blueberry powder (fruit) | Rose Hips powder (fruit) |
| Lycium (Goji) powder (berry) | Schisandra |
| Açai powder (berry) | Suma powder (root) |
| Acerola powder (fruit) | Gingko powder (leaf) REMOVED |
Update. Here is my review of the camu camu fruit research.
We are not told how much of each fruit is in Shakeology, only that the total of everything equals 2075 mg (or about 2 grams). I'm OK with that given that small amounts of phytonutrients (plant nutrients) tend to pack a big punch when it comes to health.
In the list you will noticed citrus bioflavonoids. This is technically not a fruit but rather a plant-nutrient (phytonutrient).
A couple of ingredients in this list did stand out to me. One is ginkgo. I suppose they added ginkgo to Shakeology because it has some antioxidant properties. But ginkgo also has anti-blood clotting properties that in theory may interact with blood thinner medications. There is also evidence that – in mice – ginkgo causes liver cancer. I'm not aware of any human evidence of this.
Ginkgo may also interact with medications used to treat:
- seizures
- diabetes
- cholesterol
- depression
Ginkgo is listed as the last ingredient, so I'm guessing there is not a lot of ginkgo in Shakeology but I felt this was worth mentioning.
Given that Shakeology has probably not been clinically tested in people who take prescription medications, I personally would prefer they remove ginkgo from Shakeology just to be safe.
Update: Ginkgo has been removed Ginkgo from Shakeology according to this page of the BeachBody website.
Cordyceps also caught my eye. In some circles, cordyceps is touted to improve aerobic exercise performance. But there isn't much proof that cordyceps works and some research that cordyceps doesn't help exercise. See this video for more insights.
Shakeology also contains acai berry, which is one of the principal ingredients in MonaVie reviewed previously. For more information on acai also see Acai Berry A Review Based on The Facts and The Acai Berry Diet.
Nondairy Probiotic Blend
Shakeology also contains several probiotics. These are basically friendly bacteria. They are as follows:
| Bifodobacterium longum | Lactobacillus bulgaricus |
| Lactobacillus acidophilus | Lactobacillus casei |
| Lactobacillus acidophilus DDS-1 | Streptococcus thermophilus |
Probiotics appear to have a wide range of potential uses such as helping irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and diarrhea.
People who have immune deficiencies like HIV should be cautious with probiotics and consult their doctor before using.
We are not told how much of each bacteria is in this blend but only that its total is 150 mg. Often the amount of probiotics in a supplement are reported as colony-forming units (CFU). People may want to ask how many CFUs are in this 150 mg.
Tip. ask “are the bacteria alive now?”. Sometimes the probiotic bacteria are alive when the product is made but die off the longer the product is not used. This can reduce their effectiveness.
Proprietary Enzyme Blend (135 mg)
| Amylase | Lipase |
| Papain | Protease |
| Cellulase | Bromelain |
| Lactase |
What is an enzyme? It's basically a protein. What happens when protein reaches the stomach? Its digested. Our bodies treat enzymes just like protein from whey, soy, chicken, etc. It breaks the protein up into amino acids, absorbs the amino acids and uses them to do whatever it needs – whether it be help to build muscle or repair a cell in your pinky finger.
While I can sort of see how enzymes might help those who have digestion problems, I never understood why healthy people needed enzyme supplements.
Other Ingredients in Shakeology
| Ashwagandha powder 100 mg | Grape seed extract (seed) 50 mg |
| Barley grass 100 mg | Green tea decaffeinated extract 50 mg |
| Kamut grass 100 mg | Holy basil powder (leaf) 50 mg |
| Oat grass 100 mg | Amaranth (Amaranthus hypochondriacus) 50 mg |
| Wheatgrass 100 mg |
Ashwagandha
Sometimes called “Indian ginseng” this herb appears to have several effects like helping the immune system. Most effects, however, have not been well studied. One warning that is sometimes mentioned (but hard to corroborate) concerns pregnant women: ashwagandha may cause premature birth of the unborn baby. For 
Ashwagandha for hypothyroidism
Barley Grass
A few studies suggest that barley may lower cholesterol and LDL. As such, this may be one of the ingredients responsible for the observations in the Shakeology study mentioned above. Shakeology is said to be gluten-free.
Grape Seed Extract
This is a popular antioxidant and is mostly studied in people who have heart disease. Shakeology only contains 50 mg of grape seed extract which is less than that used in grape seed extract research.
One study noted that taking grape seed extract (1000 mg/day) along with 500 mg of vitamin C increased blood pressure. Shakeology does not contain this much grape seed extract but I thought it was worth mentioning if any readers have high blood pressure.
Holy Basil
At least one study has noted that holy basil might lower blood sugar levels after eating. As such it may interact with diabetes medications. Holy basil may also interact with blood thinner medications.
Amaranth
I could not turn up much on this ingredient. Some research hints that amaranth can lower cholesterol levels.
The Shakeology Clinical Trial
Thanks to someone who left a comment, I became aware of a Shakeology clinical trial posted on YouTube (the video has since been removed). The study was commissioned by BeachBody and administered by Medicus Research.
Medicus is a Contract Research Organization (CRO), which means that they are contracted by various pharmaceutical, and supplement companies to do research on their products.
According to the YouTube video above, this was how the clinical trial was designed:
- The study contained 50 people and lasted 90 days.
- Medicus researchers measured people's weight, BMI, and various other health factors including cholesterol and AIC levels.
Tip. Hemoglobin A1C is a measure of how bad diabetes is getting. Having 6% or less is usually considered normal. The higher the number, the higher the average blood sugar level is – which basically means diabetes is getting worse.
- Everybody drank 2 Shakeology shakes per day ―one for breakfast and one for lunch each day for 90 days.
Tip. From the video, it appears that people used Shakeology in place of foods they might ordinarily eat. This is important. Keep reading.
- The people did not alter their diet or exercise program (except for drinking Shakeology in place of food at breakfast and lunch).
Study Results
According to the video, Dr. Udani, CEO of Medicus Research, notes that:
1. Statistically significant reductions in the desire to eat lunch were noted after drinking Shakeology for breakfast.
Since hunger, after lunch, was not mentioned in the video, I take this to mean that drinking Shakeology at lunch time had statistical significant effect on the desire to eat at dinner.
2. The video notes that the average weight loss was 9.3 pounds. The greatest weight loss in the study was 24 pounds after 3 months.
3. The average reduction in total cholesterol was 7% after 3 months. The greatest reduction was 50% in some of the participants.
4. Hemoglobin A1C (A1C) was reduced by an average of 5% after 3 months. Some of the people experienced as much as a 19% reduction in A1C levels.
What the video does not tell us:
Here are some things that I was unable to determine from the video:
- How many people in the study were men and women?
- What were the ages of the people in the study?
- Did the study participants have any health problems (high cholesterol, elevated A1C, etc.)?
- Were the average reductions in body weight, A1C, and cholesterol statistically significant?
- Did Shakeology have different effects on body weight, A1C, or cholesterol levels in men vs. women?
- Was there a placebo group? Having a group in the study that did not drink Shakeology would make these results more meaningful.
Toward the end of the video Dr. Udani says ” say:
“The results we are seeing are only due to Shakeology.”
That's a powerful statement. How do they know the results they saw were not simply due to weight loss?
By drinking 2 Shakeology shakes per day (in place of breakfast and lunch) people have reduced their total calorie intake for the day. Reducing calories also can also:
- Reduce body weight
- Reduce cholesterol
- Reduce A1C levels
Based on what was stated in the video, I don’t think we can tell if these values decreased because of Shakeology or simply because the people lost weight.
Dr Udani also states the in the video that the study is valuable because “it isolates the effect of shakeology,” In my opinion, the study, as depicted in the video, doesn’t do this because there is nothing to compare the effects of shakeology to.
For example, in my opinion, a better study would be:
- Take those same 50 people and randomly give them shakeology ―or nothing at all ―to see how they differ from each other after 90 days.
Or
- Randomly give the people either Shakeology or something that had similar calories to see what happens after 90 days.
Of course, I would have to see the actual study to know exactly what happened. My comments are based on watching YouTube video alone.
I hope BeachBody Coaches will let me know if this study ever becomes published in a clinical journal so I can make more informed comments. Until that happens, I'm of the opinion that the effects discussed in the Shakeology Clinical Trial video are simply the results Shakeology causing weight loss – and it's the weight loss that is causing reductions in cholesterol, body weight and A1C levels, rather than a direct effect of Shakeology itself.
I believe almost anything that causes people to lose weight can also cause reductions in cholesterol and A1C levels. See the “Shakeology and Weight Loss” section below for more about this.
Shakeology Side Effects
For healthy people yes, Shakeology is safe but for people who may not be healthy, here are some general things to think about. This list is not complete
- start with less than recommended for the first week
- stop taking at least 2 weeks before surgery
- if you take any medications such as blood thinners talk to your doctor
- Pregnant or nursing – ask your doctor first
In June 2013 the website, Consumerlab.com found lead contamination in Greenberry Shakeology. They found 12.7 micrograms of lead per serving of Shakeology. Beachbody, the maker of Shakeology, responded to this by stating:
“While they seek to inform consumers, they may be actually misleading consumers by not distinguishing between harmful heavy metals and those that are naturally occurring in plants, vegetables and minerals.”
Consumerlab, on their website, fired back stating:
“Lead contamination of plants generally occurs to do contamination of the environment in which they have grown – often caused by industrial pollution or proximity to roadways, where in the past, cars used leaded gasoline. “
So, it sounds like Beach Body is saying that lead is a natural occurrence while Consumerlab is saying, the lead is present because the plants used were contaminated by the environment in which they are grown.
Here is a link to the Dr. Oz Show website shows Beach Body response to the Consumerlab findings.
In 2015 Consumer Reports noted that Shakeology had been reformulated and they no longer detect lead. Shakeology is now in the “approved” category. For more on this, see my Vegan Chocolate Shakeology review.
Other Meal Replacement Shakes
Other meal replacement reviews worth looking at
Shakeology And Weight Loss?
In the Shakeology program, people are instructed to replace one meal a day with Shakology. They are also supposed to exercise 3x a week and eat a healthy diet. This is similar to the reasoning behind other weight loss plans you've probably already heard of. For example:
- SlimFast: drink 2 shakes and eat a sensible dinner
- Special K diet: eat 2 bowls of cereal and eat a sensible meal
If you read my review of Right Size Smoothies, you may remember that the Right Size Smoothie plan was to replace 2 meals with 2 smoothies.
So, the idea behind Shakeology for weight loss makes sense; just use the shake to reduce the calories you eat.
The same thing is also true for many of their competitors like the Isagenix Shake
So for people who don't have the time to eat well or make their meals, I can see how something like Shakeology (or similar weight loss shake) would be attractive. People are more likely to do things that are easy.
How Does Shakeology Taste?
Does Shakeology taste good? I had a chance to try Shakeology thanks to a friend who gave me some samples. Here are the results of my Shakeology taste test.
Also, see the Vegan Chocolate Shakeology review for how it tastes.
How Much Does It Cost?
When I wrote this review, the cost of Shakeology was $119.95 a month (30 servings). This comes to about $4 per shake. You may be able to get it cheaper than this if you are a Team Beachbody coach and have other Beachbody coaches selling products under you on the pyramid. As such, some people may become Beachbody coaches as a way to get Shakeology cheaper.
Who Makes Shakeology?
Shakeology is made by the company Beachbody also known as Beachbody LLC. Beachbody is not only is behind Shakeology but a wide range of other fitness-related products ranging from P90X to Insanity to name a few.
According to the Better Business Bureau, BeachBody LLC is located at 3301 Exposition Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90404 .
Their contact number is (800) 998-1681.
What is a Team Beachbody Coach?
These are the people who often sell Shakeology and other Beach Body products. Team Beachbody Coaches may or may not have a background in fitness, health or wellness. On the TeamBeachBody.com website it says only that:
“You don’t need to be a fitness or weight-loss expert to become a Beachbody Coach. You just need to be ready to commit to changing your life.”
That's a little vague, so do ask about the credentials of a Beachbody Coach before you take any specific health advice from them.
The name Beachbody Coach is actually smart marketing. Instead of calling the people who sell Shakeology (and other Beachbody products) Beachbody distributors, they call them “Coaches”. It's like Walmart calling their sales staff “Associates”.
To be a Team Beachbody coach, people pay $39.99 to start. Beachbody coaches receive a commission for sales they make. Fortunately, Beachbody coaches do not have to buy Shakeology or other Beachbody products before they sell them. Team Beachbody coaches also are used to help people reach their fitness goals. The extent to which they can help would depend on how smart -fitness-wise they are.
Remember Beachbody coaches don't have to know anything about fitness, health or wellness.
Beachbody coaches also try to recruit others to become Beachbody coaches. They in turn, receive commissions on what their recruits sell.
So, Team Beachbody has a multi level marketing aspect. I'm not against MLM companies but it does by nature give incentives to coaches whose main goal is to recruit new people rather than selling the product. This ultimately might dilute the quality of the coaching service.
So Does It Work
Despite the hype, Shakeology is just a low-calorie meal replacement shake. If you follow the plan, you'll likely lose weight. But that's because of your eating fewer calories. Don't believe the hype. It's all about eating fewer calories.
Here are less expensive options
What do you think?
Joe….I take Zocor. Do you think I need to be concerned about the Ginko?
Jeremy, I think shakeology probably doesn’t have a lot of gingko in it but I also don’t think its something that you need. Why dont you try this. Take the ingredients to your doctor or pharmacist and see what they think.
Wow. Thanks for your honesty. I’m on the P90X program and have heard so much about Shakeology that my ears are bleeding. I was skeptical because they push it so hard. You didn’t support or denounce it, and you brought up some good points about ginkgo and ginseng. Now I can see why people feel energetic and lose that when they stop drinking it for a couple days.
Ginseng is dangerous for people with heart problems and is found in a lot of those energy drinks people have begun to get addicted to. I think I’ll stick with coffee and my usual protein shake….I eat lots of fruits/veg and take a multi anyways. Thanks for your honesty and good luck to you!
Chantelle, thanks and good luck to you also 🙂
Yeah, I thought those comments about WASG were pretty interesting myself. I’m looking forward to the clinicals and will pass along as soon as I’m made aware of their publication.
sounds good Dan thanks
Thought you’d find this interesting. It’s a Business Week profile and look at Darin Olien (Shakeology’s Papa), Shakeology itself and some other scientific/Beachbody players who created and oversee the supplement. I’ve included the link for page 2 which has the most detail (there’s 3 pages).
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/the-adventures-of-superfood-man-01262012_page_2.html
Dan, thanks for passing that along. Its interesting and please DO let me know if Beach Body ever does publish that clinical study that they mention (but dont tell much about) in the Business Week article.
I think some of the points they mention about how they pick the shakeology ingredients is flawed science. They talk about how they contact local experts about ingredients but dont mention what education those local experts have. Also, just because one ingredient might do something does not mean it does the same thing when mixed with all the other ingredients. Still, I will be looking forward to seeing the research study.
Amazing review plenty of great info… What do you think about Isopure unflavored protein powder? Also wanted your opinion on Ron Paul, personally I think he is the only candidate that speaks the truth…
Nas, I think isopure is fine a fine protein supplement but remember that amino acids are better absorbed when they have some carbs with them. If your looking for just protein then I think its fine. As you said its unflavored. I didnt care for the test myself but Im sure a lot of people think its just fine.
Ron Paul, well I’m enjoying the debates and he has some good zingers. I admit, there is a part of me that would like to see a “President Paul” knock some heads together and clean house. I do think the Gov has gotten too big and I’m all having for freedom and privacy (FYI I saw that Beach Body was one of the companies in FAVOR of the SOPA and PIPA anti piracy bills. They changed their support when people got wind of it. Zumba was in favor of it too!) but I wonder about some other things… I think there is definitely a place for him in the Republican party.
Great review! I’d also like to add that I think its great they use decaffeinated green tea in this product. So that its not caffeine that is manipulating your appetite or energy levels. Also, its better for people with kidney and bladder sensitivity. I’ve been using this product as a way to get a healthy breakfast on the run and I’m very happy with it. The chocolate tastes good!
Reporters for the most part get stuff correct from the person “telling” them it is correct. The mass media we listen to has not scientific foundation. Ask a GNC employee how they figure out how well their products work. It should scare you. I would never put Oprah and something of sound scientific value in the same sentence. I think Shakeology is a great idea, but since so many people buy it without any true science… there is no incentive to conduct such research.
When I asked my “coach” about a trial to support the science behind Shakeology, he proceeded to tell me that there is no true trial, but a money-back guarantee. If that’s not confusion between marketing and science, I don’t know what is. (And yes I think it sounds like Tony Horton proclaiming that German Potato soup is a great recovery food). Tony and Carl are great at what they do, but let’s not act like a bunch of idiots here.
This blog is proving there is no science behind Shakeology. If you choose to use it, do so at your own risk!
Joe,
My thoughts here address my earlier comments concerning your Shakelolgy taste and product reviews and my rather scathing comment on this thread, for which I must apologize. I’ve been involved in hosting endless blogs and internet marketing in my particular industry for over 10 years now and unfortunately there are many times hidden agendas in the form of “unbiased reviews”.
I noticed when I was trying to enter my comment to you a big yellow “buy now” button showed up at the bottom of the page I was on. This link was for a weight loss product. This immediately aroused my suspicion concerning the review’s actual purpose. I can’t seem to find it again so maybe it was a fluke but it was there at that point in time. And, I had no delusions of your association with Beach Body, just that you were associated with some conflicting concern.
I’m glad to hear that my hyper-aware marketing nature was wrong about this one! As for myself, I have no affiliation with Beachbody whatsoever either, other than I love the product and take it daily. I first heard of Shakeology through an article in Oprah Magazine and was amazed with not only the detailed reporting and hands-on investigation committed to by both Oprah and the reporter, but the singular focus the founder seems to have in his search for ingredients from around the world. His globe-trekking quest for unique plant and herb based ingredients that are useful across a broad spectrum led, in many cases, to (re)discoveries of nutrients that have benefits that are many times best known by the indigent people in the sometimes very remote corners of the globe they originated from.
These are the kinds of products that I’m fascinated by! I came away from that article fully believing that every component Shakeology contains is there because the founder believes it will increase our health or longevity, or both. I take it because it appears to me to be the most well researched (read the article if you haven’t already) and most nutrient dense “food” I personally have ever seen or heard of.
When I got my first bag I was prepared to suck it up no matter if it tasted like the runoff from my driveway. I would rather the taste suffer than the effectiveness any day. No pain, no gain as they say. Personally, I can’t see how anyone can “hate” it but I’ve only tried the chocolate so the Greenberry may be different.
I’m sure I was over-passioned in my response when I read this blog and found that everyone seems so concerned with taste while there is absolutely no discussion about the actual research and years of labor (the only things that really matter) that have gone into its formulation.
So keep up the good work and let me know if you agree that our bias should lean toward products that result from exhaustive research as opposed to marketing hype.. PS, I believe live enzymes are exactly what’s missing in today’s overproduced food chain.
Mike, no apologizes needed and I can completely understand where your coming from. If you found something that works for you that’s great. My goals for this site are to give people a place where they can read a science-based review that is not sponsored by anyone so that they can make a more informed decision, free from the hype and spin that so frequently accompanies supplement advertisements. The ads are the most ethical way I know to help maintain the site but I can understand how they might have given you the wrong impression. I get passionate about this stuff myself so no need fret over being “over passionate.” Keep it up because that’s a good thing!
Joe thank you so much! Everything I’ve seen online has been biased and the distributors even write articles misleading themselves that they are unbiased. Your information is very informative and I wanted to compare the ingredients to Arbonne’s vegan protein shakes (which I represent) which are gluten free, dairy free, whey free without any artificial sweeteners, flavors or colors. AND they are half the price! Thanks again for uncovering the shakeology ingredients!
Janet, thanks I appreciate your words and offer. I may take you up on it if I review Arbonne’s weight loss shake.
This supplement geek is either promoting the product and pretending not to or is acting as a facilitator for other ads on this blog. I’m not buyin this “unbiased review” and “geek” thing for one second. How is that he says “the beach body coaches I’ve been around….”. If he is truly an independent geek reviewer he won’t be “hanging around” with product distributors. Watch these “reviewers” like a hawk!
Mike, is it really so hard for you to believe that there is somebody out there who is not trying to scam you or sell you something? If you search my website you will NEVER see an instance where I used this site to promote any supplement. I link mostly to published peer reviewed scientific studies because I believe you deserve to see the facts for yourself. There are no affiliate links here and there are not bait and switch articles either.
I am the ONLY PERSON who writes reviews on this website. There are no “reviewers.” It’s just me.
I have degrees in chemistry and biology and exercise physiology and I’ve written 6 books. My book on supplements alone has over 900 references to back up my conclusions. Does it get any geekier than that?
As for Beachbody, do you really think I am secretly promoting beach body products? Have you read my Shakeology reviews LOL?
Did you read where I said Shakeology was the WORST tasting shake I’ve ever had?
Did you read the venom coming from other Beach Body coaches and how some threatened to BOYCOTT my website if I did not change what I was saying?
Sure I know a few BB coaches – and they are nice people! They know my position about shakeology and I know theirs. To say I am not unbiased because I know BB coaches is as RIDICULOUS as Rick Santorum – during the Republican debates -blasting Newt Gingrich for sitting on the sofa with Nancy Pelosi! It’s an untenable argument.
As for the ads on my site, they dont pay me to be there. Google decides that. I dont make a cent unless an ad is clicked. The ads you see are based on what I write about and well as your web surfing history. Different people will see different things.
Mike, I invite you to watch me like a hawk. Hopefully in time you’ll see that I’m just trying to help people and make the web a better place.
Joe-
I really appreciate your honest review. I’m normally not one to comment on articles, but I could not resist. I completely understand when you say you aren’t going to add more ingredients to make Shakeology taste better when it already is very expensive! I also agree that it is very safe to say that the weight loss people have experienced could very well have just been to the reduction in calories.
Thanks so much for posting your honest unbiased opinion! I will be reading more of your articles!
SP, thanks for your words. I appreciate you taking the time to write!
Joe-
Can you talk about this? Some coaches claim this is what makes Shakeology so great, the performance enhancing abilities of this “cure all”. Oh and, I loved your review. I have been looking for honest feedback since several of the girls at my gym became coaches.
“Recently, the World Anti-Doping Association (WADA) and the National Football League (NFL) released a new list of nationally banned substances. And because current drug screening technologies are unable to differentiate between natural, healthy substances and synthetic banned substances, the list now encompasses a group of all-natural phyto-chemical compounds known as ecdysteroids, which are found in various plants around the globe. There are 150 different kinds of ecdysteroids, and ecdysterone is one of them.
THE FACTS
Ecdysterone can be found in several plants, including the immune-boosting herb Suma Root, sometimes referred to as “Brazilian Ginseng.” In addition to ecdysterone, the powerful Suma Root contains over 19 different natural and bio-active compounds, including amino acids, electrolytes, trace minerals, iron, magnesium, zinc, vitamins A, B1, B2, E, K, and pantothenic acid. In other words, it’s a miracle root.
Suma Root is one of the 70 ingredients found in Shakeology.
The root of the issue: Since the ecdysterone found in Suma Root can be erroneously detected as a banned synthetic substance, Beachbody® is advising athletes and anyone subject to banned substances testing to consult their physician and athletic organization before consuming Shakeology.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Beachbody firmly stands behind every globally researched and hand-picked ingredient in Shakeology. And while Shakeology does NOT contain any stimulants, or artificial or controlled substances, it does contain Suma Root (Pfaffia paniculata)—an herb shown to significantly increase protein synthesis in muscle as well as help lower cholesterol and balance blood sugar levels. Many additional benefits of Suma Root are well-documented and supported by scientific research.”
Molly, really interesting question!! I checked and suma root is listed as an ingredient of shakeology and its listed just before ginkgo is, which is just 2nd to last of the ingredients. I’m guessing that means it does not have a lot of suma root. Whether that would set off a drug test I don’t know and would be really interested in knowing if anybody failed a drug test while taking Shakeology. I don’t think they would but if anybody did I’d like to hear from them.
As for suma root increasing protein synthesis, I did some digging on this in the national library of medicine. I searched for:
“suma root protein synthesis” – no studies showed up.
I did the same thing for “Pfaffia paniculata protein synthesis” and again no studies came up.
Another name for suma is “Brazilian Ginseng.” Again, I searched for “Brazilian Ginseng protein synthesis” and no studies came up.
So, if Summa root really ramps up protein synthesis like beachbody coaches say, where is the proof? Where are the “well documented” studies BB talks about? I also did a search online and found several other websites that also claim that suma can increase protein synthesis, but none of them give any scientific proof to back it up. Since I cant find any proof that suma helps protein synthesis in humans (or anything for that matter), I think this claim is a bunch of baloney. Even if it did, I’d still want proof that the amount of suma in Shakeology would actually do it.
Also, we assume that increasing protein synthesis means muscles will get stronger and recovery will be faster – but we can’t assume that. Its possible, but I’d still want at least one study that proved that claim. As far as I can tell nobody seems to have done this research.
All that said, its pretty easy to increase muscle protein synthesis – just eat protein! Eating about 20-25 grams of protein per meal has been shown to increase protein synthesis in humans. Lesser amounts – like that found in shakeology – might also work.
For the BB coaches reading this, I am very open to the possibility that I am wrong, so feel free to share any evidence that supports this claim.
Thanks for letting me know about this Molly – again Great Question!
Wow!
Thanks Joe for a unbiased review. I was planning on trying it, but after reading all the venom that is being directed at you, it makes me suspicious to try the product. In reading your review and your comments, I did not get the impression that you were a jerk. You just were standing up for your convictions (in a very helpful and professional way). I actually like Slim Fast Chocolate powder. I might try your recommendations. Thank you.
Leti, thanks for your very kind words. Much appreciated and I am glad I was able to help you some. 🙂
Joe-
Great job! An actual HONEST and UNBIASED review of this product. It’s funny how most the info you get from others or look at reviews, the person also happens to be a BB coach. I’m sure this is a great item, but this was the first time I found something that wasn’t a “sales pitch”. Thank you for taking the time to write this. Now people who see this can make their own decisions on weather or not to purchase and if this right for them.
Sam, thanks I apprecaite you saying that and glad you found me 🙂
Joe, Thanks for the article. I am neither pro nor con. I enjoy the products and have had good results. However, as any good researcher knows, results can have many sources. Furthermore, I hear nothing about maintenance of benefits, weight loss or longitudinal studies. As you are aware, most diet plans work – temporarily & fail miserably in the long run. I too have been trying to find an actual study, with methodology, statistics, rather than interpretations. I would love to give these products a fair shot. However if BB wants to be taken seriously by the scientific & health community they need to provide more information, especially studies that are not “in-house”.
Interested in your thoughts.
Laura
Laura good words thanks. I personally don’t think BB cares much about being taken seriously by the scientific community. They are doing very well bypassing the peer review process and taking their product to the masses.
Just for clarification, any shipping costs are waived if you sign up for “Home Direct” from the outset. Buying a “one and done” will include shipping, as is the case with virtually any product purchased and shipped, with every order.
And as for cost, I dunno… $120 reaches out and chokes you at the outset but as a supplement (if you choose to use it as an MRP as designed) I’ve found it’s really no more than any other rounded meal and in many cases equal to or less than as proved out by genuine cost/ingredient comparison. $30 a week, $4 (or less, depending) comes out in the wash as would any other food product. I know that may sound cliche but it’s very true. And sure, there’s MRPs less expensive but then they don’t have half the added whole food derived, raw nutritional foundation Shakeology does. Shakeology just isn’t all that comparable to other supplements by label and process, which isn’t to say people can’t disagree on how it works for THEM. Just to say it really is a different product.
But you’re certainly right, Joe. The weight loss does come from a calorie reduction as Shakeology is dense in nutrition but low in calories. Combined with exercise, anyone would lose weight using it if they’re not compensating by eating a Big Mac and Large Fry with it. I think selling Shakeology for simply “weight loss” does it a disservice as it places the product with a million other products not nearly as nutritionally dense or carefully constructed.
I dunno- we’re in a sticky situation because, despite the genuine care in ingredients and nutritional integrity, you’ve got the incentive of “sale” associated with it and that makes people get a little crazy with claims. Some I’ve seen and smacked my forehead in disbelief. I’m a Shakeology fan but I don’t think it needs to be oversold.
Still, not everyone recommending Shakeology is doing so because they sell it. I was digging and using Shakeology long before becoming a Beachbody Coach. I don’t think my experience, the product facts or Shakeology’s benefits are any less true simply because I’m a coach. In the end, people have to sift their information beyond hype and marketing, which is one reason why I’m delighted to have your viewpoint out here. Truth be told (since we’re on the subject) I was planning on incorporating your perspective (with backlink, of course) into my site simply to show a balanced perspective. I think it’s valuable.
As always, thanks Joe.
Dan thanks for your clarification on the shipping charges!
Joe,
I would like to thank you for being the 1st person I have read reviewing Shakeology that isn’t also selling it. I have personally purchased a 30 day bag of chocolate and found for me its best with a mix of Almond Milk and water. Also I would like to point out that I did lose some weight while drinking 3 shakes a week and with some mild exercise.
That being said, I have been a huge slacker lately but I’m really interested in getting off my @$$ again. I have been looking all over the internet and as stated previously have found only your site reviewing Shakeology that is also NOT selling it. While I think the product is a good one, I have no foundation for this other than my own experience and thus I rely on others who are more knowledgeable…and primarily…NOT selling the product I am trying to research. Shakeology is expensive at $120 and people don’t even consider you have to add another $20 for shipping and taxes.
If there is an alternative, I would really like to know about it and that is why I appreciate your, at least IMO, straight forward review.
Brent thanks for your kind words. I also noticed most of the other shakeolgy reviews were by those who also sold shakeology which is another reason why I decided to address this supplement. I think you lose weight with shakeology because you cut back on some of the calories you normally would have eaten. That is the “secret” behind how shakeology helps people lose weight. That said, any other product should work just as well. Have you tried a 6 inch turkey sub from Subway? worked for ” Jared” and its definitely cheaper than shakeology. I like the smoothie that I make in my blender personally but we all have to find something that works for us. I think I liked to my smoothie recipe in my review.. Thanks for the part about having to add another $20 for shipping and taxes. I did not know that about shakeology.
Interesting, interesting…actually exhausting reading all of these comments, especially the negative ‘child like’ name calling ones….I was looking into buying Shakeology and went searching for some reviews…landed here. I appreciate your review Joe, thank you! I am just an average 47 yr old Grandma, very active but no hairy heavy duty exercise workout programs, a little zumba here and yoga there! I am lean and in pretty decent shape.
Why I was looking into this Shakeology was not to lose weight, only to get a meal replacement that was not going to put weight on me. Right now, I drink Ensure (yes the old people’s drink LOL) I love it. Was just thinking about looking into something else that would be good for me. I am always up to ‘extra energy’ and as far as tastes? Well I am the type of person that if it’s good for me then I’ll hold my nose and tip er’ back! (Back from the cod liver oil days 😉 Anyways, I am going to try this product, even if I have to hold my nose and see how it works for my energy level…Will let you all know! Thanks again Joe for being out here in cyberland to answer unbiased questions and to give info! Great evening everyone!
Dmrmom, thanks for your words and do keep me posted how you like shakeology. FYI I also have a review of “Ensure” here is the link http://supplementclarity.com/review-ensure-clinical-strength-revigor/
Finally an honest review! What’s funny is that I couldn’t find an unbiased review about this product by googling it! It’s like BB coaches infected goggle. It was insane. It wasn’t until I tried researching other BB products such as the P90X recovery drink that your site finally popped up. I agree with you 100% I’m not going to spend over a hundred dollars on something I have to modify. The reason I use any kind of shake is for the time factor (and nutrients of course). I want to blend and drink, I don’t want to worry about the taste and tweaking it.
I’m so glad I found your site! Will be looking at your other review! A hundred dollars + for one meal a day for one month…sheesh.
Irrish, so happy you were able to find me and thanks you for the kind words. Its interesting you said you had trouble getting to my shakeology review. I had people on Facebook google “shakeology review” and many of them said I showed up first or second in google. just goes to show how mysterious google works 😉
Thanks for this wonderful review. I finally found one that I felt was not bias. I plan to try Shakeology this coming January and will definitely come back and give my review on this product.
Monica glad I was able to help and glad you found me. Yes keep me posted on how shakeology works for you.