Choose Your Meal Replacement Shake Wisely

Courtesy of HLTH Code

Cheaply made, high-profit-margin meal replacement shakes contribute to poor health outcomes and keep consumers — especially seniors — dependent on medications instead of providing proper nutrition.

Many meal replacement shakes, particularly those marketed to seniors, are labeled as “nutritious.” But are they really?

Dangers of Low-Quality Shakes

In reality, many of these shakes are little more than sugar water with protein. Due to existing contracts between manufacturers, hospitals, and senior care facilities, these high-sugar, nutritionally imbalanced shakes are widely available to seniors — despite their potential to worsen insulin resistance and wreak havoc on metabolic health.

Most people don’t have the time or expertise to prepare nutritionally complete meals every day to combat the common dietary deficiencies caused by over-processed foods, excess carbohydrates, and declining nutrient density in today’s produce. That’s where a high-quality meal replacement shake can help — but only if it meets the right nutritional criteria.

Shake Must be Metabolically Balanced

A metabolically balanced meal replacement shake should provide the essential nutrients the body needs while avoiding unnecessary sugars, artificial additives, and cheap fillers. Achieving the right macronutrient balance is key to:

• Supporting weight management
• Reducing insulin resistance
• Helping manage type 2 diabetes
• Stabilizing blood sugar 
• Boosting energy levels

9 Criteria for a Healthy Shake

Nutrition expert Joel Bikman, working alongside a leading metabolic scientist, conducted extensive research before founding HLTH Code and creating his own meal replacement shake. He found that to effectively support metabolic health, a shake must meet these nine essential criteria:

1. No Added Sugars — Does the shake contain zero added sugars? Many shakes sneak in sugar, spiking glucose and leading to energy crashes.
2. Nothing Artificial — Is it free from artificial sweeteners and ingredients? Artificial additives may disrupt metabolism and gut health.
3. Non-GMO — Is it made with non-genetically modified organisms? Natural, whole-food ingredients are always the better choice.
4. Gluten-Free — Is it certified gluten-free? Many people have mild gluten sensitivities without realizing it.
5. Soy-Free — Does it exclude soy ingredients? Soy can interfere with hormone balance and isn’t ideal for most diets.
6. 1:1 Ratio of Healthy Fats/Proteins — Does it contain an equal amount of healthy fats to protein? This 1:1 ratio — found in metabolically perfect foods like eggs or beef — optimizes protein absorption and satiety.
7. Adequate, Quality Protein — Is there a sufficient amount of quality protein per serving? The average person should consume about 1 gram of protein per kilogram of desired body weight. Quality protein comes from whey, egg white, or beef — not plants, which have lower bioavailability and don’t provide a complete amino acid profile. With that in mind, about 27 grams of protein per meal is a good goal.
8. Sufficient Calories to Be a True Meal — A true meal replacement should provide around 400 calories to deliver essential macro- and micronutrients. Most shakes are too low in calories to qualify as a complete meal. Most so-called “meal replacements” are actually just snacks or supplements because they lack the nutrition required to legitimately replace a meal.
9. Minimal Glycemic Impact — Does it result in minimal to negligible glucose spikes? A shake should stabilize blood sugar, not send it on a rollercoaster.

Only nutritionally complete, metabolically balanced meal replacement shakes can address common dietary deficiencies caused by over-processed foods, excess carbohydrates, and declining nutrient density in today’s produce.

For more information about the HLTH Code Complete Meal, an affordable shake based on the latest nutrition and metabolic science, visit: gethlth.com