Ensure is a common liquid food supplement often used by the elderly, the young or those recovering from surgery or illness to help boost nutrient intake. The liquid supplement is often used in liquid diets, for those who can't swallow or digest solid foods, or those undergoing chemotherapy to help boost strength and calorie intake. Understanding the basic ingredients found in various Ensure products can help consumers make wise choices when it comes to choosing a liquid supplement that meets specific dietary requirements.
Calcium
A typical 8 oz serving of Ensure contains approximately 300g of calcium, according to registered dietitian Kathleen Goodwin writing for The Diet Channel, offering a good serving of the essential mineral for strong bones. The Office of Dietary Supplements states that calcium is necessary for muscle function as well as impulse of nerves through the body. The recommended dietary intake of calcium for men and women over 50 years of age is 1,200mg, though many don't receive that much.
Carbohydrates
Ensure contains between 20 to 40g of carbohydrates in an 8 oz serving, offering a good source of energy for the bodies muscles. Carbohydrates are the bodies preferred source of fuel, according to the Harvard School of Public Health.
Protein
Each can of Ensure offers approximately 9g of protein, essential for growth, cell regeneration and body tissues and organs, according to KidsHealth. The body needs ample sources of protein to create red blood cells that transport oxygen to all parts of the body. Those who are ill or the elderly who have trouble chewing or swallowing may avoid meat, making liquid supplements like Ensure a good alternative.
Fat
A single serving of Ensure offers about 6g of fat, which may help prevent malnutrition in the elderly whose solid food intake is lower than recommended for weight maintenance. Fat is also necessary for optimal organ and body tissue function.
Calories
Ensure offers a calorie boost for at-risk individuals who are underweight, losing weight or having trouble maintaining weight. Ensure is an adequate higher calorie liquid diet supplement, according to the University of Virginia Health System. Ensure makes a variety of products for immune health, bone and muscle health and nutritional shakes with a variety of calories. For example, Ensure Plus, designed to help boost or maintain weight, offers 350 calories in an 8 oz serving, as well as about 24 essential vitamins and minerals. The Ensure Nutrition Shake offers 250 calories, 50 of those from fat, plus offering antioxidants and omega-3 for heart health.
Member Comments