Weight-loss shakes, products sold as meal replacements, come in a variety of types, including low-fat, low-carbohydrate and low-calorie. Among the most popular weight-loss shakes are the low-carb Atkins chocolate shake, which contains 160 calories; the low-fat Medifast chocolate shake at 90 calories; and the balanced, reduced-calorie-diet chocolate shake, Slim-fast, costing you, ironically, the highest count, 190 calories per can. Interestingly, none of the three used the same serving measurement: Slim-Fast lists a serving as 325 ml, which is just over 10 oz, compared to 11 fluid oz. for Atkins and 28 g for Medifast. Their ingredients vary.
Carbohydrates
The low-carb Atkins shake contains just 5 g of carbohydrates, most of which come from the dairy protein blend and cocoa powder. Slim-Fast's 25 g of carbohydrates come from sugar, fructose and high fructose sugar, all simple sugars known to rapidly raise blood glucose levels, according to the Merck Manual. Medifast's 13 g of carbohydrates include fructose, oat fiber, corn syrup solids, maltodextrin and sweet dairy whey. Slim-Fast also comes with acesulfame potassium and sucralose, artificial sugars; Atkins and Medifast also have acesulfame potassium as an ingredient. All three products contain some form of cocoa.
Fats
Medifast has only 1 g of fat in a serving and includes no saturated fats or trans fats, the most damaging type of fat for your blood vessels and heart. The Atkins shake includes 10 g of fat, including 3.5 g of saturated fat, due to ingredients cream and sunflower oil, both sources of saturated fat. Slim-Fast has 6 g of fat in a serving, including 2 g of saturated fat. Fats in Slim-Fast include canola oil and hydrogenated soybean oil.
Proteins
The Atkins shake contains the most protein, 15 g per serving, compared to 11 g for Medifast and 10 g for Slim-Fast. Proteins in all three include some form of milk; Slim-Fast lists fat-free milk as its first ingredient as well as milk protein concentrate and soy protein concentrate. Atkins consists of a dairy blend made from milk protein concentrate, whey protein concentrate and calcium casseinate. Components found in Medifast include whey protein isolate and milk protein isolate.
Vitamins
All three shakes are fortified with vitamins and minerals in similar quantities, each offering vitamins A, C, E and K plus the B-complex vitamins. Slim-Fast and Medifast also provide vitamin D. All supply calcium, iron, iodine, manganese, zinc, selenium, copper and chromium.
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