Protein shakes, manufactured by many companies in a variety of flavors, are often sold as meal replacements as aids to increase weight loss. Some companies advocate using their shakes to replace several meals a day, while others sell their products as a complete diet for use under medical supervision. Protein shakes can play a part in a weight loss program, but shouldn't replace all other food intake, unless suggested and monitored by medical personnel.
Nutritional Value
Medifast, one type of meal replacement protein shake, advocates drinking five shakes and eating one meal with lean protein and vegetables, for a total calorie intake of around 800 calories a day on its weight-loss plan. Because each shake provides 13g of carbohydrate, five shakes a day would provide 65g, a low-carbohydrate dietary intake, as the recommended daily amount of carbohydrate is around 50 percent of your calorie intake, according to the Merck Manual of Medical Information. Fifty percent would equal 400 calories on a Medifast diet. Because 1g of carbohydrate equals 4 calories, 13g equals 52 calories, far below the recommended amount. Fat content in Medifast is also low, with only 1g of fat per serving. Protein content is high, with 11g of protein per serving; you need between 46 and 56 g of protein daily, MayoClinic.com states.
Amounts
Substituting a high-protein shake for one or two meals or snack per day will lower your daily calorie intake to help you lose weight, as long as you don't overeat at other meals. Full-liquid fasts with extremely limited calorie intake of 400 calories is recommended only for use in people needing to lose large amounts of weight before surgery, East Carolina Family Medicine Practice reports.
Amounts
Protein shake meal replacements can assist in losing large amounts of weight quickly. According to the Eastern Carolina Family Practice Center, weight loss on Medifast can equal 40 lbs. in 13 weeks. Following a liquid diet for several weeks can break poor eating habits. Liquid protein diets may also reduce hunger and increase energy levels in some people.
Drawbacks
Liquid protein diets don't change your eating habits, so once you start eating regular food again, you may regain weight. After 12 months, people who use dietary supplements, such as protein shakes, have not lost any more weight than those who dieted without supplements, notes Eastern Carolina Family Practice Center. Rapid weight loss can also cause gallstones, the Eastern Carolina Family Practice Center warns. some people have little energy and feel weak on liquid protein diets. Most protein shakes also contain supplemental vitamins and minerals, but getting nutrients from supplements doesn't always provide the same benefits as obtaining nutrients from food, according to MayoClinic.com.
Member Comments