Many meal replacement shakes and nutrition supplement products are dairy-based, which puts them out of consideration for vegans. Vegans eat no animal-derived products, including milk, yogurt, eggs or honey, so finding commercial shakes that fit their dietary guidelines can be a challenge. Making your own shake is one worthwhile alternative, and you can also choose to jazz up existing vegan nutritional supplements to fit your own requirements.
Benefits
Meal replacement shakes can be used for a variety of purposes, but they're often a weight loss technique. In that capacity, they can be very successful. People who use daily meal replacements, including shakes, lose more weight on average than people who simply followed a low-calorie diet plan. Shakes have the added benefit of being fortified with essential nutrients, some of which vegans may not receive in their regular diets.
Drawbacks
One notable drawback is the lack of vegan shakes available on the market. Busy vegans who don't have time to prepare their own meal replacements may find it difficult to accomplish their dietary goals with such a limited selection of commercial shakes. Another disadvantage is that the vitamins, minerals and nutrients available in prepared shakes may not serve the body as well as those from whole foods. Whole foods have greater amounts of fiber and protective substances that boost immunity, which dietary supplements lack. Diet shakes and other nutritional supplements, whether vegan or otherwise, are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, which means they can make product claims that may not be backed by scientific research.
Commercial
When you're searching for commercial vegan shakes and prepared nutrition products, it's imperative to carefully check ingredient labels. In some cases, a product may indicate that it could contain traces of dairy, milk or egg-based ingredients, even if none are listed on the label. If you're following a very strict vegan diet, it can be a wise strategy to call a company to check on their product's packaging and ingredient standards before you consume it.
Homemade
One of the best options for maintaining your diet while incorporating shakes is to prepare them at home. You can develop your own nutritious recipes or even adapt other versions to fit vegan requirements. For example, the Mayo Clinic offers a recipe for a high-protein, high-calorie smoothie that can assist with healthy weight gain. It calls for vanilla yogurt, milk and protein powder, but by substituting those ingredients with soy yogurt, almond milk or rice milk and soy protein powder, you'll get a vegan version of the shake that has a comparable nutritional profile and takes just a few minutes to prepare.
Considerations
It can be a challenge to meet nutritional requirements with a vegan diet, especially when you use shakes that can replace balanced meals. Before beginning any new diet plan or using shakes for any purpose, speak with your doctor.
Member Comments