How Does Boost Energy Drink Help You Gain Weight?

How Does Boost Energy Drink Help You Gain Weight?
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Boost energy drink is a nutritional supplement designed to help you meet your daily calorie, vitamin and mineral needs. Some people use it to gain weight, while others use it to control calories as part of a weight-loss plan. While drinking Boost doesn't guarantee weight changes, it can help create the conditions necessary within your body for weight loss to occur. Talk to your doctor before you begin supplementing with Boost to make sure you're eating a safe, appropriate diet for your condition.

Meal Replacement

Boost drinks often serve as meal replacements. The manufacturers of Boost call these "mini meals." If you've been previously unable to eat enough at mealtime due to illness or an underlying medical condition, Boost replaces some of the calories you would have gotten from food. Each Boost has around 240 to 360 calories, according to Nestle Clinical Nutrition, which is the caloric equivalent of a small meal. If you have previously been missing meals, adding Boost as a meal replacer can cause weight gain by increasing your caloric consumption.

Snack

Adding a Boost drink between meals as a snack can cause weight gain by increasing the number of total calories you consume per day. If you still eat regular meals but aren't gaining weight or are losing weight, supplementing with Boost can tip the scales toward gain. Similar to using Boost as a "mini meal," consuming it as a snack adds that additional 240 to 360 daily calories to your diet. Each time you take in 3,500 more calories than you burn, you gain 1 pound.

Sugar Content

Another factor to consider when using Boost for weight gain is its sugar content. The American Heart Association warns that consuming foods with added sugars on a regular basis is associated with obesity. If you consume Boost for the purpose of weight gain, as recommended by your doctor, the extra sugars you consume will provide a source of weight-increasing calories. If sugar is a concern, Boost makes a line of glucose control drinks made with artificial sweeteners to help you better manage your blood glucose levels.

Nutrition

Boost drinks contain protein, vitamins and minerals required to maintain healthy bones and muscles. If you drink Boost and you also perform light physical activity, you may notice weight gain associated with increased muscle mass and strong, healthy bones. Boost also contains water, which helps keep you hydrated. If you were previously dehydrated, re-hydrating with Boost and other healthy beverages can yield a slight weight gain as your blood volume and fluid levels return to normal.

References

Article reviewed by Tad Cronn Last updated on: Jun 18, 2011

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