Meal Replacement Shake Comparison - An unbiased look at the most popular shakes on the market

4/28/2016

Due to formulas changing and requests for additional shakes, we've updated this post as of 9/18/17.

This subject comes up ALL THE TIME with people we work with and the coaches in our community. People are always trying to compare different shakes that are on the market. There is so much skewed information since the people that are usually telling you the benefits of a particular shake are also selling that shake. Full disclosure: we are Beachbody Coaches, drink Shakeology daily and also sell it. BUT...unlike a lot of other posts that attempt to compare these shakes, I want to share the facts: calorie information, macronutrient information, nutritional information, added ingredients, cost and let YOU decide what makes the most sense for you situation.

The only bias that might show up in this post is that I put a huge emphasis on long term health over short term weight loss. I believe lasting weight loss and finding your ideal weight is a side effect of being healthy. I also don't believe that meal replacement shakes should be used as a way to restrict calories. They should be used to give you quality, convenient calories that promote health. If you want to know why I don't believe in calorie restriction we have a couple other posts about that, Calorie Deficit Diets, The Truth Revealed and Stop Eating Less and Exercising More. I also have a bias towards restricting artificial foods, flavors, and preservatives.

I compared the chocolate shake from the following companies:

Beachbody's Shakeology
Isagenix Isalean
Herbalife Nutritional Shake
GNC Lean Shake
IdealShape IdealShake
DoTerra Trim Shake
Advocare Meal Replacement Shake
Thrive Lifestyle Mix
Vega One Nutritional Shake
Arbonne Essentials
Sanford Profile Meal Replacement Shake
Invigor8
Shaklee
Garden of Life

I chose these shakes because they are the ones we get asked about most often. If you have a shake that you would like me to analyze that isn't on this list feel free to email us a nutritional label and I can take a look at it. If my information is incorrect about any shake, please let me know that also. My goal is represent every shake fairly with accurate information.

Calorie and Macronutrient Information

When I first started looking at these numbers I originally didn't include the serving size. I then realized that it is needed to accurately look at nutritional density. The idea is to compare gram for gram, which shake packs in more nutrients. When looking at all of the numbers keep in mind the serving size. For example if you look at total carbs and compare IsaLean to the Herbalife Shake you would think that Herbalife is way better but the serving is less than half, so gram for gram, IsaLean has fewer carbs.

A few other things to pay attention to in this graphic:

Calories. Like I mentioned earlier, shakes shouldn't be a way to restrict calories, so I like to look at the shakes that contain slightly higher values, 150+. All of these shakes if made without adding any extra ingredients would still be pretty low in calories to "replace" a meal, in my opinion. Obviously meal size will be determined by the size of the person but I usually recommend 400+ calories per meal.

Carbohydrates... these have a bad reputation in the weight loss world. I would say the average person probably does consume too many calories from carbohydrates, but that doesn't mean you need ZERO to lose weight. The main idea when it comes to carbohydrate management is to avoid carbs that quickly gets transformed into blood sugar or have a high glycemic load. The lower the total carbohydrate, the higher the fiber, and the higher the protein will all lower the glycemic load of a food. One thing you will want to cross reference regarding carbs is whether a shake is artificially sweetened. If they are artificially sweetened the sugar to fiber ratio will be skewed and as I mentioned earlier, I'm not a fan of artificial sweeteners. Keeping that in mind the shakes that I like based on their carbohydrate content and sugar to fiber ratio include; Vega One Nutritional Shake, DoTerra Trim Shake, Beachbody Shakeology, Isagenix Isalean, Garden of Life. I like these because of the higher fiber content and lower % of sugar in regards to total carbohydrates.

Overall, fat is pretty negligible across the board. Protein strictly by the numbers, most of these shakes have a good percentage of their calories coming from protein. The only one that is pretty terrible is GNC Lean Shake. We will talk about quality of ingredients later.

Vitamin and Mineral Content

This first graphic shows the percentages of the vitamin content in each shake. One thing to consider with this graphic is nutritional density in relation to total grams consumed or total calories. A shake like Thrive Lifestyle Mix is a pretty low calorie shake at 123 calories but has a number of RDA values of 50% or more, so overall pretty nutritionally dense.

The 4 shakes that standout as the ones containing the highest concentration of vitamins per calorie would be IdealShake, Shakeology, Vega One, and IsaLean in that order. Invigor8, Advocare, Arbonne and DoTerra shakes would rank among the worst when it comes to nutritional density.

This second graphic shows the percentages of the mineral content in each shake. The top 4 shakes from a mineral density are IdealShake, Thrive Lifestyle Mix, Shakeology, and Sanford Profile Meal Replacement.

The other thing to consider when it comes to vitamin and mineral content would be where those vitamins are coming from. Are they synthetically created and added? For example if you read IdealShake's ingredient list it would say Niacinamide and Potassium Chloride. Those things aren't bad for you. However, when you get vitamins and minerals from whole food ingredients your body is able to absorb those nutrients more effectively. So when you read your ingredient list, make sure you look for ingredients that sound like foods rather than chemicals. If you are getting these nutrients from food, you are also benefiting by getting the phytonutrients that come along with those foods. These are lost entirely when you are consuming a shake that was made using lab created vitamins and minerals.

Shakeology, Garden of Life and Vega One are the three shakes that have the most comprehensive list of foods that go into their shakes. Isalean, Thrive, Invigor8 and Arbonne include some whole foods that make the vitamins and minerals more easily absorbed. The remaining shakes from what I can tell use synthetic vitamins and minerals to get their nutrient content.

Pre and Probiotic Content

If you are new to the world of prebiotics and probiotics let me explain what they are very briefly. Probiotics are bacteria that populate your gastrointestinal tract. We have about 10 times the number of bacteria living in our GI tract than human cells. So essentially we are more bacteria than we are human. These bacteria provide a whole host of benefits to our bodies from metabolic regulation, immune function, cravings, and improved digestive issues to name a few. The science is still pretty new around how our gut health affects the health of our entire body but we know it is important to have a healthy gut.

Prebiotics are essentially food for the probiotics to eat and therefore survive. Nearly all the shakes include prebiotic fiber in them. It's important to feed the good bacteria in our gut the stuff it needs, rather than feed the bad bacteria which can lead to conditions like SIBO and candida overgrowth. Only 7 of them contain probiotics, so it makes it pretty easy to pick out the best ones in this category.

Digestive Enzymes

Staying on the theme of gut health, let's talk digestive enzymes next. Essentially what these can do is help break down our food into smaller pieces so our body can more easily process it.

There are a few standouts when it comes to this category. Isalean and Garden of Life have the most comprehensive mix of enzymes. After that Thrive and IdealShake have a pretty good mix. Shakeology has a heavy focus on carbohydrate enzymes but lacks protein and lipid enzymes. All the other shakes fail in this category. (Make sure to click on the image to enlarge)

Adaptogens and Herbs

This category might seem a little strange to the average health conscious person. Adaptogens are foods that "adapt" to their current environment. Things like ashwagandha and astragalus are herbs that can regulate your immune system. If your immune system needs help fighting off disease, these will ramp it up. If your body is having an auto immune response and it needs to calm down, these herbs will slow it down. They adapt!

Other items on this list help with energy production at the cellular level. Things like schisandra and maca are great for this. Many of these adaptogens also have a incredibly high antioxidant properties like reishi and cordyceps mushrooms. Antioxidant rich foods are powerful for your immune system and reducing inflamation throughout your body.

I won't go into a ton of detail about these specific ingredients, but the clear winner when it comes to adaptogens is Shakeology. A few other shakes have included a single adaptogen which is great that they recognize the value in them.

Additional Ingredients and Certifications

This is one of the most important graphics I think when comparing shakes. Like I said, I have a few things on my non-negotiable list, especially when it comes to something I would be consuming daily. First, I'm gluten sensitive and therefore this is a must. If you are also I would recommend testing any of these shakes out or running it past your doctor. There are only a couple that are "certified" gluten free but a lot that claim that they are but just don't have the certification. After that I prefer to avoid products that contain GMO's, soy, artificial anything and hydrogenated oils. I don't claim to be perfect with all of these but I certainly don't consume anything daily that contains any of these items.

With that, there are only 7 shakes that meet my criteria and would benefit a person's health; Shakeology, Isalean, DoTerra, Vega One, Arbonne, Invigor8, and Garden of Life. This is actually where I would personally start, and then work my way back up the blog post looking at these shakes as my options for a daily shake. That's why I've highlighted them in this graphic. If you aren't as strict as I am when it comes to these added ingredients then by all means use all of this information however you would like to find the right shake for you.

Cost

I should note that all of these shakes are priced out at the retail value. A lot of the companies that sell these shakes have member options that get you reduced pricing but to keep it consistent I wanted to share the retail. If you decide to drink one of these shakes regularly I would encourage you to look into some of those discounts.

Hopefully by now you've realized that comparing a lot of these shakes isn't an apples to apples comparison and the price reflects that. The price of these shakes tend to reflect the ingredient list in them. For the most part I would say as the price of the shakes go up so do the nutritional benefits and quality of ingredients. For the shakes on the higher end with a higher nutritional value, you are still coming out ahead of what it would cost you to order a healthy meal at a restaurant and would be very comparable to making a healthy meal at home. For some of the cheaper shakes I would argue that you are just buying calories. It's something to consume to hold you over until your next meal but they aren't making you any healthier.

Unfortunately a lot of people will begin their decision making process with this chart. I would encourage you to look at all the other categories above and pick the shake that will help you in the way that you need it. Then figure out a way to make that dollar amount work in your budget. It might mean giving up a night out a week at a restaurant, or forgoing the daily Starbucks trip or giving up cable TV. Your health is like an investment that you can start building up a positive or negative balance at a young age. Most people don't see the benefits or the negative side effects until they are much older and often it's too late to make big changes.

Final Thoughts

I hope I've laid out enough information that you can make an educated decision on your own and not have to sort through a bunch of crap out there on the internet to get a straight answer on what is included in these shakes. I also hope I presented the facts in a fair manner and highlighted the things that you would want to know before choosing a shake. I'm happy to answer questions about any of my views and why we have chosen to drink the shake that we do.

I'll close with this thought... A lot of people scrutinize the safety of these shakes which is great and is why I put this post together. I would also encourage you to use that same level of care and concern when it comes to the other foods you eat regularly. None of these shakes are either toxic enough to make you sick on their own or nutritious enough to keep you healthy on their own. It's a combination of everything you put into your body.

Thanks for reading!

165 Comments

Kim

4/29/2016 07:27:25 pm

Hello! FANTASTIC article! I am very impressed! The one area I see many "reviewers" (for lack of a better word) leaving out is information regarding how the product is processed. Another important aspect to point out would be the type of ingredients the company is using. I am a person looking for the nutritional content but I also still find myself asking the same question from each review. These are 1. Does the company use USDA organic ingredients? Etc. 2. Does the company use raw ingredients? 3. If so, how are those ingredients processed? ie. Are they pressurized? Kept under 110 degrees? A product may list great nutritional properties from a great list of ingredients, however the nutritional value of that product is compromised if the above questions aren't answered correctly.

Dan Suedbeck

5/1/2016 05:11:35 am

Thanks for reading. I totally understand where you are coming from and i agree it would be great to know the answers to a lot of those questions. The problem a little bit is we are dealing with products in the supplement industry and therefore aren't regulated. Therefore theses companies unless they want to tell people can keep that stuff to themselves. So it makes tracking down that information extremely tricky. Also comparing it across brands is tricky because there is no standardized terminology so companies can use terms they make up likely to make their own product sound better.

I was planning on doing an individual review of each of these shakes and I might find more information on some of your questions when I do that. Stay tuned!! ?

Wendy

5/25/2017 09:32:12 am

I understand what Kim is talking about. I use Isagenix and they do keep the pressure under because they say to drink the shakes within 10-15 mins. bc once you add water, it releases the enzymes. I can't say that for the other shakes. I started in 2008 and I was able to lose 40 lbs in 6 mos. in a healthy way. No saggy skin anywhere bc it was from within.

Stephanie

5/12/2016 11:50:18 am

Thank you for pulling this together! My husband and I have been looking for something to use that won't break the bank! This is a lot of great information!!

Amy Perleberg

5/19/2016 07:26:41 am

I would love you to look at the Balance Complete shake by Young Living and let me know your thoughts on that one!! Let me know if you need me to screen shot a label, but I know you can go to youngliving.com and find the nutritional label there also. Excited to hear your thoughts!!

6/30/2018 03:10:52 pm

I would appreciate the comparison as well!

Cassandra bosma

9/20/2016 07:02:18 pm

It would be beneficial to include information, such as vitamin and mineral account for a days worth of the product. Like shakeology is once a day whereas Sanford profile is 4 shakes a day. It makes a different because you are then getting 80% of your daily vitamins and minerals just from the shakes. Sanford profile also has a bar you eat as an afternoon snack that contains more vitamins and minerals. This would also affect the cost and overal calorie consumption for the day if we take into consideration how the product is suppose to be used.

Cassandra

9/20/2016 07:09:27 pm

I have also been on the profile diet for 3 months and it has been one of the best diets I have tried. You have a weekly meeting with a certified coach and you are given a scale that scyncs to your wifi so you and your coach can keep track of your weight, muscle growth, bmi, bmr, hydration level, and bone density. You combine the diet with whole foods for two meals also

Dan Suedbeck

10/7/2016 04:43:56 pm

Cassandra, thanks for your comments. I am fairly familiar with the Sanford plan and approach. You are correct in that a full day of shakes would add up to more nutrients. I guess my personal approach is to use supplements exactly as such, supplemental. I think that is one downside I see in the Sanford plan, they put a lot of emphasis on consuming the shakes and bars and it crowds out getting an abundance of food from whole foods. Not to mention some of the less than desirable ingredients like sucralose and artificial flavors that are in the shake.

I do love their approach in that you work with a coach, which is very similar to our approach. That accountability and guidance is huge!

If you ever want to chat more about our approach I would be happy to chat. And yes you could keep going with your Sanford plan and work with us. :)

Susan Georgia

10/19/2016 07:02:14 am

Thank you for putting this together! I'm considering shakes and you've saved me a ton of time by doing all the analysis for me.

Karen

11/3/2016 08:50:33 am

Thanks for doing all the work for us. Have tried so many and its nice to have them compared to each other.

11/29/2016 11:20:47 pm

I'm just curious... I love my shakeology and I'm beginning thrive tomorrow for an energy boost. Can I take both shakes that day... thrive in the morning then my shakeology for lunch?

Dan Suedbeck link

11/30/2016 07:49:10 am

J, that's not a super easy question to answer since I don't know specifics of your situation. The one thing I would be concerned about is you consuming multiple shakes and therefore possible severely restricting calories. Check out the two links I connected to in the first paragraph of this blog post on why that would be bad. Feel free to reach out to me and we can chat more about your current situation specifically.

Other than that I wouldn't see an issue in the sense of overdosing on nutrition or anything like that.

The other than that I would bring up is what is the underlying cause for your energy issues. It likely isn't because of a Shakeology or Thrive deficiency! 😉 Chances are it is a sleep issue or a hormonal issue. Happy to discuss that too if you send me an email.

sheryl

12/1/2016 03:30:25 am

I was a Beachbody Coach. What i find interesting is a company like Thrive also have a supplement as well as a transdermal delivery for additional nutrients. I think that seems to be an advantage for overall program.

Dan Suedbeck

12/1/2016 04:23:16 am

Everybody finds what works for them. For me Thrive shakes had an ingredient or two that are on my "things to avoid consuming regularly" list.

I don't know enough about the patch to comment and this post was more so just comparing shakes not whole nutritional programs that companies offer.

Kristin link

3/7/2017 04:29:55 pm

Hi Dan, i am pretty knowledgeable about the ingredients i avoid also and when you want an answer to a question you ask it. with that being said the soy in thrive is fermented which makes it healthy and it is also organic and non gmo. the whey is also organic and from grass fed cows. The sucralose is literally a pinch and only makes it diabetic friendly, it is sweetened with stevia. it took me 6 months to try the products because i had similar concerns but i have been using them for a month now and absolutely love it. you cant knock it til you try it :)
have a great day!

Tammy

5/23/2018 11:08:47 am

I just want to add Thrives Lifestlye Shake is not a meal replacement shake it is a step in their nutritional system...before comparing it you should 've realized it is not a meal replacement.

Kim Brenner

12/8/2016 12:27:33 pm

HELP!!! I am looking for a meal replacement plan that isn't extremely expensive but has all the best things I need....I know it sounds like I'm being cheap but I'm on a limited income due to disability. My mom seems to think Slim Fast is good enough and doesn't understand why I don't want to do this....I HAVE to lose substantial weight or I'm looking at back surgery and already having 2 neck surgeries I don't wanna go there. I have damaged kidney (80% working rate) and am pre diabetes with high blood pressure...I will be checking with my dr before starting, I just need a jumping off point!!! Thank u in advance for any help u may be!!!!

Dan Suedbeck

12/8/2016 02:31:22 pm

Kim, thanks for reaching out. I would be happy to help you figure out a solution. I guess I would love to know a little bit more about your situation, budget, goals, limitations, etc. If you can shoot me a quick email at info@thecookandthecoach.com. Look forward to chatting.

Jeanne Twinam link

5/18/2017 02:38:32 pm

Kim,
Those are some scary circumstances that I have partly been in before. I was severely overweight with 100+ to lose, injured spine, and pre diabetes. Of all those things the pre diabetes scared me the most, and whatever I did. I just couldn't get those numbers to be good. I started Isagenix because I had seen the good results of so many, and how it helped level their blood sugar levels. Dan's $ on our shake is kind of high, but when you are a member our shakes are only $2.85 each. I'd love to help you.

Janet W.

12/15/2016 08:23:46 pm

This is not a good comparison. Arbonne doesn't promote pre and probiotics in their shakes so your evaluation of those even being in the shake is going to be wrong right off the bat! Those are included in their digestion plus line. If you are looking at a protein shake to give you your probiotics and prebiotics, then you are confused with the purpose of a protein shake.

Dan Suedbeck

12/19/2016 06:18:16 am

Thanks for your thoughts Janet. This comparison was designed to just tell what is and isn't in some of the most popular shakes.

I was under the impression that Arbonne shakes are something that is promoted as a meal replacement so that is why I included.

If pre and probiotics aren't important to you in a shake then you can disregard that piece of info to make your decision on the best shake for your needs.

Ashley link

5/21/2017 03:49:13 pm

Janet, thanks for pointing that out. Dan this is a very helpful article overall, but it is true that Arbonne has a separate product with digestive enzymes including probiotics and also Fiber Boost. It is intended to be a meal replacement. There is some great nutritional content, but they also offer a multi-vitamin pack. And, for your records they are non-gmo and certified vegan, and they've been perfecting their products since 1980 using pure botanicals and leading science. Just saying...

Linda Milazzo

7/24/2017 09:12:10 am

Yes but it's another ingredient that we have to buy. It gets expensive

Ronda

1/3/2017 04:00:38 pm

Can you tell me what the caffeine content is in the above examples? Thank you :)

Dan Suedbeck

1/3/2017 04:08:31 pm

None of the nutrition labels clearly stated the amount of caffeine. It is pretty safe to assume most chocolate flavors will have some.

Then I would look for green tea as probably the other most common caffeine containing ingredient. A lot of supplements geared towards weight loss add green tea due its aid in boosting metabolism and enhancing fat loss.

I wouldn't imagine any of the shakes have near the amount of caffeine as say a cup of coffee. That's just a guess though.

Jennifer

1/21/2017 07:37:59 am

This was just what I was looking for! I am considering using a meal replacement shake for 2 meals a day for both convenience and weight loss. I don't have the time to plan and cook healthy meals 3 times a day. Would there be any reasons not to do this?

Dan Suedbeck

1/21/2017 08:10:34 am

Jennifer, glad this helped out. As far as having multiple shakes in a given day I would be slightly hesitant to advise that especially if you just mix up the shakes as is without any extra ingredients. You would likely be restricting calories in a severe way that could give some immediate gains but could lead to long term struggles.

I would love to help you write up a specific plan for your situation. Shoot me an email at info@thecookandthecoach.com and we can chat.

Connie J

1/29/2017 10:41:05 am

Thanks for the comparison blog on shakes. I truly love the Sanford profile shake due to the creamy texture/consistency, but am looking for something different as I am no longer a member? I loved their diet plan, due to the coaching and teaching proper portions & lost 30 lbs and have kept the weight off.
Of the top shakes you recommend which would be creamy, full taste? A lot of shakes are more "watery" tasting, no substance.

Dan Suedbeck link

1/31/2017 06:13:28 am

Connie, congrats on your weight loss so far! I like Sanford's plan in that they don't just tell you do this and let you fend for yourself, that you have a coach to work with along the way. It's very similar to what we do to.

As far as shake recommendations I can't speak for any of the shakes that I reviewed in this article as far as taste or texture. I haven't tasted many of them. This post most more so just to look at the objective facts behind the shakes. I'll send you an email about my experience though and see if that helps.

Jeanne Twinam link

5/18/2017 02:26:31 pm

I have been using Isagenix for a little over a year, and consuming shakes twice a day. I think that our shakes are super creamy if you follow the directions to the T. Dan Suedbeck has replied to many people that replacing two meals with a shake is not enough calories, and I completely agree with him. That's why I track my calories and get the rest in through snacks and dinner. Another trick to make a shake a little bit creamier and would help with your fats for a macro counting diet would be to add a couple teaspoons of coconut oil in.

Christine link

1/4/2018 06:25:08 am

This article is amazing Dan, thank you for putting it together. I do work as a consultant for Arbonne. I can't speak for any other company, and this is why I have been reading other reviews. You have done an amazing job comparing meal replacement. While Arbonne does not have some of the extras, it does have a full and affordable Healthy Living Program that replaces up to two meals a day and educates, just as I believe you do, on the importance of what we put in our bodies. I have tried other protiens, some are great and some not so great. I do love our ARbonne ones and our guided program to a lifestyle not a diet, and a delicious not limiting one. Our kits include Protien, fibre boost (1/2 daily serving, no odour no taste) fizz (caffeine replacement) digestion plus (pro biotics) and detox tea plus an extra 7 day cleanse.
Connie you have done amazing!
I just wanted to put that extra bit in and thank you for this thorough article!

Kori link

1/31/2017 05:14:21 pm

I LOVE this comparison. It's well researched and accurate. I would like to point out that Thrive Lifestyle mix was created to go hand in hand with our 2 other core products that make up the Thrive Experience and because of that some of the values in our mix are lower so as to work with the other two products and not give too much of each which as someone who knows nutrition knows that too much can be just as bad as not enough

Dan Suedbeck link

2/7/2017 02:55:40 pm

Kori, there are a few shakes on this list that I think are meant to be paired up with other supplements. From an apples to apples comparison I made the attempt to just look at the shakes rather than entire nutritional programs.

Also just to clear too in case others might read your comment. It is actually rather tough if not impossible to get too many vitamins or minerals if you consume whole foods or supplements derived from whole foods. It's when synthetic vitamins and minerals are used that people can get into trouble. Vitamin A is the big one that a lot of soon to be or expecting mothers are concerned about. Beta carotene or the plant based version doesn't accumulate or cause issues like the other forms.

Angela link

2/5/2017 01:23:25 pm

Arbonne is non GMO! And they have meal replacement and protein boost shakes also. Their multivitamins contain digestive enzymes and their clean eating program has natural probiotic foods.... very well rounded I'm happy with the taste also whereas not always with other shakes. Enjoy! And thanks for the article!@!

Dwayne

2/7/2017 04:32:30 am

I agree there are some mistakes in this research. Maybe could you update this?
D.

Dan Suedbeck link

2/7/2017 02:49:06 pm

Angela, if want to send me the documentation that says it is non GMO I would be happy to update. I wasn't able to find anything that said it was for sure. Our email is, info@thecookandthecoach.com, thanks for checking out the post.

Alexandria Lancaster

5/18/2017 04:15:34 pm

I have not found any documentation either for it being Non-gmo. If you do come across it please share. I have been talking with a consultant and she has emailed corporate, but I think this has been brought to their attention before and it hasn't been said from corporate.

Jennifer

2/6/2017 04:20:53 pm

Hi this is a great comparison ! The only thing is that shakeology does have cinnamon in it so that should be changed also there is protease and lipase in their digestive enzyme blend. They are only one Shake a day so the cost is much less then what you are stating without a discount they are $4. But thank you for doing this research

Dan Suedbeck link

2/7/2017 03:03:25 pm

Jennifer, thanks for your comment. I'm pretty sure the chocolate version of shakeology does not have cinnamon in it. But if you find a label where it says it does, I can modify. Same goes for protease and lipase.

This is the label that I was using via, www.shakeology.com.

http://img1.beachbodyimages.com/tbb/image/upload/v1461828774/tbb/misc/pdf/Shakeology_ChocolateBag_012816_Web.pdf

Lisa P

4/4/2017 01:21:30 pm

I just tried the Shakeology chocolate for the first time and am looking at the ingredient label. Cinnamon (bark) is listed toward the end of the list.

Jen

2/8/2019 05:15:34 pm

Shakeology also had a Vegan version, so not all are whey based!

Kris Schmeckpeper link

2/9/2017 07:12:21 am

My daughter in law uses Shakeology and I purchased Ideal Shake for meal replacements drinks. She states that the ingredients in Shakeology are better for you even though the labels and research show they are very similar. I chose the Ideal Shake because it was less than half price and tastes good. Any suggestions as to which one is better or equal or not good at all? Thanks

Dan Suedbeck link

2/9/2017 08:01:54 am

Kris the reason I'm not a fan of Ideal Shape shakes is that their ingredients include artificial sweeteners and flavors along with soy. I personally try to avoid those things especially if I'm consuming them regularly.

As far as ingredient labels comparing the two, I would say they are quite different. Shakeology is filled with protein, whole foods, herbs, mushrooms, pre and probiotics and IdealShape is protein, pre and probiotics and synthetic vitamins and minerals which aren't as bioavailable as when they come from real food.

So as I mentioned in the post, you really get what you pay for. My personal preference since you asked would be Shakeology based on the things that are in it and not in it. To me it's worth the price to get those added ingredients and avoid the artificial sweeteners and flavors.

Erik

12/14/2017 09:34:49 am

That's not entirely true. Ideal Shake has 3 flavors now that are made using "superfood" ingredients and stevia instead of artificial ingredients and artificial sweeteners.

dwayne hodder

2/11/2017 07:49:14 am

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=dr+peter+matravers+arbonne+shakes&view=detail&mid=6935BCB64D8A8CA656606935BCB64D8A8CA65660&FORM=VIRE

I think this is worth a view by anyone looking into nutritional supplements.

Aurora

2/13/2017 05:50:24 am

So which one would be the best choice for weightloss and energy ? What are the top 3 when yaking everything into consideration ?

Dan Suedbeck

2/15/2017 04:02:57 am

Aurora, that's really a personal question. I certainly have my favorite because it hits on everything I need and want. As far as weight loss, no shake inherently will help with weight loss if it isn't combined with a well rounded diet. Things that will help curb hunger and will likely help control calorie intake would be a higher amount of protein (15+ grams) and higher fiber content (4+ grams) will help keep you full longer and therefore not overeating on other things.

As far as energy, that's even more tricky. Some of these shakes provide a caffeine bump and therefore give short term energy. Some of the adaptogens herbs that I mentioned above work more at a cellular level to help your body create more energy. There are only a couple shakes that provide some of those.

Hope some of that helps!

Jeanne Twinam link

5/18/2017 02:32:58 pm

He was only doing a comparison of shakes, but there are many systems that have those effects spread apart in a whole system. I've been using Isagenix for over a year, and have been successful in losing 50+ lbs despite medical conditions. As far as energy goes, there was a time in my life when if I laid down I would fall asleep. So I would stand up for hours on end just continuously working so that I could stay awake. I'm so happy for the energy that I have found, because now these are just vague memories.

Marlene

2/17/2017 08:16:07 pm

I started the Profile diet with meal replacements and have noticed I have alot more energy. According to your chart they have no caffine or herbs in their shakes/bars/tea drinks? Would I be getting this much energy just from the supplements in the meal replacement shakes?

Dan Suedbeck link

2/20/2017 12:55:49 pm

That is a tough one to pinpoint probably Marlene. Our bodies energy production can be affected by a number of variables, exercise, nutrition, sleep, stress, to name a few. Your shakes may be helping holistically with everything that you are doing. Have you changed much else with your lifestyle since starting them?

Marlene

2/20/2017 01:03:09 pm

No sugar unless it's in the shakes...I was just concerned there wasn't an additive in the shake that was a high energy and when stop using the shakes I would feel a slump.

Leanne

3/8/2017 02:50:51 pm

A friend of mine just talked me into ordering 18Shakes, which is an American company. Because I believed in the weight management aspect of it and I do workout 4 times per week I thought I would give it a try. You never mention 18shakes in your review. Have you heard of it and if so, what is your thoughts on this produce?

Dan Suedbeck link

3/14/2017 07:39:25 am

Leanne, thanks for reading our post. I have not heard anything about 18shakes. I just looked at their website. The shake doesn't seem to have any ingredients that fall into my do not consume daily list. Seems like a fortified protein shake, which isn't bad, but the ingredient list isn't quite as robust as some of the shakes listed above. It's also lacking things like digestive enzymes, probiotics and adaptogens.

Regarding it has a meal replacement, at only 90 calories, it is maybe lacking a bit and I would likely recommending adding some extras to it to help sustain you and fuel your body.

Glad you found an American company that works for you.

Jolene

3/20/2017 04:54:30 pm

So I have been trying shakeology and can NOT stand the taste!!!! Is there a protein meal replacement that has a better taste but has the good nutrients like shakeology???? I'm in desperate need of help with this!!!! Thank u!

Sheila Coleman link

4/24/2017 04:33:58 pm

Yes, Jolene. I am not a shake person at all, however I do love the ultra micronized lifestyle mix by Level Thrive. It mixes very well and I mix mine with cold water. I am not much of a breakfast eater so this certainly feels me up and my digestive track couldn't be happier. Would love to chat with you personally so that we don't clog up this feed out of respect

Jeanne Twinam link

5/18/2017 02:44:53 pm

I love the taste of Isagenix shakes, and love that they don't contain any soy or artificial sweeteners, dyes, or added flavor. Our products were created by John Anderson who is a true master of the field, and has helped like 18 other companies. He finally decided to help bring up Isagenix so that he could feel better about the products, and know that companies are not trying to be cheap and cut corners.
I've also learned something while using this nutrition, and that is if our bodies want and need it. They will eventually crave it in a short amount of time.

Lori

3/31/2017 10:42:15 am

Thrive. Is this permissible for teens?

Dan Suedbeck

3/31/2017 11:49:53 am

Most companies will tell you to check with your doctor when giving supplements to minors.

We personally give Shakeology to our 2 year old and it works for us. I can't comment on Thrive.

Anne-Marie link

4/24/2017 06:22:34 am

Thrive can be taken by teens if it is something the parent chooses to do. I would love to chat with you about it privately, since as to not clog up this feed.

Jeanne Twinam link

5/18/2017 02:46:53 pm

Isagenix shakes are ok for children 4 years and up, and 12 years and up can even have an everyday cleanse if needed. My 14 year old takes cleanse at night and it has helped his attitude more than words can describe.

Alicia Scales

4/4/2017 08:22:46 am

Have you heard anything about the 310 Nutrition shakes? I am currently on Profile by Sanford and I love the weight loss but hate the FOUR shakes a day and the cost. I am finding though, that most other meal replacements are just as expensive. I am needing to lose about another 10-15 lbs for my wedding.
Thank you!

Dan Suedbeck link

4/5/2017 07:17:24 am

Alicia, I've been getting a few comments about this shake so I've looked it up and might eventually add it to the comparison. At first glance it is seems to be a quality shake with some good beneficial added ingredients. It doesn't have anything in it that I try to avoid on the regular so that is good.

It's maybe not quite as robust as some shakes but still pretty good.

Anne Matchell

7/23/2017 07:44:56 am

Sorry, I didn't see this post before I asked about 310 shakes.
What do you mean by, "not quite as robust as some shakes"?

Becky

4/7/2017 03:30:39 pm

If you use Shakeology, can you still take a probiotic?

Dan Suedbeck link

4/10/2017 06:01:50 am

Becky, every person is unique and I don't want to throw out blanket information. Personally I do take additional probiotics from time to time and drink Shakeology. Gut health is all about having a healthy balance of bacteria so it is possible to consume too many probiotics but isn't likely that you would get that from an over the counter probiotic supplement plus Shakeology. Check with your doctor or if you are a self-experimenter like I am, try it and pay attention to both positive and negative impacts of taking them. Hope that helps.

4/23/2017 08:50:00 pm

Interesting comparison.

I personally Thrive. One benefit that stands out over all others is that Thrive is formulated by people with over 200 years combined experience in HUMAN supplementation and nutrition. It's more than just what goes on a label and what would stand out in a comparison like this. Our CEOs pick the ingredients and every batch is double tested for quality.

Thrive also has a high bioavailability due to quality ingredients. Plus, everyone joins for free anyone can earn their product for free which makes it great for the body and the pocketbook.

Dan Suedbeck link

4/24/2017 08:21:53 am

T, thanks for your comments about Thrive and what goes on behind the scenes.

I think to be fair to people reading this and not mislead, saying people get free product isn't entirely accurate. You make money by working the business and then choose to spend that money on Thrive products.

4/24/2017 10:24:07 am

Hey Dan,

Not misleading at all and not using commissions. When you have 2 or more referrals on autoship, you will get the average amount of the top two orders in credits. For example, if you refer one person who buys $150 worth of product on autoship, and another who buys $190 in the same month, you will receive $170 in credits on the 2nd of the following month. Promoters can either use it themselves or send to their promoters or their customers to apply to their orders. Customers can only apply credits to their own orders. Shipping will always be out of pocket, but there is a way to earn your product for free. Again, it's earning because you have to get your minimum of 2 referrals on autoship per month.

Hope that makes sense! If not, I can clarify further. ☺️

Lori

4/25/2017 06:01:19 pm

Could you please include Neolife (GNLD) in your comparison? I've tried both and am wondering how they compare.
GNLD uses a combination of whey and soy isolates. The soy in GNLD is fermented.

Sara

6/1/2017 12:55:47 pm

With all these, keep in mind it is JUST comparing the "meal replacement" shake. 100 calories is not a meal replacement, but that's beside the point. I work with one of the companies, but I will not name it as that's not what this post is about. I did a TON of research before selecting the program (I've done others as well).

Anyways, the point I would like to make is that while some of these "meal replacement shakes" do or do not have certain things, I'm guessing most, if not all have additional supplemental products to use with the shakes to round out the nutritional and digestive needs. So, not really comparing apples to apples, in my opinion. It makes our product look good, but in all fairness, the programs are meant to be used together, vs. just a shake. I cannot speak for ALL the companies represented, so I could be wrong.

i DO appreciate the label comparisons though.

I also agree with comparing how the protein is sources and processed. That makes a difference. As well as where the other ingredients are sourced.

Vicki Scott

6/12/2017 02:33:24 pm

Awesome material. I am looking for a very short term 'cleanse' - and I like the 'shake and supplement' approach. I have done 10 day cleanses using Joe Cross Mean Green - but it is nearly impossible to complete 10 days just drinking juice (that I don't find all that tasty) - and maybe the shakes will be just as annoying. Could you also add Mediclear from LifeTime Fitness D-Tox program?

Dianne link

6/30/2017 01:47:39 pm

Great work on the comparison and the detail included. Very helpful for me. I'm thinking that an update would be great as I do believe some of these formulas have changed or been updated since April 2016.
Thanks again for your effort! :D

Dianne

7/2/2017 05:00:42 am

Do you have specifics on which formulas have changed? I am always trying to update the information or add new shakes if they gain in popularity.

Leamon Rollo

7/1/2017 04:51:22 pm

I liked your reviews. One reason I came to your site I was hoping for a comparison between Premier Protien Shakes and others to see which is better but premier wasn't listed at all. Would love to hear a review on premier. Thanks

Dan Suedbeck

7/2/2017 05:09:04 am

My apologies for not having the shake on here that you were looking to compare. I glanced at the ingredients for the Premier Protein shake and it has sucralose and artificial flavors in it which I try to avoid. Nutritionally it seems to be a fortified protein shake.

It would also appear to have a few different fillers in it. Macronutrients ratios are decent.

My opinion it... it is calories to fill you up but at best your health is staying the same by drinking it but is likely to have a negative impact. That is unless you are replacing crappy sugar cereal with it then it would be an upgrade but just making you sick slower.

Katie

7/6/2017 09:37:20 pm

Could you look at the Shaklee 180 shakes?

Cheri

4/27/2018 04:21:15 pm

The Shaklee 180 shakes are now called Life Energizing Shakes and are reformulated as of before the date that this was updated (Sept 2017). The information about certifications is wrong. Shaklee Life Shakes are all non-GMO, organic and backed by years of solid research which is widely available to the public. They publish all publications and research. Life Shakes are the most comprehensive meal replacement on the market. Living younger longer starts by what we put in our bodies and Life Shakes make a huge a difference!

Vicki link

2/20/2019 07:12:44 am

Shaklee protein shakes are available in both soy and non soy options and in my opinion after 37 years with the brand cannot be compared to any other. There are that many good things about the Shaklee brand and Shaklee science and their 100 year legacy. I would definitely try and see for your self.

Sue Olive

7/8/2017 08:03:03 pm

Could you comment about Premier Protein which is sold at Cosco and Sam's and is a shake that is in a container and ready to drink. It has more protein than Isagenix and is MUCH cheaper because you are not taking all of the extra things that Isagenix says you must use. Thanks !

Shanlee

7/13/2017 10:05:38 am

Dan, I am a consultant with one of the companies you compared. I just want you to know, I admire the way you respond to your commenters. It isn't always easy to respond with kind and heartfelt words! Keep up the good work! :-) Have a blessed day!

Dan Suedbeck

7/15/2017 02:32:31 pm

Shanlee, thank you for taking the time to read and respond! Best of luck in your business!

Lindsay

7/21/2017 12:16:25 pm

Thank you SO much for the time and effort you put into this comparison! I've been using Vega One for a while, but recently noticed that the sodium went way up. (I contacted their customer service department and was told that the formula change was due to a switch in pea protein suppliers). Can you do an update that accounts for that alternation?
Thank you!

Dan Suedbeck

7/25/2017 05:22:55 am

I will make that update. Thanks for letting me know!

Anne Matchell

7/23/2017 07:41:09 am

What are your thoughts on 310 shakes?

Gina

7/23/2017 08:53:04 am

Do you know anything about ID Life meal replacement shakes? They're advertised as vegan containing fruits, veges, quinoa, chia, and flax seeds. I'm not seeing this in any of the other shakes. Thanks.

Debbie

8/6/2017 09:59:51 am

I love your charts! Would you mind adding Garden of Life meal replacement and Organ organic meal replacement shakes? I have seen good reviews on these two as well. So far, shakeology appears to be the best in my book, based on research alone. I have only tried shakeology temporarily but so far I love it! I also tried the GNC protein, but the fat scares me off.

Dan Suedbeck

8/7/2017 04:49:10 pm

I've got a few shakes I've been wanting to add to my comparison. If it isn't too hard to track down info on the shakes you mentioned I can get those added.

We love our Shakeology, 5 years of drinking it now!

Run far away from that GNC shake!!! 😬

Tessa

8/7/2017 03:27:54 pm

Wondering about MTS Whey. A friend recommended it to me as an alternative to Isagenix.

Dan Suedbeck

8/7/2017 04:43:28 pm

Tessa, MTS whey for one is just a protein powder not a meal replacement shake. So it is a little bit of an apples and oranges comparison.

Looking at the supplement facts for MTS I wouldn't even consider it a good protein powder. It has artificial flavors and sweeteners in it which are something I steer away from with things that I consume regularly.

Isagenix would be a much better product to help you curb cravings, fill you up and actually improve your health.

Bjana

8/15/2017 09:59:23 am

Curious.. with the Herbalife shake numbers.. did you just do the protein label? Herbalife shakes are 2 scoops of protein and 2 scoops of healthy meal so to have an accurate # you would need to do both labels...

Dan Suedbeck

8/15/2017 06:19:11 pm

The numbers that I used were based on the serving size that came on the Formula 1 Dutch Chocolate label.

To keep things as much of an apples to apples comparison I didn't look at "systems" or "programs" that some companies have combining multiple supplements.

Most companies have add ons and it would just be too difficult to pick and choose which ones to include and which ones to exclude.

mona

8/17/2017 06:37:52 am

Have you ever looked at Protein Milkshake Bar? Wondering how this to compares? Thanks for all your time doing this research. It is very helpful

Brooke Taylor

8/30/2017 05:55:59 am

Thank you so much for this article, I have referred back to it several times, whenever I start to think about getting a shake that is cheaper than Shakeology.

I have been a Shakeology drinker for about a year and a half now (but more importantly, I started working out regularly and eating healthy/following their programs then) and have lost and kept off about 75 lbs. Like I said - Shakeology every single day for the past year and a half, and I honestly love it. But goodness, when we get in a pinch with money, I start looking around and just KNOW that I need to look for cheaper options.

I'm a little like you - I don't love the artificial sweetener thing... but I'm not entirely sure I understand how much it actually matters? I'm basically looking for a close substitute to Shakeology for cheaper. I'm super nervous to switch things up after so long of drinking Shakeology and being so successful with it (even though I know my results truly came from the other lifestyle changes I made), so I am trying to find a substitute that is very close, won't change my health in a negative way, and still gives me a meal replacement shake that I can hide my fruits and veggies in (and tastes good) ;)

I know it is a very personal decision, and I appreciate all of your feedback and comments to everyone's questions. But what would you recommend as far as a lower-priced, similar alternative to Shakeology? Something that hopefully/likely won't throw my body too out of whack from the switch, and can hopefully still be an effective meal replacement shake for me to continue being all-around healthy (my goal is not weight loss anymore - I've reached a healthy weight, just looking to be as healthy as possible).

Thanks so much - sorry for the lengthy question!

Judy

9/7/2017 01:58:44 pm

I would also like the answer to the above question from Brooke Taylor - lower priced, but a close 2nd to Shakeology ($180.00 a month is a bit costly for me a month).

Brooke

9/7/2017 02:08:47 pm

Judy - I see he did not respond to my question from last week, but responded to the question below me from yesterday immediately (I assume that's because he is a beachbody coach? I say this AS a beachbody coach, but one that does not push Shakeology on others...they often seem reluctant to recommend something other than Shakeology ;) ) I recently started using Nature's Bounty Protein & Vitamin Chocolate Shake Meal Replacement. It seems to have a lot of the same benefits/ingredients/etc... but is missing the "superfoods" part that Shakeology contains. It's only $15-$20 for 13 servings, tastes similar (a little less flavorful), and my body does not seem to be able to tell a difference, if that makes sense.

Another thing I found is that Idealshake now has a new "Idealshake SUPER" which does NOT contain artificial sweeteners, and instead uses stevia. The only thing that seems to be missing from this shake, from my not-super-knowledgeable research (lol) is the probiotics found in Shakeology. But, it's around $45-$50 for 30 servings.

Dan Suedbeck link

9/7/2017 02:59:42 pm

Brooke, so sorry I missed your original question and comment it certainly was not intentional.

I first off want to congratulate you on your weight loss and commitment to your health. Losing 75 lbs takes some serious work congrats!!!

I would say this for any shake reviewed there you really can't switch from one shake to another without getting something a little different. So there really are no replacements.

As far as cost I think those prices for the most part are directly tied to the value of the shake. As the prices go up you usually get higher quality ingredients and more of them. As price goes down you will typically get the opposite.

The two shakes that I would throw out that are at a lower price point without a lot of junk would be Vega One and Garden of Life. I'm in the process of adding Garden of Life to this comparison and a few others.

Take a look at those but I would urge you to consider to keep drinking Shakeology if it has truly helped you with your amazing results so far. Try to see the value in it rather than he expense. If you don't see the value in it anymore than by all means switch.

Brooke

9/11/2017 12:50:58 pm

Thank you for your response. I would love to, but cannot do Vega One or Garden of Life simply because the plant-based protein gives me stomach problems. I have had to look for non-vegan alternatives to Shakeology.

If you are adding others to your comparison, could you look in to Idealshake SUPER (their new shake option which does not include artificial sweeteners?) I appreciate the hard work you have put into your research and post.

Kristie Alsteen

9/6/2017 07:48:24 am

I have lost 50lbs on Herbalife. Former US Surgeon General Richard Carmona is on their board of directors and the company has been around longer then any of the other companies making weight loss shakes. To use the shakes correctly it's recommended that you mix the formula 1 with either 8oz of milk or their protein powder and water (which makes 1 shake 200 calories and 24 grams of protein) so the information on this in your review I feel is slightly inaccurate, since even when you mix it with milk it's total protein and calories are higher.

I have tried some of the other shakes listed and one thing that is pretty important to me is taste. If I can't stand the taste of them I'm not going to stick with it and some of them have an awful after taste. I realize you can't do a review of taste since what one person likes another may hate but I did want to just mention that as a factor in deciding what will work for the individual.

Dan Suedbeck

9/6/2017 04:47:06 pm

Thanks for your comment Kristie and congrats on the weight loss!

I would agree that most people likely mix most of these shakes up with something else, milk, milk alternatives, yogurt, fruit, etc however to really compare them it is easiest just to look at what the nutrition label says! Sounds like you've found a good way to make Herbalife work for you!

Taste... that is huge and yeah people's palettes are so different that it is pretty much next to impossible to accurately judge that, unless you were to somehow do a blind taste test!

Stacey

9/17/2017 05:17:27 pm

Can you add a comparison or an evaluation of Young Living's Slique drink? Thank you!!

Dan Suedbeck link

9/18/2017 10:24:34 am

Stacey, thanks for taking the time to read my post. What did you think?

If I a number of requests to review additional shakes I will add them, that is why I just added three more as of today actually.

Looking at the supplement facts for Slique, it appears to be a quality shake. Pretty balanced macronutrients. Good source of fiber. Maybe a little weak in the micronutrients compared to other shakes. It doesn't appear to have a big digestive health component to it, via probiotics or digestive enzymes. So if you need help in that area you would likely need to supplement additionally or get those things from food. Hope that helps a little bit if you were considering using that shake.

Tiffany

9/21/2017 01:36:58 pm

Thank you for putting this post together it was very helpful in making a decision on meal replacement shakes. I want to loss some weight and one of the shakes you recommended will work.

Dan Suedbeck

9/22/2017 12:23:37 pm

Thanks for reading. Best of luck on your weight loss journey.

MarieFrance

9/22/2017 11:58:19 am

I’ve tried several companies you mentioned with no luck. I was put on medicine for hypothyroid in February so I don’t know if thyroid is still my problem. I just started drinking invigor8. Do you know anything about losing weight when you have hypothyroid?

Dan Suedbeck

9/22/2017 12:49:31 pm

Sorry to hear about your thyroid issues. I'm not an expert in thyroid and weight loss. To simplify weight loss you really just need to be in a negative energy balance. The problem with that if you have hypothyroidism is that the lower levels of thyroid hormone usually results in a lower metabolic rate. So you would either need to exercise more or eat less to be in an energy deficit. Not a lot of fun if you get too drastic with that.

The better approach would be try to get thyroid hormones back in balance. I know one big player in thyroid issues is gluten intolerances. Gluten proteins look a lot like thyroid tissue and if you have intolerances to gluten your body can be attacking your thyroid thinking it is gluten particles. So I would highly recommend cutting that out to start. I've also read some connections between damaged gut lining and thyroid issues. So working on healing your gut would be advantageous also.

One more thing to watch out for is iodine composition. I would recommend working with your doctor to figure out the appropriate levels for your individual case. Too much can be just as bad as too little. A number of the shakes I reviewed are fortified with iodine so if you decide to consume any of those I would run it by your doctor.

Hope that helps.

Christine Ryskamp

10/3/2017 09:53:13 am

I would love to connect with you about your recommends for my personal situation.

Jackie

10/6/2017 01:33:36 pm

I have tried Isagenix with no success. Currently on Xyngular and LOVE IT!!!!!

Thank you so much for this post. Just wanted to see the differences in products out there.

Janine link

11/11/2017 08:17:38 am

Hi there,

GREAT information here, well well well done! I wanted to ask what you think would be ideal for me.

My situation:
- Working mom (RN) 3 days a week 12 hour shifts.
- 2 Boys at home who require a lot of energy
- I workout 2-3 days a week ( I like to run and do no equipment work outs at home)
- I am in my 30s
- Always on the go, but I do make sure to make dinner at home 4-5 days a week
- I have a terrible sweet tooth
- I am 4'10", small framed and since I had my 5 year old my weight has been between 105-110 - it's not muscle. I was 95lb until pregnancy and cannot lose it for the life of me.

I don't know if I should blame it on age, or 2nd baby, or just bad habits (I always had the same habits, but I blame age catching up to me)

I would like to try shakes as meal replacements, but I often use almond milk, fruit, veggies and call It a meal replacement for breakfast.

Thanks for your time, keep up the great work.

Dan Suedbeck

11/11/2017 09:20:16 pm

Janine, thanks taking the time to read the post. Hopefully you learned a little bit. If you want I'm happy to reach out to you via email and I can provide a nutritional consult that I do with some of my nutritional clients. Sounds like you are close and likely just need some small tweaks.

Janine

11/12/2017 05:39:49 am

Dan, please do!

writernjanine@gmail.com

:)

Jackie

11/12/2017 06:01:08 am

Dan, Could you please include in your comparison the product: Xyngular? If you have an excel sheet with the information you need I can just load the info on there and provide a copy of package for authenticity.

Jackie

11/12/2017 04:49:55 am

Hello Janine, I think you should try Xyngular. It has truly been working for me. My energy is back. I am not so big on working out, just do spinning 2 to 3 times a week. I've lost 30 lbs and 15 inches all around.
It's super easy to keep up with. Good luck!

Janine

11/12/2017 05:39:22 am

I don't see that one on here....

jackie

11/12/2017 05:56:27 am

Yea, it's not on here. I wish it was. I hope that a comparison is made including Xyngular! I am going to post the request. But it's all natural and they have a meal replacement that is very tasty and filling! Look up the company. If you need more info I can send it to you.

Dan Suedbeck

11/12/2017 10:50:56 am

Jackie congrats on the weight loss. I’ll add that shake to my list of future ones to consider adding. I’m trying to keep this review to the ones that I get questioned about most frequently. Before you mentioning it here I had never heard of that company or shake before.

Looking at the supplement facts of their Lean Shake it looks ok if you are ok with soy on a regular basis. Super low in calories so would barely qualify for meal or even a snack. Decent vitamin and minerals and I like that it has some digestive enzymes.

Jackie

11/14/2017 03:57:57 pm

Hi Dan,

They have a Lean Meal shake that is a meal replacement. It's really good. The calorie count is higher of course.

Amanda Wilder link

11/12/2017 03:20:41 pm

Hi Jackie. I have been on Isagenix for 7 months and love it. I chose it for energy,after researching shakes for 4 months. I also personally know nurses and a neurosurgeon using the products. I now have tons of it. I wasn't looking for weight-loss, but have lost over 10 pounds and 15 inches. I find myself in the gym 6 days a week and have begun weightlifting to build leaner muscle. I would be glad to send you any information (along with anyone else who would like to look at it).

Jackie

11/14/2017 03:59:48 pm

Hi Amanda,
I've tried Isagenix before and I truly did not like it. Was hungry all the time and just did not make sense to me. Xyngular has given me what I want without having to starve, while changing my eating habits to a more healthy life style.

Amanda Wilder link

11/14/2017 04:52:37 pm

Jackie, I completely understand. Shakes taste different and "fill" you up differently. I think it's great that there are so many options. Good luck!

Staci

11/26/2017 10:38:50 am

Can you tell me anything about Almased?

Teri

12/31/2017 01:57:14 pm

Hi Dan,

Thanks for your thorough research and the comparison charts! This is great. One question, you might have mentioned it and I missed it, but I am just understanding that different companies required different amounts of servings. So that would play into many things, including the cost. I wonder if a recommended servings column on the cost chart and perhaps the Calorie and Macronutrient charts would be beneficial - Or just a chart that states the recommended servings per day for each so we could have this in mind while reading the other charts. Thanks!

Cassie link

1/15/2018 11:28:24 pm

Wonderful article! I did notice some things that are inaccurate pertaining to 310 Nutrition Meal Replacement Shakes. The plant-based protein shakes are sugar, soy protein, gluten, and dairy free. They contain Organic Maca Root as well as 1 billion CFU of Probiotics (Lactobacillus Acidophilus). I'm assuming in this article you were referring to their plant-based protein shakes and not their whey protein shakes. If not then disregard this comment. Thanks!

Dan Suedbeck link

1/16/2018 10:29:02 am

Cassie, thanks for reading through my article. Hope it helped you decipher different shakes out there.

You are correct I did use the why version of the 310 shake. If companies had a whey vs vegan option I opted for the whey version on all to keep them consistent. If a company only offered a vegan option, then that is what I used in this comparison.

Sounds like I might need to write up another post solely comparing the vegan shakes on the market.

Becki

1/21/2018 02:05:52 am

This was super information but I'm hoping you add the Xyngular shake to your comparison.

Lori

2/6/2018 10:13:25 am

I have been doing some comparisons and really like the ingredient info in Shakeology. I have been drinking the Shakeology shakes for about 2 years now but man it's killing the pocketbook. Your chart also needs to be updated for cost. I just paid $141.00 for a bag of chocoloate with 30 servings. That equals $4.70 per serving. I've been contemplating switching to Shaklee as I've heard really good things about them and the price might just make me switch. Wish Shakeology would come down a bit in price! :(

Jennifer

2/6/2018 12:58:52 pm

Hi Lori there are ways to save which I discovered my second time drinking shakeology. I also have been drinking it for 2 years and was not happy with other brands. If your on Facebook send me a message Jennie.i’s clean Eating

Dan Suedbeck link

2/16/2018 11:08:15 am

Lori, the pricing that I show is before taxes and shipping is calculated into the final price. Some states and countries tax supplements, some don't and obviously shipping costs are going to vary greatly depending on location. That's how I came to the $4.30 for Shakeology.

Vicki link

2/20/2019 07:08:34 am

I have used Shaklee products for 37 years. In my opinion no other shake even comes close to the value of Shaklee quality, ingredients, formulation, and how your body will absorb and use their nutrition products. Most companies do not have the science and research behind their products that Shaklee does. They may say they do but they don't. And of course there is the synthetic vs real food consideration. All Shaklee supplements are food based, not chemical based. I would definitely take a closer look and give Shaklee a try. There is a 100% guarantee so no risk on that end.

Alfredo link

2/12/2018 12:10:49 pm

Hello,
I read this comparative guide on Protein Shakes and you included several well known brands, but I will appreciate if you try Usana's both classes of shakes; I mean NutriMeal and MySmart Shake.

Thank you for your research.

Dan Suedbeck link

2/16/2018 11:09:55 am

Alfredo, thanks for reading the article. You are the first one to mention Usana. I will for sure keep it in mind to add to my list when I update next. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

Rachel Grondines

1/29/2022 05:35:27 pm

Hi,
I was hoping to see some comparative with Usana too. It's been a long time since this article is out. Did you make an update some place else.
Thanck you

Kesha

2/19/2018 03:03:00 pm

This is a very useful comparison of meal replacement shakes. Have you looked into ViSalus? What at your thoughts and how does it compare to the others? Thank you!

Dawn

3/4/2018 08:59:01 am

I would like to know how Modere products compare with the others.

Chara

3/7/2018 10:10:59 pm

Did you ever answer about ideal shake super. What is that comparison to Shakeology? I live Shakeology but I just can afford it all the time.
Thank you for all your hard work. It helped me for now. I returned my gnc shake. I don't want that stuff in my body.
Any further info would be appreciated.

Dan Suedbeck link

4/30/2018 07:01:49 am

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you Chara... I haven't added the new Super shake version from Ideal yet. Maybe a little further down the road. I'm only seeing they have one flavor on their site... curious if they are discontinuing it... I might wait and see before I add that one.

Louise

3/20/2018 10:55:13 pm

Thank you so much for this! I am considering Isagenix but it's almost impossible to find anything online not written by a sales person. This was so helpful. Thanks!

Dan Suedbeck link

4/30/2018 07:02:53 am

You're welcome! Glad I could help. Did you decide to go with Isaganix? If so, how's it going for you?

Kasie link

4/3/2018 03:08:11 pm

Thank you for this, very helpful. I just wanted you to clarify that Isagenix whey is organic from grass fed cows in New Zealand. They also have ALL of the adaptogens in their Ionix Supreme, that you add to your shake for $1/day. The system works synergistically together to give your body everything it needs every day.

Dan Suedbeck link

4/30/2018 07:07:21 am

That's great that they are sourcing their whey from quality sources.

I know a lot of these companies have "add-on's" that you can put in your shakes to up the nutrition but it is just too hard to compare apples to apples if you look at the "systems" versus individual products.

Sounds like you've found something that is working for you!!!

Mickey Bryan

4/23/2018 01:35:06 pm

Great breakdown. I have researched a lot of the shakes also, but to have it in a table format is amazing. Thank you for all your hard work!! One of the things I like about Isagenix is that their whey is undenatured (unheated) which means that it stays in the purest form. They also quarantine and test all ingredients before making them into the final product. Then as a final test, they send a sample from every batch to a 3rd party company for testing before selling it. So you know that what the nutrition label says is what you get! Very impressive if you ask me.

Dan Suedbeck link

4/30/2018 07:26:28 am

That's great that they outsource their testing. I've heard a lot of stories around the interwebs about how supplement companies can be pretty shady... who knows how accurate those are. I like to give most people the benefit of the doubt when it comes to being truthful.

Michelle Gifford

4/29/2018 02:38:54 am

If I’m having stomach issues using the Isagenix shake, I mean bad gas and diarrhea, do you think that Shakeology would also? I’m looking for something to change to. I’ve even tried the dairy free Isagenix and still had problems

Dan Suedbeck link

4/30/2018 07:34:55 am

Sorry to hear you are having some issues. First off I'm not a doctor so if you are having serious issues definitely seek one out.

I would likely connect the digestive distress to a few things, the fiber content, the digestive enzymes or probiotics. If you have been consuming a fairly standard American diet that is low in fiber, higher in processed foods your gut microbiome might need an overhaul. The distress could be due to your current colony of gut bacteria putting up a fight to the new good stuff you are introducing it to.

So to answer your specific question, Shakeology likely wouldn't be any better since it has a higher fiber content for the serving size, it also has digestive enzymes and probiotics. There is a chance though it might work.

One thing that I would maybe recommend is backing off to a half serving and see if you still have the same issues, unless they are terrible then I would stop completely. After a couple weeks of a half serving and no issues you could bump back up to a full serving.

Hope that helps.

Luanne Fliss

5/9/2018 07:44:22 am

I drank a GNC Lean Shake this a.m. and the bottle says 25 g protein. I don't know when your stats are from, but that is a big difference. The sugar is lower, 2 g and so is the fiber 3 g. Overall though, much more favorable than shown here.

Dan Suedbeck

5/9/2018 08:07:43 am

Thanks for letting me know they changed their formula Luanne. Next time I update the post I will make the changes. They definitely improved the macronutrient ratios in their shake.

Polly Brothers link

8/13/2018 07:37:28 am

This is truly one of the first comparisons that I have come across that seems honest and unbiased. I appreciate that so much. I have been with Arbonne for 12 years but recognize that there are other great companies out there. One thing to note is that Arbonne does provide probiotics, adaptogens and other things as additional products to add into your shake.

I really really appreciate your post! It is just so nice to come together in a forum where we can all learn and grow and not have to make it about competition. I have been a fitness professional for 35 years and love when our main focus is helping people get healthier. Thanks again!

Polly Brothers. link

8/13/2018 08:02:42 am

Hey. One quick thing to note since your post - Arbonne is now Non GMO certified. Also low glycemic certified, vegan certified and,as you mentioned, soy free and no artificial sweeteners, colors or flavors. (My daughter is type one diabetic and she says they keep her boood sugar stable for about four hours). And our sports performance products are certified by the banned substance control group (BSCG) Thx !

Patty

10/26/2018 02:20:11 pm

Hi Dan
What are your thoughts on Orgain? I use both the drink and the protein powder? ( I drink the original not the vegan or extra protein. ) Thanks!

Melissa

10/29/2018 02:32:00 pm

What a fabulous article...thanks so much!
I have tried both shakeology and Isagenix and have found great results with the later. The only data I found in the article that concerned me was that Isalean was not grass fed whey...it is...it was a selling point for me! Love those grass fed NewZealand cows! Just an FYI for your graphic!
Thanks for putting together such a comprehensive article. It is so hard comparing apples to apples and like I tell people who Sk me about my success...you have to know your requirements and do what works for you! For me I wanted taste, convenience and no artificial crap...with a grass fed protein source.

Tina

2/8/2019 03:30:24 pm

Could you review Pure Food Company?

Shannon Palmlund

2/25/2019 07:05:20 am

I was wondering if you have ever reviewed Yoli? I have Yoli and Shakeology but was very interested in the Isalean product. Thank you!

2/26/2019 05:17:27 am

Hi, I really love your original article. I have tried a couple of them (Vega one, Herbalife, and shakeology) Shakeology and vega one has no taste and pricey, so I tried Herbalife which tasted great and great on price, but it has too much sugar and/or sugar alcohols. I recently switched to Orgain brands. It is non gmo, vegan dairy and gluten free. It does have organic stevia though.

Sarah

4/3/2019 09:05:29 am

Hi, Your article is very helpful. It seems Shakeology checks all the right boxes, but it is very pricey. I have used Slimfast pretty regularly as an on-the-go breakfast. How does it compare to the listed shakes and all the components your reviewed?

Linda

7/8/2020 03:40:15 pm

Thanks for the article. I’m just beginning Shakeology and was wondering how it compares to others because it was so expensive. Is there a reason why you did not compare nutrisystem or another like that? Thanks again for the info.

Ben

7/22/2020 07:58:10 am

Hi, would you happen to know if Profile by Sanford uses non-GMO ingredients? I've requested this information from them but I never received an answer from their customer service.
Thanks,

Sharon

8/21/2020 01:50:43 pm

I want a meal replacement shake that is non-GMO and is not part of an MLM. What are my options?

Camila P link

1/11/2021 02:22:28 am

Appreciatee this blog post

Monica Atneosen link

2/20/2021 10:01:48 am

Can you comment on Body by Vesalius, how does it compare?

Cassie Delapp

5/24/2021 12:45:01 pm

Hello, thank you for a great article. Wondering if you are still drinking the Shakeology? I have been adding the VegaOne to my morning smoothies and then taking several supplements as well. Looking into other options and found this post. Just wondering if you are still happy with the product as this was written a few years ago

janice shreve link

7/29/2021 09:27:31 am

Love the comparison chart. I am looking for meal replacement supplement that would be as close to Profile by Sanford as possible. Cost has become a factor and I no longer live anywhere close to a brick and mortar Profile location. Any suggestion would be appreciated. Thank you

Arnold link

10/12/2021 06:29:30 pm

I like to take care of my health, both physical and mental. To avoid deficiencies, I had to adopt a balanced diet and above all use a specific food supplement. It is on this article that I found the product that allowed me to relive and enjoy optimal well-being without health concerns.

Mickey

3/6/2022 04:58:26 am

I would love to see an update to include Transformation Protein as compared to 310, Plexus, and Isagenix. Thank you

cocoa nibs link

7/6/2022 08:22:31 am

FRIDO is proudly, sustainably and directly imported from local farmers from various regions in Chiapas and Tabasco, Mexico. Grown in agroforests

Naresh link

11/4/2022 03:27:49 am

Thanks for sharing informative article.