Details on Supplements

stefanieraya
stefanieraya Posts: 110 Member
edited November 2024 in Food and Nutrition
I researched 24 different health and wellness companies that produce meal replacements. I'll share some of the info I have accumulated during my quest for the best for me. After my research I chose the Isagenix Protein and I'll tell you why at the end of this post.

1. Shakeology: Denatured (Processed) Whey Protein (Isolate). This is a good shake overall.

2. Herbalife: Soy Protein (Isolate). Soy is a row crop, not organic! Protein is acid washed with heat, (Denatured) to help make
it less toxic, and only 9 grams of protein. (Also the cheapest of all the shakes to make).

3. Advocare: Artificial flavors- Most artificial flavorings are derived from petroleum. They may affect RNA, thyroid, and enzymes. Most have not been studied for safety or toxicity. They are all synthesized chemicals that don't even have common names. Most artificial flavors actually contain many chemical ingredients, not just one. Many of those chemicals are volatile.
Artificial sweeteners- Sucralose is highly processed with 3 chlorine atoms. It is simply chlorinated sugar and has been shown to damage the thymus gland and inflame the liver and kidneys. Chlorine is a natural anti-septic that harms the human gut and destroys micro-flora leading to candida formation, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, obesity and cachexia.
Denatured proteins- unfortunately, with almost every single whey protein, there's a break down in the protein because of the processing that companies use.

4. Body By Vi: Soy Protein, a row crop product and loaded with toxins, GMO's and sweetened with Sucralose. The
majority of ingested sucralose is not broken down by the body and shown to reduce the amount of GOOD bacteria in the
intestines by as much as 50%. Maltodextrin derived from GMO starch, whey protein isolates. Only 10 Grams of poor Protein,
not a meal replacement and in addition is has to be mixed with milk.

5. Slim Fast: GMO, maltodextrin, refined sugar, antibiotics, rBGH, carrageenan

6. Ensure: GMO, soy protein, maltodextrin, refined sugar, artificial colors, carrageenan

7. It Works: GMO, soy protein, maltodextrine, whey protein isolates, antibiotics, rBGH

8. Atkins: GMO, refined sugar, antibiotics, rBGH, artificial colors, carrageenan

9. Special K: GMO, soy protein, maltodextrin, refined sugar, antibiotics, rBGH, artificial colors, carrageenan

10. Isogen: GMO, maltodextrin, refined sugar, whey protein isolate, antibiotics, rBGH, artificial colors

11. Pure Protein: GMO, refined sugar, whey protein isolate, antibiotics, rBGH, artificialcoloring, carrageenan

12. Muscle Milk: GMO, maltodextrin, refined sugar, whey protein isolate, heavy metals (arsenic and lead), antibiotics,
rBGH, artificial coloring, carrageenan

13. Youngevity Slender FX: only 105 calories so not a meal replacement, use soy and whey proteins, no source given for
whey, so probably low grade from U.S., low carbs, Sweetened with Steviol (stevia)

14. The Shaklee 180 Energizing Smoothies: Their protein blend contains soy protein concentrate and soy protein isolate. Rules them out immediately. It's not a true meal replacement by itself. They suggest mixing it with milk to bring calories up for replacing meals. Cost is $2.72 per serving yielding 16g of protein.

15. The Physique Shake: Their protein blend contains Milk and Whey protein isolate, both of which are denatured. Rules them out yet again. It's a protein supplement, not meal replacement. Cost is $2.22 per serving yielding 14g of protein.

16. Syntrax Nectar Protein: only 100 calories so it can't be a meal replacementcontains soy protein along with whey
proteincontains Sucralose is an artificial sweetenercontains Hydrolyzed wheat which is really just another way of saying MSG

17. Arbonne: Shakes are to low in calories (160) and very low in nutrition, most only having 15% of the RDA (a few as high as 20%). Very high in sodium at 480 mg.

18. MonaVie: contains soy, very expensive, only 9 grams of protein, not enough calories for a "meal replacement" so they suggest you add milk to it, making it even more expensive, Whey Protein Isolate and Whey Protein Hydrolysate NOT Hormone Free Whey, (whey concentrate is BEST) Whey source not given and since it contains hormones at best it is probably a grade 2 or 3 whey protein. Contains Artificial Sweeteners and/or Flavors.

19. Gold Standard Whey: Uses denatured whey protein isolate and denatured whey protein concentrate.

20. Ideal Protein - They use different proteins in different products - whey isolates, soy isolates, whole milk protein, albumin, pea protein, and hydrolyzed collagen. All of which are denatured and contain only 9 essential amino acids.

21. Medifast - The ingredient lists contain many red flags. Some of which are soy protein, artificial flavors, colorants, artificial sweeteners, amongst other things. None of the ingredients are organic/non-GMO. The vitamins are synthesized.

22. Syntha - all proteins are denatured. They also use artificial flavors and artificial sweeteners- Sucralose and acesulfame potassium

23. NuSkin Pharmanex AC shake - contains a blend of proteins, all of which are denatured. One of the proteins is soy protein, making it inferior right out of the gate. Soy protein is cheap, does not have an ideal amino acid profile and doesn't help with lean mass development. This article states that soy protein is about as good as plain old water when it comes to muscle synthesis (gaining muscle).

24. Plexus - Their ingredient list isn't offered on their website. Don't waste your money. This is the typical magic drink. Will you lose weight quickly? Yes. Will you gain it all back quickly once you stop using it? Yes.

Things to know:

1. The process of denaturing protein - Almost every single company use salts, enzymes, acids or heat to separate out the curds from the whey. These processes absolutely change whey, hurts the peptides and amino acid profile. This type of whey is denatured, meaning the proteins are altered through chemical or physical means so that some of its original properties are lost or diminished. The best way in which the curds and whey can be separated is called micro-filtration and it's the most expensive process. This microfiltration process leaves the whey un-denatured and in perfect form.

2. The source of protein - cows - you want free-range cows that are exclusively grass fed (free from herbicides, pesticides etc.), milked and rested according to season and free of hormones, antibiotics and steroids. A ton of companies use milk from non-organic cattle farms and cattle lots. Cheaper and easier.

3. Artificial flavors, colors and sweeteners - You don't want anything artificial in your body, do you?

4. Concentrate vs. Isolate - Here is a great article about Whey Protein. http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/willbrink3.htm

Whew!! I'm exhausted now but I hope sharing this info help y'all make a good decision when spending your hard earned money. If you're going to spend $$ choose an undenatured whey protein and look at the cost per gram of protein.

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