What IS Shakeology?

 

I have gotten this question fairly often over the past few weeks so I thought I would address it on here.  I have incorporated Shakeology into my daily eating for the past few years, not as a "diet" shake or even a meal supplement, but more for the powerful nutrients that it contains.  When I first started drinking it, I experienced a dramatic difference in my overall digestion.  For lack of a better word...I was more regular.  I started having more energy, and once I got off of soda I really could feel a difference.  I had fewer cravings because I drink the chocolate shakeology and mix it with peanut butter or frozen strawberries and create my own flavors based on my mood.  I have shared the recipe for my Neopolitan Ice Cream Shake (which is still my current favorite).  If I am feeling like I need a treat, this fits the bill and my need for sugar goes away.  

Can Shakeology help you to lose weight?  Yes, if that is your desire and you plan your calorie intake accordingly.  Any weight loss drink can do that.  Without further ado, here are the details:

Shakeology- 

Fat - 1 gram
Sugar-11 grams*
Carbs-19 grams*
Calories-140 calories*
Sodium-95mg
Protein-15g

Shakeology-70+ high quality ingredients 

23 vitamins/minerals
Various fruit extracts (acerola, camu-camu, pomegranate, bilberry, blueberry, acai, Goji, Cordyceps, Rose Hips, Maitake, Reishi, Citrus bioflavonoids, Gingko), Whey protein, Chromium, Hydrilla, Apple pectin, Flax seed meal, Chia seed meal, Blue green algae, Spinach powder,oatgrass, wheatgrass, Barley grass, Grape seed extract, cinnamon, natural vanilla flavor, chocolate powder, cocoa powder, xanthum gum, ,guar gum, pea fiber. Also contains an enzyme blend to assist digestion (amylase, papain, cellulose, lactase, lipase, protease, and bromelain)
(Greenberry)
Vitamin A (as beta-carotene) 5000 IU 100%
Vitamin C (as ascorbic acid) 180 mg 300%
Vitamin D (as cholecalciferol) 200 IU 50%
Vitamin E (as d-alpha tocopheryl succinate) 15 IU 50%
Vitamin K1 (as phytonadione) 40 mcg 50%
Vitamin B1 (as thiamin HCL) 1.5 mg 100%
Vitamin B2 (as ribofl avin) 1.3 mg 77%
Vitamin B3 (as niacin) 5 mg 25%
Vitamin B6 (as pyridoxine HCL) 2 mg 100%
Folic acid 200 mcg 50%
Vitamin B12 (as cyanocobalamin) 6 mcg 100%
Biotin 90 mcg 30%
Pantothenic acid (as d-calcium pantothenate) 5 mg 50%
Calcium (as dicalcium phosphate) 500 mg 50%
Iron (as ferrous fumarate) 4.5 mg 25%
Phosphorous (as dicalcium phosphate) 250 mg 25%
Iodine (as kelp) 52 mcg 35%
Magnesium (as oxide) 80 mg 20%
Zinc (as zinc oxide) 6 mg 40%
Copper (as copper oxide) 0.8 mg 40%
Manganese (as manganese amino acid chelate) 2 mg 100%
Chromium (as chromium amino acid chelate) 60 mcg 50%
Molybdenum (as sodium molybdate) 30 mcg 40%
Whey protein (isolate) 15 g †
PROPRIETARY SUPER-FRUIT BLEND: 2075 mg †
Acerola powder (fruit), Camu-Camu powder (fruit), Pomegranate
powder (fruit), Bilberry powder (fruit), Blueberry powder (fruit),
Lycium (Goji) powder (berry), Açai powder (berry), Cordyceps,
Maitake powder, Reishi powder, Citrus biofl avonoids, Rose Hips
powder (fruit), Schisandra powder (berry), Suma powder (root),
Gingko powder (leaf).
Amount Per Serving % Daily Value**
PROPRIETARY FRUIT POWDER BLEND: 1500 mg †
Banana powder, Carrot powder, Orange powder,
Pineapple powder, Raspberry powder, Strawberry powder.
Maca powder (root) 1000 mg †
Sacha inchi (Plukenetia volubilis) meal 1000 mg †
Yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) powder 1000 mg †
Flax (seed) meal 700 mg †
Chia (seed) meal 500 mg †
Chlorella 350 mg †
Spirulina 350 mg †
Hydrilla 300 mg †
Apple fi ber powder 250 mg †
Astragalus powder (root) 200 mg †
Blue green algae 200 mg †
Spinach powder 200 mg †
MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) 150 mg †
Pea fi ber 150 mg †
Quinoa (sprouted) 150 mg †
PROPRIETARY NONDAIRY 150 mg †
PROBIOTIC BLEND:
Bifodobacterium longum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus
acidophilus DDS-1, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus casei,
Streptococcus thermophilus.
PROPRIETARY ENZYME BLEND: 130 mg †
Amylase, Papain, Cellulase, Lactase, Lipase, Protease, Bromelain.
Ashwagandha powder (root) 100 mg †
Barley grass 100 mg †
Kamut grass 100 mg †
Oat grass 100 mg †
Wheat grass 100 mg †
Stevia 75 mg †
Amaranth (sprouted) (Amaranthus hypochondriacus) 50 mg †
Grape seed extract (seed, 95% proanthocyanins) 50 mg †
Green tea decaffeinated extract 50 mg †
(leaf, 50% polyphenols)
Holy basil powder (leaf) 50 mg †
** Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
† Daily Value not established
OTHER INGREDIENTS: Fructose, xantham gum, natural strawberry and raspberry flavors, guar gum, natural vanilla fl avor, and cinnamon powder.
Shakeology is gluten free and caffeine free.

Some additional thoughts - there are shakes out there that have 100% of your daily fiber intake.  While fiber is extremely important, fiber from REAL FOOD is far more important.  There is evidence that the combination of nutrients and fiber in FOOD is what reduces your cholesterol, fights against heart disease, and helps fight against colon cancer.  I recommend getting the majority of your fiber from fruits, vegetables, and beans.  

I am not a doctor or a nutritionist.  What I share, I share from my own experience.  If you are pregnant or nursing, I would recommend taking this list to your doctor and asking for advice on whether or not it would be good to take.  I know some people who have said their doctors recommend it while nursing because of the huge number of ingredients.  Shakeology has been endorsed by 100+ doctors.  Think of it as a high absorption, great tasting multivitamin.  I also love that it is gluten and caffeine free and not sweetened with glucose or sucralose. It is also certified low glycemic index so it doesn't mess with your blood sugar.  

I also love that there are two flavors right now, Chocolate and Greenberry, with a vegan flavor, Tropical Strawberry, being released on Valentine's Day.  

I admit, until I really started researching and implementing a plant based diet over the past six months, my daily eating habits were pretty terrible.  I ate far too much fat and sugar and far too little fruits and vegetables.  That being said, my cholesterol dropped from 2009 to 2011 prior to me starting my new way of eating, and the change that I made during that time was drinking Shakeology.  I am hoping that combining it with eating plant based will make my numbers drop even more when I have my tests run in September 2012.