As you all know I have been drinking Shakeology for 2 years now. It has done wonders for me and my family. I look forward to making my next shake where I can experiment with the flavors and know that I am putting the healthiest thing I can in my body. When I first heard that they were "improving" the Chocolate Shakeology formula I did not think it was possible. It already has an astounding amount of superfoods and healthy ingredients. I got my first batch of it last month and noticed a slight change in taste but nothing that would keep me from drinking it. After drinking it for a few days you adjust to the new formula and the old one tastes completely different. So, what improvements did they make with the new formula? Why the change? Here is the rundown..
The original chocolate was released 3 years ago and was in the development stage for 2 years prior to that. That alone shows you how much thought, research and development go into the products that Beachbody provides. Over the past 5 years, Darin Olien (one of the creators) and the nutrition expert team realized there had been a TON of new Superfood discoveries and improvements in agricultural sourcing of key ingredients. This is how Beachbody feels about the product:
"As we stand by the integrity and quality of Shakeology, we always want you to have the most cutting-edge, most healthy shake possible. Some have compared this to the iconic Coca-Cola misstep "New Coke." We can assure you with 100% confidence that we're not in the business of making high-fructose sugar-water. We're in the business of making the healthiest shake on Earth - and will continue to refine and improve our formulas so that we stay light years ahead of the competition."
So what exactly changed?
- LESS FRUCTOSE: Yes, fructose is natural. But the bottom line: it's sugar. We reduced the amount of fructose by about 3 grams per serving and added the super-sweet Superfoods Coconut Flower Nectar and Luo Han Guo.
- MORE FIBER: We increased the fiber count by about 3 grams per serving, thanks to the addition of pea protein. More fiber is good news, as it will help you feel full even longer, reduce your cholesterol and improve your digestion process.
- 4 NEW SUPERFOODS: (1) Moringa is rich in Vitamin C, Calcium, Vitamin A, Protein, Potassium and Iron. Moringa has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties and is known to promote energy, vitality, athletic performance and weight loss - all while boosting the immune system and protecting against disease. (2) Coconut Flower Nectar is the sweet, nutrient rich nectar produced by coconut blossoms. It contains 17 amino acids, minerals and Vitamin C. It has a broad spectrum of B Vitamins and is high in Potassium, Magnesium, Zinc and Iron. It's also loaded with inulin, a prebiotic fiber, which feeds our intestinal flora and helps boost digestive and immune functions. (3) Luo Han Guo is said to be 300 times sweeter than cane sugar and could have a positive impact on coughs and other respiratory ailments. Recent research has revealed that it may work as an anti-oxidant to help eliminate free radicals that can cause serious health concerns. (4) Himalayan Salt is the "healthy" salt, containing more than 70 trace minerals and may help prevent acne and tooth decay.
- Lastly, we ALSO incorporated the improvements we made when we launched Tropical Vegan Shakeology: More concentrated grasses. We are using grass juice powders. The grasses are first pressed into juices - which allows us to concentrate the nutrients more - then the juice is dried down to a powder. A better strain of probiotics and No suma root or blue-green algae.
So there it is... the new and improved Chocolate Superfood Formula Shakeology. This is not just your average run of the mill protein shake or weight loss shake. Shakeology is a NUTRITION shake that has the benefits of weight loss, lower cholesterol, more energy, etc. I hear all the time from people "Shakeology is too expensive" or "I can get such and such cheaper." To that I have to ask "What are you comparing it to?" There is NOTHING on the market that even compares! It is ALL NATURAL total nutrition. It is an investment in your health - not a "lose weight quick and then gain it all back when you stop drinking it" shake.
So why is Shakeology worth it? If I didn't think it was worth it I wouldn't be buying 2 bags a month! Here is the low-down:
How Do I Really Know If Shakeology® Is Worth the Money When Everything Else Costs Less?
There are many protein shakes and meal replacements that are less
expensive than Shakeology. But comparisons based on the simple "protein
shake" or even "health shake" are usually off the mark and don't stack
up to Shakeology.
Shakeology was designed for people who want more than protein, and
for people who want the health benefits being represented by the
ingredients on the label. To really know whether a product measures up
to Shakeology, you need to keep some things in mind:
How much is enough?
We are proud of Shakeology's 70+ ingredients. Other shakes will
trumpet the number of ingredients they have too. But are the ingredients
they are counting actually good for you? Are there any artificial
flavors or colors listed in those ingredients? Not in Shakeology!
Are they derived from whole-food sources? They are in Shakeology! Too
often the "magic ingredient" has been isolated from the enzymes and
phytonutrients that actually make the ingredient useful when consumed.
And does the competition formulate for the synergistic benefits
between the ingredients, or just slap together whatever is hot in the
media? Shakeology was specially formulated for the collection of
ingredients to work together like a symphony; this combination is so
effective, some people report dramatic benefits within the first week.
Other supplements point to one or two individual ingredients and build a
"story" around their superfood attributes.
Protein
Pay attention to a product's protein source or blend. Protein sources
like whey protein hydrolysate have been shown to trigger a much higher
insulin response in the body. That's not an outcome we would tolerate in
Shakeology.
Our protein source is whey protein
isolate, which is more
than 90 percent pure protein. Plus, Shakeology is loaded with digestive
enzymes and lactase—that's the enzyme that breaks down lactose and is
found in over-the-counter products like Lactaid
®. Don't
confuse whey protein concentrate with isolate. Whey protein concentrate
is the least pure form of whey protein made. The benefit of isolate
versus concentrate is that the fat has been removed to achieve isolate.
The fat in whey protein is what carries toxins consumed by the animal.
That's the reason Shakeology can be used by so many people who are
lactose-intolerant—because those toxins have been removed through the
isolate process.
For our vegan formulation, we use sprouted brown rice protein, not
soy. Does the competition use ANY soy in their formulation? Soy protein
contains estrogen, mimicking compounds that can interfere with your
hormones. On top of that, most of the soy in the marketplace is GMO
(genetically modified). These are two important reasons why we don't use
soy in Shakeology.
Glycemic index tested . . .
In terms of sugar, many protein shakes contain 1 gram of sugar or
less. This is because they are using artificial chemical sweeteners.
(Check the label for sucralose, aspartame, or sugar alcohols.)
Shakeology's small amounts of sugar comes from natural sources and whole
superfoods like coconut flower nectar and luo han guo, which are easily
processed by the body and, in fact, have been tested and certified by
an independent lab to have a low glycemic index of 24—that's lower than
most fruits! (An apple is 36, and an orange is 43.)
What's not in the base, they may suggest you add later
Other shakes don't cost as much as Shakeology at first glance, but
they also don't contain the full profile of the recommended daily
allowance (RDA) for some vitamins and minerals, or whole-food sources of
antioxidants, phytonutrients, adaptogen herbs, prebiotics, probiotics,
or digestive enzymes. We've seen competitors make you buy a separate
vitamin pack for $150 per month! Once you add it up, this is hardly a
"good deal," and it's usually hardly even a good product.
To achieve the benefits of Shakeology we've seen, competitors charge
between $250 and $335 per month! $120 doesn't seem expensive when you
realize all of the benefits Shakeology delivers.
SUMMARY:
Formula: 70+ of the healthiest ingredients from whole-food
sources from around the world VERSUS protein, fillers, artificial
coloring, and isolated glamour ingredients
Winner: Shakeology
Protein Source: Shakeology's pure whey protein isolate or
plant-based sprouted brown rice protein VERSUS soy, hydrolyzed whey,
and/or whey concentrate blend
Winner: Shakeology
Taste: Rich Chocolate, tangy Greenberry, or fruity Tropical
Strawberry Shakeology VERSUS chemically-derived, artificially-flavored
competition
Winner: Shakeology
Price: $120 for Shakeology VERSUS—Oops! It's impossible to
compare lesser formulations on price. But if you add in all the separate
vitamins and flavoring agents the other companies ask you to buy to
match the benefits and nutritional content of Shakeology, you would
easily spend over $300 every month—that's 2 and half times the cost of
Shakeology!
Winner: Shakeology
But the best comparison is results. From weight loss, to
reduction in cravings, to regularity, to healthier cholesterol levels,
to increased energy levels, to an overall sense of well being . . . We
give a bottom-of-the-bag guarantee on Shakeology because we KNOW people
will be amazed by how they feel. Shakeology is the winner by a total
knock out!
Shakeology is available in Chocolate, Greenberry, Vegan Chocolate and Vegan Tropical Strawberry. If you are interested in Shakeology and would like to try a sample feel free to go http://www.gettingfitwithkaren.com and sign up for a free account - then message me with your information and what kind you would like to try.
Stay healthy!
