Meal Replacement Shakes for Weight Loss

Weight loss is a prime cause of concern for many people today. Perfect figure is required for both perfect image in the society as well as for a healthy lifestyle. Weight loss plans of many people are quite incomplete without meal replacement shakes these days. The concept of meal replacement shakes for weight loss evolved when a recognized company introduced a revolutionary product that was meant to build body muscles and to reduce the body fat. It got a huge success and after that followed a huge cue of similar products that were specially designed for the weight watchers, body builders and dieters.

What Do Meal Replacement Shakes Contain?
Meal replacement shakes are potentially the products that have very high protein, moderate carbohydrates and low fat. These meal replacement shakes are also rich in several minerals and various vitamins. These shakes are designed in such a way that they simply don't promote excessive body fat storage. These shakes are actually available in a powdered form and generally contain 200 to 250 calories, 35g to 40g protein, 2g to 4g fat and 20g to 25g carbohydrates. Meal replacement shakes also contain more than 50% of Recommended Daily Allowances (RDAs) for many of the vitamins and minerals.

The nutritional sources that these meal replacement shakes contain, are also very interesting. Protein sources are usually whey protein, egg albumin, milk protein isolates and sodium caseinate. Sources of carbohydrates are usually sucrose, corn syrup and maltodextrin, which are short sugar chains. Unlike today's several popular diet shakes, the meal replacement shakes contain 'very low simple sugar'. As we know, the simple sugars are easily assimilated into the blood stream, affecting the blood sugar levels. Increased insulin levels are directly associated with the excess fat storage.

Ideally, meal replacement shakes are best effective when they are used as an adjunct to a balanced diet and never as a substitute to the natural, nutritional and healthy diet. They do complement a specific dietary niche but in no way are they a complete source of all the required nutrition. As a result, over-consumption of these shakes for weight loss can lead to several nutritional and vitamin deficiencies. Hence, it is always best to combine the meal replacement shakes with a healthy and natural food.

Hence, having a healthy breakfast, medium lunch, and light dinner can always be combined with the shakes at the intervals and as snacks. This way one can get all the advantages of the meal replacement shakes and the natural foods at the same time. Here is a word of caution for those who are totally unaware of these shakes

• Many people assume that meal replacement shakes for weight loss actually have the steroid like effect on the body muscles and mass, which is totally wrong. A person can only get perfect shaped body by following a healthy diet and a weight training regime.
• The protein from the meal replacement shakes is generally animal based and hence, it would be inappropriate for the people who follow a total vegetarian diet. For them there are several other healthy weight loss programs available.

Weight loss meal replacement shakes can actually damage the body system, if taken without consultation with the health care provider and in an excessive amount.