It’s a blow for gym junkies and weight loss seekers everywhere, but like many everyday items, protein powder prices have nearly doubled in the last 12 months.
This is due to supply and demand issues from a wide range of global factors including weather, economy and foreign conflict.
To offset this recent increase in protein costs, there’s been talk about companies altering their formulas to have a higher level of carbohydrates – without changing the label. While good protein powder should never be cheap, here’s a cheat sheet on what to look for when investing in high-protein powders for effective meal replacement options.
Protein for weight loss vs. weight gain
There are hundreds and possibly thousands of protein powder options on the market. Up until recently, they existed exclusively in the realm of the nutrient supply store. Now, they line the shelves in supermarkets promising quick results. You could argue that protein powders can be divided into two camps – muscle gain or weight loss. Put simply, gaining muscle requires a person to eat more calories than they burn. That’s why some muscle-building protein powders are higher in carbohydrates and therefore not suitable as meal replacements for weight loss. For now, leave those to the heavy lifters wanting to bulk up at the gym.
To achieve weight loss, you obviously need to consume fewer calories than your body is used to. This is why protein is a major player. Unlike carbohydrates which turn into sugar in the blood, protein helps reduce the hunger hormone ghrelin. It is also digested more slowly than carbohydrates, so it keeps you feeling fuller for longer.
If you want a genuine weight loss shake that’s high in protein and low in carbohydrates, you’ll want to tick off the following information before making your purchase:
- 30+ grams of protein per serve
- Lower than 300 calories per serve (ideally)
- Low in carbohydrates
- Less than 5g sugar per serve
- Gluten-free (ideally)
Is your shake recommended for weight loss surgery?
Here at Formulite, we have worked hard to create a range of meal replacement solutions dedicated to achieving weight loss and a healthier lifestyle, but our shakes are most commonly used in preparation for weight loss surgery. Before undergoing a bariatric procedure, patients must follow a pre-operative ‘liver shrinking diet’ as most surgeons are looking for a 30% reduction in liver volume to improve access to the stomach, reduce bleeding and time in surgery. After an operation, Formulite shakes help maintain muscle mass whilst assisting patients in losing weight during the recovery phase.
Does your shake meet official meal replacement standards?
The protein powder industry is worth billions of dollars, so it should come as no surprise that there are lots of companies adding meal replacement options to their stable of consumer goods. The problem is that many of these options are designed by marketers and not dietitians. While they may be advertised as a ‘health shake’, they may not meet the meal replacement guidelines set by the Australian and New Zealand food standards. To qualify as a meal replacement, satisfy your hunger, aid weight loss and indeed keep you feeling fuller for longer, these products must contain, in a serving, no less than:
- 12 g protein
- 200-400 calories max
- 25% Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) of essential vitamins and minerals
Julie Hennessy of Weight Loss Surgery Support endorses Formulite as an exemplary choice for meeting these quotas.
“Formulite is our preferred brand of meal replacement. The low sugar, high protein content is ideal for our clients both pre and post-surgery. We’ve also received great feedback on the taste, making it an easy dietary change,” she explains. Formulite has the highest protein of any Australian Very-Low-Calorie-Diet meal replacement shake. The team has also taken great measures to make each formula palatable and easily digestible. If you’re on a low-calorie diet for ongoing weight loss and can’t stomach shakes for all 3 meals a day, protein bars are a great alternative. Formulite also offers protein bars and soups within their range of meal replacements. Some of our patients have described them as the most delicious on the market.
Does it give you recommended daily vitamin intake?
The front of that bright supermarket weight loss shake packet may advertise real results and this could be the case, but the best weight loss meal replacements are high in protein and vitamins and minerals. Because you may have reduced consumption of solid food when trying to lose weight, it’s important that your meal replacement contains your recommended daily intake (RDI) of essential vitamins and minerals. Remember, even thin bodies can be unhealthy without optimum nutrients. To keep your health on track during your weight loss journey, your meal replacement should feature the following:
- Vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, C, D3, E and K1.
- Pantothenic Acid
- Biotin
- Folate
- Minerals including calcium, chromium, copper, iodine, iron, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, phosphorous, selenium and zinc
High protein meal replacement shakes from Formulite
We’ve developed Formulite with qualified dietitians and bariatric surgeons to aid healthy and achievable weight loss, or as part of a recommended weight loss surgery diet. High in protein, low in carbohydrates and rich in vitamins and minerals, Formulite is recommended by dozens of dietitians and bariatric clinics. Shop our shakes here.
