Meal replacements help busy people lose, gain or manage weight. Preparing balanced and healthy meals isn’t always possible in today’s fast-paced world. That’s why meal replacements can add a cost-effective, reliable component to a healthy lifestyle. Meal replacements offer portability and portion control, and that’s great for work and after-exercise meals.
Meal replacements should be selected for healthy composition. Choose meal replacements according to your diet and nutrition regimen.
If your body performs best on a high protein, low-fat diet, choose meal replacements that suit your needs. If you’re trying to lose weight, select a meal replacement that balances the rest of your diet. Drinking meal replacement shake supplements or eating a bar helps to keep your meal plan on track.
If you’re a weight trainer or exercise enthusiast, meal replacements can assist your goal to improve nutrition while gaining muscle. Consuming meal replacements before a workout, or after, gives your muscles needed energy to repair and rebuild.
Not all types of physical activity are suitable for everyone. Users take training advice at their own personal risk.
Meal Replacements and Benefits Rexford S. Ahima, author of “Metabolic Basis of Obesity” says that obese people often underestimate caloriesin meals. Choosing meal replacements helps very overweight people lose weight for this reason, according to Ahima. Author Bonnie Taub-Dix, MA, RD, ... more
Rexford S. Ahima, author of “Metabolic Basis of Obesity” says that obese people often underestimate caloriesin meals. Choosing meal replacements helps very overweight people lose weight for this reason, according to Ahima.
Author Bonnie Taub-Dix, MA, RD, CDN of “Read It Before You Eat It” recommends a careful review of the nutrition factson any meal replacement package. If the large meal replacement bar is actually designed to serve two, you’ll defeat a weight loss objective by eating the full bar.
Dr. Nicholas Perricone recommends meal replacements to deliver specifically-required nutrientsin his book “Forever Young: The Science of Nutrigenomics for Glowing, Wrinkle-Free Skin.”
“Nutrition Guide For Physicians” recommends meal replacements as a way to deliver needed nutrients to weight loss-focused and agingpatients. Elderly patients may have less interest in shopping for and preparing healthy meals. They may also suffer appetite loss. Many meal replacements require no refrigeration. Meal replacements provide a simple and effective solution for these patient populations.
Meal replacements help people with diabetesand other chronic metabolic conditions to consume the nutrients needed to manage their diets.
“Nutrition” authors Paul Insel, Don Ross, Kimberley McMahon and Melissa Bernstein say that meal replacements enable people to lose more weight. Initial rapid weight loss motivates them to lose more weight. Known nutrients, calories and ease of delivery make meal replacements a good bet for people with more than a few pounds to lose.
Many meal replacement products provide a balance of protein, fats and carbohydrates, according to authors Ann Coulston and Carol Boushey in “Nutrition in the Prevention and Treatment of Disease.” Most meal replacement products serve up the recommended daily allowances (RDAs) of vitamins and trace minerals.
Weight trainers identify high protein meal replacements to build muscletissue. “NSCA’s Essentials of Personal Training” by authors Roger W. Earle and Thomas R. Baechle of the National Strength & Conditioning Association, recommend using resistance and high protein meal replacements to build muscle. According to the authors, consuming at least 1.5 to 2 grams of protein for each kilogram you weigh is necessary to build muscle. Eating enough protein, without eating too much saturated fat and calories, is a challenge for many weight trainers.
Meal replacements can seem expensive. Comparison of most meal replacements to foods usually demonstrates that many meal replacements provide cost-effective delivery of nutrients. In 2011, energy and transport costs make foodstuff commodities more expensive. Purchasing the meal replacement products you use in large quantities also reduces their cost.
According to the “International Journal of Obesity and Other Metabolic Diseases,” using a meal replacementproduct for at least one meal per day helps newly slim people maintain their weight.
Most people enjoy wholesome, healthy meals. Use meal replacements as a short-term solution to weight loss or as part of a regimen designed with your physician and registered dietician.
U.S. meal replacement foods are considered safe for most people. Before using any meal replacement, discuss how it stacks up against your nutrition and fitness goals with your doctor. If you’ve got a special reason to use meal replacements, your doctor may recommend those he likes.
Discuss the right meal replacement type and use for you. If you’re using meal replacements to lose weight, authors Cathy Nonas and Gary D. Foster of “Managing Obesity: A Clinical Guide” report that patients in a study using only meal replacements enjoyed greater weight loss and improved metabolic profiles than patients using a dietary plan approved by the American Diabetes Association.
According to the National Institutes of Health, using meal replacements may not help teenagers lose weight. Higher quality foods, portion control and exercise help teenagers slim down.
To locate the best meal replacements for your goals, use the handy and free supplement finder now!
Weight Gain |
Digestive Issues |
Fewer Whole Foods |
Build Muscle |
Energy |
Improved Nutrition |
Weight Gain |
Weight Loss |
Weight Maintenance |