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Weight Loss: Meal Replacement Shakes

Meal replacement shakes are a popular weight-loss strategy. If you have a busy lifestyle, using meal replacements can eliminate trying to purchase, cook and eat healthy and well-balanced diet meals. Typically, a meal replacement shake includes a balance of protein, carbohydrates and fat along with a good quantity of vitamins and minerals. Calories are kept low to fit within a reduced calorie eating plan.

History

Meal replacement shakes have been a popular diet option for a very long time. Diet shakes take the thought out of dieting, eliminating difficult food choices and providing a well-balanced meal in a glass. First introduced to the market in the 1977, Slimfast paved the way for diet meal replacement shakes.

Function

Meal replacement shakes provide strict calorie control and well-balanced nutrition. Most meal replacement shakes are designed to replace two meals a day and, in conjunction with a well-balanced dinner and healthy snacks, encourage appropriate weight loss. Depending upon the brand and type of diet shake you choose, it may have a higher or lower proportion of carbohydrates to protein.

Types

Depending upon the shake, you may buy it in a prepared form or in a powder to be mixed with water or skim milk. You can even make your own meal replacement shakes using skim milk, fresh fruit and protein powder. Shakes suitable for lower carbohydrate diets are also available.

Benefits

Meal replacement shakes work very well for those with a busy lifestyle. They require no thought or preparation and provide automatic portion control. If you frequently skip meals, overeat or make poor food choices, diet shakes may help to stop this behavior. Diet shakes are not a magic wand, but they can make it easier to stick to a reduced-calorie, low-fat diet to lose weight.

Considerations

Diet shakes may not be filling or fulfilling for some people. If you find yourself drinking your shake and eating more than is recommended, shakes may be a poor choice for you. Many meal replacement shakes are gritty or have an unpleasant flavor. Blending the shake with ice can improve this and may make the shake more appealing.

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