Meal Replacement Drinks

Meal Replacement Drinks

What you eat every day matters. When your diet is rich in nutrients and low in saturated fats, sodium, and added sugars, you're providing your body with the fuel that it needs and potentially lowering your risk of developing many serious medical conditions. Good nutrition isn't always easy, but you can find ways to ensure that you have healthy options available for mealtimes, even if you're on the go. Walgreens can help with a wide selection of meal replacement drinks to complement your diet.

What Are Meal Replacement Drinks?

Meal replacement drinks are liquids that are similar in consistency to a milkshake or smoothie. These drinks are meant to provide the body with essential nutrients to take the place of a meal, such as breakfast or lunch. The thick consistency of the drinks helps to create a feeling of fullness after they are enjoyed, so that they can satisfy hunger while providing doses of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. Drinks come in two main forms. You can choose ready-made drinks in single-serving bottles that can be opened and enjoyed right away or powdered drink mixes that are dissolved in water or another liquid like milk.

Are Meal Replacement Shakes Healthy?

There are many reasons why you might consider meal replacement drinks to supplement your diet. Shakes, especially ready-made varieties, are very quick and easy to enjoy. This makes them a great option for days when you don't have time to eat a complete breakfast or need to eat lunch on the go. Drinks may provide a much healthier option over fast food and food from vending machines, simplifying good nutrition on busy days. Meal replacement drinks may also be used by individuals who are suffering from a loss of appetite or difficulty chewing or swallowing due to a medical condition. Some meal replacement drinks are part of calorie-controlled diet plans for weight loss as well. Others contain high amounts of protein.

How to Choose Meal Replacement Shakes

Meal replacement drinks are very popular and come in many varieties. To get the right meal replacement drink for your diet, you'll need to consider your overall nutritional goals and then match the drinks to your needs. For example, if you are following a specific diet plan for weight loss, you'll want to find a nutrition drink that fits into its guidelines. Drinks come in many flavors, and finding one with a taste that you enjoy is important to ensure that you feel fully satisfied after your liquid meal.

Are Meal Replacement Shakes Good for You?

Most health experts caution against using meal replacement drinks as a sole form of nutrition. Unless your doctor provides you with different advice, you'll want to ensure that you enjoy one to two additional healthy meals with a variety of nutritious foods on the days that you opt to drink a meal replacement shake or smoothie. If you are struggling to get all of the nutrients that you need from food alone, your doctor may advise you to take dietary supplements on a daily basis to promote a healthier diet. It's best to talk to your doctor before taking meal replacements, especially if you have health problems. He or she can help you decide which product may be right for you based on your nutrition goals.