Dietitian’s Honest Shakeology Review
In this review I will be discussing Shakeology specifically, but if you would like to hear my thoughts on the other Beachbody nutrition programs like Portion Fix or 2B Mindset, be sure to listen to The Up-Beet Dietitians podcast episode on the topic.
If you’re new here, hello and welcome! My name is Hannah and I am a non-diet dietitian here to help you improve your relationship with your food and finally find food freedom.
In this blog we will cover:
What is Beachbody?
What is Shakeology?
Is Shakeology healthy?
Are these any risks with using Shakeology?
Shakeology alternatives
What is Beachbody?
Beachbody is an empire of exercise and nutrition programs (seriously, I’m not being dramatic when I call it an empire. Their website is never-ending). Beachbody is most well known for its workouts featuring celebrity trainers like Shaun T and Autumn Calabrese, but the company has expanded into supplements, meal plans, and even apparel.
One immediate issue with Beachbody as a whole is the company name. The name “Beachbody” insinuates that you aren’t ready for the beach without a certain body type. But the truth is, all bodies are beach bodies! Just throw on a bathing suit, grab a towel and snacks, and you’ve got yourself a body that is beach-ready.
What is Shakeology?
Shakeology is a line of supplements under the Beachbody empire. It was “created by Beachbody CEO Carl Daikeler, nutrition and fitness advocate Isabelle Daikeler, and superfood hunter Darin Olien”.
I just gotta know - wtf is a superfood hunter? Let’s use this Shakeology bio as an opportunity to remind ourselves that anybody can create a supplement line, even if their job title is made up and they don’t have any food science or physiology background.
Shakeology’s top seller is the “ultra-premium superfood health supplement shake”. Could they have used any more buzz words to describe it? Terms such as “premium” and “superfood” are not regulated and anyone can slap these words on their product label without any repercussion or proof of legitimacy. These terms do not actually tell us anything about the quality of the product or the accuracy of the claims on the label.
The Shakeology line has both whey and plant-based options. Unlike Herbalife, Shakeology does at least post their supplement facts label and ingredients on their website. They get some kudos for that. We will break the nutrition facts down in the next section.
The website states that the shakes are “clinically studied to hep reduce cravings and support healthy weight loss” and has “results backed by science”. They advertise the following statistics, stating that Shakeology products:
“Reduced desire to eat by 58% more than a calorie-matched shake”
“Reduced hunger by 51% more than a calorie matched shake”
“Helped participants consume 180 fewer calories at their next meal”
You know what else suppresses your appetite? Eating literally anything. You don’t need to buy a supplement for that. You will also be much more satisfied and “curb your appetite” for longer if you consume foods that you actually enjoy rather than always relying on a powder mixed with water.
The shakes also come in at a whopping price of $130 for a 30 serving bag or 24 single-serving packets. That is about $4.33-$5.42 per serving. And Shakeology does recommend that you drink the shake every single day. Yikes. There are many cheaper (and tastier) ways to “suppress your appetite” and “prioritize your well-being” rather than adding $130 to your monthly food bill.
Is Shakeology healthy?
If you are not new around here, you know that I don’t love the term “healthy” because it has a different meaning for everyone. What is “healthy” for one person may not be so “healthy” for another. But that said, let’s take an objective look at the nutrient breakdown of the shakes.
Shakeology appears to have three main selling points in terms of what is in the shakes. The product description states that the powder contains the following:
“17g of protein for lean muscle support”
“250mg of omega-3 from ALA, plus it has super-greens, super-fruits and adaptogens”
“6g of fiber, probiotics, prebiotics and digestive enzymes to help support a healthy gut and digestion”
Macronutrients
Okay, let’s start with the protein, fiber, and omega-3s. There are many benefits to eating protein, fiber, and unsaturated fats at meals and snacks (a combination that I call The Blueprint inside my membership). These macronutrients help us to stay full and satisfied and balance our blood sugars. This likely explains why they claim that these shakes help to reduce hunger and desire to eat (at least in the moment).
Superfoods
As for the “super-greens” and “super-fruits” - calling an ingredient “super” does not actually tell us what it does for our health. Again, this is not a regulated term. Not to mention that the amounts of the “proprietary super-fruit/antioxidant” blend is not listed on the label. The supplement facts label does show the amounts of vitamins A, C, and E, all of which are considered to be antioxidants. But you can get plenty of antioxidants in by eating some strawberries, a bell pepper, or other fruits and veggies. These are a whole lot cheaper, more accessible, and more satisfying too.
Supplement facts for chocolate whey shake. Image source: teambeachbody.com
Is Shakeology a protein shake or meal replacement?
These shakes may make a fine snack, but they definitely are not a meal replacement. Thankfully, Shakeology does recognize this.
“By itself, Shakeology does not replace a meal. That being said, it certainly can be part of a balanced meal when combined with healthy foods like berries and other fruit, nuts, seeds, and nut butters, avocados, various milks, or whatever else tickles your fancy. Or what about drinking it before your meal? “Wait!” you say. “Won’t that ruin my appetite?” It sure does — but in a good way! Shakeology is loaded with protein and provides fiber — both which help promote a feeling of satiety and curb appetite.”
Again, eating anything will “curb appetite”. You don’t need an expensive proprietary protein powder for that.
We also need to consider something in intuitive eating called emotional satisfaction. Sure, this shake has protein and fiber and therefor it also has calories so it might physically fill your belly for a while. But if drinking this shake does not emotionally or mentally satisfy you, this feeling of fullness won’t last long and you might find yourself rummaging around for more food shortly after.
You’ve probably experienced something similar before. Perhaps you were on a diet and trying to be “good”, so you ate fruit after dinner as a dessert instead of the ice cream that was in the freezer. But the ice cream is what really sounded tasty in that moment and the apple just didn’t quite cut it. This might have resulted in you eating another piece of fruit, some rice cakes, a spoonful of peanut butter, and eventually the ice cream, leaving you eating way more than you would have if you just allowed yourself to eat what sounded good in the first place.
This is why we need to look beyond calories and nutrient composition when considering our food choices. Food preferences, tastes, emotions, textures, food availability, and nutrition all should to be considered when we are choosing what to eat for a meal or snack.
Are there any risks with using Shakeology?
There are likely not any direct risks with drinking the shakes. Shakeology does claim to be third party tested. This something to always look for when choosing a supplement to help ensure that what is on the supplement facts label is accurate and that the ingredients are safe.
Shakeology alternatives
If you’ve already got some Shakeology in your cupboard, don’t throw that $130 in the trash. It’s probably fine if you want to consume it. However, there are plenty of other ways to “reduce hunger”. I tend to encourage eating every 3-5 hours or so to prevent becoming overly hungry. Try to incorporate The Blueprint (protein, unsaturated fat, and fiber) at each meal and snack if you can.
If you are interested in the convenience of a protein supplement, I have a blog post here with some of my personal favorites. But remember, a protein supplement is not necessary for everyone.
Look out for multi-level marketing
Beachbody is structured as a multi-level marketing company, or MLM, meaning that the “coaches” are independent distributors and sell products directly to their audience/community. This means that they also make commission on any products they sell. The “coaches” that sell Shakeology benefit financially from telling you to drink the shake every single day. It may not actually be “vital to your health”, like they claim. They likely just want your money.
This business structure also indicates that anyone can be a Beachbody “coach” and they do not have to be qualified nutrition or exercise professionals. I don’t know about you, but I do not want to receive meal plans, supplement recommendations, or exercise advice from someone that is unqualified and mainly motivated by their commission goals for the one company that they are paid to promote.
Bottom line
Shakeology is nothing special. Supplements as a whole are not a necessary part of a “healthy” lifestyle and you definitely don’t need to spend $130 each month to get the nutrients in that Shakeology shoves into their shakes. By eating a variety of foods, eating consistently, and eating enough, you will likely meet your body’s needs. And if you are concerned about a nutrient deficiency, your weight, or your appetite, a Beachbody “coach” is not the person I recommend confiding in.
If you are interested in starting a Beachbody nutrition or exercise program, I recommend speaking with a registered dietitian or healthcare professional first. Beachbody “coaches” may not be qualified to provide you with health recommendations and they are not always considering what is in your best interest.