Best Natural & Healthy Alternative For Ensure
That Will Boost Nutrition With Homemade Shakes Recipes
Looking for a healthier alternative to commercial meal replacement shakes like Ensure? While these nutritional supplement drinks may seem convenient, they often come with added sugars, artificial flavors, and preservatives that can do more harm than good. Instead, consider making your own homemade version using wholesome ingredients and fewer calories! Homemade protein shakes are not only more natural but also allow you to control what goes into your drink, ensuring it’s free from unnecessary additives and artificial ingredients. Plus, they can be tailored to suit your taste preferences and dietary needs. For older adults or anyone looking to boost their protein intake, homemade protein drinks can be a fantastic option. You can use high-quality ingredients like plant or whey protein, fresh fruits, leafy greens, and nut butters to create a nutritious and delicious shake that will keep you feeling satisfied and energized. Say goodbye to processed meal replacement shakes and hello to a healthier homemade alternative!
What IS Ensure?!
Ensure is a beverage designed to replace solid foods (regular meals) as meal replacements with nutritional supplements to provide a balanced diet with essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, often used by individuals who may have difficulty meeting their nutritional needs through food alone or those with a medical condition. Some people also used it for weight loss purposes others for weight gain. Ensure is a widely recognized nutritional drink designed to provide essential vitamins, and minerals, often used by individuals who may have difficulty meeting their nutritional needs through food alone or those with a medical condition. It’s available in various flavors and formulations to cater to different dietary requirements and preferences. Ensure typically contains a blend of ingredients, including water, protein sources, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals. Each serving provides essential nutrients, including 9-10 grams of protein, to support overall health. While Ensure can be beneficial for individuals who struggle to consume enough calories because of loss of appetite and low energy levels or too little nutrients consumption due to medical conditions or dietary restrictions, it’s important to consider natural alternatives and better options. Some people also use dietary supplements like Ensure for weight management purposes or to support specific health benefits. However, incorporating whole foods into your diet is generally considered a healthier and more natural alternative. Before making any dietary changes or using nutritional drinks like Ensure, it’s advisable to consult with a healthcare professional to ensure it’s suitable for your individual needs. Additionally, Ensure may not be the best option for people with lactose intolerance due to its lactose content.
Because Ensure is readily available in grocery stores, pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens, superstores such as Walmart and Target, online retailers like Amazon, and medical supply stores, it offers convenient access to nutritional supplementation to meet diverse dietary needs.
BUT, what really IS Ensure & Ensure Plus, and is it a good idea to consume it?
While Ensure is generally safe, some individuals may experience side effects including: digestive issues like bloating or diarrhea, especially if sensitive to certain ingredients. Allergic reactions to milk proteins or soy are rare but possible. Fluctuations in weight, blood sugar levels, and nutrient imbalances may also occur. Monitoring dietary intake and consulting a healthcare professional before use, particularly for those with underlying health conditions or taking medications, is advised.
The ingredients in Ensure may vary slightly depending on the specific product and flavor, but here are the typical ingredients found in a standard Ensure Original nutritional shake:
- Water
- Corn Maltodextrin
- Sugar (Sucrose)
- Corn Syrup
- Milk Protein Concentrate
- Soy Oil
- Canola Oil
- Corn Oil
- Short-Chain Fructooligosaccharides
- Soy Protein Isolate
- Calcium Caseinate
- Artificial Flavor
- Potassium Citrate
- Magnesium Phosphate
- Potassium Chloride
- Salt (Sodium Chloride)
- Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)
- Choline Chloride
- Cellulose Gel
- Calcium Phosphate
- Carrageenan
- Cellulose Gum
- Gellan Gum
- Ferric Phosphate (Iron)
- Zinc Sulfate
- Vitamin E Acetate
- Niacinamide
- Manganese Sulfate
- Calcium Pantothenate
- Cupric Sulfate
- Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine Hydrochloride)
- Vitamin B1 (Thiamine Chloride Hydrochloride)
- Vitamin A Palmitate
- Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)
- Folic Acid
- Chromium Chloride
- Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol)
- Biotin
- Sodium Molybdate
- Potassium Iodide
- Sodium Selenite
- Vitamin K1 (Phytonadione)
- Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin)
- Lactose
- Acesulfame Potassium
- Sucralose
The nutrition label of Ensure can vary slightly depending on the specific product and flavor, as well as any modifications made by the manufacturer over time. However, here are the typical nutritional values per 8 fl oz (237 mL) serving of Ensure Original, which is a standard nutritional shake:
- Calories: Approximately 220-250 kcal
- Protein: 9-10 grams
- Fat: 6-7 grams
- Saturated Fat: 1 gram
- Trans Fat: 0 grams
- Carbohydrates: 31-33 grams
- Sugars: 15-18 grams
- Fiber: 0-1 gram
- Sodium: 120-180 milligrams
- Potassium: 350-400 milligrams
- Calcium: 250-300 milligrams
- Vitamin D: 60-80 IU
- Vitamin E: 6-7 IU
- Vitamin K: 11-13 mcg
- Vitamin C: 14-17 mg
- Thiamin (Vitamin B1): 0.3-0.4 mg
- Riboflavin (Vitamin B2): 0.4-0.5 mg
- Niacin (Vitamin B3): 1.8-2.2 mg
- Vitamin B6: 0.4-0.5 mg
- Folate (Vitamin B9): 70-90 mcg DFE
- Vitamin B12: 1.3-1.5 mcg
- Biotin: 5-7 mcg
- Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5): 1-1.5 mg
- Phosphorus: 250-300 mg
- Iodine: 20-23 mcg
- Magnesium: 40-50 mg
- Zinc: 2.8-3.5 mg
- Selenium: 8-10 mcg
- Copper: 0.3-0.4 mg
- Manganese: 0.4-0.5 mg
- Chromium: 8-10 mcg
- Molybdenum: 15-18 mcg
- Chloride: 170-200 mg
It’s important to note that these values are approximate and can vary slightly depending on the specific formulation of the product. Additionally, individuals with specific dietary needs or medical conditions should consult with a healthcare professional before incorporating Ensure or any nutritional supplement into their diet.
The beat way to be and stay in good health is to eat a balanced with lots of whole foods. If someone is sick and not able to eat, the best way to get extra calories without any added sugar would be homemade nutritional shakes! No need for dairy products, extra sugar and fats. Just make you how!
A healthy plant-based alternative to Ensure, which is a “nutritional shake”, can be a homemade SMOOTHIE or any kind of shake using plant-based ingredients. Here’s a simple recipe:
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk or any other plant-based milk
- 1 ripe banana
- 1/2 cup of frozen berries (such as strawberries, blueberries, or mixed berries)
- 1 tbsp of almond butter or peanut butter
- 1 tbsp of ground flaxseeds or chia seeds
- 1 tbsp of hemp seeds or protein powder (optional, for additional protein)
- 1 Medjool date (for sweetness)
Instructions:
- Combine all the ingredients in a blender.
- Blend until smooth and creamy.
- Adjust the consistency by adding more milk if needed.
- Taste and adjust sweetness if desired by adding another date.
- Pour into a glass and enjoy as a nutritious plant-based alternative to Ensure.
This homemade plant-based shake provides essential nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, fiber, healthy fats, and protein from the plant-based ingredients. It can be customized based on individual preferences and dietary needs, making it a versatile and healthy option.
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