To Shake or not to Shake?

You probably all know that one person who is on a rapid weight loss journey of replacing meals with shakes, or the person who can’t enter or leave the gym without a shake in hand, but what’s the big deal about shakes?

Firstly, there are many differing types of shakes that you can consume, all with slightly different purposes. For example, athletes use protein shakes to increase the protein (energy) that the body requires for the training schedule they have.

Whilst I personally would never recommend the use of a shake diet, replacing all meals, shakes do have benefits as a quick option for breakfast, a top up in between meals or pre/post workout supplementation.

Some of the benefits of including shakes in your diet include:

Getting your daily allowance of fruits and vegetables. Consuming the daily recommendations of fruits and vegetables can be a challenge. Blending a couple of servings of each into a smoothie helps ensure you meet your body’s daily nutritional needs.
Improved digestion. Nobody I know wants to experience constipation or indigestion. Let your blender “chew” your food and ease the burden on your digestive system while you simultaneously consume plenty of dietary fiber to ensure excellent digestion.
Detox. Give your digestive system an aid by adding detoxifying ingredients like dandelion greens and kale into your smoothies to aid your body’s detoxification processes.
Build muscle and improve athletic performance. Provide your body with the nutrients it needs to excel during athletic competition, and recover and rebuild after working out. It’s easier for your body to absorb and assimilate the nutrients in a smoothie as opposed to a meal.
A great filler. Instead of reaching for the crackers and cheese in between meals, try a green smoothie, it will fill you up and provide you with a better nutritional option.

Here is an option for a breakfast shake: