Maybe you wake up first thing in the morning without an appetite. Or, maybe you’re looking to lose a little weight by cutting some calories during breakfast. Either way, one thing’s for sure – Meal replacement shakes will either boost your weight loss or ruin your health as you know it.
So, are meal replacement shakes good for breakfast? Meal replacement shakes for breakfast are a great way to suppress your appetite during the day. And, the less hungry you get, the fewer calories you’ll consume. This can ultimately lead to weight loss. A meal replacement shake first thing in the morning can also give you a quick energy boost.
Meal replacement shakes are very much misunderstood by a good portion of the population. So, let’s talk about what exactly meal replacement shakes are. Then, we’ll get into whether or not they make a great addition to your morning routine.
The Purpose of Meal Replacement Shakes
Meal replacement shakes are popular because they’re believed to help with weight loss. And, there’s actually a lot of scientific evidence to back that up.
In a study conducted in 2012 (titled: Meal Replacement Beverage Twice a Day in Overweight and Obese Adults), scientists analyzed how meal replacement shakes impact obese individuals. They found that meal replacement shakes played a pivotal role in suppressing hunger and appetite.
When combined with a low-calorie diet, meal replacement shakes can limit the number of calories you’re consuming per day, thus, leading to weight loss.
In a more recent 2018 study (titled: Effects of a Meal Replacement on Body Composition and Metabolic Parameters among Subjects with Overweight or Obesity), researchers focused on the changes that occur within the body after consuming meal replacement shakes once a day for 12 weeks. The results were astounding.
Not only did these shakes lead to weight loss and body fat reduction, but they also helped to control blood glucose levels and even lower blood pressure.
Nutritional Value
The benefits of meal replacement shakes go a lot further than weight loss. After all, if you’re using these shakes to replace your normal meals, you need to be sure that they’re still providing nutritional value.
Here are some benefits of good meal replacement shakes:
- Low calories: Usually less than 400 calories per serving, which can cut your daily calories if you’re using a shake to replace a high-calorie meal
- High protein: Typically above 15 grams, which can also improve your metabolism
- High fiber: Usually over 3 grams, which can lower your appetite and hunger
- Vitamins and minerals: Most meal replacement shakes are loaded with micronutrients
Keep in mind that not all meal replacement shakes are the same. While most are healthy, some are loaded with sugars, artificial sweeteners, and fat. So, you don’t want to sacrifice nutritional value for taste.
The Potential Dangers
For the most part, meal replacement shakes are pretty healthy. But, there are a few things you’ll want to watch out for.
Most importantly, you want to be sure that your shakes aren’t overloaded with fat and sugar. Not only are these nutrients bad for your heart and just about every body system, but they might also lead to weight gain in the long run.
Also, it’s important to use meal replacement shakes sparingly.
As much as they cut your calories and provide nutrients, your body still needs solid foods and a naturally balanced diet. These shakes do have their limitations, so only use them to replace one or two meals a day.
The Case for Drinking Meal Replacement Shakes for Breakfast
Meal replacement shakes definitely make a great addition to any weight loss routine. When it comes to drinking these shakes as a replacement for breakfast, there are some additional benefits you’ll see.
These benefits include energy boosts, appetite control, and alternatives to eating a solid breakfast. So, let’s take a look at how a meal replacement shake can help in all of these situations.
Early Morning Energy Boosts
When you first wake up, it’s completely normal to be fatigued and even groggy. And, when you’re already on a diet or weight loss plan, a lack of calories might completely destroy your energy levels.
Meal replacement shakes in the morning can help. That’s all thanks to the incredible nutritional value offered by these shakes.
You may have been taught that carbs are bad for you and help you to pack on pounds. While that might be true when they’re consumed in excess, the carbs in meal replacement shakes are just enough to give you that much-needed energy boost.
Plus, you can lean toward a shake that’s low in sugar, which will keep you from crashing from your energy boost later in the day.
It also helps when your meal replacement shakes are loaded with vitamins and minerals. If you really crave an energy boost first thing in the morning, here’s a look at the nutrients you’ll want in your meal replacement shake:
- Iron
- Vitamin D
- Creatine (especially if this is a mass-building shake)
- Vitamin B12
To limit fatigue, try to select a shake that’s high in protein and low in fat. You can also add healthy ingredients to your shake if you need to add calories.
Controlling Your Appetite During the Day
If you’re the type of person that snacks all throughout the day, it can be hard to control your appetite. And, this type of eating pattern can obviously lead to weight gain the longer it continues.
Thus, replace your normal breakfast with a meal replacement shake. After all, they’re known for limiting your appetite and hunger for several hours after consumption.
And, that’s been proven in several studies.
In one particular study, scientists analyzed the benefits of meal replacement bars (titled: Short-term hunger intensity changes following ingestion of a meal replacement bar for weight control) first thing in the morning (which are similar in nutritional value and content). The study revealed that appetite could be limited or even suppressed entirely for up to 5 hours after consumption.
You can see why that might benefit you.
If you drink a meal replacement shake at 8 AM, you might not even get hungry until around 12 or 1 PM.
That means you’ll be much more capable of holding off until lunchtime, stopping your snacking in its tracks. Weight loss is definitely on the horizon now!
Perfect If You Have No Appetite
A scientific piece published in 2016 revealed that more than 25% of Americans don’t eat breakfast. While we don’t know the exact cause, it’s pretty common to wake up in the morning without any appetite at all.
And, skipping breakfast can actually set your fitness and health goals back.
The problem with skipping breakfast is that it doesn’t help with weight loss in the slightest, even if you are cutting out some calories during the day.
In fact, skipping breakfast can actually make you much more likely to experience significant health issues like heart disease or cardiovascular issues.
Since it’s uncomfortable to force yourself to eat in the morning, a meal replacement shake is a great alternative. You can fuel your body with much-needed calories and nutrients without having to shove food down your throat.
Now, you can stay on track with your goals.
Conclusion
Adding a meal replacement shake to your morning routine might be what you need to trigger your weight loss. You’ll be cutting down your daily calories by replacing a large breakfast with a <400 calorie shake.
You also have the benefits of reducing your appetite during the day. This can reduce your daily caloric intake, which can help with weight loss. There’s also the fact that meal replacement shakes might just give you a much-needed energy boost.
And, if you don’t have an appetite first thing in the morning, chugging down one of these shakes might be your only option.
You may also consider the following: Meal Replacement Shakes: Drink BEFORE or AFTER Workout?
Our Top Recommended Meal Replacement Shakes
NAME | DESCRIPTION |
#1
Shakeology | Shakeology is our most recommended meal replacement shake because it's a nutrient dense shake that includes:
Thus, making it perfect for weight loss, increased energy, digestive health, reduced cravings, and overall better health. Plus, Shakeology has stood the test of time as it has been around since 2009 without compromising its whole food ingredients. Instead, Shakeology has improved their flavors in taste and potency, and has even added vegan and gluten free options. Learn More About The Clinically Tested Shakeology Shake Here |
#2
Ample Meal | Ample Meal is an interesting meal replacement as it focuses more on healthy fats. Ample Meal includes:
With Ample Meal, you can get a nice fulling 400 calorie meal with 2 scoops or do a single scoop of 200 calories if your goal is weight loss. Similar to Shakeology, it’s free of all the artificial junk that most meal replacement shakes have today. |
#3
MacroMeal | MacroMeal is another interesting meal replacement shake as it contains a blend of fast, medium, and slow digesting protein that delivers sustained energy. MacoMeal also includes the following core ingredients:
Although not technically a meal replacement as it’s low in carbohydrates, people have found it to be filling because of the MCT oils and slow digesting proteins. |
Sources
- NIH: Meal Replacement Beverage Twice a Day in Overweight and Obese Adults (MDRC2012-001)
- NIH: Effects of a Meal Replacement on Body Composition and Metabolic Parameters among Subjects with Overweight or Obesity
- Healthline: Can Meal Replacement Shakes Help You Lose Weight?
- PubMed: Short-term Hunger Intensity Changes Following Ingestion of a Meal Replacement Bar for Weight Control
- Medical News Today: The best vitamins and supplements for energy
- NIH: Why don’t more people eat breakfast? A biological perspective
- NHS: Regularly skipping breakfast linked to increased risk of heart disease and stroke
