Shake! Shake!! Shake!!!

I love shakes and fruit smoothies, just the sight of a fruit smoothie or shake picture gets me to ordering - especially in the summertime. A few years ago (well it seems like a few) when I was a teen, I loved to drink vanilla or chocolate milkshakes. However, as I matured, I grew out of my obsession for milk shakes. My love shifted to fruits smoothies. One would think that it's a healthy treat, I know I did - until I saw the ingredients this vendor poured into the blender. After selecting my mango and pineapples, I watched in horror as a can of sweetened condensed milk was added to my fruits that were already blending perfectly. I wanted to cry. Not wanting to tell him never mind, I paid for my sweetened milky fruit smoothie and sipped it slowly. I did not enjoy it at all, it was too sweet and it was robbed of it's own real true fresh fruity taste. All I wanted was the taste of the fresh fruits, they have their own sugars and I knew it could be healthy and delicious without the additions. Thankfully, with our country calling out for a nutritional overhaul, some companies have found their way out to offer their own delicious shakes and smoothies. There are smoothies and shakes that claims to have nutritional values even suggesting that you can use them as a substitute for a meal. Let's check them out!

Herbalife

Have you ever heard of Hearbalife? They promotes their products as healthy and delicious protein shakes that are loaded with essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients. They also suggest that it's perfect for busy people who are on the go and would like a nutritious meal, the Herbalife Formula 1 shake claims to satisfy your hunger and help manage your weight.

According to Herbalife the key benefits are:

*20 vitamins, minerals and essential nutrients
*9g of protein and healthy fiber help support weight management
*Includes the antioxidant vitamins C and E
*Contains Aminogen®†, plus bromelain and papain, to support protein digestion
*0 cholesterol; 0 trans fat

They have a variety of flavors:

*French Vanilla
*Vanilla - Allergen Free
*Dutch Chocolate
*Wild Berry
*Tropical Fruit
*Cookies 'n Cream
*Piña Colada
*Cafe Latte
*Kosher (Vanilla)

I have never tried Herbalife but from the variety of flavors - it sure looks tempting. If I ever try their products, I will definitely let you know. It is important to note that you should clear this or any kind of changes with your doctor. Although it may be considered safe and healthy, it may not be right for YOU. Let's continue.....

Medifast

Medifast has shakes for Women, Men and a Specialty Line. They have an extensive line of flavors with Cherry Pomegranate, Banana Creme, Swiss Mocha, Dutch Chocolate and many more. The Vanilla Plus, Chocolate Plus and other flavors are from the specialty line that caters to joint health, diabetics and appetite suppression.

According to their website, the Medifast 55 Shakes are specially formulated for women. They claim that their great-tasting shakes are heart-healthy and contain 11 grams of protein and 24 essential vitamins and minerals per serving. Medifast 55 Shakes come in six delicious flavors and mix easily with water. The Medifast 70 Shakes are formulated for men, or for women who prefer a higher protein count. These shakes are soy-based, heart-healthy, and contain 14 total grams of protein per shake.

An example of their specialty line - Plus for Diabetics Shakes are specifically designed for people with type 2 diabetes.

As seen on their website, a clinical study from a major university teaching hospital found that after 34 weeks, diabetic participants using Medifast's portion-controlled meal-replacement program lost twice as much weight and were twice as likely to complete the study as participants following a standard food diet based on the dietary guidelines of the American Diabetes Association (ADA).

Also, after 34 weeks, 24 percent of the Medifast users decreased or eliminated their diabetes medication, compared to 0 (zero) percent on the standard food diet.

Medifast Plus for Diabetics is recommended for men and women with type 2 diabetes who want to lose weight or boost their regular nutrition. They can be used during the weight-loss phase or in the Transition and Maintenance phases as an occasional meal replacement or snack.

Medifast recommends that you contact your primary care physician or diabetes specialist before beginning a program using their Medifast Plus for Diabetics.

Their product lines includes the following - Kosher Dairy, Caffeine Free, Certified Gluten Free, Heart Healthy, Vegetarian


Fruit Smoothies

McDonalds recently came out with the Real Fruit Smoothies (Wild Berry, Strawberry Banana and Mango Pineapple) which are blended with ice and low fat yogurt. My daughter Aimee, loves the mango pineapple smoothie and is like a social media commercial for the delicious McDonalds Mango Pineapple Smoothie. She tweets about it and often updates her status about her cravings for the smoothie. She has many of her friends and the rest of us heading over to McDonalds to try the smoothies and they are really delicious. In fact, Aimee sounds similar to this commercial:


My favorite fruit smoothies are made straight from my blender with fresh fruits, no added sugars, milks, creams, yogurts, syrups, etc. The fruits are delicious all on their own. I can mix the fruits and blend them together to see how they mesh together and who knows? I may come out with a nutritional smoothie/shake line of my own :-)