Shake Reviews

GNC Total Lean Shake 25 is a meal replacement that promises a healthier life and weight loss when used alongside a calorie restricted diet.

This brand is touted as promoting a healthier metabolism alongside lean muscle toning. After reviewing this brand the real truth was uncovered. There are several things you need to know about how this brand truly works. To find the top 10 diet shakes, you can click here.

GNC Total Lean Shake 25 Review

This shake has 25 grams of protein blended into a 3-ingredient formula as well as a carbohydrate blend.

Though there’s 25 grams of protein added, not all of it comes from wholesome sources:

Whey Protein Concentrate: A protein source that is processed but still contains lactose, vitamins, and minerals. It can range anywhere from 29% up to 89% protein by weight, depending on how it’s made.

Milk Protein Concentrate: 40 to 90% protein yield protein source made from spray dried and processed milk. It’s been largely criticized due to it often being imported without safety regulations. The Food and Water Watch Organization has commented that it has shown:

“food safety problems like melamine adulteration”

Melamine has been linked to reproductive damage, and harmful effects when swallowed or absorbed via the skin.

Whey protein Isolate: Purer form of protein that’s at least 90% protein by weight. GNC does not list the amino acid profile, so it’s unknown if they have a well rounded protein profile.

Another issue with the added protein is that 2 shakes provide 50 grams of protein. While high protein seems like you’re getting a better value, it’s also important to consider the recommended limits on protein.

It’s advised for adult women to get 46 grams of protein, adult men require a daily amount of 56 grams a day according to Web MD. They also add:

“taking in excess protein mean’s you’ll be excreting it”

So the body does not use up any excess amounts, it is instead turned into fat. Therefore, though GNC Total Lean Shake 25 has a high amount of protein, it’s not necessary for the average person to intake so much in one sitting.

Not all the ingredients added are safe to use. This brand contains some levels of trans fats, and it’s advised to completely avoid this unnecessary fat.

The company adds partially hydrogenated soybean oil, which means it has around 0.5 grams of trans fats per serving, or 1 gram per 2 shakes.
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Though the supplements facts label claims there’s 0 grams of trans fats, the FDA states:

“if the serving contains less than 0.5 rams of trans fats…shall be expressed as zero”

Therefore companies are allowed to claim 0 grams even though technically there are trans fats added.

The American Heart Association adds that trans fats:

“increases your risk of developing heart disease and stroke”

“raise your bad cholesterol and lower your good cholesterol levels”

The Center for Science in the Public Interest also adds that:

“50,000 premature hear-attack deaths each year”

This is why it’s important to not take in trans fats in any amount. When an ingredient is partially hydrogenated, it’s guaranteed to have some levels of trans fats.

This additive is only added to make the product blend better. It’s a cheap additive that has been linked to numerous proven health effects.

	Lean	18Shake	Myoplex	Herbalife	Isagenix
Soy free protein
Helps with hunger
Low sugar
No artificial flavors or colors
Good taste
Money back guarantee

Sweeteners

There’s 3 grams of sugar per serving, and it all comes from artificial sweeteners:

Sucralose: Noncaloric sweetener that can be up to 1,000 times sweeter than sucrose. The Center for Science in the Public Interest has advised to avoid it after reports of it causing long-term damage to rats.

The Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health also ran a study showing it lead to:

“alters gut microflora and increases intestinal p-glycoprotein”

Reduced gut bacteria can lead to metabolism and immune system disorders.

This sweetener promotes the production of P-glycoprotein, which is created by the body to get rid of unwanted foreign substances. Therefore, sucralose is treated as an invader in the body.

Acesulfame Potassium: Calorie free sweetener that is 200 times much sweeter than sucrose.

PLOS One ran a study showing it:

“fasting insulin and leptin levels”

“could affect cognitive functions”

In this study infant mice grew up with a craving for sweets when given milk from acesulfame potassium fed mice.

Both of these sweeteners have been criticized for their potentially harmful effects on the body.

Reports of Side Effects

There are multiple negative reviews posted online from dissatisfied customers:

“painful gas kicked in”

“it was a miserable experience”

“gave me a terrible stomach ache”

“felt nauseated and sick to my stomach”

Over 100 negative reviews are available on the Amazon.com page.

There’s repeat cases of people experiencing terrible side effects that relate to stomach issues, gas, bloating, and digestive problems.

Conclusion:

Though this shake is cheap and readily available, it’s not the highest quality meal replacement out.

There’s a cheap protein added, potentially harmful sweeteners, trans fats, and side effects have been reported bycustomers.

Other meal replacements are available that don’t have artificial ingredients and other potentially harmful additives.