Visalus Shake is a meal replacement that claims to taste like cake batter, while providing the companies patented Tri-Sorb protein blend.
It claims to have a lower amount of sodium, calories, sugar, carbohydrates, and fat than other brands. After paying close attention to this meal replacement, it revealed some interesting findings that have been covered in this comprehensive review. To find the top 5 diet shakes, you can click here.
Arthur Berkowitz
"Meal replacement shakes used with natural foods may be an effective tool for weight loss. Drink the right shake at the right time by following our guide."
Visalus Shake Review
Visalus shake is claimed as being able to “support your success” with its claimed great tasting formula. Though it’s never explained as to what kind of success they mean. This shake has a total of 12 grams of protein that come mostly from soy:
Soy Protein Isolate: Amino acid rich protein made from soybeans. This ingredient has been subject to controversy over its potentially damaging effects. Soy is often GMO and known to cause a wide range of potential health issues. The University of Maryland Medical Center has reported the following issues:
“may lower the amount of iodine in the body…can lead to under functioning of the thyroid, called hypothyroidism”
“may stimulate the growth of breast cancer cells”
Soy also contains isoflavones that may produce estrogen like hormones in the body.
Pros:
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Has 2 forms of whey protein, contains less than a gram of sugar, and has a low amount of calories.
Cons:
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Has potentially dangerous soy protein, artificial ingredients, and it’s expensive for the quality of ingredients you’re getting.
Whey Protein Hydrolysate: Processed form of protein that has been treated with heat or enzymes. This makes it bitter and more expensive, but also easier to digest. Though it’s absorbed quicker, whey isolate and concentrates are already well processed by the body. This ingredient has been criticized as being unnecessarily pricy.
Whey Protein Concentrate: Lower protein yield extract that has more lactose, minerals, and fat than isolate protein. It can range from 29% to 89% protein by weight depending on how it’s processed.
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The FDA requires companies to list whatever ingredient is used the most as the first to be mentioned.
Since soy protein isolate is listed first in the ingredients, and whey protein only makes an appearance as the 3rd and 4th ingredient, this means this product is made up of mostly soy.
This brand also fails to provide an amino acid profile, so it’s unknown if it’s processed in a way that retains key nutrients. To find the very best 5 meal replacement shakes, you can click here.
Visalus Shake is sold at a discounted rate if you choose an automatic month-to-month contract. Otherwise, a 30-serving bag will cost $63.99. This averages to a daily price of $2.13 for one shake.
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| Soy free protein |
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| Helps with hunger |
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| Low sugar |
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| No artificial flavors or colors |
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| Good taste |
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| Money back guarantee |
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Sweeteners
Just one artificial sweetener is added in sucralose. The company offers a pamphlet defending the use of this ingredient, since it has been heavily criticized by respected scientific studies.
According to the company, this additive is only used in small amounts, and they claim studies show it’s safe to use. Though they never cite these studies anywhere, it’s unknown whether or not they’re telling the truth.
They work hard to defend this ingredient since clinical studies have shown it to be potentially harmful.
A study published in ScienceDirect showed that this ingredient:
“induced DNA damage in gastrointestinal organs”
The Washington University School of Medicine also performed a study that resulted in problems, sucralose:
“affects the glycemic and insulin responses”
This effect can make it harder to control blood sugar levels, and it can increase hunger. Controlling insulin is key in making sure one can prevent obesity.
A third study performed by the Duke University Medical Center revealed:
“numerous adverse effects”
“reduction in beneficial fecal microflora, increased fecal pH… enhanced expression levels of P-gp”
P-gp is only expressed in the body when a foreign substance enters that can potentially cause damage.
These 3 studies show how this artificial sweetener is potentially dangerous. This explains why the company has tried to make it look good, and they spend a good portion of their pamphlet in trying to defend its use without any proof.
Business
The manufacturers are ViSalus, and they are a Michigan based multilevel marketing company. This means they hire regular people to sell their products and recruit other people into the business.
Their Better Business Bureau page currently has 109 complaints. Here’s a sample of some of the common complaints:
“all orders have to be on auto-re delivery status”
“charged my inactive account without authorization”
“Visalus continually tried to charge my bank card”
“would not assist me in refunding my money”
Many people have mentioned how they’ve tried to cancel the auto-renewal plan only to be harassed by members.
There are also several forged reviews online from people claiming to have experienced weight loss. Since the company uses regular people to sell their brands, these people will often exaggerate the benefits they’ve seen.
Many of these representatives will end their positive reviews by providing an affiliate link, which gives them a commission off of every sale made.
The company does offer a money back return, but according to them it:
“cannot be applied to additional one-time product purchases”
Returns are only offered for month long kits that are run under the companies challenge program. This forces people to engage in a group that is meant to provide fitness goals.
For regular people who only want to sample the product and have no interest in doing a 90-day challenge, there’s no form of guarantee even if you fail to lose weight or experience side effects.
Conclusion:
This meal replacement does have good form of whey protein and it’s low in calories, however, there are also potentially harmful ingredients in soy protein and artificial flavors.
The company has also been criticized for their business practices, since some have claimed they’ve been swindled out of money. This is due to an auto-renewal plan that locks people into month-to-month payment plans. Their money back return is only offered to people who buy monthly kits while engaging in a fitness group the company operates.
Other options are available that are free of unnecessary ingredients that may cause harm.
The 5 Best Shakes On The Market
Based on our own extensive research, the metrics provided by our Shake Reviews System, and consideration of numerous reviews by our Shoppers just like you, we've compiled a list of what we've found to be the top five products in this category, on the market today.
Buy Now >>Read Full Review >>
Conclusion
This brand made it to the #1 spot as the best meal replacement on the market for many good reasons.
It's incredibly well rounded and features a high quality protein blend, an appetite suppressing fiber, almost no sugar, and it's completely all-natural.
18 Shake is also backed by exemplary customer service satisfaction ratings and is recommended by a highly respected doctor who specializes in natural nutrition. The benefits can directly target the root cause of weight loss by increasing metabolism, suppressing hunger, and aiding overall health.
18 Shake is a truly effective meal replacement rich in vitamins and minerals that is potent enough to get rid of the last stubborn pounds, or help reduce excess weight.
Their return policy was also top of its class - a comprehensive, 30-day, risk-free, money-back guarantee, proving the company stands behind its products. This was a huge advantage versus the competition, along with total effectiveness projections that rivaled any other supplement we found. All in all, 18 Shake is our #1 pick.
UPDATE: 18Shake has a promotion that includes a 70% OFF discount, free shipping and a free weight loss e-book.
Expiration day: 12/24/2024
OFFICIAL WEBSITE: 18shake-official.com
Conclusion
Vega One shake is good, but it has some issues.
It’s sold at a high price and there have been many customer complaints about the taste. For many it was unpleasant to drink and that they couldn’t stomach drinking it regularly.
It does have a high amount of protein and it’s sweetened with healthy stevia, but better alternatives exist that were rated much more favorably by customers.
Conclusion
This brand does have a quality whey protein and its ingredients are all-natural, but it’s very pricy and not well rounded enough to provide sufficient quality. In fact, the nutrients it does have is low and not enough to be a satisfying meal replacement.
Though its 2 patented ingredients sound impressive, they’re flawed since one is not proven to be effective, and the other is unnecessarily expensive.
The expensive price tag doesn’t reflect the overall quality, as its hunger blocking value is low. There is other more affordable and better quality alternatives available now.
Conclusion
It’s been reviewed favorably for taste and its selection of flavors, but customers often reported not feeling satiated even though it has 240 calories.
There’s an incredibly high amount of sugar and calories added, which isn’t helpful for weight loss. The sugar added is also from fructose, which can lead to unwanted side effects and an increased risk for obesity.
Much better options are available that feature more wholesome ingredients for weight loss at a much cheaper price.
Conclusion
Shakeology is marketed well and there are a lot of impressive videos offered that try to show how useful it is.
The main issues are that there’s a potentially harmful kind of sugar, it’s one of the most expensive meal replacements available. Customers haven’t reviewed this brand favorably in terms of overall quality and customer service.
