Improve your health one day... one step... one bite at a time!
What bothers you the most about your body?
Do you tend to dwell on your appearance?
Do you consider what you see to be unattractive when looking at yourself in the mirror?
It happens to the best of us; but you can’t let it get you down! But simply letting yourself go isn’t the answer either; so don’t take on a “Oh well, screw it!” approach either. [Read more…] about Some Good Tips for Gaining Muscle Mass
Many people want to get more fit but then think it is too hard to do. That is why you must remember that proper education about getting healthy and in shape is the key to getting fit. This article is full of great tips to help get you started. [Read more…] about Get Moving! Try These Fitness Tips
Inside: Gain insight into dairy free meal replacement shakes, how they can benefit you, some of the best ones on the market, and more.
There was a time when I literally preached the dangers of dairy to all who crossed my path. I’m talking handing out pamphlets and everything!
“
Cow’s milk is for baby calves, not humans! It leaches calcium from your bones, and it’s full of pus!“
Yeah, I was pretty hardcore with it. But that was a long time ago and I’ve since lightened up quite a bit.
However; I still have a strong feeling that animal products, including milk & milk-based foods such as whey protein/meal shakes, should be minimally-consumed.
So, yeah, I totally get where you’re coming from if you happen to be:
In the past, I posed the question…
“Do dairy free meal replacement shakes even exist?”
(hence, the URL of this article)
And of course, the answer was (and still is), “Yes, they do.” But they didn’t always. Hell, I remember a time when you could count them on one hand, there were so few.
During that time, dairy-free shakes were up & coming and the whey shake guys began trying hard to sell the masses on how much better whey protein was than plant-based.
Oh, but NOW…
Many of those same shake companies have decided to jump on the dairy/whey-free band wagon. I guess they’ve since had an “awakening” that more and MORE people are foregoing dairy for one reason or another.
Or, maybe they’ve become aware of how many people are getting sick from drinking their shakes.
Either way, now there are a lot more dairy free options to choose from and trying to decide which one(s) to go with can be daunting.
Today, I’d like to help you choose a good dairy free meal shake by informing you of:
As you’re doing your research and looking into whey free shakes, you’re going to find out, if you haven’t already, that a lot of dairy free meal replacement shakes are soy-based.
And if you what I know about soy, you don’t want that in your shakes either.
But don’t worry, there are other viable sources of plant proteins other than soy, such as:
I’m sure there are others, but those are the most popular ones used in non-dairy protein powders and meal shakes.
Related: Are Protein Shakes And Meal Replacement Shakes The Same Thing?
You know by now that the experts can’t agree on everything. So you can definitely expect varying answers, based on who you ask.
For example: If you ask a vegan authority, they’re going to all but damn you to hell if you go any route other than plant protein. And those authorities who are staunch meat eaters are going to tell you how much of a weak little wuss you are if your protein isn’t whey.
I’m exaggerating, of course, but you get the picture.
But I visited the guys over at Australian Men’s Health, and here’s what they had to say, which I found surprisingly unbiased:
“A clinical study in 2013 showed that brown rice protein was equal to whey protein when it came to; building muscle, gaining strength, and aiding in recovery. As well as providing great results, plant based protein is a lot easier for the body to digest than dairy products so you won’t have the same unpleasant, smelly side effects as whey.
Whey protein is a complete protein has a complete amino acid profile whereas plant based proteins tend to be deficient in some some amino acids. Just like no one plant can give you the same nutritional value as meat, variety is required.
For example, by having a combination of brown rice and pea protein, you’ll get all the amino acids found in whey – just without the farting.”
So, if you’re going with a whey-free shake, be sure it has at least TWO different protein sources so you’re covered in the amino acid department. That way, you’re sure to get as much, if not more, benefit as you would from a whey shake.
I honestly think it depends on the person. Some people can handle whey protein and others, not so much. You have to be in tune with your own body enough to know which one is best for you.
One thing I do know for certain: physiologically, our bodies can assimilate plant-based foods better than animal-based, if for no other reason than the fact that we don’t produce large enough quantities of hydrochloric acid to break down large amounts of the uric acid animal protein produces. This is, in part, why some people end up with gout.
Aside from that, there are also the concerns that many people have with lactose intolerance, although some protein and meal replacement shakes utilize whey isolates, which are said to not produce that effect.
But one thing I’ve noticed is the fact that a lot of people simply feel sick from drinking whey and/or soy-based protein or meal shakes.
I wrote a blog post on the topic and, to this day, it’s one of my most popular posts. A lot of people find it when searching, “protein shakes make me sick” or something along those lines.
So, this is one reason some may consider plant based powders “better”.
Here’s the thing…
You could lose weight replacing two meals with two Snicker Bars, but you can bet your two sweet butt cheeks you’d end up malnourished, unhealthy, and so hangry, not even a Snickers would satisfy you.
My point is, it doesn’t matter the protein source – whey, soy, or brown rice & pea – if you replace two of your usual meals with a shake AND eat sensibly for your third meal and all snacks and beverages in between… you can typically lose weight.
But, again, you’ll want to make sure whatever shake you choose is actually good for you and will give your body the necessary nutrients it requires for optimal results.
A lot of people don’t know this, but you can use meal replacement shakes for weight gain simply by using them as a meal supplement rather than replacement.
In other words… eat your meals as usual, but drink a shake or two between or alongside those meals.
You’d probably have to be pretty ravenous to consume that much shake, so it’s probably best to make sure you’re active in order to build up an appetite.
Below are a few of the top-rated dairy-free meal replacement shakes (that are also soy-free) so that you can get an idea of what options you have available:
ingredients based on the Mediterranean diet: reportedly one of the healthiest diet in the world*these are the shakes my family and I drink*
Amazing Grass Plant-Based Vegan Protein Superfood
310 Plant-Based Meal Replacement Shake
Gnarly Vegan Plant Protein Meal ReplacementThis short list of top-rated dairy-free meal replacement shakes is nowhere near exhaustive, but they’re a good start.
Here’s a brief recap of what we previously discussed:
Oftentimes, you can actually trigger new weight loss simply by adjusting just one or two of your normal habits.
For example:
Things like that. But the key is to make gradual strides towards a bigger goal!
Sounds like a major oxymoron, doesn’t it? And you’ve probably heard, read or even used that term before. But what exactly does it mean?
Skinny fat is when you have a small‘ish frame but you may have excessive amounts flabbiness on your body, typically in the midsection, but can also be on the arms and in the booty/hip/thigh region.
When I told people I needed to lose about 10-15 lbs, they’d look at my small’ish frame and proceed to either laugh or roll their eyes at me. But they didn’t realize I was actually considered overweight at a height of 5’4″ and weighing over 150 lbs.
At least that’s what the BMI chart says, anyway. That may or may not be true, but I feel it’s ONLY if the 150+ lbs is excessive body fat, as opposed to lean muscle mass.
[Read more…] about Skinny Fat: Why Being Small Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Being Healthy