It began with protein shakes. Sometime in the late 1980s began an age of fitness, cardio, bodybuilding, and overall wellness. Though the trend was slow to catch on, it quickly gained gumption in the 1990s when pop singers and sports stars were looked at as body shape ultimate. Many everyday people began to supplement protein shakes in an attempt to get their bodies to behave. It didn’t work out. While protein shakes can help with muscle growth, it doesn’t really help with fat loss or weight management. Then began a shift to green drinks – finding all sorts of organic produce, shoving them into a blender, and hoping that the result did not taste like death – it often did. These green concoctions and other shakes began to replace meals altogether to aid weight loss. Even though done haphazardly, there was some sense in what was being done, and the dietary supplement industry caught on to that vibe.
The supplement companies realized that if they put powdered fruits and vegetables in a jar and marketed them as meal replacement shakes, they would fly off the shelves. They didn’t exactly, as most people didn’t realize what they were looking at. A change in marketing strategy and a few slogan changes later, meal replacement shakes were advertised as nutrition in a jar, and the crowds went wild. Meal replacement shakes was everything they wanted – an easy and convenient way to get nutrition that did not involve a laborious process to create. It was efficient, didn’t taste half as bad, as was also helping a lot of people count calories. By the 2010s, the industry was booming, and meal replacement shakes were being tagged with other health goals like weight loss, fertility, age reversal, and even mental health. As ridiculous as the last avatar may be, meal replacement shakes are here to stay, and they don’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon.
A meal replacement shake is now a sign of a healthy lifestyle and is no longer a status symbol as they are now affordable, an easy way to stay healthy, and can also fulfill nutrition gaps left by a bad diet plan. But the most common reason for their success is that most promise to support weight loss attempts and, in truth, they can. Not all the shakes are the same, but most are better than a cheeseburger with a side order of curly fries or a salad smothered in ranch. The better brands take healthy and natural food ingredients, dehydrate and pulverize them, and add some flavor – and these shakes are low on calories, high in nutrition, maintain digestive health, and leave the body a lot easier. The question then is, which are the ‘better brands’? Your local drugstore would have shelves packed with meal replacements, so how would you choose
We might be able to help. We looked at three meal replacement shake brands, all of which claim to get your body in shape. We compared them to see if they can really do what they claim, and we can share our findings with you because not everybody has the time to hop from one website to the next, and every powder supplement is not a meal replacement. Let’s go.
OGX Fenix vs. Shakeology vs. PhenQ Complete Meal Shake: Healthy Meals or Not
#3 – OGX Fenix
OGX Fenix is a product from Organo which is a brand that features several products like coffee, soaps, toothpaste, and skincare products. OGX Fenix is a meal replacement shake that appears in two flavors. Unlike most brands that decidedly ask you not to replace more than one meal, here Organo states that replacing 2 meals a day with the product would lead to weight loss while replacing one meal a day would aid weight management. The official website itself offers very little information about the shake’s benefits or how it works. There are repeated mentions an ingredient called Ganoderma mushroom (which we will look at closely in a bit). Apart from that, there isn’t much else to say about the product.
No. #2 – Shakeology
Shakeology is a branch of the fitness and lifestyle brand Team Beachbody, which focuses on several avenues of health like recipes for healthy meals, eating plans, protein shakes and bars, collagen boosts, and even kitchenware. Shakeology specializes in nutrition for the body that wishes to get fit and stay fit. Their biggest selling point is that the brand has a vegan version of all their shakes. Formulated using natural and mostly organic ingredients, Shakeology aims to have your body working at optimum by providing a nutrition-dense meal that does not leave you feeling bloated or heavy. The product claims to help with digestive health, muscle mass growth, and weight loss and to also provide antioxidants.
The only possible downside to the brand is that if you ever go to its official website, it is very tricky to get around, and you could easily lose your way. Almost every page leads to other pages, making for confusing reading. The information is all there; you only have to be patient enough to find it. Overall, Shakeology is a beloved brand and has quite a few fans.
#1 – PhenQ Complete Meal Shake
PhenQ is a brand brought to us by the Wolfson Brands (UK) Limited, built around one principle – weight loss. The brand gained prominence when the PhenQ fat burner pills were launched and were found to have excellent results. PhenQ now features an entire weight loss system that includes the:
- PhenQ Weight Loss Pill – Read more.
- PhenQ PM – a nighttime fat burner – Read more.
- And, PhenQ Complete Meal Shake – Read more.
The meal replacement shake is what we will be looking at today. Although it works better when used as a part of the system, the meal shake can also be used as a stand-alone. Designed to curb hunger and encourage the natural fat-burning process, PhenQ acts as a meal replacement that fulfills nutritional needs while keeping a check on calorie intake. It helps to boost energy levels to eliminate the fatigue that usually accompanies diets, increase muscle strength, and also keep your digestion healthy. The best feature is that the brand and product have no frills – nothing to distract you or the product from the actual goal of losing weight. This no-nonsense approach to weight loss is what keeps other similar brands on their toes as the efficacy of the meal replacement shake itself is marketing enough.
Nourish Your Body, Delight Your Taste Buds – PhenQ’s Way, click to learn more!
What Are the Health Benefits that Each Meal Replacement Offers?
Before we go ahead it is vital that you understand that the use of the shake alone would help you enjoy all the benefits. You have to make a serious commitment to health and nutrition by adopting a healthier lifestyle and replacing your nightly takeout with a healthier meal. Also, we do not recommend that you replace more than one meal with a shake. This could lead to a serious calorie deficit which is counterproductive to weight loss. That being said, let us look at all the benefits these meal replacements claim to provide. Apart from the nutritional benefits of a balanced meal, each brand offers a list of benefits of use. Whether these claims can be met or not is another matter entirely.
| OGX Fenix | Shakeology | PhenQ Complete Meal Shake |
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By count alone, OGX Fenix is like the slow kid in a race when it comes to the benefits it offers. However, that does not count for much. The actual pudding is in the ingredients list and the nutritional values you get from the product itself. Let’s take a closer look at that now.
The Meal Shake Formulae and How They Work?
Every brand would advertise that they include quality ingredients and that the inclusion is there for a reason. Some companies use fillers, cheap components, and added sugar to make their supplements taste better or appear to have more substance, which is why it is wise to take a good, hard look at the nutrition labels before you fully commit.
OGX Fenix
OGX Fenix uses a combination of whey protein, vitamins, minerals, fiber, and Ganoderma mushroom to create a meal replacement for weight loss. The brand suggests that the powder be used with semi-skimmed milk for best results. For this review, we shall be looking at the Creamy Vanilla flavor. Each scoop of the powder provides you with 241 kcal, 4g of fat, 20.3g of carbohydrates, 19.4g of sugar, 3g of fiber, and 22g of protein. You also get a complete range of vitamins and minerals like vitamins A, C, D, E, and K, and the entire range of B vitamins plus calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, manganese, selenium, and iodine. OGX Fenix mentions its ingredients in one group also known as a proprietary blend. The main ingredients include the following:
- Whey Protein is rich in nine essential amino acids all of which play key roles in muscle building, repair, maintenance, and recovery. The acids also influence several physiological functions like neurotransmitter manufacture, neural communication, brain health, cognitive function, and even inducing a feeling of fullness and satiety.
- Maltodextrin is an intensely processed carbohydrate made from rice, potatoes, or corn. The item is considered bad for metabolism as it spikes sugar levels in the blood and is also bad for beneficial gut bacteria. It is processed quickly by the body but has little to no contributions to health.
- Soy Lecithin is a food additive and emulsifier. It also has health benefits like improving blood levels of cholesterol, maintaining immunity and cognitive function, and can even stave off the risk of several types of cancers.
- Ganoderma Lucidum Powder also known as reishi mushrooms is known to have several properties like boosting immunity, reducing stress, improving focus and concentration, and fighting inflammation. However, the mushroom does not have significant weight loss properties the brand claims. It could help with weight management but not as much with weight loss.
The meal replacement powder also includes Vanilla Ice Cream flavoring, cane sugar for sweetener, thickeners Xanthan, and cellulose gum.
Shakeology
Shakeology believes that a body works best when it is nutritionally complete and that its meal replacement shakes fill in the nutritional gaps left by modern diets. Shakeology shakes were formulated after hours of research to create an effective yet delicious meal replacement. For this review, we will be looking at the Whey Chocolate option. Each serving of the supplement would give you 160 calories, 2.5g of fat, 18g of carbs, 7g of sugar, and 17g of protein. It is also reinforced with vitamins A, C, D, E, K2, and six B vitamins and minerals: calcium, iron, iodine, magnesium, zinc, selenium, chromium, potassium, and sodium. A vegan option is also available. Here, too, Shakeology employs the use of proprietary blends where the ingredients are grouped according to their major contribution to benefits.
- Proprietary Protein Blend consists of a protein blend of whey protein isolate, pea protein, flax seed, quinoa, and pea fiber for building muscle tissue, staving off hunger, and supporting recovery from exercise.
- Proprietary Superfruit / Antioxidant Blend consists of Camu-Camu, acerola berry, rose hips, acerola cherry, Lycium berry, pomegranate, Luo Han Guo, blueberry & bilberry. Along with being excellent sources of essential vitamins and minerals, these additions also prevent oxidative stress from damaging cells in the body.
- Proprietary Supergreen / Phytonutrient Blend includes chlorella, spinach, kale, and matcha green tea, which are rich in phytonutrients. The phytonutrients are instrumental for the nourishment of all physiological systems and keep them in optimum functioning order.
- Proprietary Adaptogen Blend is meant to help the body better adapt to physical, mental, and emotional stress. These inclusions are meant to get cortisol levels in check so that the body can relax. The additions here are ashwagandha, astragalus, cordyceps, maca, maitake, reishi, chaga, and Schisandra.
- Proprietary Pre and Probiotics / Digestive Enzymes Blend includes yacon root, chicory root, amylase, cellulase, lactase, glucoamylase, alpha-galactosidase, and invertase. There is also Bacillus Coagulans, which is a probiotic. This blend is dedicated to gut and digestive health.
Shakeology uses cane sugar and stevia as sweetening agents.
PhenQ Complete Meal Shake
Since PhenQ is designed to help you lose weight, it uses a formula that works like a healthy meal but also activates the natural fat-burning system in the body. The PhenQ shake incites the AMP-activated protein kinase enzyme that targets excess fat and uses that fat as an alternative energy source. Because, this system slows down with age, stress, and bad lifestyle habits so PhenQ uses natural ingredients to activate the system again. This revs the body’s metabolic rate which means that you would have no dearth of energy during this diet.
Each serving of PhenQ provides 180 calories, 3.5g of fat, 21g of carbohydrates, 2g of sugar, and 16g of protein. You also get vitamins A, C, D, E, K, and all of the B complex plus sodium which constitutes the Vegetarian Micronutrient Blend. The ingredients here include:
- Gluten-Free Oat Flour is a complex carbohydrate that moves through the digestive system a lot slower than normal carbs. This helps to keep hunger at bay and provides nutrition to the probiotic bacteria that reside in the GI tract.
- CARB10™ is a trademarked pea starch derivative that can improve digestion without spiking blood sugar levels.
- Concentrated Whey Protein as mentioned above.
- Flaxseed Powder is a superfood that is rich in healthy fats, carbs, and fiber. The seed can also provide anti-inflammatory support and can keep type 2 diabetes and obesity in check.
- DigeZyme™ Enzyme Complex is a combination of alpha-amylase, protease, lipase, cellulase, and lactase that facilitates the digestive process and helps the conversion of food into energy quickly and efficiently. The more food is converted into energy, the less there is to convert to body fat.
You would also find Xanthan gum and sucralose in the shake.
Where Can You Buy These Healthy Nutrition Shakes?
The best way to get your hands on these meal replacement shakes is to purchase them directly from the official websites. This would ensure that you have the original products and official websites usually offer better prices, savings, and subscriptions.
Buy OGX Fenix
You have two flavor choices – creamy vanilla and rich chocolate. The purchase of OGX Fenix is slightly complicated. If you wish to purchase the product online, you have to either be aware of a distributor’s ID or have an ID yourself. The price, availability, and return policy all depend on the order ID. This rather complicates matters for the everyday shopper. Most would simply give up at this point and opt for an easier shopping experience.
Buy Shakeology
- A one-time order of the Shakeology Chocolate Whey in a 30-serving pack or 24-single-serve packets would cost you $129.95.
- The company also offers you a monthly subscription where the order of your choosing would be auto-delivered to you every 30 days.
- There are six flavor options to choose from.
The return policy would depend on whether you are a member of the Team Beachbody website, and if so, returns and refunds are subject to company discretion.
Buy PhenQ Complete Meal Shake
PhenQ Complete Meal Shake can be bought from the PhenQ Official Website. You have three flavor options to choose from – chocolate, vanilla, strawberries, and cream.
- A bag contains 14 meals and would cost $64.99 for a one-time purchase. With every bag addition, you get an additional 10% or 15% off and free shipping.
- If you opt to subscribe, you automatically get free shipping and a standard 20% off on your purchase.
- The shakes also come with a 60-day money-back guarantee and your purchase would also grant you access to E-guides and newsletters for free. Subscription allows you to save money on every delivery.
So, which is the Best Nutritional Shake?
Since none of them claim to be a protein shake, you must not be too disappointed with protein input. If you are looking for a protein boost, it would be best if you opt for protein powder supplements or ready-to-drink protein shakes. Dedicated protein powders have, obviously, more protein in them as compared to meal replacements.
To be honest, the addition of a meal replacement shake to your everyday diet could only do you good. The fact that most brands are able to add essential nutrients on a daily basis is far from a bad thing. Most brands also do a decent job of ensuring that you get a helping of fiber, healthy fats, and protein. So, in essence, the addition of either OGX Fenix, Shakeology, or PhenQ Complete Meal Shake is a great move toward getting you healthy. A morning shake with frozen fruit or yogurt could make for a much healthier option to replace breakfast. A meal replacement shake provides well-rounded nutrition per serving than most home-cooked meals. However, since we are comparing the three, it is only fair that we open closets and check under the bed for things that aren’t too great about each.
- Let’s begin with OGX Fenix. On the whole, we are left unimpressed. Not only is there very little information available about the product as a whole, but a lot of emphasis is laid on one ingredient – which does not even get a paragraph on the official webpage, by the way. All the information we have about the product and its ingredients was sourced from elsewhere. This leads us to believe that not a lot of effort has gone into the making, marketing, or sale of the meal replacement.
We’ve got another bone to pick, and it’s all about the ridiculous obstacles customers have to navigate just to get their hands on the product. You need a distributor ID or should know someone with such an ID before you place an order. Unless you have this in place, you cannot even get a quote on the price of the shake. Reviews for the product are mixed with some users stating that they experienced weight loss while most complain that there was not much difference after use. If you are looking for a reliable weight management meal replacement shake, we would recommend that you steer clear of OGX Fenix. - Shakeology is a wellness giant and it is difficult to find fault with the brand. A lot is going on for the brand. It has an impressive list of ingredients, more nutrients, and flavor choices to appeal to every palate. If anything, the formula could be described as too busy and heavy but that is not necessarily a bad thing. The shake is thick, and if the reviews are anything to go by, users are pretty impressed by the brand and the shake itself. Customers approve of the taste and claim that the shake is truly filling and has helped them keep their weight in check.
However, when it comes to actively losing weight, Shakeology does not help much. Yes, it does support healthy digestion and gut health, but that doesn’t really help the weight loss efforts much. You could use Shakeology to keep weight in check after you shed a few pounds but not for shedding the weight in actuality. Shakeology is a stellar meal replacement shake just not one designed for weight loss. Reviews also mentioned the price being steeper than most. Many end up switching to cheaper alternatives later on. - PhenQ Complete Meal Shake has quite a bit going for it. Not only is the supplement designed for weight loss, but it is also proven to work. The PhenQ meal shake is formulated to work on the AMPK system that actively burns fat for fuel. The shake includes ingredients that offer multiple weight loss benefits while also offering essential vitamins and minerals.
Instead of providing a myriad of health benefits, PhenQ concentrates only on weight loss and providing you with adequate energy for exercise. While other meal replacements claim to support weight loss efforts, it is only PhenQ that actually explains how the system works. For an effective weight loss supplement, you can use either the meal shake on its own or the entire PhenQ system – the choice is yours.
To give you a clear idea of how different these three supplements are from each other, here is a side-by-side comparison of the three.
| OGX Fenix | Shakeology | PhenQ Complete Meal Shake | |
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| Purpose | Claims to induce & maintain weight loss with continued use | Designed to fulfill nutritional gaps & help the body recover & stay healthy. | Formulated to support weight loss efforts and activate the body’s natural fat-burning system. |
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| Reviews | Mixed | Positive | Positive |
| Dosage | Two servings a day with semi-skimmed milk for weight loss and one serving a day for weight management. | One serving a day with milk or milk alternatives. | One serving a day with milk or milk alternatives. |
| Price | Price ranges from $45 onwards. | $129.95 | $64.99 |
| Refund Policy | No standing refund policy. | Refund depends on company discretion. | 60-day-money-back guarantee. |
Summary & Verdict
The ideal shake for weight loss would be PhenQ Complete Meal Shake. When compared to the other meal replacements, PhenQ was the only one that was found to actually facilitate weight loss even if not used with the PhenQ weight loss system. It includes a few quality ingredients that could help suppress hunger, provide energy for exercise, and stave off fatigue caused by strict diet plans. Even though the other shakes are not bad supplements, PhenQ is what we would recommend.
Fuel Your Day, the Delicious Way with PhenQ Complete Meal Shake, Try Today!
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