Alright, so this is the first review that I have done on a product through a blog, so I thought I would give it a shot. Today, I am reviewing the Vega brand All-in-one Nutritional Shake. This is what I am currently using, so it will be quite fresh.
I have been a fan of Vega products, especially the bars.
This is a whole food supplement also known as a meal replacement shake. Unlike protein powders, meal replacement shakes provide the essential vitamins and minerals in balanced proportions as well as a fine balance of quality carbohydrates, fats, and protein. They aim to provide everything that a proper meal would include.
The shake comes in four flavours: French vanilla, vanilla chai, chocolate, and berry. Chocolate has always been my favourite for every food supplement so that is what I am using.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF VEGA
Vega is a company that specializes in top grade plant-based nutrition. The co-founder, Brendan Brazier created the company out of sheer desire to find an optimal balance of nutrition that would ideally support his athletic and physical demands. As a runner, cyclist and Ironman competitor, he has been involved in the development of Vega products through experimentation to find the best quality food sources for athletic performance, recovery and overall health and longevity. He found that plant based sources resonated the best with his training regimen and that plant based nutrition could deliver the ultimate level of nutrition when practiced properly and had no compromises when you got it right.
The end result was a product that carried out an abundance of nutrients from high performance and quality food sources that make up the ingredients in the nutritional shake.
NUTRITION AND LABELLING
A very well balanced macronutrient profile which tends to be sustainable as a meal replacement and gives you energy. A respectable 16 grams of protein, 3.7g of fat and 11g of carbohydrates and 6g of fiber per 41.7g serving. Now of course the odds of you landing that exact portion size out of the hefty wide scoop is unlikely, but you still have a good idea of what you are getting and how much.
Also, at only 2 grams of sugar per serving and only 146 calories, it is very nutrient-dense and feels more like double that amount of calories. It is also very low glycemic and provides a steady release of energy that keeps you satisfied longer than most sugary snacks.
What I find intriguing about the container is the nutrition label on the lid that is widely exposed and consists of simple nutritional data comparisons. The image explains below:
I find that I get the most benefit (energy wise) when I have the shake on its own. The low fat content may be responsible for the instant energy access. I find that too much fat at once tends to slow you down and makes you tired. I also like to blend this shake as a smoothie. I will typically add in a banana, frozen berries and some peanut butter, dates and/or coconut oil. This is an example of what I like to do to as a post workout shake to get more sugary carbs and added fats that bump up the calories.
I do not recommend having this shake with something far less healthy. A pizza or club sandwich will just cancel out the beneficial effects that you can really feel when having the shake on its own with water or milk.
Now since the product has only plant based ingredients, using actual cows milk will be like a sin. However, If you drink cows milk, all the power to ya, but I would recommend using almond milk and maybe organic soy. Plain water is good too if you don’t mind it mixed thin.
COMPLETE PROTEIN BLEND
There is a combination of plant based protein sources that make up the protein content in the shake such as pea protein, savi seed, hemp seed, and brown rice protein. This fine combination of proteins allow for the offering of additional nutrients that are superior of their counterparts to get a vast range on nutrition from the quality protein.
A serving of this shake has 16 grams of protein. About the same as 2.7 eggs or a can of sardines.
ANTIOXIDANT BLEND
The ingredients that make up the antioxidant content are things like grapeseed extract, maqui and goji berry, mangosteen and acai berry powders. The ORAC score is rated at 1000 for a serving and contains as many antioxidants as 2.7 cups of blueberries.
OMEGA 3 BLEND
The shake also supplies a generous amount of Omega 3 fatty acids. 1.5 grams of it and just 1 gram of the Omega 6 counterpart. This is great to know since most of us far outdo a healthy balance of these Omega fatty acids when we eat many other foods, especially with refined oils that far exceed a healthy Omega 6 level.
Flaxseed and Chia seeds make up the omega 3 content. One serving provides the same amount as 2.3 servings of wild salmon.
GREENS BLEND
We all know that greens are an important addition to our diet as they provide us with alkalinity and the most bioavailable sources of nutrients. This shake provides some green shake ingredients without the dreadful greens shake taste. Chlorella, alfalfa grass, spinach leaf, broccoli floret, and kale leaf are used to represent the green party.
Overall, you get 3 servings worth of green vegetable sources in one serving!
PROBIOTICS AND DIGESTIVE ENZYMES
This is an important area to cover as it supports a healthy gut flora and digestive health. Each scoop contains a probiotic level of 1 billion CFU. For those of you who know what that means, good on ya! In another perspective though, it is the same as a cup of yogurt. Now it does depend what type of yogurt we are talking about here. I would say Greek. Vegan and plant based alternatives are used instead of dairy to keep the vegan theme alive though.
VITAMINS AND MINERALS
These are some vital components to our nutrition. They are in rather balanced proportion and aim to reach a level that mother nature can’t provide on it’s own with single ingredient foods. All B vitamins as well as others from A to K are present as well as a load of different minerals. Many of which are not present in much of our produce.
Overall you get half of your daily intake of vitamins and minerals from this very nutritious shake!
Now this profile has always been a complicated topic for me and so I am not going to go into great detail on something I don’t know much about. All I know is that it is easier to be assured that you are getting the minerals through a researched product rather than relying on our degraded soil and modern-day agriculture and farming practices.
BASE INGREDIENTS
The simple ingredients (otherwise known as non- medicinal) and that are responsible for the taste and texture are Natural Dutch cocoa powder, stevia leaf extract and xanthan gum which is a natural binder and thickener. Now for other flavours, you would have something other than cocoa powder.
It also contains gelatinized maca root (aka, Peruvian ginseng) and inulin root, which supplies the fiber. And yes, this goes for the other flavours too!
TASTE
Considering all of the nutrients, it does not taste like a multivitamin, but rather, enjoyable. I would recommend getting a flavoured version as opposed to the unflavoured unless you just plan on mixing it all the time with sugary fruits and other natural sources of sweetness.
I have always liked the bars they have too. They are very delicious and quite dense, unlike some nutritional bars that are gone in 3 bites. The shakes are very similar but a little less sweet without the added natural sugary ingredients. If you are used to milk shakes and other treats from McDonalds or Dairy Queen, you may have a harder time satisfying your taste buds. However, what you normally eat will determine how you taste certain foods or drinks over time. If you eat natural and healthy foods, you will more likely be fond of the taste as opposed to someone used to processed foods and maybe also smokes cigarettes.
This shake is more for the focus of health and vibrancy, not so much the pleasure of a treat, but you just may fall in love with it like I have.
WORTHWHILE THE EXPENSE
The Vega one shake is generally priced at $69.99 CAD, which may sound expensive, but you also get 21 full servings out of the 876g container, which includes all of the essential vitamins and minerals in one complete meal. Basically that is $3.30 for each serving. That sure beats a typical Subway sandwich.
You get half of your daily suggested intake of vitamins and minerals, which is comforting to know. You are also getting more than a protein shake (less protein though) and it only costs 5 dollars more than the Vega Protein shake.
To compare to your grocery bill each month, it is really a small dent expense wise, but an effective substitute to a meal. You may even save money if you decide to opt for the shake over additional food as well as time to prepare.
For this reason, I believe the Vega One shake is an excellent meal replacement option. It is simple and very traveller-friendly or for those on the go. I use it nearly every day and take it with me to work. It’s an excellent source of filling nutrition and gives me energy without the compromises of caffeine.
I would recommend getting it on sale though like I do. You can find a good deal on the Vega One shake here: http://amzn.to/1iWh7PQ. There are different flavours to choose from and you get free shipping on orders over $35 within the U.S.
Also, I would like to point out that the container is made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic, which makes the product even green on the outside. This is good to know that we are reducing waste!
So that is it for my review on the Vega One Nutritional Shake. If you are taking any other nutritional shakes of similarity, I would love to hear your feedback on them as well as what you think of the Vega One shake if you have already tried it before.
Thank you for reading!
Brendan Kearney
PS: For more information, visit www.vibranatural.com or find us on twitter at https://www.twitter.com/vibranatural1 and facebook at https://www.facebook.com/vibranaturalfit
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