Reviews

Shakeology Review

About Shakeology

Shakeology Review

Shakeology is engineered to deliver comprehensive nutrition to busy people living an active lifestyle. For so many, making time to eat well can be a challenge, so nutrition shakes supported by scientifically proven ingredients can be a powerful advantage.

Beachbody makes Shakeology and has developed a cult following of thousands of customers all over the world. On social media, the Beachbody brand boasts over 1 million followers on Instagram, over 1.9 million followers on Facebook, 300,000+ Twitter followers, and over 330,000 subscribers to their YouTube channel. 

In a word, this brand is a juggernaut. Our objective with this Shakeology review is to give you an unbiased rundown of the product so you can make an informed choice.

Overview of Shakeology

Shakeology Review

Shakeology is a nutrition brand under the fitness empire Beachbody, which was founded 24 years ago in California and has grown into a $1 billion empire since.

The brand has become legendary for its at-home fitness programs (remember P90X?), nutritional supplements, and more recently, fitness equipment. 

The Beachbody business model is a smart multi-level marketing system. Customers who experience results using Shakeology products and Beachbody fitness programs are recruited to become Independent Beachbody Coaches who go on to recruit others into the network.

Shakeology’s primary mission is to provide nutrition solutions to offset some of what’s missing in the typical western diet. Key highlights of the brand include:

Highlights

  • Whole-food based nutrition
  • Free from artificial flavors or sweeteners
  • Products contain tested, clinically validated ingredients
  • Helps to support healthy weight loss
  • 10 delicious Shakeology flavors with vegan & gluten-free options
  • 30-day money-back guarantee

Shakeology Review

Shakeology Review

Shakeology is a whole-food-based nutrition shake for the person on-the-go. They offer a wide variety of delicious flavors. These flavors even include vegan and gluten-free options for those of you with dietary restrictions.

For modern day life, it can be tough to maintain a healthy diet. Whether you work at a hedge fund, have to drive your kids around to different after-school commitments, or are a university student running across campus, it is hard to balance convenience with quality.

This is where Shakeology comes in. Each of their shakes are packed with essential nutrients like protein, healthy fats, and energizing carbs. They are also full of prebiotics, probiotics, and digestive enzymes to maintain a healthy gut, so you can process the rest of your food properly.

Beachbody also includes servings of fruits and vegetables that make a great healthy alternative to a quick drive-thru snack. Those extra servings will be sure to keep you full as well.

The best part of Shakeology is that all of their ingredients are based on whole foods. While they will help you with protein and healthy fats, they also pack a whole host of key vitamins and minerals.

They even have a great superfood mix included, so what’s not to love? Oh yeah, and there is no shortage of yummy flavors to choose from.

If this sounds like a great way for you to level up your morning shake or post-workout protein boost, then continue reading this Shakeology review to find out more about this product’s benefits, ingredients, and cost.

Who is Shakeology for? 

Shakeology Review

Shakeology fits the bill for busy adults who live an active lifestyle and are committed to improving their health. Think business professionals, time-strapped parents, or college students.

Keep in mind that Shakeology is not a meal replacement, so you should also be eating whole, nutrient-rich foods, and staying hydrated.

If you are looking to fill any nutritional gaps in your current diet, then Shakeology may be an ideal option for you.

What Are the Benefits of Shakeology? 

Shakeology Review

Shakeology is designed to fit a busy, active lifestyle, fitting right into your health regimine. But what are its benefits? If you drink Shakeology regularly, you might experience:

  • Weight loss support through increased fullness and appetite control
  • Convenient source of high-quality protein, including whey[1], to support health
  • At least 6g of fiber[2] per serving to support a healthy gut
  • Healthy alternative to fast foods
  • An additional serving of fruits and veggies to support overall health
  • A delicious way to stay on the clean eating path

How Does Shakeology Work?

Shakeology Review

Shakeology works by delivering nutrient-dense goodness in the form of a mouth-watering shake. Each serving provides a ton of plant-based or whey protein, healthy fats, energizing carbs, and other nutrients to support an active lifestyle.

You can make it a part of a breakfast smoothie, your post-workout recovery shake, or as a mid-afternoon snack. Shakeology is an ultra-convenient way to support clean eating and achieve your health and wellness goals. Let’s take a closer look at the Shakeology nutrition facts next in this review.

What Are the Ingredients in Shakeology?

Shakeology Review

Shakeology is hard to pin down into one category. While it does contain about 16-17g of protein per serving, it wouldn’t be fair to simply label it as a protein shake. And although Shakeology has carbohydrates, fats, and fiber, it’s not quite a meal replacement either. 

A single serving packs a combination of nutrients, vitamins, minerals, superfoods, enzymes, probiotics, and more. It would be more appropriate to describe this product as a nutrition super shake.

For this Shakeology review, let’s do a rundown of the impressive blend of nutrients in each serving, with amounts varying per flavor:

  • Calories: 160
  • Protein: 16-17g
  • Carbohydrates: 15-18g
  • Fats: 3g
  • Fiber: 6g

Vitamins

Vitamin A[3] plays a role in skin health, optimal vision, and immune function. It’s found in dark colored fruits, leafy vegetables, dairy, fish, and liver.

Vitamin C[4] is an important nutrient that plays a role in immune function and has antioxidant properties. It’s found in fruits such as strawberries and oranges, as well as vegetables such as spinach.

Vitamin D[5], also known as the sunshine vitamin, is vital for optimal health, including bone health, immune function, and muscle development. It’s best obtained from the sun, through supplements, or fortified foods.

Vitamin E[6] is a nutrient with antioxidant properties. Good sources of vitamin E include fruits, vegetables, nuts, and meat.

Vitamin K[7] is an essential nutrient that plays an important role in bone health and works synergistically with Vitamin D. Green vegetables, Brussels sprouts and cabbage are good sources of vitamin K.

B Vitamins are a group of eight water soluble vitamins that have critical functions in the body, such as helping your body convert food into usable energy. These vitamins include: Vitamin B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, folic acid, biotin, and pantothenic acid.

Minerals

Minerals are essential nutrients[8] necessary for countless functions in the human body. We get our minerals from food (i.e. vegetables and/or animal products like meat and dairy) and beverage sources (like spring water). Each serving of Shakeology is a source of the following minerals:

Calcium[9] is an important mineral necessary for optimal bone health. Great sources of calcium include broccoli and dairy products like kefir or cheese.

Magnesium[10] is an essential mineral that plays a role in immune function, sleep and managing stress, among others. Good sources of magnesium include green leafy vegetables, dairy, and nuts.

Zinc[11] is important for supporting a healthy immune system, reducing the incidence of colds and infections, and optimizing hormone levels. Rich food sources of zinc include red meat, nuts and seafood.

Selenium[12] is an essential mineral with antioxidant properties. Selenium can be found in organ meats and seafood, as well as plants grown in selenium-rich soil.

You’ll also find:

  • Copper
  • Manganese
  • Chromium
  • Potassium
  • Iron
  • Phosphorus
  • Iodine

Essential Fatty Acids

Alpha-Linolenic Acid (Omega-3)[13] is an essential fatty acid. It’s considered essential because we cannot make it on our own; we have to get it from food sources. This essential fatty acid plays important roles in brain and heart function as well as managing inflammation in the body.

Superfoods

Each serving of Shakeology is powered by a laundry list of superfoods, including acerola powder, blueberry powder, goji powder, reishi powder, pomegranate powder, rose hips powder, and more.

Prebiotics, Probiotics & Digestive Enzymes

Shakeology is infused with a proprietary blend of prebiotics, probiotics, and enzymes. This includes yacon root, chicory root, bacillus coagulans, amylase, cellulase, lactase, glucoamylase, alpha-galactosidase, and invertase.

Digestive enzymes play an important role in the digestion and metabolism of macronutrients, specifically carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Again, my only concern with the proprietary blend is that you don’t know how much of each ingredient you’re getting.

Proprietary Adaptogen Blend

Shakeology also features a proprietary blend of adaptogens, which have been used in traditional medicine to help people manage stress. These adaptogens include ashwagandha, astragalus, cordyceps, maca, maitake, reishi, schisandra, and chaga.

Proprietary Super-Green Blend

Every serving of Shakeology includes a proprietary super-green blend of chlorella, spinach, kale, and matcha green tea.

Shakeology Flavors

Shakeology shakes are available in a wide assortment of flavors, including Peppermint Mocha Plant-Based Vegan, Cookies & Creamy Plant-Based Vegan, Chocolate Whey, Vanilla Whey, and a few more!

Which Shakeology flavor is the best? Well, according to the website, Chocolate Whey, Chocolate Plant-Based Vegan, and Café Latte Whey are the bestsellers, so if you love chocolate (who doesn’t?!) these three flavors are a safe bet.

Shakeology: How to Take & Dosage 

Shakeology Review

A serving size of Shakeology is one packet or one scoop, depending on if you have purchased the product in single serving packets or in a bag. It’s recommended to be consumed daily. Add 8-12 fl oz of cold water or your favorite beverage and blend with ice until creamy.

Readers of this Shakeology review should note that Beachbody recommends drinking your shake within 30 minutes after you make it. And to keep it in pristine condition, store the container in a cool dry place. Continue reading to learn about possible side effects.

Shakeology Side Effects

Shakeology Review

As a potential Shakeology customer, we wouldn’t be giving you the full picture without a discussion of the potential side effects. A careful review of the key ingredients in Shakeology has found them to be very safe when used as directed.

Review the label carefully to ensure you are not allergic to any of the ingredients. Those who are dairy sensitive should be aware that the whey protein-based Shakeology flavors may cause an adverse reaction. Expecting moms who are currently breastfeeding should talk to their doctor before taking it.

Shakeology Reviews: What Do Customers Think?

Shakeology Review

Before you decide to go out and order some shakes based on this Shakeology review, it’s important to see what other customers are saying. We reviewed numerous customer success stories from the Shakeology website.

While the website itself doesn’t have any reviews of their products, Beachbody has earned 3.3/5 stars over 348 customer reviews on Trustpilot:

  • 66% of the reviews rated it as “excellent” or “great
  • 24% are rated as “bad

Here are some direct testimonials from a few of the most eye-popping transformations on the Shakeology website:

One wrote, “Shakeology has completely transformed my eating habits. I get what I need from my shake and feel full, rather than mindless snacking with no nutritional value.”

Another testimonial reads, “Shakeology gives me energy, provides my body with real nutrients that it needs, feeds my muscles, and keeps me satisfied. Plus, it tastes amazing!”

According to another customer: “It feels like I am drinking a dessert, like a milkshake or fruit smoothie. I also love that there are so many recipes for Shakeology and ways to change up the flavor.”

In other words, customers have found Shakeology products to be satisfying and delicious – like a sweet treat! 

Is Shakeology Worth It?

Shakeology Review

After conducting this Shakeology review, it’s now time for the moment of truth. While the brand’s shakes are pricey, the combination of macronutrients, vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, probiotics, enzymes, and supportive superfood ingredients are a convenient way for busy people to optimize their nutrition.

Team Beachbody threw everything but the proverbial kitchen sink at the Shakeology formula to make sure you have your bases covered. And the many successful before and after transformations speak volumes about the products. For convenient, quality nutrition, this brand is worth a look.

Shakeology Promotions & Discounts 

Shakeology Review

Shakeology is not cheap! A 14-packet box of Shakeology regularly retails for $75 and is on sale on the Team Beachbody website for $64.

While some flavors are only offered in the 14-packet box, most flavors will let you choose how you want your shake.

A 30-serving bag of Shakeology is also available and retails for $130, or about $4 per serving. From a cost-savings perspective in comparison to the 24-packet box available for the same price, a 30-day supply is the way to go.

Where to Buy Shakeology

Shakeology Review

Shakeology is readily available for purchase online at the Team Beachbody website. As of this Shakeology review, the products are out of stock on Amazon, so your best bet is to go direct.

FAQ

Shakeology Review

How many Shakeology should I take daily?  

The creators of Shakeology classify it as a superfood nutrition shake and recommend drinking it daily. They recognize that the standard western diet is lacking in many important nutrients. Shakeology aims to restore many of these with their nutrition shakes.

Should I take Shakeology with food?  

Shakeology can be easily used as a base to a smoothie. There are multiple recipes for combining your favorite flavor with fruit, vegetables, and/or a beverage like almond milk. While Shakeology is not a meal replacement, you can add it to a meal to improve your nutrition.

Is Shakeology vegan?  

Vegan readers of this Shakeology review will be pleased to know that they have many vegan options. In fact, 6 of the 10 flavors are plant-based and vegan!

This includes the limited-edition Peppermint Mocha, Cookies & Creamy, Chocolate Plant-Based Vegan, Vanilla Plant-Based Vegan, Café Latte, and Tropical Strawberry.

Is Shakeology gluten-free?  

As of this Shakeology review, Beachbody is currently in the process of transitioning their products to become certified gluten-free. A new, limited edition flavor, Peppermint Mocha, is the first to carry the gluten-free seal on its packaging. The other flavors do not have gluten ingredients but are not yet certified.

What are the supplement facts of Shakeology? 

One serving of Shakeology is one scoop of powder, or one single-serve packet, and is 160 calories. While exact nutritional amounts vary depending on the flavor, each shake has roughly 16g of protein, 15g of carbohydrates, 6g of dietary fiber, and 3g of fat.

What is Shakeology’s Shipping Policy?

Shakeology currently ships to the following countries:

  • United States
  • Canada
  • United Kingdom
  • France

For one-time orders in the United States, standard shipping costs are a percentage of the total retail cost, usually between $7 and $12. Delivery will take 5-7 business days for standard shipping. For express shipping in the US, add an additional $10 to total shipping cost. With express, you can expect your order in 2-3 business days.

If you live in Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, or Guam, you should expect to wait an extra 3 business days for your order. It’s also worth noting that if you sign up for a Shakeology subscription, where you receive a monthly order of product, shipping costs are reduced to $2.

Orders shipping to Canada, France, or the UK have different shipping costs and do not offer all American flavors. So be sure to pay attention to the website as you check out. You can view the different costs here.

All Shakeology customers who would like to track the status of their orders can refer to the support site. Click here and click the “Check Order Status” icon. 

What is Shakeology’s Return Policy?

Shakeology is clearly confident that their products are the real deal, as reflected in their Bottom of the Bag guarantee. It’s a pretty sweet deal.

Basically, if you don’t notice any significant result within the first month of using it, or you’re just not happy with the product for any reason, just return the empty bag for a full refund.

If you need to return a Shakeology product and get your money back, the most straight-forward way is to visit Beachbody’s FAQs. Choose to either return or exchange your order and follow the steps.

How to Contact Shakeology

Shakeology provides Customer Support 24 hours per day, 7 days per week through the Team Beachbody support website. On the support site, you have the option to change flavors or serving sizes, change your shipping date, track your order, return an order, change your credit card info, and more.

Customer Service is available over the phone between 4:00 am and 10:00 pm PST at 1-866-737-9407. You can also text them between 4:00 am and 8:00 pm PST.


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Article Sources

  1. Solak, B.B. and Akin, N. Health Benefits of Whey Protein: A Review Journal of Food Science and Engineering, 2(3), p.129
  2. Anderson, J.W., Baird, P., Davis, R.H., Ferreri, S., Knudtson, M., Koraym, A., Waters, V. and Williams, C.L. Health benefits of dietary fiber Nutrition Reviews, 67(4), pp.188-205
  3. Olson, J. A. Benefits and Liabilities of Vitamin A and Carotenoids The Journal of Nutrition, 126(4), 1208S–1212S.
  4. A Bendich & L Langseth. The health effects of vitamin C supplementation: a review. Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 14:2, 124-136
  5. Hossein-nezhad, Arash., F. Holick, Michael. Vitamin D for Health: A Global Perspective Mayo Clinic Proceedings
  6. Patel, Kamal. Vitamin E is a group of eight different compounds which, collectively, help support antioxidation in the body. Benefits of high doses have uncertain safety, and lower doses seem effective in boosting immunity in the elderly Examine
  7. Patel, Kamal. Vitamin K is an essential vitamin found in plants or produced from intestinal bacteria. It plays an essential role in bone health and regulates blood clotting Examine
  8. Patel, Kamal. Minerals are elements originating from the Earth that play an essential role in life. They cannot be made by living organisms. Plants obtain them via soil. Animals obtain them via eating plants and animals and drinking water. Macrominerals are those needed in large amounts (more than 100 mg per day), microminerals are those needed in small amounts (1–100 mg per day), and trace minerals are those needed in very small amounts (less than 1 mg per day) Examine
  9. Anna Booth & Pauline Camacho . A Closer Look at Calcium Absorption and the Benefits and Risks of Dietary Versus Supplemental Calcium Postgraduate Medicine, 125:6, 73-81
  10. Stella Lucia Volpe Magnesium in Disease Prevention and Overall Health Advances in Nutrition, Volume 4, Issue 3, May 2013, Pages 378S–383S
  11. Chasapis, C.T., Loutsidou, A.C., Spiliopoulou, C.A. et al. Zinc and human health: an update Springer Link Arch Toxicol 86, 521–534 (2012)
  12. Rayman MP. The importance of selenium to human health Science Direct The Lancet. 2000 Jul 15;356(9225):233-41
  13. Shahidi, F. and Ambigaipalan, P. Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Their Health Benefits Annual Review of Food Science and Technology, 9, pp.345-381.

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