If you stroll down your nearest grocery's health food aisle, you will notice the increasing variety of meal replacements that support their weight loss-aiding capability. While meal replacements are common choices to assist with weight loss, they are not all identical, so before integrating meal replacements into your diet, it is important to know which is better for you.
What is a meal replacement?
Meal replacements are portion-controlled, nutritionally-balanced 'meals' that help minimize the consumption of kilojoules, eventually helping you lose weight. They are available in a range of formulations, including powders, shakes, bars, and soups. Such supplements for partial meals are intended to replace one or two of the regular meals. While they are certainly not a substitution for a healthier diet and daily exercise, they may be a valuable aid for weight loss.
Risks are involved, and they are not ideal for everyone, so please contact your doctor before beginning a meal replacement diet and make an appointment to see a dietician and make sure they are a safe idea for you.
Are they safe and effective?
Meal replacements are not intended to be used permanently, but tests have proven that they are healthy and more successful over the long term (up to five years) than other weight loss programs focused on diet. Studies have found them to be healthy and equal to or in certain cases more, efficient for weight loss relative to traditional, standardized weight-loss diets.
However, you will eventually need to learn how to cook nutritious, regular meals, and integrate physical exercise to achieve weight loss.
Who suits them?
Meal replacement may sometimes be an enticing alternative for food or as a snack for people who are in good health.
If you have a health condition that makes it more difficult for you to eat or to help speed up recovery, they are also recommended. For example, if you:
- Have difficulties eating well because of a lack of appetite;
- Unable to cook your own meals;
- Having difficulty swallowing solid foods;
- Or need to adhere to a liquid diet.
Food substitutes should be used for a few days as the primary source of nourishment. However, it is best to see a nutritionist for long-term use, who will draw up an eating schedule customized to the specifications.
To see if one serving is equal to a snack or if it's enough to cover a whole meal, it is important to review the Nutrition Facts chart. In general, replacing a meal requires 250 to 300 calories, but depending on age and health, this number will vary from one person to another.
