In this Shakeology review we will explain to you what Shakeology is, how does it work, what are its ingredients, side effects, show you real customers reviews, give you prices & recommend best places to buy it
Shakeology is sold by a company called Beachbody.
I think part of the reason most Shakeology reviews are positive is because people think this is a cool product, because it does sound like it’s designed for young, vibrant and positive people.
But there is another reason cover later.
It’s basically a line of meal replacement shakes.
That doesn’t sound quite so cool and trendy does it!
The company has been around since 2011.
You can buy the products direct from their website, online retailers, and Beachbody coaches.
So in this Shakeology review I’m going to take a look in detail at the products this company offers, because I’ve been wondering does Shakeology work for some time, or is it just another product delivering poor results from high price?
Shakeology Ingredients, Flavors & Tastes
If you’ve got time to get off your surfboard and look at the ingredients before guzzling your next Shakeology shake, you might be surprised what’s in it.
There are a lot of ingredients in this product:
- Whey, Pea, Sacha Inchi, Chia, Flax, Quinoa.
- Camu-Camu, Acerola Cherry, Bilberry, Lycium Berry (Goji Berry), Green Tea, Luo Han Guo, Pomegranate, Rose Hips, Vitamins A, C, E.
- Moringa, Chlorella, Spirulina, Spinach, Kale.
- Ashwagandha, Astragalus, Cordyceps, Maca, Maitake, Reishi, Schisandra.
- Yacon Root, Chicory Root, Bacillus coagulans , Amylase, Cellulase, Lactase, Glucoamylase, Alpha-Galactosidase, Invertase.
In addition to that lot, there are also probiotics and the usual additives, stabilizers and things to make it look and taste better.
With so much going on, it’s impossible to really understand what the combination of ingredients will do for you, and whether there are any Shakeology side effects you can get from all this.
One ingredient I spotted I did know about is Ashwagandha – this is a herb that can allegedly help the immune system.
However, it has been linked to premature birth.
With so many ingredients, I think looking into all the potential issues around them before taking on this diet would be wise.
Shakeology Results: What Can You Expect?
There has been a clinical trial of this product in 2014.
But it was commissioned by Beachbody, so it wasn’t independent.
The study revolves around 50 people and lasted for 90 days.
The trial involved drinking two shakes per day, for breakfast and lunch, with a controlled meal in the evening.
The study results were:
- There were statistically significant reductions in cravings to eat food.
- The average weight loss was 9.3 pounds. The greatest was 24 pounds in three months.
- Average cholesterol reduction was 7%.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of details missing about the study which the company will not release.
Like the proportion of men and women, their ages, were the group typical in terms of high cholesterol, what sort of diet and exercise was included, and also importantly, was there a placebo group?
I think the problem I have here is that there is not any real proof scientifically that this product works.
So in terms of the results you might get from Shakeology, it’s difficult to determine whether just reducing your calorie counts generally to the same level as using Shakeology would still give you the same results.
Shakeology Side Effects
Thankfully there aren’t any nasty side-effects being reported by people using this product.
Generally, Shakeology side effects are limited to people with existing conditions.
For example, people with immune deficiency problems such as HIV should steer clear of probiotics.
One thing I do want to point out about side effects is that Shakeology shakes did contain something called Ginkgo until recently.
This has been linked in some instances to counteracting the positive effects of some medicines used to treat things like seizures, diabetes, cholesterol and depression.
This has apparently now been removed from the products, but as I’ve read reports on the Internet of coaches selling old stock that they have previously purchased, if you are buying from third party supplier, or eBay or Amazon, and it would make sense to make sure you are buying fresh stock that does not contain this ingredient.
Is Shakeology A Scam?
I’m not going to say that there is a Shakeology scam going on.
However, I do have concerns around the sales techniques of having coaches selling the products.
These coaches can even recruit people below them, so it is a multilevel marketing system where everyone higher up the chain takes a cut.
So although I don’t think it’s a scam, I do think that anything you read online has to be taken with skepticism, because there are so many people writing about this product who have a financial interest in it being popular.
On top of that, I’m not sure the results produced would be that much different to just saving your money and reducing your calories.
The other point to make here is that there is nothing radical about Shakeology.
It is exactly the same methodology used in products such as the SlimFast, Isagenix, and even Special K cereal diets.
You just replace two meals a day with these products and reduce your calorie count.
So I don’t think it is a scam, because you’d have to say the same about all of the mainstream products I just mentioned, but I do think that it is very expensive and doesn’t actually generate weight loss as such, it’s just part of a motivation system based on an initial dramatic calorie drop.
Shakeology Reviews
Because of the multilevel marketing used by this product, you have to take the user reviews with a pinch of salt.
In trying to determine if Shakeology works, you have to see real people saying it does, but that’s incredibly difficult with so many obviously fake reviews out there.
For example, look at this review:
“Shakeology is a fantastic product and SO much more than just another healthy shake for weight loss. The workouts and support you receive is so crucial!”
It’s basically selling the fact that you get to chat to a coach as well.
You can get a workout free off YouTube, and you can get your friends and family to support you free as well.
More negative reviews tend to consist of comments like this:
“Nothing special. Taste is fine. Program is sensible. Not worth the money though. First day was easy. I was crabby by the second day. Lost 2 pounds, but I did not feel refreshed! Buy a reasonably priced protein, drink fiber once every day, and eat less. You can do that on your own for a lot less than this product.”
Shakeology Price & Where To Buy It
For me the biggest thing that puts me off is the Shakeology price.
A 30 day supply is $129.95.
What makes this worse is that it is sold as 30 day supply, but the recommendation is to use two shakes per day, so in reality some people are only getting a 15 day supply for that money.
I think part of the problem with the cost of Shakeology is also where are you getting good value for money?
You can buy generic filler shakes for a fraction of the price, and then just top up on multivitamins and the individual key products that you can buy online separately.
If you want to try it, and are wondering where to buy Shakeology, the first place you could look is through Shakeology, or one of their coaches.
You get the products cheaper if you are in the sales pyramid, which is why so many people who try this diet are in on the moneymaking.
Shakeology Money Back Guarantee & Refund Policy
Shakeology comes with a guarantee that they like to call the “bottom of the bag” guarantee.
The brand has decided to include a 30-day period for new customers during which they can use the shake on a daily basis for an entire month.
After the month, the customer can decide whether they want to continue using the product or rather request a refund treat.
It should be noted that the refund processed and submitted to the customer will be less than the amount of money they spent on the product, as the company will deduct fees for shipping and handling.
We could not find any reports or reviews related to the refund process of the product.
Generally, the brand promises to make the process as streamlined and painless as possible.
Shakeology Review: Conclusions
I’m not convinced that there is any scientific evidence that really suggests that Shakeology is worth the money for what it does.
Even if the ingredients in some minor way have a positive effect, when weighed up against the cost, you will be better off just shaving the calories out of your diet and doing exercise.
On top of that, although you get access to a Beachbody coach, you don’t have to have any food or sports science qualification, and there is no training course, you just get a pack to read through.
So you not getting any specialist access for the money either.
So, what do you think about our Shakeology review? Would you buy this product or not? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!