Most of us associate rich, fudgy milkshakes with one word: Fattening! If you’re trying to shed a few pounds and miss the magic of milkshakes, allow me to serve up a tasty surprise. Here are five divine, diet-friendly shakes that support healthy weight loss. The “secret” ingredient in these shakes? Whey protein.
Here’s the skinny: Two studies published in The Journal of Nutrition revealed that by consuming protein, your body burns fat more efficiently. Researchers evaluated study participants to determine the best source of protein, and whey protein won! And although some whey protein shakes lack pizzazz, I’ve done the sampling for you and struck gold with these shakes that are high in whey protein AND big on taste. The winners are:
- Jay Robb’s Vanilla Whey Protein mix supplies 25 grams of protein per serving. Naturally sweetened with stevia, it’s fat free and contains only 110 calories.
- Gold Standard 100% Whey by Optimum Nutrition in Double Rich Chocolate flavor is so fabulously fudgy that even those who crave ice cream will feel satisfied. Just 120 calories per serving, these shakes can be made even thicker and creamier by blending with non-fat milk instead of water.
- Jarrow Formulas Whey Protein comes in a French vanilla flavor that proves good-for-you can taste great! Creamy and easily mixed, this powder has just 105 calories per serving.
- Natural Factors Unflavored Whey Protein contains only 80 calories per serving. Because it’s unflavored, you can experiment by using exotic-flavored extracts from coconut to pineapple. Try mixing with almond milk or soymilk for a thick, creamy shake.
- Designer Whey Strawberry Protein powder is berry, berry good! Each 100-calorie serving gives you 20 percent of your daily calcium and 90 percent of your B6. If you’re a morning exerciser who tends to run out of steam halfway through your routine, try drinking a strawberry shake before you work out for a protein-powered fitness experience.
Joanne Eglash, Vitacost.com’s Diet Diva, has a master of science in holistic nutrition and more than 15 years experience as a nutrition consultant, blogger, author and journalist. She has written for a wide range of publications and websites, including ediets.com, Natural Health magazine, Shape magazine, Success magazine, Energy for Women and Chefs. Joanne is currently the national Diets columnist for the online news and entertainment site, Examiner.com, and a features food columnist for Yahoo.