Meal Replacement Supplements (MRPS): The Ultimate High Protein "Meal-On-The-Go"

Meal replacement supplements (MRPS) are ideal for bodybuilders, dieters, the time pressured. Heck, just about everyone could be using one. And yet, meal replacement supplements rarely see use outside of bodybuilding circles—a huge shame really. Meal replacement supplements are high in quality proteins and nutrients, moderate in calories, and relatively cost-effective, especially in you are in the habit of buying meals.

If you are new to meal replacement supplements, they are simply a blend of high quality whey and milk proteins, blended with vitamins and minerals and carbohydrates served up in a convenient pouch. Add low fat milk or ice water, a tablespoon of flax seed oil, and mix up for a delicious, creamy shake!

So what are the benefits of using meal replacement supplements?

1) Convenience: The key to obtaining your goals (whether it be weight gain or weight loss), is consuming numerous meals throughout the day. While it's important to eat several meals comprised of whole foods (eggs, chicken, fruit, vegetables, and so on), it's virtually impossible to eat all of them this way.

f you're a bodybuilder looking to gain mass, you know how important it is to eat smart meals every two-three hours.

For those trying to lose weight, eating many small meals is key to balancing blood sugar levels, and stimulating your metabolism.

Meal replacement supplements make it easy to get all those vital meals in!

2) Cost: Normally meal replacement supplements are purchased in boxes of 20, and the cost can vary immensely depending on quality, brand, and formulation. I've noticed that non-bodybuilder types tend to shudder at the average cost of $35-50 per box.

Yet these same people will spend $10-$20 per day buying lunches and snacks at work without even thinking about it. When you consider that a single meal replacement supplement costs less than a Big Mac, will fill you up more, provides greater nutrition and fewer calories, you'll realize these are cost-efficient products, and much cheaper than your current meals.

3) Increased Protein Intake: Bodybuilders know how important protein is for muscle growth, but new studies show that high protein meals help burn fat by raising post-meal thermogenisis (fat burning) and resting energy expenditure (Source: Journal of American College of Nutrition, 21(1):55-61, 2002).

In other words, meal replacement supplements may help you get leaner, as well as stronger. Other research shows that people who get a greater percentage of calories from protein (as opposed to carbohydrates), tend to lose more fat and less lean muscle (Source: Metabolism 43(12) 1484-7,1994).

What about the safety of elevated levels of protein intake in your diet? For years, certain "experts" have warned that one's protein requirement's are minimal, and an increased protein intake can be hazardous to your health and to your kidneys. Bodybuilders have known this to be rubbish for ages, but my own research?

Well, when I performed the research, I didn’t find any evidence that an increased protein intake posed any dangers to “normal” individuals not suffering from renal disease. In fact, I found the contrary (see Nutr Metab (Lond). 2005 Sep 20;2:25)…

“…we find no significant evidence for a detrimental effect of high protein intakes on kidney function in healthy persons after centuries of a high protein Western diet.”

One review (Contrib Nephrol. 2007;155:102-12) proposed…

“… that the concept that protein restricted diets decrease the risk of developing kidney disease in the general population is not supported by the scientific literature."

This study, which investigates a higher level of protein intake for athletes (see Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2006 Dec;31(6):647-54) indicated…

“…that higher protein diets have quite consistently been shown to result in greater weight loss, greater fat loss, and preservation of lean mass as compared with “lower” protein diets.” 

There was no mention of decreased kidney function or other less beneficial results.

Another study (see Am J Kidney Dis. 2004 Dec;44(6):950-62) discussing the possibility of a high protein diet on kidney function states…

“…although there are no clear renal-related contraindications to HP (high protein) diets in individuals with healthy kidney function, the theoretical risks should be reviewed carefully with the patient.”

In other words, healthy individuals have nothing to fear with amping their daily protein levels with a MRP or two.

4) Taste: Anyone who hasn't tried meal replacement supplements since the "early days", would do a double take today -- most products are rich, creamy, and very tasty. Certainly it can't be argued that replacing a low-quality and expensive fast food lunch with such a product is a painful experience.

All in all, meal replacement supplements should play an important part in the nutritional programs of body builders, busy people "on the go", and those trying to lose weight. Because of the health benefits recently attributed to whey protein and its various subfractions, these products may also be important for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Looking to try a meal replacement supplement? My personal favorite is Isatori's Eat-Smart. It's a smartly-formulated, great tasting product that you can flavor your own way. I highly recommend it—click here to read the review!

Other options include EAS' Myoplex, Labrada's Lean Body and Prolab's Lean Mass Complex.

Have you been the victim of a product that makes exaggerated claims? Launch a complaint!

US visitors should submit a complaint to the US Federal Trade Commission!

Canadians, submit a complaint at the Canadian Competition Bureau!