Meal Supplement 101: All you ever wanted to know about meal replacement shakes. In times like today, eating a balanced meal may not be enough to fill up on nutrition. Add to this the lack of time to sit and eat in a mindful manner. In comes the dietary and nutritional supplements to the rescue. One such supplement is the meal replacement shake. Is it a meal? Is it a shake? No. It is a meal replacement shake. A meal replacement shake is intended as a substitute for solid foods with controlled portion size and limited calorie intake. Conventionally created for people, especially patients in recovery to easily absorb nutrients, a meal replacement shake is a high protein, low calorie, nutrient dense supplement that is a convenient option to traditional dieting and are designed to provide the same nutrition as a full meal with an added benefit of aiding weight loss. A meal replacement shake helps your drop kilos and calories without cutting back on nutrients. Protein Shake VS Meal Replacement Shake Protein shakes and meal replacement shakes are similar, but not the same. They both help in achieving the desired body composition and improve performance but in their significant separate ways. While the former comes packed with high protein - whey casein or plant-based with low carb and low fiber content, the latter has moderate amounts of carbs, vitamins, minerals and fiber in addition to high protein content. Protein shakes help in muscle gains whereas meal replacement shakes help with weight management. Benefits Provides Important Nutrients Meal replacement shakes provide important nutrients that a body needs, bridging any nutritional deficiencies present in an individual. They are formulated with essential nutrients, including protein, fiber and various vitamins and minerals. Supports Weight Management Incorporating a meal replacement shake to replace one of your meals can aid and boost your weight loss efforts. As per one study people who replaced one to two meals each day with a meal replacement shake lost almost six pounds more than people who adhered to a low-calorie diet. Portion Controlled Low Cal Meal Meal replacement shake is designed as an alternative to fill up on nutrients for people with no time to prepare a meal or count calories. Meal replacement shakes adds to the convenience of a nutrient-dense food with the benefit of controlled portions per servings that too with a caloric deficit.