Nutrition drinks and powders share a distinguishing characteristic from most other beverages. They both offer high protein content (ranging from about 10 to 50 grams per serving), as well as added vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplement ingredients.

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Nutrition drinks typically can be found in ready-to-use cans or bottles and are marketed as dieting aids, meal replacements, energy boosters, endurance/recovery products, and as concentrated sources of protein. The powders typically come in canisters or packets ready to be mixed with water, milk, juice, or other beverage.

Although the nutrition bars must have a sufficient amount of carbohydrates to give them a reasonable texture, feel and taste, protein/nutrition powders and drinks do not. Consequently, makers of nutrition powders and drinks have a great deal of flexibility in the nutritional content of these products. For example, it is quite possible to find powders and drinks with half the fat and carbohydrates of most nutrition bars, while often offering twice the protein.

With powders, however, these nutrition numbers can change significantly depending on the liquid with which you choose to mix the powder. Drinks and powders tend to have slightly fewer calories per serving than bars, but again, this may not be the case if a powder is mixed with a high-calorie liquid, such as a whole milk.

Claims and Purported Use

Just as nutrition bars offer a convenient means to supplement you diet, nutrition drinks and powders can do the same, but with less carbohydrates, if chosen by the manufacturer. Protein drinks provide extra protein for those looking to tone up and build muscle, while recovery drinks offer an easy means to improve the body’s speed of recovery after training, exercise, competitions, etc.

for DIETING

Atkins Day Break Shake

Slim-Fast Optima® Chocolate Royale Shake Mix

for MEAL REPLACEMENT

Isagenix Isalean, Natural Vanilla

Garden of Life® Raw™ Organic Meal*

GNC Total Lean™ Lean Shake™, Chocolate

for EXTRA PROTEIN

Body Fortress® Super Advanced Whey Protein – Chocolate

EAS® 100% Whey Protein Chocolate

**GNC Pro Performance® Mass Gainer, Chocolate Flavor**

Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard™ 100% Whey Double Rich Chocolate*

Jay Robb™ Whey Protein Vanilla

TwinLab® 100% Whey Protein Fuel Chocolate Surge

for Vegetarians/Vegans

Nature’s Way Alive! Pea Protein Shake

Nutivia Organic Hemp Protein

Vega Sport Performance (Vegan)*

Genisoy® Soy Protein Shake, Chocolate

for RECOVERY (post workout)

BSN Syntha-6 Chocolate Milkshake

Endurox® R4® Fruit Punch

Endruox R4 Performance Recovery Drink Fruit Punch Endurox 4.63 lbs Powder

Selected Potential Side Effects

A few products (not listed above) have raised some concerns due to potentially high levels of lead or lead contamination and it is always advised to consult with a physician prior to using a dietary supplement.