What makes SHEKO Shakes special? An analysis of the ingredients
Long ingredient lists can often seem confusing and opaque at first glance. Don't worry, today we'll explain which powerful ingredients are in our Balance Shake and what important functions they perform!
Let's start from the very beginning:
What exactly does meal replacement mean?
We all know the feeling: in the mornings, there's hardly any time for a balanced breakfast, and in the evenings, we lack the energy to cook. Perhaps you're also trying to lose weight and find it difficult to maintain the necessary calorie deficit? In all these situations, shakes that replace a complete meal are a practical and quick alternative. But be careful: not every drinkable meal replacement can be called a meal replacement. This is ensured by an EU regulation with numerous guidelines.
To be considered a complete meal replacement, shakes must meet specific requirements, including sufficient amounts of protein, carbohydrates, and fats. Our Balance Shakes provide all these essential macronutrients.
However, we wanted to do it differently and better than others! The result: We met and even exceeded every requirement. Now we can proudly say that our shake is a true meal replacement¹ with top nutritional values.
But why are there so many ingredients listed on the can? Isn't less often more, especially with processed foods? And then there are the unfamiliar terms that cause confusion. Niacin, for example, sounds less healthy than vitamin B3, even though they're one and the same.
It's time for more transparency and to dispel persistent myths!
Today we'll take a close look at the ingredient list of our Balance Shakes together, so that hopefully all the question marks in your head will be resolved and you can fully enjoy our shake – for what it is: delicious, balanced and packed with valuable nutrients.
First things first: Proteins
Proteins, also known as polypeptides , are essential building blocks of our bodies and fulfill numerous vital functions. And no, this isn't just about visible muscles! Building and maintaining muscle isn't just relevant for athletes, but for everyone. With more muscle mass, the body also burns more calories , leading to a reduction in body fat. Furthermore, scientific studies have shown that proteins promote a longer-lasting feeling of fullness and can even prevent the dreaded yo-yo effect.² They are also indispensable for regulating our entire metabolism.
💡 5 Benefits of Protein at a Glance
Proteins have a fascinating satiating effect and help to unconsciously reduce calorie intake.³
Proteins contribute to stabilizing blood sugar levels and thus reduce the risk of cravings.⁴
Proteins support a lasting dietary change and reduce the risk of reverting to old habits.⁵
Proteins boost metabolism and burn significantly more calories directly during digestion compared to carbohydrates and fats.⁶
Proteins promote the maintenance and growth of muscle mass, which increases basal metabolic rate and daily calorie expenditure.⁷
Individual protein requirements vary greatly. For a long time, it was believed that 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight was sufficient. However, according to the latest scientific findings, this is not a recommendation, but rather the absolute minimum requirement for your body. You should ensure that you never fall below this value. Increased protein intake is necessary in many situations. Those who train regularly or want to lose weight should consume approximately 1.4 to 2 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight daily .
Let's look at this in concrete terms: If, for example, you weigh 90 kilos and are physically active or aiming for weight loss, then your body needs between 126 and 180 grams of protein per day.
But it's not just the daily amount that's crucial, but also the choice of protein sources. Biological value is of central importance here – that is, how well a food provides all the essential amino acids your body needs to utilize protein. Don't worry, we've already considered all of this when creating our shake for you!
For the highest possible biological value, we opted for a two-component protein blend of milk protein and whey protein concentrate . This protein complex is optimally absorbed by your body. The key difference between the two components lies in the time your body needs to metabolize the proteins: Whey protein is absorbed quickly, providing your body with a large supply of amino acids immediately, for example, during training. In contrast, the digestion of milk protein (casein) takes up to eight hours – ideal for sustained muscle support after a workout, as proteins promote muscle growth. For long-lasting satiety and protein supply, 100g of SHEKO powder contains 50-75% casein. For optimal short-term protein delivery, it also contains 10-25% whey. The exact values vary depending on the flavor.
Essential amino acids: The companions for optimal protein intake
Essential amino acids are organic compounds that serve as the building blocks of proteins . They are indispensable for numerous processes in the body, but cannot be produced by the body itself. Therefore, they must be obtained through food.
These amino acids play a crucial role in supporting muscle growth and repair, regulating metabolic processes, and boosting the immune system.
Each prepared SHEKO shake contains at least 20g of protein and all eight essential amino acids :
- Isoleucine
- Leucin
- Lysine
- Methionine
- Phenylalanine
- Threonine
- Tryptophan
- Valin
Our Balance Shakes naturally contain all 12 non-essential amino acids because they play a vital role in health, even though the body can generally produce them itself. However, under certain circumstances, such as metabolic disorders or insufficient nutrient intake, a deficiency of these amino acids can occur. By supplementing our shakes with these amino acids, we ensure that your body is optimally supplied even in such situations.
L-Carnitine: The metabolism booster in your SHEKO shake
Let's move on to another amino acid that really gets your metabolism going: L-carnitine. This compound of lysine and methionine is a true energy booster, as it transports fatty acids into the cells where they are used for energy production. But L-carnitine can do even more! It not only promotes the conversion of fat into energy , but also supports normal muscle function. Athletes and anyone wanting to lose weight especially benefit from this versatile nutrient.
Bad news for vegetarians: L-carnitine is mainly found in red meat and is hardly found in fruits, vegetables, nuts or grains.
But here's the good news for all SHEKO fans: Our shakes also contain L-carnitine and are suitable for vegetarians! We use the premium raw material from the brand Carnipure© . This Swiss company has been continuously optimizing its product for 25 years and is particularly distinguished by the high dose of active ingredient per serving.
Vitamins, minerals, and trace elements: The invisible heroes in your SHEKO shake
Proteins, carbohydrates, and fats are often the focus when it comes to putting together a healthy meal – but micronutrients are just as crucial for your health. According to the EU Commission, a complete meal should contain at least 23 vitamins and minerals to fully nourish your body. Because we're a bit of a perfectionist and have incorporated the latest scientific findings , our shakes contain a whopping 27 vitamins and minerals . From vitamin A to zinc – we've carefully coordinated everything with a team of nutrition experts.
These micronutrients are the secret behind the long list of ingredients in our shakes, making up about two-thirds of the total. They may have unfamiliar names, but they perform a variety of functions in the body and are all incredibly important for your health and well-being.
"Now I feel fit. I can concentrate better and I'm no longer constantly tired – I think that's also related to the many nutrients in the shake."
Here you will find an overview of some of the micronutrients in our shake and the important functions they perform.
✅ Support for your muscles and bones, including through:
- Calcium is needed for the maintenance of normal bones.
- Calcium contributes to normal muscle function
- Magnesium contributes to the maintenance of normal bones.
- Magnesium contributes to normal muscle function
- Vitamin C contributes to normal
- Collagen formation for normal bone function in
✅ Supports your metabolism and immune system, including through:
- Iron contributes to the normal function of the immune system.
- Iron contributes to normal energy metabolism
- Folate contributes to the normal function of the immune system.
- Selenium contributes to the normal function of the immune system.
- Selenium contributes to normal thyroid function.
✅ Maintaining healthy skin, hair and nails, among other things through:
- Manganese contributes to normal connective tissue formation.
- Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of the skin.
- Zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal hair.
- Zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal skin.
- Zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal nails.
✅ Supports mental functions and reduces fatigue, including through:
- Iron contributes to normal cognitive function.
- Iron contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
- Niacin contributes to normal psychological function.
- Niacin contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
- Pantothenic acid contributes to normal mental performance.
- Pantothenic acid contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
"I still remember making my first shake and thinking, 'Wow, this is delicious!' I could hardly believe that something that tastes like a dessert could also be healthy. But then even my nutritionist told me that the ingredients sounded great. That convinced me twice over!"
carbohydrates
The underestimated energy supplier.
Carbohydrates often get a bad rap, especially during a diet. But the key lies in the type and amount of carbohydrates you consume. They are important energy sources and should therefore be part of a balanced meal. In our shakes, we deliberately use a small amount of maltodextrin, a carbohydrate blend that not only provides valuable energy but also ensures long-lasting satiety .
Healthy fats
The often neglected building block.
Fats often have a negative image. However, "good fats" are essential for a healthy diet. These include unsaturated fatty acids, which are found in nuts and avocados, for example. Polyunsaturated fatty acids like omega-3 and omega-6 are also indispensable. In our shakes, we use high-quality soybean oil from the European Union to provide you with precisely these healthy, polyunsaturated fatty acids. Of course, you should also pay attention to these important fatty acids in your overall balanced diet when consuming our shakes.
The “good fats,” for example, ensure that our bodies can absorb fat-soluble vitamins in the first place. They also regulate our blood pressure and have a positive effect on brain function, cell walls, and cholesterol levels.
Natural flavours
The key to the unparalleled SHEKO experience.
So far, all of this sounds very convincing, right? But the real test for our shakes is the taste. Because let's be honest: you won't happily integrate a shake that's healthy and full of nutrients into your diet in the long run.
Just like with our nutrient complex, we didn't want to compromise here either. That's why we rely on natural flavors . Unlike artificial flavors, these come from raw materials such as plants or microorganisms. These natural ingredients are processed in the lab to extract the pure flavor that gives your shake its unique taste. Depending on the variety, we create the flavor from real fruits or spices – for example, strawberries, vanilla beans, or cocoa.
The result? Our shake satisfies your cravings without tasting too sweet, sugary, or artificial. The natural, authentic flavor makes our shakes simply delicious!
Sucralose
The dreaded ingredient.
For SHEKO to enrich your everyday life, the taste has to be right – without driving up the calories. That's why we use sucralose as a sugar substitute. This sweetener comes very close to the taste of real sugar, but isn't as sweet as other sweeteners. It also has no calories and is hardly metabolized by the body.
Because it is excreted largely unchanged, sucralose is well tolerated . Important: We use sucralose only in minimal amounts for a subtle sweetness. This prevents the dreaded habituation effect from developing in the first place. Compared to other sweeteners like stevia or aspartame, sucralose has no unpleasant aftertaste . Scientific studies confirm that the small amounts we use have no undesirable side effects.⁸
The finishing touch: Additional ingredients
- Acidulants and acidity regulators that keep the pH of the powder stable.
- Soy lecithin (an emulsifier) and xanthan gum (a thickener) work together to give our shakes an incredibly creamy consistency.
- Yogurt powder, fermented from selected yogurt cultures, ensures a pleasant taste and a creamy consistency.
- Certain varieties use coloring foods to give the shakes their appetizing color. Beetroot powder is used in our standard range. Our seasonally changing limited editions feature ingredients such as spirulina algae powder or hibiscus flower extract.
And that's it! There's nothing more to it – no hidden additives or other secrets!
The advantages of our shakes at a glance
Our Balance Shakes offer numerous benefits that simplify your everyday life and support you on your journey to a healthy, balanced diet. You'll need to shop and cook less, save money (a satisfying shake for under €1.50 – where else can you find that?), and enjoy them anytime, anywhere.
"When I look at what I used to pay for a visit to the bakery, I actually save money with the shake! Sandwiches, sweet pastries – I used to spend €10 on those, a SHEKO shake only costs me €1.20."
And after reading this article, you should be sure that they provide you with all the essential nutrients. You'll feel full, but consume significantly fewer calories compared to "normal" meals. On average, when prepared as recommended with 1.5% low-fat milk , each serving contains only about 200 kcal . Ideal for anyone who wants to cut calories in their daily life or lose weight, as they make it easier to maintain a calorie deficit. To achieve this, simply replace two of your three daily main meals with our Balance Shake . Of course, you should also ensure a balanced diet and drink plenty of fluids, such as water and unsweetened tea.
Many SHEKO lovers also like to drink the shakes before training to quickly recharge their energy without having something heavy in their stomach.
What are you waiting for? See for yourself what our shakes can do!
FAQ: Die wichtigsten Fragen im Überblick
Wie viel Kilo kann ich mit SHEKO abnehmen?
Dies hängt von vielen Faktoren wie Deinem Startgewicht, Deinen Alltagsroutinen, Deiner täglichen Bewegung und vor allem Deiner Ernährung um SHEKO herum ab. Wir sind keine Fans von radikalen Crash-Diäten, sondern möchten Dich zu einem langfristig gesünderen Routinen ermutigen. Eine gesunde Gewichtsabnahme beträgt ca. 0,5 kg bis 1 kg pro Woche. In unseren Erfahrungsberichten erfährst Du aus erster Hand von anderen Sheko-Nutzern, wie viel Gewicht sie in welchem Zeitraum verloren haben und welche wertvollen Tipps sie haben. Hier geht’s zu den Erfahrungsberichten.
Muss ich meine Kalorien tracken?
Zu Beginn Deiner Ernährungsumstellung legen wir Dir ans Herz, die Kalorien Deiner Mahlzeiten eine gewisse Zeit lang zu tracken, um ein Gefühl für die Kalorien verschiedener Lebensmittel zu bekommen. Mittlerweile existieren jede Menge Smartphone-Apps, mit denen Du ganz einfach einen Überblick über die von Dir täglich gegessenen Kalorien behältst. Dies sind zum Beispiel YAZIO, MyFitnessPal oder Lifesum. Das Ziel ist es nicht, Dein Leben lang jedes Lebensmittel auf das Gramm genau abzuwiegen. Es geht vielmehr darum, ein Bewusstsein für die verzehrten Mengen und Lebensmitteln zu bekommen. Das anfängliche Kalorien zählen ist also vielmehr ein Wegbegleiter zum intuitiven, aber gesünderen Essen.
Wieso wird der Shake nur mit 1,5% Milch empfohlen?
Das grundlegende Problem besteht darin, dass es für Milchalternativen wie Hafermilch oder Kokosmilch keine gesetzlich festgelegten Nährwertangaben gibt. Dadurch kann jeder Hersteller frei entscheiden, wie viel Zucker und welche Nährstoffe er hinzufügt. Für fettarme Milch (1,5%) existiert diese Vereinheitlichung durch den Bundeslebensmittelschlüssel. Hierdurch können wir exakt berechnen und auf unseren Dosen festhalten, welche Nährwertangaben der zubereitete Shake mit der fettarmen Milch (1,5%) besitzt. Bei Milchalternativen ist uns dies leider nicht möglich. Wenn Du in unserem Shop auf der Produktseite des Shakes unter Zubereitung schaust, findest Du allerdings ein paar hilfreiche Tipps aus der Community. Dort haben wir ungefähre Kalorienangaben mit z.B. Hafermilch und Joghurt für Dich bereitgestellt. In unserer exklusiven Facebook-Gruppe findest Du zudem täglich einen regen Austausch und erfährst von vielen SHEKO-Nutzer:innen, wie sie ihren Shake am liebsten zubereiten.
Darf ich auch snacken?
Auf jeden Fall. Bei uns gilt: Ersetze niemals alle Mahlzeiten eines Tages mit unseren Shakes. Solange es in Deinen errechneten Kalorienbedarf passt, sind neben Hauptmahlzeiten natürlich auch Snacks erlaubt. Es gilt wie immer: Die Menge macht’s. Es müssen jedoch nicht zwangsläufig Chips oder Kekse sein. Fokussiere Dich stattdessen in 80% der Zeit auf gesündere Alternativen, denn diese werden Dich deutlich länger satt halten. In den verbleibenden 20% greifst Du zu Deinen liebsten Versuchungen. Kleine Erinnerung: 80/20 macht zu 100% glücklich. Auch in deine Snacks kannst Du super wertvolle Proteine integrieren. Inspo gefällig? Hier haben wir köstliche Snack-Rezepte für Dich zusammengestellt.
Ist der Shake laktosefrei?
Da wir für unsere Shakes hochwertiges Milch-, beziehungsweise Molkeprotein verwenden, findest Du in unserem Pulver Laktose. Der Hauptteil der Laktose eines zubereiteten SHEKO Shakes stammt allerdings aus der Milch, die hinzugefügt wird. Bei 1,5%-Fett Kuhmilch sind dies ca. 4,9 g pro 100 g. Je nachdem wie sensitiv Deine Laktoseintoleranz ist, könntest Du den Shake vielleicht mit einer laktosefreien Milch zubereiten. 😊 Bitte beachte allerdings, dass sich hierdurch die Nährwerte des Shakes verändern. Das Pulver an sich hat einen sehr geringen Anteil an Laktose. Auf 100g Pulver sind es ca. 1,4 g. Pro Shake sind es somit lediglich 0,25 g. Hier findest Du weitere Informationen zum Thema Laktoseintoleranz und Abnehmen mit SHEKO.
Kann ich die Shakes während der Schwangerschaft und Stillzeit verwenden?
Die Schwangerschaft ist eine sehr aufregende und wichtige Zeit für Dich und Dein Baby. In dieser Zeit solltest Du grundsätzlich auf einen Mahlzeitenersatz verzichten und auf eine gesunde und ausgewogene Ernährung achten. Während der Stillzeit spricht prinzipiell nichts gegen unseren Shake, da er Dich mit seinen vielen Nährstoffen optimal bei einer gesunden Ernährung unterstützen kann. Wir haben Kunden, die durchaus gute Erfahrungen mit dem Shake während der Stillzeit gemacht haben. Da Du und Dein Baby in dieser Zeit aber ganz besondere Bedürfnisse habt, möchten wir Dich bitten, trotzdem vorher einmal den Arzt Deines Vertrauens zu kontaktieren. Spätestens nach der Stillzeit kannst Du wieder voll mit SHEKO durchstarten! Ohne auf Geschmack und alle wichtigen Nährstoffe zu verzichten, kannst Du ganz einfach und zeitsparend ein bis zwei Mahlzeiten pro Tag durch Deinen liebsten Balance Shake ersetzen. Achte darauf, zusätzlich ein bis zwei ausgewogene und gesunde Mahlzeiten täglich zu Dir zu nehmen und ausreichend Wasser oder ungesüßten Tee zu trinken. Du wirst überrascht sein, wie schnell die Schwangerschafts-Kilos verschwinden! Wir hoffen, dass Dir diese Antwort weiterhilft. Wenn Du mehr über das Abnehmen nach der Schwangerschaft wissen möchtest, findest Du hier einen Artikel dazu.
Sources:
-
¹ Our shakes comply with EU legislation: 1169/2011, 1333/2008, ZZulV, 1129/2011, 2016/1413, 1170/2009, 1924/2006, 2018/775, 2073/2005, 432/2012
-
²
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14710168/ -
³
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24588967/ -
⁴
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7956086/ -
⁵
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14710168/ -
⁶
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8878356/ -
⁷
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022316622011828 -
⁸
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0278691517302818