Ample Review
In this article, Ample meal review, I would like to look at it from multiple perspectives. I love food but, food is just fuel for bodies, and good fuel is hard to come by sometimes. The nutritional completeness of a meal isn’t always needed in different food sources.
Table of Contents
Considerations For Ample
In this section, I would like to explain the importance of Ample shakes and who they are for.
You should take the time to talk to your doctor about using meal replacement shakes because this is with any product like this. There are many ways to implement this into your daily life.
Firstly, it can make a good breakfast meal and is convenient. Ample O might be a good choice for anyone who is needing more nutrition in their life but, I wouldn’t consider using it every meal. Ample certainly does have a high potential for weight loss if used as a meal replacement and its ingredients are high quality. It does contain grass-fed whey, macadamia nut oil, and various other good balancing compounds like monk fruit extract ( for sweetness).
Some reports have said that it has a good source of macronutrient balance. The bottles Ample comes in are great because they come unmixed and it may help with getting past some of the airport security.
Later I will further talk about Ample’s Pros and cons. One of the big points of interest with it, in my opinion, is that it has a solid amount of probiotics in it; I will get more into that later on.
So, with these points considered each person might use Ample in varying ways. I love food but, food is just fuel for bodies, and good fuel is hard to come by sometimes. Ample is a great thing to have when traveling, I mean I could see a flight attendant use something like this on long trips.
Ample has a lot of flexibility on how you can use it. Getting Ample in the bottle is a good starting point if you just want to try it out. Ample is mild in terms of its nutritional balance in one bottle.
There are many different things you can mix it with. On the website, they suggest mixing it into a smoothie or a coffee shake or just straight. Ample K chocolate might be delicious as a mixer into your morning coffee (I mean I’d try it). The ways that you can order it from the website is by subscription or one-time purchase. The other flavors that Ample offers are made for vegan or those on a keto diet. They are called Ample k which is the keto meal replacement shake and Ample v, which is vegan. Ample O is gluten-free and non-GMO and has no added artificial ingredients. A bottle of Ample O has different variations, but all versions had high numbers with its 27 grams of protein for its earlier version and down to 26 grams of protein for the lighter calorie shake. Ample meals provide good choices in each version of its drink. In a bottle of the K version or V version, you may find fats and protein from different sources.
What is Ample?
The owner and CEO of Ample, Connor Young had been interested in the idea of meal replacement shakes and, to find ways of making more than a shake with minimal nutrition. He was a busy CrossFit gym owner and got into making Ample the go-to product. Ample started with a crowdfunding campaign in 2015 on Indiegogo with just one flavor (vanilla).
One of the big points of interest with it, in my opinion, has a solid amount of probiotics in it but, I will get more into that later on. The available options for Ample are ever-expanding. More specifically, it’s the original flavor is just one of the many other varieties that Ample makes. It comes in a powdered form that can be bought in single-serve bottles or a bulk form. It’s one of the more interesting food choices and I would like to have a shake as an option because of its simplicity.
Pros:
● Ample is a good meal with its options being a 400 calorie and 600 calorie version.
● It has macronutrients such as amino acids and good fats.
● It is easy to take on a plane due to being in a powdered form.
● It has prebiotics and probiotics
● Ample meal is a low carb solution for some.
Cons:
-It is only available online and in a few stores.
– It may not contain a daily value of vitamins and minerals.
-May be high in net carbs for some people.
– Ample O only comes in limited flavors for now.
-This meal replacement shake may have too of low net carbs for some.
Benefits of Ample O & ingredients
The optimal ingredients for something that is meant to be a meal replacement must have various ingredients, many of which should work with each other and work well in the body. Ample has two forms of meal replacement powder, one is a 400 calorie and a 600 calorie version. You could even use a milk alternative to keep the calories low if you like to use powders in a smoothie.
Any plant-based powder is real food because of its powerful nutrition or supplement is good and is just as good as any other supplement. Here they are broken down into different subcategories. Some of the ingredients of Ample O may be similar to Ample K and Ample V in terms of calories and low grams of sugar. For some, they do have concerns about what is in the meal replacement drinks they consume and that provides all the more reason to look at the ingredients.
Only because this review is more focused on Ample O, I will try to mention also what makes this version of the shake different than the keto or vegan version. An interesting fun fact specifically with probiotics and vitamin D3- if they are supplemented together they can improve depression in some groups. As a review of this product may shed some light on the necessity of a meal replacement shake vs. a protein shake.
Fats
A meal that has high saturated fat may be somewhat unhealthy but it depends on the source of the fat.
-Macadamia Nut Oil: This oil is good cooking oil and has many antioxidants and has 85% of unsaturated fats. Macadamia nut is also a good source of clean energy storage rather than other sources, it’s only available in its expeller-pressed form.
-High oleic sunflower oil: This is another oil that is helpful in producing energy that is long-lasting. The high oleic sunflower science shows that it may help control LDL cholesterol. It also may be a good way to get more nutrient absorption from other foods and may also have a significant effect on heart health.
–Coconut oil: coconut oil is a good source of saturated fats. It also has MCTs which are short for medium-chain triglycerides and are a great source of energy for people on keto. Coconut oil is also may be good for heart health and does have antimicrobial properties.
–Sunflower Lecithin: This compound is a chemical emulsifier which is derived from sunflower seeds. It is also responsible for keeping cells from hardening. Sunflower lecithin can also improve liver function.
Proteins
Many protein alternatives may be used in the form of vegan protein but, the more choices you have the better. Ample meal replacement shakes use these kinds of protein sources and the reason for protein from different sources is that they can work synergistically to have more benefit in delivery of essential amino acids.
– Whey Protein: This supplement, which is grass-fed whey protein is usually used on its own or as a protein source. It is a fast-absorbing milk protein used to gain muscle mass fast. Which is why it is used as a pre-workout or post-workout supplement. More specifically to Ample, they use a high-quality type which is grass-fed. Usually, omega-3 is added to powders like this. It is even found in the vegan version.
-Collagen: Collagen protein is a type of protein compound that adds a certain amount of amino acids into this shake. Although it may not be as substantial as other types of protein it’s good for recovery because of its ability to repair muscle and joints. Another possible benefit of collagen protein is that it is helpful for skin health and arthritis.
-Pea Protein: This protein on its own is a pretty good supplement but it is used in Ample to make you feel full for a longer period and it also has a high amount of lysine which is another type of amino acid that the body can use for muscle recovery.
-Rice Protein: This type of protein has interesting properties, it does have essential amino acids that you may not find in other kinds of protein. It is an option that comes from the vegan meal shake Ample made and is mostly mixed with pea protein.
Carbohydrates
In the body, there is an order to how certain compounds are broken down. Usually, there are three sources ( fat, protein, carbohydrates) carbs are used before protein or fats in the body due to its higher bioavailability.
–Sweet Potato Powder: It is used in Ample to add flavor and starch but it is also helpful for blood sugar balance and has a low glycemic index.
–Tapioca dextrin: Also known as tapioca starch is good for healthy levels of probiotics and balances out the gut. tapioca dextrin is good for people with allergies to other kinds of ingredients that are used as flour.
–Whole-grain oat flour: This is another good source of carbs that will bring a mix of steady energy and slow digestion. Whole grains are essential and contain many nutrients in small amounts. Whole-grain oat powder is widely available and used in many products.
Sweeteners
Few artificial sweeteners have a structure that your body can break down into calories. With only very small amounts of artificial sweeteners that would be needed to make foods taste sweet, so your body will consume no calories ( link here).
–Dried Honey: Honey in its normal form contains phenolic acids and flavonoids, proteins, enzymes, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and other components that make it rich in antioxidants. It is also a prebiotic and in its powdered form it can add a little bit of texture protein powders.
–Monk Fruit Extract: As a sweetener, this extract is 150 to 250 times sweeter than basic white sugar but it keeps blood sugar levels in check.
–Stevia Extract: This is a sweetener that has low to no calories and is also high in sweet flavor it has also been shown to lower some types of cholesterol. Stevia extract is a sweetener that may have a mixed result if used in larger quantities for some groups.
Probiotics
An interesting fun fact specifically with probiotics and vitamin D3- if they are supplemented together they can improve depression in some groups.
–Bacillus coagulans: As a probiotic, it produces lactic acid but, in some conditions, it may kill other bacteria. It does have good benefits in helping inflammation and can help specifically with irritable bowel syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis.
–Lactobacillus rhamnosus: This type of bacteria is found in the intestines and usually breaks down sugar lactose and turns it into lactic acid. It aids in gut health, can prevent and protect against cavities. It’s also good at preventing UTIs and IBS (Irritable bowel syndrome).
-Bifidobacterium infantis: This strain is a good bacteria for babies and is mainly responsible for protection against kidney stones and adds an extra layer of protection against urinary infections. It can also improve your immune system.
– Lactobacillus acidophilus: This type of probiotic is used in many foods including, tempeh, yogurt, and kefir. Its main benefits include promoting weight loss and helping with cold symptoms. L. acidophilus has been shown to have a greater effect on gut health and other things like reducing allergies and eczema.
Fiber
Fiber is a necessary part of any well-rounded diet and I don’t just mean in a food pyramid kind of way. Fiber is not hard to get if you are eating it from good sources but it can be a challenge to get at the right amounts. Fibrous foods are harder to digest and clear out the digestive tract which is why you need some every day.
–Chicory Root Fiber: This root fiber is a good source of fiber and inulin as well as, being a good prebiotic fiber. It does help with keeping the gut balanced with the right amount of bacteria.
–Acacia fiber: This fiber is very similar to the others on this list. Its benefits are stabilizing blood lipid levels, digestion, and blood sugar. Acacia fiber is probably one of the highest quality ingredients in this list of fibers.
–Organic psyllium husk: This supplement type of fiber comes from the outer layer of the Plantago Ovata plant’s seeds. In simple terms, it is a laxative that isn’t harsh on the body. Psyllium husk and/or organic psyllium husk is good for managing diabetes at certain doses.
–Guar gum: The benefit that guar gum may have in the body include, digestive health, management of blood sugar, and helping with blood cholesterol control.
Other ingredients
Ample Original does use other ingredients that are added for extra nutrients. They are greens that make this shake over the top healthy. The content that may be found in other shakes is not as balanced. One of the main ingredients in Ample v and Ample k as well as the original Shake is the use of sweet potato powder. In all Ample meal replacement products, they use the same ingredients which include sunflower oil, whole grain oat flour, and high oleic sunflower oil.
–Wheatgrass: A wheatgrass is a form of wheat that is gluten-free and paleo-friendly. It also has chlorophyll, minerals, vitamins, and enzymes. The only downside is that it is bitter tasting.
–Barley Grass: It is another green food that can fortify and provide more micronutrients and antioxidants in the body. Barley grass is a type of insoluble fiber that helps maintain blood sugar at healthy levels. The kind of meal Ample has added this with this type of supplement makes it slower digesting thus, you can absorb more healthy compounds.
-Chlorella: Chlorella is a form of algae that has many minerals, vitamins, and omega-3 acids. It can also help with essential immunity and immune functions. It is one of the supplements that you can’t get in most green foods but it’s worth adding to your diet.
-Lemon juice powder: This powder is used as a supplement for powdered drinks and is the option Ample uses for this shake. It has the same benefits as regular lemon juice. Lemon juice can reduce the risk of many things including kidney stones, digestive health, and reduce the risk of cancer. Which is a good addition to Ample meal replacement shakes.
Is Ample Healthy?
In this article putting in review meal replacements. Ample original might not be as consistently healthy as Ample V or Ample K but, it is a great starting point in eating healthier. The kind of meal Ample has provided may be limited to being used on a diet rather than being pushed as something that is used for general health reasons. I think that Ample will have an additional benefit to someone’s already healthy diet. More specifically, Ample is much more of a food that should be used temporarily. That’s how I would use Ample.
Excluded Ingredients
What is just as important other than what Ample uses in their shakes are what they don’t use in them. The process of deciding what should not be put into a meal replacement shake presents a small challenge but, it’s all about keeping it steady in its delivery.
The goal is to keep the most harmful additives out. The great thing about this product is that these ingredients are not added to any of their other varieties and versions. Those that aren’t used are soy, genetically modified organisms, or GMOs and artificial sweeteners like aspartame or erythritol (which if were used in a meal replacement shake with vanilla flavor it may ruin it). In comparison to what Ample original keeps in this is a very good comparison to other meal replacements on the market and you could do that research to see how this stacks up to any other meal replacement drink. Any shake that is soy-free may be hard to come by that is great tasting. With some fibers like acacia fiber that is helpful in evening out some of the taste and smoothness of flavor and also improves gut health in the body.
Reviews For Ample Original formula
Although, People who’ve tried this particular shake were pleasantly surprised in some aspects about Ample and the results one can have. There are some great reviews that people have provided on sites like Amazon.com and Ample’s website. Although, some formulas of Ample are harder to find than others online. Most of the time you can find it in the quantity you want in bottle form usually in six-packs or twelve packs. You can buy it in bulk powdered form as I’ve previously mentioned but, most reviews seem to like the bottles because of their overall convenience of Ample shakes.
Below is a mix of reviews from both websites.
Ample Meal Replacement Alternatives
There are many alternatives to Ample most of which are new to the new emergence of health shakes and/or protein shakes. Here are some that may be of the same quality as Ample. These are some of the most widely available shakes that you can find online or in the supplement aisle of most stores. Most other shakes that are meal replacements may not have a 400 calorie or 600 calorie version. Ample’s packaging on the bottle is a simple design and is actually on par with something that looks healthy. Some people may want to opt-out of certain products because of their availability but, you may also be settling for something that is of lower quality. I won’t directly compare all that any of these other meal replacement shakes have to offer but, Ample is a great meal replacement drink in its own right. Let’s look at other meal shakes.
–Huel: Huel is a brand that focuses on the simplicity of use. It does have an unsweetened; unflavored formula probably because of this fact it is meant to be used as an ingredient in a shake. It’s also vegan and gluten-free and soy-free uses pea protein. What it doesn’t have in comparison to Ample is a variety of probiotics and prebiotics. It is also low carb like Ample O and is a meal replacement supplement. This is not available in bottled form. Huel has 12 grams of fat, and 2 grams of saturated fat.
–Orro: Another competitive option is Orro, which is a plant-based meal shake. Its flavors are vanilla and chocolate. This brand is newer compared to other brands. The nutrition is similar to Ample with 23 vitamins and minerals and natural forms of fiber and essential fatty acids. However, it does contain some antioxidants, more so, than probiotics. It does have fewer grams of fat than Ample. It’s important to note that this only comes in bottled form.
–310 Shake: this is another product that is similar to Ample because it has probiotics. It’s only available in powder form and bulk pouches. All its flavors are vegan and organic and are available in chocolate, vanilla, and salted caramel. Mostly it is meant for weight loss and the only similar addition I could find in this shake that is on par with Ample is spirulina powder, chlorella, and tapioca fiber. There is a whey protein version that uses plant-based forms of protein, possibly, pea protein and it also may use a small amount of rice protein. 310 doesn’t come in bottle form either.
–Soylent: This product is another kind of meal replacement shake that is very popular. The nutrition in soylent has base amounts of vitamins like manganese, B vitamins, pantothenic acid, and other vitamins and minerals. It does have some essential amino acids contained within most of it is in its oat supplement. Although, its main source of protein is from soy which some people may consider it not as healthy as other sources of protein, for example, pea protein which is a good clean form of protein. It is affordable and widely available. It also has many flavors of its meal replacement drinks. The most popular form that it comes in is a 14-ounce bottle. It also doesn’t offer a vegan protein mix.
Out of all these shakes, I would use Ample. Why? because it is convenient but, for others who are discerning about what products they buy and how they buy them do your research and comparison of many meal replacement shakes.
Conclusion
This product is good at solving the problem of being a more nutritious choice as a meal replacement shake, it should do more than provide calories as most protein shakes do.
Ample provides a good dose of macronutrients and micronutrients with the added benefit of probiotics and prebiotics. Another key advantage that helps with its usefulness while traveling is that it comes bottled in powdered form which can make it safe for flying.
Another important factor is that it has low amounts of sugar and has high-quality ingredients and has other options and flavors that you can try other than the original formula. In other words, it’s good to try different products and it may take many meals to find the best meal replacement for you. This is a meal replacement shake a better option than protein shakes. A bottle of Ample may have a mix of synthetic and real food put into its formula that provides a balance that other foods won’t provide.
- Do Meal Replacement Shakes Work? My Experience + Facts - July 22, 2020
