Ensure Shakes: Good or bad?

[LostAngeles]

I guess since this is more of a nutrition question, I'll ask here.

When I get migraines, I find that my appetite drops significantly. Even if I do make food, I find myself poking at it more than eating it. However, I still need to get some nutrition in me so I've been trying to get bags of pre-peeled carrots, granola, etc, that are small and simple so that way whatever I do eat, is at least good for me. I've been thinking about supplementing this with those Ensure Shake things. Are they as good as they claim or are they more like VitaminWater which is tasty and wonderful to drink, but from what I hear, not very vitamin-y.

[nails3jesus0]

I know ensure is used in hospitals to try and complete nutrition, so i would imagine its a good thing. vitamin water doesnt usually have any complete set of vitamins (each kind has different vitamins) and certainly no protein/fat like ensure does. protein shakes with vitamins might be cheaper than ensure also.

[fls]

I guess since this is more of a nutrition question, I'll ask here.

When I get migraines, I find that my appetite drops significantly. Even if I do make food, I find myself poking at it more than eating it. However, I still need to get some nutrition in me so I've been trying to get bags of pre-peeled carrots, granola, etc, that are small and simple so that way whatever I do eat, is at least good for me. I've been thinking about supplementing this with those Ensure Shake things. Are they as good as they claim or are they more like VitaminWater which is tasty and wonderful to drink, but from what I hear, not very vitamin-y.

Ensure is meant to be a complete source of nutrition, so it is a good choice if you like the taste (it is used in hospitals as the sole source of nutrition for some people). But it seems like over-kill unless the majority of the time you are not eating because of migraines.

Linda

[LostAngeles]

Ensure is meant to be a complete source of nutrition, so it is a good choice if you like the taste (it is used in hospitals as the sole source of nutrition for some people). But it seems like over-kill unless the majority of the time you are not eating because of migraines.

Linda

Well, the not-really-eating lasts for about a day or so and my eating habits are lousy anyway. I've been trying to get myself to eat better, but this has just another monkey-wrench thrown into the mix. I don't want these things to substitute completely for food during these times, I just want to basically keep myself nutrition-ized (not a word, I know) and the glucose levels up enough by eating some foods so I don't make myself feel worse or cause another headache because my blood sugar level is too low.

Still, good to know it's not a load of bunkum, at least.

Thanks!

[balrog666]

Boost is somewhat better and used extensively in hospitals.

[JoeTheJuggler]

I'm still waiting for Bachelor Chow. Some nice kibble for humans. . . .

[blutoski]

I have the same problem with migraines - appetite loss. I solve it with a store brand meal substitute (aka "diet shake") powder with milk or water. I find it has a longer shelf-life, lower cost, and I can control the portions.

Avoid Ensure Plus - it is especially calorie dense.

[bluess]

Geez, why can't my migraines wipe out my appetite?

[blutoski]

Geez, why can't my migraines wipe out my appetite?

It's the barfing I could do without. I'm on my third medication. Running out of options.

[bluess]

Geez, blutoski, you have my sympathies. As migraines go, mine are truly a day in the park compared to many other folks'.

[Goshawk]

Ingredients for Ensure: (http://ensure.com/products/index.aspx)

Water
Sugar (sucrose)
Corn syrup
Corn maltodextrin
Milk protein concentrate
Soy oil
Cocoa powder (for the chocolate flavor)
Soy protein concentrate
Canola oil
Corn oil
Soy lecithin

And then there are a whole host of minor ingredients, trace elements, vitamins, etc.

Ensure isn't designed to be a consumed alone, with no other supplemental nutrients--it's designed to be an in-between sort of thing that you consume occasionally when you can't eat a proper meal, i.e a "snack". The reason they use it in hospitals, and for the elderly, is basically to provide calories plus a certain amount of basic nutrition for people who can't stomach regular food. It's "better than nothing" for those people.

For someone just needing to get "over the hump" during a migraine, it's way better than those "vitamin waters", which are basically just Kool-Aid with vitamins added. Ensure is milk-based, which gives it a big protein boost, but if you have lactose-deficiency problems, you'd be better off with soup.

And be aware of all the sugar it does have. It's not a "health" drink--it's a "snack".

[LostAngeles]

It's the barfing I could do without. I'm on my third medication. Running out of options.

They ran me through the three triptans insurance covers before bringing me back around to Maxalt. They think that because it's status migrainosis, that it's reducing their effectiveness.

To fix the status migrainosis in general, they've given me an Alzheimer's drug called Namenda.

I know how it can be

:hug3

[LostAngeles]

Well, I picked some up over the weekend and tried one out on Sunday night before bed since my eating was quite lousy (as in, "had dinner. That is all.").

Boy.

That's tasty.

I also observe that it really isn't in keeping with my desire to stay between 140 - 135 in order for maximal pants fit-age. Not when it says, "To gain or maintain a healthy weight." I have the latter.

Not eating would screw that up also.

I think this will work out pretty well. I'll probably try to implement more carrots into my diet also since those are easily snackable and it's better to pick at those then a bag of chips and I won't be drinking an Ensure daily because I'm not not-eating every day.

Awesome.

Thanks guys!