What is the best meal replacement for elderly people?


drink wholesome makes the best meal replacement powder for elderly people with a short list of simple ingredients. If you need a quick, easy meal without added caffeine, extra processing, or added junk, you have to come to the right place. Order samples to see if our replacements are right for you. 

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drink wholesome is the best meal replacement powder for elderly people.

Are meal replacements good for elderly people? 


Elderly folks need calories and protein to curb the loss of muscle that comes with aging. For seniors trying to rebuild muscle after illness or a long hospital stay, eating enough is particularly important. Muscle loss can affect strength, bone health, and other essential physiological functions. This in turn affects agility, balance, and the ability to perform the simple tasks of everyday life.

Aging bodies process calories and protein less efficiently, and therefore need more of it. Even healthy seniors need more calories and protein than their younger selves. That said, about one-third of elderly people do not consume nearly enough of either due to reduced appetite, dental issues, impaired taste or swallowing, and/or limited financial resources.

When paired with an inactive lifestyle, decreased protein and calorie intake puts the elderly at risk of deteriorating muscles, compromised mobility, and slower recovery from illness. It therefore is safe to say that seniors who consume more calories and protein have better outcomes.

Getting enough calories and protein from normal food can be challenging for some people, especially people with gut issues, food aversions, and trouble swallowing or chewing. This is where meal replacement shakes can help. Meal replacement shakes are easy to make, drink, and digest. They can help you achieve a healthy weight, nourish your body, and satisfy your cravings. Unfortunately, however, not all meal replacements are good for you.

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What are the best meal replacement drinks for elderly people?


The first thing to understand is that not all meal replacements are the same. Some are healthier than others, while some can be quite unhealthy. The latter ones often contain a lengthy list of ingredients that can lead to uncomfortable side effects and long-term health issues.

The ingredients I am referring to are emulsifiers like sunflower lecithin, thickeners like guar gum, sweeteners like sucralose, and flavorings like natural flavors. All of these additives can alter the composition of your gut microbiome – the collection of microorganisms living in your gut. This is a problem because research indicates that a healthy gut microbiome is at the core of many age-associated changes, like immune system dysregulation and susceptibility to diseases. 

Basically, seniors with a healthy gut microbiome tend to have better outcomes. For this reason they should only use meal replacement shakes made with a short list of simple ingredients. Keep reading to learn more.

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Why drink wholesome?


drink wholesome is additive-free.

One of the reasons why we make the best meal replacement for elderly people is that we do not use any food additives, period. Even in small amounts, additives can cause uncomfortable side effects, especially for those with sensitive stomachs. Given that many elderly folks deal with gut issues, this is a big deal.

Here is a list of the most common food additives in meal replacement shakes:

acacia gum, acesulfame potassium, artificial flavors, aspartame, carrageenan, cellulose gum, dextrin, dextrose, erythritol, gellan gum, guar gum, gum arabic, inulin, locust bean gum, “natural” flavors, maltodextrin, rice syrup solids, soy lecithin, silica, sucralose, sunflower lecithin, xanthan gum, xylitol

Food additives undergo extensive processing, making them no longer resemble real food. This makes them challenging to digest and provides more time for your gut bacteria to eat. As bacteria eat, they release gas, leading to symptoms like bloating, flatulence, and stomach pain. Gas also slows down colonic transit – the time it takes for food to move through your colon – potentially leading to constipation.

In some cases, partially digested food additives can cause your colon to either absorb too much water or prevent water absorption altogether. This situation is referred to as osmotic diarrhea, and explains why some people suddenly feel the need to visit the restroom after drinking a meal replacement shake.

the alternative:

SOY PROTEIN ISOLATE, CANOLA OIL, MALTODEXTRIN, ISOMALTULOSE, SOLUBLE CORN FIBER, MODIFIED FOOD STARCH, VITAMIN AND MINERAL PREMIX, CELLULOSE, NATURAL & ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS, SOY LECITHIN, SALT, MONO & DIGLYCERIDE, XANTHAN GUM, SUCRALOSE

drink wholesome is dairy-free.

Another reason why we make the best meal replacement drinks for elderly people is that we do not use dairy-based proteins. Many other meal replacements contain whey and casein, which come from the cheese and yogurt-making process. These ingredients are infamous for causing digestive problems.

Lactose, the sugar found in dairy products like whey and casein, is challenging for most adults to digest. As you now know, foods that are hard to digest often lead to painful side effects. It is thus a smart idea to avoid whey and casein whenever you can.

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drink wholesome is made with real foods.

A final reason why we make the best meal replacement shakes for elderly people is that we do not use protein concentrates or isolates. Most other meal replacement powders contain one or both of these protein sources.

Protein concentrates and isolates go through extensive mechanical and chemical processing, sometimes using solvents like hexane. As a result, what you consume is utterly different from whole, unprocessed food.

Your digestive system is naturally equipped to deal with minimally processed or unprocessed foods, not protein concentrates or isolates. This is why research shows that regular consumption of refined ingredients like these can disrupt your gut microbiome. Once more, an imbalanced gut microbiome is a matter of great importance.

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Instead of relying on protein concentrates or isolates, we make the best meal replacement for seniors using egg whites and almonds. Protein sources like these, which undergo minimal processing, offer a gut-friendly alternative to protein concentrates and isolates.

Unlike protein isolates and concentrates, whole foods such as egg whites and almonds are rich in enzymes and digestive aids that make them easy to break down. Egg whites have an added benefit of being low in fiber, low in FODMAPs, alkaline (helping maintain a healthy gut pH), and bioactive (encouraging the growth of healthy gut bacteria).

Almonds are also incredibly beneficial for gut health. They are prebiotic, meaning they enhance the diversity of your gut microbiota. What is more, they help you have regular and healthy bowel movements. Simple, wholesome ingredients like this are our secret to creating the best meal replacement drinks for seniors.

★★★★★

simple and delicious

“My 87 year old father has been dealing with serious gi issues lately. He has been losing weight as a result and I was desperate to find something to help him gain it back. After trying half a dozen different shakes, we finally came across this one! It’s the only shake he’s been able tolerate and for that I’m so grateful ❤️❤️❤️.” – Kacey

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Meal Replacement Powder Sample Packs

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This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. drink wholesome is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

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