are 'ensure' nutritional supplements good to drink?
479969
I just checked the ingredients at Abbott Labs 'Ensure' website.  It is a great JUNK FOOD!  After water, the THREE most common ingredients are SUGARS!\n\nThe vitamin and mineral content is very,very small and they do not tell you the chemical forms of these ingredients.  This is a "RED FLAG" for vitamin/mineral supplements because it invariably means they are the cheapest, most poorly absorbed and often poorly utilized forms.  In other words, a waste of money.\n\nAdditionally, the fiber content is extremely low (great for people with constipation! - I'm being sarcastic).\n\nBest to think of this stuff as a "Liquid Candy bar".\n\nBest wishes and good luck!
323379
Drink ENSURE with your regular meals. They put me on this when I was severly underweight from a surgery I had. It does wonders.
578231
Yes it is safe to drink.  It is nasty tasting but not bad for you.  It has just been cleaned of all minerals and spirits that are in normal tap water.  Hospitals use it in humidifiers and respiratory machines.  So if it was bad the hospital wouldnt use the stuff.
902721
The "overly muscular guys" on the package are steroid-using freaks that rarely (if ever) actually use the product they lend their likeness to.\n\nThat being said.  Asking if protein/creatine drinks are "safe" would be like asking if eating meat is safe.  Chicken is protein, creatine is naturally present in red meat, it's just food in a more readily available form.  \n\nYour body can absorb these liquid forms of protein much faster than other food soures, which is good, because post-workout you need some quickly-absorbed nutrients (namely protein and complex carbohydrates).  You're crazy if you don't have a good protein and carb drink following a workout.  Otherwise a great deal of your benefit is being lost.\n\nI would suggest a pre- and post-workout nutritional approach.
234047
i have taken this dietary supplement. its ok.
186681
these products are effective; you must follow the suggestions on the bottle b/c a lot of them suggest drinking plenty of water; regular exercise; balanced diet\n\nthese suggestions are important to follow b/c any unhealthy activity will sabotage the diet supplements\n\nthe downfall behind the supplements is that as soon as you stop using them you gain the weight back, unless you have implemented a good exercise/eating plan;\n\nit's good if you consult a doctor or personal trainers on this, that way a professinal can assess whether you need those pills or not; those pills can be addictive and only people who are overweight by 60 pounds or more should use them, also adults over the age of 20 should use them, b/c by this time your body should have stop growing; they aren't intended for children/teens
375460
Almost everyone agrees that water is good for you and that the biggest problem with water intake is that you don't drink enough. We have all had it drummed into us that we need to drink at least eight glasses of water a day. That it's important to drink water before and during exercise. \n\nThat coffee and tea don't count because caffeine can dehydrate our bodies. And that you can't trust your thirst as an accurate measure of when you need water since if you're thirsty you're already dehydrated. Well think again. According to a recent review in the Journal of Physiology, most of these accepted truths seem to be myths. \n\n This review looked at the scientific evidence of the 8*8 mantra � drinking at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day, and found that there really was none. \n\nThe claimed benefits of taking in that much water each day, including benefits for weight loss, bowels, fatigue, arthritis, mental alertness and headaches, losing weight, preventing constipation, are also mostly unsubstantiated. \n\nOther Water Myths That Are Debunked In This Article Include: \n\n\nBy the time a person is thirsty that person is already dehydrated. This in fact isn't true and the best measure of how much water to drink is your thirst. \n\nDark urine means dehydration. Again that's not strictly true either as there are many other factors that can contribute to dark urine. \n\nCaffeinated beverages dehydrate us. As you'd expect much of this is also unsubstantiated. In fact, contrary to popular opinion, a recent study has found that coffee, tea and sodas are hydrating for people used to caffeine and thus should count toward their daily fluid total. \nWhile this review focuses on the validity of the various water myths, no one seriously disputes that getting enough water is crucial. However, fears of dehydration and the constant barrage telling us we don't drink enough water, has led to a mistaken belief that the safe thing to do is to drink as much and as often as possible. But drinking too much water can be hazardous to your health. \n\n\nToo Much Water?\n \n\nThe reason why over hydrating can be dangerous is that when we consume large amounts of water when exercising, blood plasma (the liquid part of blood) increases, while the sodium concentration in the body fluids decreases, both as a result of the dilution by the water but also because sodium is lost by sweating. \n\nHyponatremia, or low blood sodium, generally happens after drinking too much plain water and can lead to adverse effects and tissue damage, and interfere with brain, heart, and muscle function. \n\n Early symptoms can be difficult to spot and include: \n\n\nConfusion \nNausea \nFatigue \nMuscle cramps \nWeakness\nMore severe symptoms can include vomiting, muscle twitching, delirium, seizures, coma and death. \n\nA new review of three deaths of US military recruits highlights the dangers of drinking too much water. Like in sports, the military has traditionally focused on dangers of not drinking enough, especially under conditions often associated with exercise and hot conditions. However, getting overzealous over the need to drink large amounts of water and over-hydrating can have deadly consequences. \n\n\nSo How Much Water Should You Drink.\n \n\nMy recommendation is to drink when you're thirsty, and if you think you should be drinking more, don't overdo it. As far as drinking water in and around exercise, I've outlined a few simple guidelines that will make sure you're well hydrated without hitting any extremes. \n\nWithin an hour or so of training, drink a few glasses of water so you start well hydrated. While training you can drink a glass or so of water for every 15 minutes you train, especially if you're sweating it out. \n\nHowever, even during times of heavy sweating don't take in more than a quart and half of water per hour. As far as how much your daily intake of water should be, The Americ
108136
I've been told that if you drink lots of Milk that it can be helpful in strengthening your bones.  Give that a shot!!
1164960
There are no good diet supplements to lose wieght, it just takes eating healthfully and monitoring your caloric intake combined with a moderate amount of physical activity (running, biking, cardio gym equipment, even lifting weights burns fat).  Many dietary supplements either don't work, or affect your heart rate and are unsafe and unhealthy for your body.  \n\nIn the past I have taken Creatine to build muscle, and other similar dietary supplements, but have found that the only way to become truly fit and healthy, and stay that way is to adjust your lifestyle and exercise.\n\nGood luck!
273403
Ensure is a drink that comes in several flavors, you can buy this at most any store, Walmart, K-Mart etc. It is high in calories and very neutrious, try this along with your regular meals. I think you'll be pleased. If you have an unexplaned weight loss you should consult with your medical Dr.
329916
you can drink protein shakes
867020
You are not going to see a huge difference from the most expensive to the cheapest protein powder.  Just go by which one you like best.  That being said, here are some concerns about a few types I like to avoid:\n\nPersonally, I don't like Muscle Milk.  It's loaded with fat (yeah, I know "lean lipids", whatever) and contains a chemical called glycocyamine, which is heavily linked to cardiovascular disease due to its tendency to raise homocysteine levels in the blood (among other things).  Even if that doesn't scare you (cardiovascular disease being the #1 killer in the U.S.)...there are plenty of other options for you.\n\nIon-exchanged whey isolates (like in Isopure) are also heralded as a "better" form of whey, but the process involves running a type of acidic solution through the protein...and again, there's better options.\n\nJust go for a good, micro-filtered whey protein isolate that won't break the bank (because you'll probably be drinking quite a bit of it).  Optimum Nutrition makes a good one, as does Iron-Tek and Biochem (all made by Country Life, I believe).
717919
yes, ice tea does have caffeine and isn't good to drink when you work out, it's also a dehydrator, which means when you go to the bathroom after drinking it, it also take out with it many nutrients and vitamins that your body needs.  \n   Gatorade is for extreme athletes, if you'll be working out 3 hrs. or more, water is the best, and you can't drink too much of it.  You'll also feel better drinking water, as your thirst will be satisfied.  If you're thirsty you're already dehydrated. \n If your urine is yellow, you're dehydrated, it should be clear.
207438
Drink Ensure (protein drink for elderly people) three times a day. It has lots of protein and carbs. You may also want to do some weight lifting. Do short number reps with heavy weights (dont kill yourself). If you never lifted weights, take a class or go the gym and they can help you.  Muscle mass weighs more than fat!
622430
truthfully, it hasn't been completely labeled as  beneficial. yes, it does have calcium, vit d, etc, but some studies actually show that our bodies don't digest them properly.  if anything, it keeps you hydrated. humans are kinda strange though... do you realize that we are the only species that drinks milk long after infancy? lol not to mention, another species breast milk. yum!
694604
I take a supplement and It helps me stay very healthy.
306043
I am under weight for almost 20 pounds and the doctor told me to drink Ensure twice a day and have regular meals (whatever you want to eat) 4 times a day. You should drink the ensure like at 4 pm and before bed.