Ensure Muscle Health drink- would it help us?
 

hi- I've seen commercials for a new Ensure product that is said to help reduce muscle mass loss. I'm 59, can't exercise, and definitely see my muscles diminishing (and flab increasing!). Has anyone tried it? Thanks!

Ensure is a highly processed food, and contains a lot of sugar (about the same amount as a soda.) In my opinion, it's little more than a chemical slurry. I think it would be far superior to employ a diet rich in whole foods where you can choose the amount of sugar, fats and additives. A dietician could help you come up with choices to help maintain muscle mass.

I've seen a lot of older folks who have depended on Ensure and other such drinks for their nutrition, and I can't say that any of them have thrived on it. Sure it's OK for a few days if you are recovering from an illness or surgery, but as a planned daily part of your diet, no, I wouldn't think it's a great idea.

Just my opinion.

I try to eat high protein food that are easy to chew. I am eating hardly any red meat - too hard to chew and swallow. I eat a lot of fish, maybe 8 servings a weak between dinner and lunch. I also eat a lot of eggs, the kind with the reduced cholesterol - Egglands. I also read an article about MGers should try to get enough of the acetylcholine precussors, one of which is choline which is found in eggs. I eat alot of high fiber oatmeal, yogurt, over cooked vegetable and the soft fruits like mellon and berries. I have fresh pineapple everyday. Pineapple is high in Manganese another acetylcholine precursor.

I think this diets fulfills my protein needs and I do fell a lot better and healthier than before. I have to agree, that I like to know what is in my food, especially now. With all the medications interactions, side affects from the medications, and things we should not eat mechanicallly or because of interaction with MG (magnesium), I rather take a natural approach.

kathie

Hello Susanj, :) I haven't tried this specific kind, but I kept Ensure, and other meal replacement drinks on hand for occasions where I had to switch to a soft food diet.

I know there are a number of reasons for many, but I would like to know what specifically keeps you from exercising.

Thanks for your replies. I've tried to exercise, and build up very gradually, but I've found that the repetitive movements increase my feelings of weakness. I do get some exercise when walking my dogs, though.

Excellent! :)

I know that when I was in the hospital that Ensure complete is what the nutritionist gave me to drink when I could finally swallow. She told me to drink 2 of them a day for a few weeks then cut them down to 1 a day. Now I drink one every day because my nutritionist told me to. lol...