Soylent Review: An Easy Way to Lose Weight?

Whether you’re busy with work or have a hectic family life, leading a healthy lifestyle often takes a back seat. It can sometimes feel as if there aren’t enough hours in the day to eat, never mind to shop for and cook nutritious meals.

To help those struggling to maintain a balanced diet, there are several meal replacements on the market that claim to provide a convenient yet healthy alternative to regular food.

The Soylent meal replacement range is one such option, but do their shakes, powders, and bars really work to keep you full? Keep reading to discover the possible benefits, cons, and side effects of Soylent’s meal replacement products.

What Is Soylent?

Soylent is an American brand that offers a full portfolio of meal replacements, including protein powders, bars, and shakes. 

The products were originally developed as a result of an experiment when the company’s software engineer founders blended together 35 ingredients and consumed them exclusively for 30 days.

The group experienced several benefits from this experiment, including improved health, reduced food costs, and less time spent preparing meals. 

According to Soylent, the idea behind their products is “maximum nutrition with minimal products.” Users can swap their regular food for their tasty “Complete Meal” drinks and snacks whilst still getting all of the essential nutrients that they need to survive and thrive.

⭐ Rating	4.3
✅ Vegan?	Yes
🧰️ Texture	Creamy and smooth
🍎 Flavors	Banana, mint chocolate, vanilla, cafe latte, others
🔔 Where to get it?	Soylent.com
💰 Price	From $3.52 per bottle

Who Is Soylent for?

Soylent’s meal replacement products are designed for those who have a busy schedule and need a filling, nutritious, and tasty alternative to unhealthy or expensive on-the-go food choices.

If you’re aiming to lose weight, Soylent is a simple and convenient option to keep you on track, as their products are pre-portioned and contain the exact calories that you need for one meal.

The essential vitamins and minerals within the formula help to ensure that you won’t suffer from any nutrient deficiencies whilst on a low-calorie diet, which helps to support your immune system, keep you energized, and maintain your overall health.

Many plant-based proteins are incomplete and don’t provide the body with all of the essential amino acids to keep the muscles functioning. 

However, Soylent drinks and bars contain complete soy protein, making them ideal for those on a vegan diet looking to drink protein shakes for weight loss.

Bars and shakes such as Soylent which are packed full of protein, can also be used to help you reach your fitness goals. This is because they contain amino acids that help to repair, maintain, and build muscle tissue after a workout.

As well as helping with weight control, Soylent shakes are also designed for those with diabetes, as their slow-burn carbohydrates release energy slowly and prevent blood sugar levels from spiking.

Soylent Product Range

Whether you prefer a meal replacement drink or snack, Soylent has 3 options to suit everyone. Read on to decide which product is best to help you meet your goals.

#1 Shakes

The Soylent’s Complete Meal range of ready-to-drink shakes comes in 14oz bottles that are designed to replace one meal. There are a variety of flavors available, from classics such as chocolate and strawberry to more unique tastes such as chai.

One of the main selling points of the shakes is that they are made up of all 39 essential nutrients needed by the body and contain 20% of the recommended daily value for every vitamin and mineral in each serving.

As they are made with high levels of oleic sunflower oil, the drinks are also a good source of heart-healthy omega-3 fats. These fats help to maintain low blood pressure and cholesterol levels and may therefore be useful in the prevention of heart disease.

#2 Powders

Along with their ready-to-drink products, Soylent also offers a powder that can be mixed with water to create a “Complete Meal” in liquid form. 

As the company’s first released product, the Soylent powder comes in a pouch containing enough for 7 drinks and can be purchased in an original or cacao flavor. There is also a powder tub option (12 meals).

If you want to add some extra flavor to your shake, Soylent offers powder flavor boosts which come in strawberry, peanut butter, caramel, and matcha flavors.

Powders can be consumed alone or mixed into a green smoothie to give it an extra boost of nutrients.

#3 Bars

If you’re looking for a quick on-the-go snack rather than a whole meal, Soylent Squared protein bars are a good choice. 

Available in chocolate brownie or peanut butter chocolate chip flavors, each bar contains just 100kcals, yet packs in 6g of protein and only 1g of sugar.

This makes them ideal for satisfying your sweet cravings whilst allowing you to stay within your daily calorie limit. 

Soylent Flavors

One of the benefits of choosing Soylent ready-to-drink shakes is that at the time of writing this review, they offer 10 unique flavors in their drinks range, which is great if you’re looking for some variety. These flavors are:

Soylent best flavor 

The most popular Soylent drink flavor with customers is creamy chocolate, with strawberry and chai coming in at a close second and third.

Customer reviews on the website suggest that the flavor is smooth and sweet and compare the chocolatey taste to “melted ice cream and a less intense drinking chocolate.”

Soylent Creamy Chocolate Drink Nutrition Breakdown

Soylent claims that its drinks offer all of the essential macro and micronutrients that you need in a convenient and affordable format.

To determine whether or not this is true, take a look at the nutrition breakdown per 414ml (1 bottle) of Soylent Creamy Chocolate Drink below:

	Amounts per bottle (414ml)
Calories	402kcal
Protein	20g
Total fat	24g
Carbohydrates	36g
Fiber	2.9g
Total sugars	0.994g

Source: https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/2462700/nutrients

Benefits of Soylent

Whether you’re hoping to find a high-protein drink that doesn’t contain animal products, or you’re looking for a weight loss solution, Soylent may provide the answer for you.

Here are some of the key benefits of the Soylent product range:

#1 Might help to lose or maintain weight

Switching out your usual breakfast or lunch for a Soylent drink can be useful if you’re trying to lose or maintain your weight. 

Studies have shown that consuming a calorie-restricted liquid meal once or twice per day can contribute to greater weight loss in the short term over a low-calorie food diet. 

Each bottle of Soylent drink contains 36g of carbohydrates and has a low glycemic index (GI). This helps you to feel fuller for longer and maintain a calorie deficit, which is essential for weight loss. 

However, research suggests that meal replacements such as Soylent may not be a long-term solution to weight loss, as maintaining a liquid-only diet can be too restrictive over long periods.

#2 Convenient way to get nutrients

Many people on a low-calorie diet struggle to consume a good amount of vitamins and minerals on a regular basis. 

Being deficient in essential nutrients can affect the body’s ability to function, causing you to experience tiredness and hair loss and making you feel weak.

By using a meal replacement shake such as Soylent which contains all 39 essential nutrients, you’re guaranteed to be hitting your daily vitamin goals. Plus, you won’t struggle to find time to fit it into your day, as it comes in a convenient bottle that you can drink on the go.

#3 Source of protein

Each bottle of Soylent drink is packed with 20g of plant-based soy protein, which contains all 9 essential amino acids that the body cannot produce on its own. 

Amino acids perform several important functions in the body, including regulating your sleep and appetite, forming muscle and skin tissues, and maintaining a healthy immune system. 

They also help to repair muscle tissues that may have been broken through exercise, which speeds up recovery time and helps muscles to grow in size and strength. 

Soylent may therefore be used as a supplement for those looking to build muscle or improve their performance in the gym. However, the product should be avoided by those who are allergic to soy.

#4 Suitable for vegans

Many meal replacement drinks contain proteins that are derived from animal sources, such as whey or casein. Soylent is unique as it is made from soy protein isolate, which is a 100% plant-based protein produced from soybeans. 

This means that all of their products can be consumed by those on a vegan diet.

Soylent Side Effects

Soylent products are Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved, meaning that they are safe and generally well tolerated by most people. Despite this, the shakes have been reported to cause some stomach issues, including bloating, excessive gas, diarrhea, and constipation.

This may be due to the drink’s low levels of insoluble fiber, which is an important macronutrient for encouraging frequent and healthy bowel movements. You may therefore benefit from adding a fiber supplement to your diet.

However, most of these side effects are anecdotal, and there isn’t much clinical evidence to back up these customer reports.

Mealsquares vs. Soylent

Like Soylent, Mealsquares is a nutritionally complete meal replacement designed for those who don’t always have time to fit in their 3 meals a day. 

However, what makes Mealsquares unique is that its 400kcal bars are made completely from natural whole foods, such as milk, eggs, oatmeal, rice bran, and sunflower seeds. Unlike Soylent, this means that the bars are not suitable for those on a plant-based diet.

The nutrients that these ingredients provide can be easily absorbed by the body, whereas research indicates that compounds present in soy isolate may prevent the absorption of essential vitamins and minerals from Soylent, such as iron.

This can result in anemia, which causes fatigue, shortness of breath, and heart palpitations.

In terms of taste and texture, the natural ingredients within Mealsquares bars give them a soft, squidgy feel that rests somewhere between a chocolate chip cookie, a dense bread, and a scone. Soylent snacks and drinks tend to have a sweeter, richer flavor.

When it comes to price, there isn’t much to separate the two brands. Mealsquares costs $92.07 for 30 bars when you subscribe, which equates to $3.07 per bar, whereas Soylent costs $1.33 per bar if you make a one-time purchase instead of choosing the subscription option.

Is Soylent Worth It?

If you often find yourself short on time and grabbing junk food, it may be worth trying Soylent as a healthier meal replacement option.

You’ll get all of the vitamins and minerals that you need, along with a good amount of protein, fat, and carbs to keep you full and satisfied. This is particularly beneficial for those looking to lose weight, build muscle, or simply get more nutrients into their diet.

However, the long-term effects of consuming Soylent are unknown, particularly if you are not eating any other whole foods in your diet. It’s best to, therefore, only use Soylent shakes as an occasional meal replacement to maintain a healthy diet.

FAQs

Comparison Table

How We Tested

When it comes to reviewing meal replacement products, it’s important to thoroughly test them. As a consumer, you need to know which products are worth the purchase and which ones you should leave on the shelf.

We tested Soylent against 4 categories to help you decide, which are summarized below.

Texture 9/10

As far as meal replacement shakes go, Soylent scores highly for its creamy texture. There’s not much to fault in this category, with customers praising Soylent powder for being silky smooth without the need for a blender.

Taste 8/10

With such a variety of flavors, you shouldn’t struggle to find one that you like the taste of when it comes to Soylent. Most customer reviews emphasize the sweetness of the drinks, although some do consider the flavor to be slightly bland.

Price 8/10

At $3.25 per bottle, Soylent is a good value for money when compared to similar products in the meal replacement industry. The brand also offers promotions, where you can subscribe to receive a recurring delivery and save money, too.

You will typically be paying more for Soylent products than if you were to purchase whole foods, but it is a more convenient option for those who are always on the go.

Brand reputation 9/10

Soylent generally gets good reviews from customers on its website and Amazon store, and the company also has FDA approval.

Conclusion

Soylent powders, bars, and shakes work well if you’re looking for a convenient yet healthy meal to grab on the go. It may also be useful for those looking to lose weight, build muscle, or for those with type 2 diabetes.

However, you should avoid Soylent’s products if you have a soy allergy, and be aware that you may encounter side effects such as bloating and constipation. 

Meal replacement drinks and snacks can be beneficial for reaching short-term health and fitness goals but should not completely replace a balanced whole foods diet.

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