top of page

How Does Shakeology Work?

Updated: Feb 25, 2020


From the Beachbody Blog February 19, 2019 | BY: Kara Wahlgren

8 Reasons to Start Drinking Shakeology

If you’re trying to get healthy and fit and lose weight, drinking a Peanut Butter Banana Split Shake might sound like the fastest way to go off the rails, right?

So when you hear someone raving about their favorite Shakeology recipe — like the aforementioned Peanut Butter Banana Split Shake — you might wonder how that could possibly help anyone support healthy weight loss.

But even though it sounds like one of those things that falls squarely in the too-good-to-be-true category, Shakeology really can help you get the nutrients you need and make losing weight a little easier.*

It works by addressing some nutritional gaps our diets can have with potent ingredients that help support digestive health, provide healthy energy, and reduce cravings, and just plain help you feel better.*

And when we feel better, we do better, by making smarter choices and taking on bigger challenges.

Here’s how Shakeology works — and why you should start drinking it.

The Backstory

Before we get into the “how,” here’s a little of the “why”:

Shakeology was created by Beachbody CEO Carl Daikeler, nutrition and fitness advocate Isabelle Daikeler, and superfood hunter Darin Olien.

The idea was to create a nutrition product that would help restore some of the nutrients that our modern diets might be missing through a delicious shake made with a high standard of ingredient sourcing and quality.

From the beginning, Shakeology was envisioned as a whole new type of shake. The promise between the founders was that they would never compromise health benefits for costs or profit.

That’s why we search the world over for potent superfoods rarely used in similar products and combined them in precise ways to optimize their health benefits.

1. Shakeology Is More Than Just a Protein Shake

Yes, Shakeology is definitely a great source of protein, with 16 to 17 grams of protein per glass (depending on the flavor); that’s about the same amount of protein you’d get from eating three large eggs.

And it doesn’t have just one type of protein, but a blend of globally harvested protein from whey, pea, chia, flax, and quinoa.

But Shakeology isn’t a typical protein shake.

“In addition to the protein blend, it also has a bunch of awesome fruit- and vegetable-based ingredients in it,” says Paige Bente, M.S., R.D., C.S.S.D.

“There are ingredients with antioxidant properties like green tea, pomegranate, vitamin A, and rose hips. There’s a super-green/phytonutrient blend, and also a blend of adaptogens that have been traditionally used to help your body react to stress. And there are probiotics, prebiotics, and enzymes that are really important for gut health,”* she adds.

This superfood nutrition shake can give you a head start on the nutrients you need for the day and help you get through your workouts.*

Ready to try a Beachbody program? Choose Coach #94734 (Suzi McKee) to have Suzi as your personal coach!

2. Shakeology Can Help Curb Cravings and Help You Lose Weight*

Losing weight would be so much easier if the foods we want were the foods we need — but, sadly, it doesn’t work that way.

We all know how to lose weight — eat healthy foods, watch your portion sizes, and exercise more often — but it can take serious willpower to reach for something nutritious when your brain is telling you to eat all the Halloween candy.

If that sounds familiar, think of Shakeology as a secret weapon to help you stay on track. “Shakeology helps reduce appetite and increase satiety,” Bente says. “It’s helpful in reducing the desire to eat and reducing the amount eaten at the next meal.”

And if you’ve got a sweet tooth that won’t quit, Shakeology can help satisfy it in a healthy way. ” As part of a healthy diet, Shakeology can replace foods that are higher in calories but lower in nutrients,” Bente says.

So the next time you’re tempted to hoover a tub of chocolate ice cream or down a sugary latte, whip up a Chocolate Shakeology smoothie or a Vanilla Chai Shakeology instead.

3. Shakeology Can Help Take the Stress Out of Meal Planning

Meal planning can help you lose weight by taking the guesswork — and the last-minute, “hangry” decisions — out of eating healthy.

But let’s be honest: Some days you’re inspired to cook a Spinach and Broccoli Strata, and some days you’re just… not.

On those days, when you’re not feeling the greens, Shakeology, when added to a meal, can help you sneak more plant-based nutrients into your diet. (That can be especially helpful if you’re not a big fan of veggies.)

And if your cooking skills are limited, Shakeology can help with that, too.

There are a ton of tasty Shakeology recipes out there, so it’s an easy way to add more variety to your meal plan, even if you’re not a master chef.

4. Shakeology Is an Easy Grab-and-Go Food

When life gets hectic, it can be hard to find time to whip up a healthy snack — and you may be tempted to grab a bag of chips because it’s a cheap, easy option.

But Shakeology can help quell your snack attacks: It only takes a few seconds to mix Shakeology with water for a quick snack to tide you over until you can make or find a healthy meal.

So in less time than it takes to pop into a convenience store for a snack or wait in line at the drive-through, you’ll be sipping a healthy shake that’s loaded with nutrients — and makes you feel way better than greasy chips or fries would.

5. Shakeology Is a Solid Source of Fiber

Each scoop of Shakeology contains 4 to 6 grams of fiber (depending on the flavor), which is key to a healthy diet — especially if you’re trying to lose weight.

Fiber helps support healthy bacteria in your gut and move waste through your digestive system; it also helps you feel fuller.

6. Shakeology Can Help Jump-Start Clean-Eating Habits

Whether you’re doing a program like Clean Week or just trying to cut processed junk out of your diet, Shakeology fits in your plan.

It doesn’t have any artificial sweeteners, flavors, colors, or preservatives, and it delivers superfood-ingredient powders to help maximize the nutritional value of each ingredient.

“Beachbody is really careful about where we source all of our ingredients,” Bente says. “Many of these botanicals are from whole plants that have been dried and ground into a powder, and then put into Shakeology.”

7. Shakeology Actually Tastes Good!

Shakeology comes in five yummy flavors: Chocolate, Vanilla, Strawberry, Greenberry, and Café Latte — so even if you’re just mixing it with water, there’s a flavor you’ll actually enjoy.

There are also four vegan options: Chocolate Vegan, Vanilla Vegan, Café Latte Vegan, and Tropical Strawberry.

8. Shakeology Can Help You Break Out of the “Kale Salad” Rut

Listen, we love a good kale salad as much as anyone else. But it’s easy to fall into a rut of eating the same healthy staples over and over and over again.

And even your favorite fruits and veggies can get a little boring if you eat them every. single. day.

So if you feel like you’ve been walking through the produce aisle on autopilot lately, Shakeology can help you shake things up a little bit. “Shakeology gives you a broad base of fruit and veggie ingredients, including a lot of things that most people don’t eat on a normal basis,” Bente says.

Think about it — when’s the last time you picked up reishi mushrooms, chlorella, or bilberries at the supermarket?

One scoop of Shakeology contains all of those superfood ingredients and more, so you can enjoy their health benefits every day!

Flavor Samplers

Not sure which flavors you'll like? Try a Taste Sampler; also available in vegan!


bottom of page