Boost and Ensure are nutritional supplements designed to help meet nutritional needs, especially when consuming enough solid foods is challenging. This is often the case for children, older adults, or individuals at risk of malnutrition due to conditions like cancer, eating disorders, or digestive issues. Both brands offer a variety of products, including ready-to-drink shakes, powders, puddings, and snack bars, each with multiple flavors.
Understanding Boost Nutritional Drinks
Boost, a part of Nestlé Health Science, is a meal replacement shake that is advertised on television. Boost offers a range of nutritional products that provide supplemental nutrition to help meet a wide variety of nutritional needs. The "Very Vanilla" flavor of the Original Boost Complete Nutritional Drink contains 240 calories per 237 milliliters, with 10 grams of protein, 41 grams of carbohydrates (20 grams of sugar, 3 grams of fiber), and 4 grams of fat (1 gram saturated).
Nutritional Value and Ingredients
The micronutrient profile of Boost is comprehensive, although it's slightly low in chloride, choline, and potassium, providing roughly ten percent of the daily value for each. The first three ingredients-water, glucose syrup, and sugar-may be surprising for a health supplement. The drink also contains Prebio1, a prebiotic fiber used in Nestle products, though there is limited information available about it.
Carbohydrate and Sugar Content
Boost has a protein-to-carbohydrate ratio of 1:4, making it less suitable for those on low-carb or high-protein diets. The sugar content is also relatively high.
Cost and Taste
Boost is available with a minimum order of 6 bottles, costing approximately $1.30 per serving. The Very Vanilla flavor is described as tasting like vanilla custard.
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Pros and Cons of Boost
Pros:
- Inexpensive
- Nutritious
- Tasty
- Free of artificial sweeteners
- Contains prebiotic fiber
- Safe for people with celiac disease
Cons:
- High in sugar
- Not particularly high in protein
- Contains artificial flavors
- Contains GMOs
Ensure vs. Boost: A Nutritional Comparison
Ensure, launched by Abbott Nutrition in 1973, offers over 10 different shakes, all of which are gluten-free and mostly certified kosher and halal. Ensure's shakes are categorized into:
- Complete, balanced nutrition (Ensure Original and Ensure Plus)
- Advanced nutrition (Ensure Enlive)
- Targeted nutrition (Ensure Light, Ensure Max Protein, Ensure High Protein, and Ensure Plant-Based Protein)
- Specialty therapeutic nutrition (Ensure Surgery, Ensure Pre-Surgery, and Ensure Compact)
Boost, designed to help people meet nutritional requirements, especially after age 50, offers 12 drinks categorized into:
- Diabetes (Boost Glucose Control and Boost Glucose Control High Protein)
- High calorie (Boost Plus)
- High protein (Boost High Protein and Boost Max Nutritional Shake)
- Specialized Nutrition (Boost Original, Boost Mobility, Boost Men, and Boost Women)
Nutritional Values Compared
The following table compares the nutritional values of Ensure and Boost shakes per 8-ounce (236-mL) serving:
| Nutrient | Ensure Original | Boost Original | Ensure Plus | Boost Plus | Ensure Max Protein | Boost Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calories | 220 | 240 | 350 | 360 | 150 | 160 |
| Protein (g) | 9 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 30 | 30 |
| Fat (g) | 6 | 4 | 11 | 14 | 1.5 | 1.5 |
| Carbohydrates (g) | 31 | 41 | 49 | 55 | 6 | 7 |
| Sugar (g) | 15 | 20 | 21 | 28 | 1 | 1 |
| Fiber (g) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
Most products serving the same purpose are nutritionally similar and can be used interchangeably. Both brands cover over 20 vitamins and minerals per shake, with most providing over 20% of the Recommended Dietary Intake (RDI).
Choosing the Right Shake for Specific Goals
Both Ensure and Boost can help meet nutritional needs, but some shakes are better for specific goals.
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Best Shake for Protein Intake
Protein is essential for building muscle and overall health. The RDI is 0.36 grams per pound (0.8 grams per kg) of body weight, but higher intakes (up to 1 gram per pound or 2.4 grams per kg) may aid in muscle gain and weight loss when combined with resistance training.
For a significant protein boost without increasing carb and fat intake, Ensure Max Protein and Boost Max are good choices, providing 30 grams of protein per serving.
Best Shake for Weight Gain
To gain weight healthily, create a daily calorie surplus by consuming more calories than you burn through a balanced intake of carbs, proteins, and fats. For a healthy weight gain of 1-2 pounds (0.5-1 kg) per week, consume an additional 500 calories per day.
Ensure Enlive and Boost Plus are nutrient-dense options to help meet increased calorie and nutrient needs. Consuming these shakes with meals or as snacks, rather than as meal replacements, can help achieve a calorie surplus more effectively.
Best Shake for Diabetes Management
Boost offers Boost Glucose Control and Boost Glucose Control High Protein, specifically designed to produce a lower blood sugar response in people with diabetes. Boost Glucose Control contains 16 grams of carbs (4 grams of added sugars), while Boost Glucose Control High Protein provides just 4 grams of carbs (no added sugars) and a higher protein content.
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While Ensure doesn't have shakes specifically for people with diabetes, Abbott Nutrition offers Glucerna for managing blood sugar levels.
Best Shake for Older Adults
Older adults are at risk of malnutrition due to factors like poor appetite, chewing problems, and a decline in the sense of smell. Small, tasty, nutrient- and protein-rich meals are often recommended.
Ensure and Boost can help cover older adults’ increased nutritional needs. For maximum calorie and nutrient intake, Ensure Enlive and Boost Plus are suitable options.
Considerations for Children
Ensure and Boost products are designed for adults. Abbott Nutrition offers product lines for infants, kids, and teens, including EleCare, Similac, and Pediasure. Nestlé also has brands intended for children, such as Alfamino, Althéra, Alfaré, Garden of Life, Modulen, Peptamen, and Vitaflo.
Potential Side Effects
Ensure and Boost shakes may cause side effects like constipation, nausea, and flatulence, which often subside with consistent consumption. Other reported side effects include muscle cramps, irregular heartbeat, and shortness of breath.
Due to the high vitamin K content, individuals taking blood-thinning drugs like Warfarin should avoid these products. Most Ensure and Boost products are suitable for people with lactose intolerance but not for those with galactosemia, a genetic disorder affecting galactose metabolism. Both brands’ products are safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women.