Is Drinking Your Meals As Healthy As Eating Them?
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Drinking protein shakes vs eating food
On today’s episode of Live Lean TV, we answer a viewer question who asked: is drinking your meals as healthy as eating them?
This is another episode from our #WayBackWednesday series, where we highlight the best questions from previous episodes of our #AskLiveLeanTV Q&A show.
This question is from #AskLiveLeanTV Ep. 004.
Here’s today’s viewer question:
CiscoBalls on Snapchat asks: I know Living Lean is a lifestyle, but life is really busy at times. Is drinking your meals as healthy as eating them? For example, greens and whey?
First off, we totally understand that life can be really busy.
However, I’m going to say no.
Drinking your meals is not as healthy as eating them.
Unfortunately, taking supplements is not better than eating whole foods.
On occasion, when you’re very busy, it can be healthy
However, at times when it’s busy, and you’re in a pinch, drinking your food can still be a healthier than not eating at all.
For example, if I don’t have time to eat a meal, I would throw some protein powder in a blender with some greens.
But drinking your food should not be your go-to option, 24 hours a day.
In other words, do not use this as a crutch, by drinking this for every meal, every day.
This would definitely not be as healthy.
The answer really depends
If at times you’re busy, then yes fire back a protein shake and throw in some greens.
But if you’re saying, “I’m just too lazy to get in the kitchen and cook, so I’m just going to drink 6 protein shakes a day.”
That’s going to be a no-go.
Not approved.
Why eating food is better than drinking it
When it comes to drinking protein shakes vs eating food, whole food is always more:
- anabolic
- thermogenic
Thermogenic simply means your body burns more calories when eating whole foods because it takes energy to digest it.
Whole foods are legit
If you’re planning on having 3 or 4 meals a day, if one of those meals is a post workout protein shake, the rest of your nutrients should be coming from whole foods.
With that said, we don’t mind people having 2 shakes a day if they’re extremely busy, and they need it.
That makes sense, because again, we get how busy life can be.
Two protein shakes per day can also work if…
For some busy people, drinking 2 protein shakes is easier to get in your required calories and macronutrients for the day.
Especially if one protein shake is early in the morning, instead of breakfast, and the other is late at night, in place of snacking on dessert.
We’re okay with that too.
But leaning on protein shakes as a crutch, too often, is when it becomes not as healthy.
Bottom line: is drinking your meals as healthy as eating them?
Like we always say, you just need to primarily focus on eating food.
Plan to have your protein shake after your workout, then possibly have one more at night, if you’re craving something sweet.
Here’s the diet solution for busy people
If you feel like you don’t have any time to prepare your meals, you need to check out our Live Lean 20 Diet System.
- 20 delicious meals
- In 20 minutes or less
- Using only 20 ingredients
People are loving Live Lean 20 as it is our most simplified nutrition program yet.
Check out the best crazy healthy cereal recipe that you can make in just 49 seconds.
This is one of the recipes from Live Lean 20.
Enjoy your cereal!
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Question For You:
- How many meals do you eat vs drink in a day?
Be sure to share your answers in the comment section below.
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Brad Gouthro is the founder of Live Lean TV, a media company focused on helping men and women “Live Lean” 365 days a year. Brad’s programs and content have helped millions of people all over the world learn how to get in shape, and more importantly, sustain it for life.
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