The Potential Side Effects of Meal Replacements – Key Points You Really Should Know

Meal replacement products have definitely earned a name for themselves because of their effectiveness, affordability, and convenience. As more and more overweight individuals get to their ideal bodyweights with the aid of meal replacement products, it has now become obvious that these shakes, bars, and soups have an assured place in the realm of weight loss aids.

At first glance, it seems apparent that only positive things can be said about meal replacement products. But when the instructions on the label are not followed, these dietary supplements can cause inconvenient side effects. Should you decide to use MRPs for your weight loss program, it’s essential that you understand how to avoid the pitfalls that will induce the adverse effects that it will cause.

When you first start taking meal replacements shakes, one of the first things you will notice is that you will start to feel hungry a couple of hours afterwards. This is understandable considering that liquid meals do not give the same level of satiety as solid foods. The hunger could also be psychological. We usually associate fullness with eating foods that have to be chewed, not liquids that are simply swallowed.

Planning is essential if you want to avoid running to the nearest fast food chain or vending machine to get your quick fix when the craving hits. Always keep replacement bars, nuts, low-fat yogurt or trail mixes with you wherever you go. This way, you have something healthy to chew on when the cravings start.

Stomach upsets, constipation, and irregular eliminations are some of the other side effects of using MRPs. This is usually caused by prolonged use of meal replacement products without taking in enough fiber in your diet. These products only contain 2 to 5 grams of fiber per serving. Adults like you need at least 30 to 50 grams of fiber per day.

Prevent this from happening by incorporating a lot of plant-based food items in your diet. Also, you don’t have to worry about gaining a pound since fruits and vegetables are so low in calories. However, these are so packed with nutrition and rich in fiber to promote better digestion, regular eliminations and improved cardiovascular health.

Perhaps the most detrimental side effect of meal replacement products is their potential to give bounce back weight gain. The convenience of these weight loss aids is also their own bane. Dieters get so used to drinking meals that take no more than 30 seconds to prepare that when they wean away from MRPs, they are at a loss as to how to prepare their meals in a way that will not put on the excess pounds. More often than not, they gain back all the weight they have lost.

The only way to prevent bounce back weight gain is to learn how to prepare portion-controlled meals when you are still on these meal replacement products. Doing so will teach you how to count calories and approximate these in solid food so that you will not have to worry about eating more than what your body needs.

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