Southern Indiana Living - March / April 2024

Real Life Nutrition
Nutritious Sips: A Basic Guide to Nutritional Supplement Drinks
Every week in my work as a registered
dietitian nutritionist, I
meet a few patients who are
spending a lot of money on nutritional
supplement drinks that are not
meeting their needs. These folks are diligently
using supplements in an effort
to solve a specific health issue, but they
are not getting the results they seek, because
they have selected a supplement
that doesn’t have the right energy or
macronutrient balance for their specific
needs.
Let’s get a few definitions straight
before we go any further:
Energy: In the context of nutrition,
energy is measured in calories. Consuming
enough total energy each day is
important to adequately fuel the human
body. Each person has their own unique
energy need, which translates into how
many calories they need to consume
each day to function at their best, and
to maintain a stable, functional body
weight.
Macronutrients: Commonly called
“macros,” macronutrients are the three
major nutrients that provide our bodies
with the above energy we need to
function. The three macros are 1) protein,
2) carbohydrate and 3) fat. Each of
these play essential roles in our bodies,
and all are required in some amount for
proper body function. The amount of
each that an individual needs will vary
from person to person, according to
each person’s unique health needs.
Nutritional supplement drinks
vary widely in the amount of energy
(calories) they provide, as well as in the
ratios of macronutrients they provide.
For example, some supplements are
very high in protein, while others are
more moderate or even low in protein.
Others may be low in carbohydrates,
while others are more carbohydrate
rich. Likewise, some supplements will
provide a higher amount of dietary fat,
while others are fat-free. The variability
between products makes it possible for
people with differing health needs to
find a product that may work for them.
So, how do you know which supplement
to choose? There are many factors
to consider. Here are some recommendations
for the four most common
reasons my patients are utilizing nutritional
supplements:
Reason #1: You want to gain weight
If your goal is weight gain, choose
higher-energy (higher-calorie) drinks,
with 250 or more calories per serving.
Calories are king here! It is more important
to choose a high-calorie drink for
weight gain than it is to choose a highprotein
drink. A common mistake I see
in the hospital is this: An underweight
person is drinking a high-protein, lowcalorie
supplement, thinking that the
high protein content will help them gain
weight, but they aren’t gaining anything,
despite drinking the supplements
every day. This is because high protein
intake alone will not drive weight gain
unless the person is also eating plenty of
calories! Additionally, the high protein
content of the supplement is so filling,
often the person ends up eating fewer
calories overall because they are so full,
making it impossible to gain weight.
Rather than choosing the highest protein
option, choose the highest calorie
option.
Reason #2: You want to lose weight
If you are looking for a supplement
to help support your nutritional
goals while losing weight, choose
lower-energy (lower-calorie) drinks,
generally with 200 or fewer calories
per serving. That said, there are a few
of these products that clock in around
230 to 240 calories because of their very
high protein, but most drinks designed
for weight loss will have 200 calories
or fewer. Often, these products have a
slightly larger serving size — anywhere
from 10 ounces to 14 ounces per serving.
This helps make them more filling,
but it is also why these supplements
aren’t very helpful for those who need
to gain weight. Filling up on these higher-volume
supplements may support
eating less food overall. Typically, these
products will be higher in protein, and
lower in total carbohydrates.
Reason #3: You want to add protein,
but you don’t like “milky” options, or
you need a fat-free option
Do you dislike the taste or the texture
of milk, or do you need a fat-free
option for medical reasons? Try a clear
nutritional supplement! Clear nutritional
supplements are generally fruitflavored
and have the appearance of
fruit juice. Some of these are higher in
carbohydrate, while others are lower.
Generally, the higher-calorie, highercarbohydrate
versions are designed for
weight gain, while the lower-calorie,
lower-carbohydrate versions are designed
for weight loss. Consider your
personal goals when making your selections.
Reason #4: You need extra nutrition
and have additional needs due to kidney
disease
Some nutritional supplements are
specifically made for people with kidney
concerns. Often, other supplements
on the market have too much potassium
and phosphorus to use routinely in kidney
disease.
If you’ve made it this far, you’ve
probably realized that the subject of nutritional
supplements is a vast one. We
haven’t even scratched the surface of
protein powders and bars! If you have
supplement questions that extend beyond
this introductory guide, consider
working with a registered dietitian nutritionist
to create an individual plan. •
Please remember that this article is for informational
purposes only, and it does not
contain specific medical advice. It should
not take the place of one-on-one care with
a health-care professional. Always consult
your registered dietitian nutritionist,
physician and/or other health-care providers
before making nutritional modifications.
Do not disregard professional medical
advice or delay seeking medical care because
of anything you have read in this article.
Mention of specific products in this article
should not be interpreted as endorsement of
any specific brand or product.
About the Author
Anna Hartman, RDN,
LD, CD, is the Lead
Clinical Dietitian at Baptist
Health Floyd, and
has many years of experience
as a caregiver.
Anna is passionate
about supporting family
caregivers as they navigate nutritional caregiving
for their loved ones.
Southern Indiana Living • Mar/Apr 2024 • 23