What is Soylent?

Soylent is one of the first commercially successful meal replacement shakes. There have been many meal replacements before Soylent, but this is one of the first ones to stay successful and relevant for a prolonged period of time.

The shakes are made primarily with soy, but the name actually comes from the 1973 film Soylent Green (whose secret ingredient was … people). Soylent was designed by American software engineer Rob Rhinehart, who wanted to create an instant meal that contained all the ingredients necessary for survival.

The primary goal for Rob Rhinehart was to save himself time and money. He noted that his grocery bills per month dropped by 75%. But he also wanted the shakes to be healthy, allowing him greater control over his own nutrition.

One thing that Rhinehart did not appear to be overly interested in was taste or the experience of enjoying food. This partly explains why the modern Soylent has so few flavours available. It may also explain why many of the ingredients are cheap to produce. This product was designed by a software engineer rather than a dietician or chef.

By 2015, Soylent had become more than an experiment in some engineer’s basement. It was fully funded and beginning to attract a lot of media attention. This is mostly down to the name as well as the concept.

Rhinehart named Soylent after the non-human soylent bars in the book Make Room! Make Room! (which turned into the movie Soylent Green). The bars were made from soy and lentils (hence the name Soy-lent).

Soylent is now an established brand in the US and Canada, but it has not managed to expand its business into other territories. This led to a Dutch man creating “Joylent” which was designed as a European alternative to Soylent. Joylent is now known as Jimmy Joy and is quite popular in Europe.

When you look at the head start that Soylent had over the other big names in the meal replacement shake industry, it is somewhat surprising how underwhelming its performance has been.

Competitors such as Huel, Rootana, and Instant Knockout Complete have been able to carve out large portions of the American market while dominating Europe. Soylent didn’t even become profitable until 2020, seven years after the company was founded.

The worry is that in the nine years since Soylent came out, competitors have stolen a march on them. Huel offers more flavours, Rootana uses better ingredients, and Instant Knockout Complete has more protein and fibre per serving.

Soylent at a Glance

Soylent contains 400 calories per serving. It has 20 grams of protein, 42 grams of carbohydrates, 6 grams of fibre, and 19 grams of fat. There are only two flavours available, Original and Chocolate.

Ingredients in Soylent

There are 14 ingredients in the Soylent formula, but some of them aren’t really worth covering. For example, salt, cellulose, natural flavours, and a vitamin and mineral premix. In this section, we will be taking a look at the primary ingredients in Soylent.

• Soy Protein Isolate
• Canola Oil
• Maltodextrin
• Isomaltose
• Soluble Corn Fibre
• Modified Food Starch
• Vitamin & Mineral premix
• Cellulose
• Natural Flavours
• Soy Lecithin
• Salt
• Mono & Diglyceride
• Xanthan Gum
• Sucralose

Soy protein isolate is the primary source of protein in Soylent. While there are many people who distrust soy as they worry it will affect their hormones, this has been disproven. A 2022 meta-analysis found that there was no evidence that soy intake affected the sex hormones of men or women [1].

As a source of protein, it is excellent, high in quality amino acids, sustainable, cheap to produce, and can help with building muscle and raising your metabolic rate.

Canola oil (also known as rapeseed oil) is a fairly healthy fat to add to your diet, and studies have shown that it can lower LDL cholesterol and protect heart health [2]. However, when you compare Soylent to other meal replacement shakes, you will see that they use better sources for their fat.

Maltodextrin, isomaltose, soluble corn fibre, and modified food starch have been added to provide carbohydrates and fibre to the formula. Which explains the relatively high sugar content of Soylent (16 grams of sugar out of 42 grams of carbohydrates).

These are perfectly acceptable ingredients when you consider the context in which Soylent was created. It is supposed to be cheap and healthy enough to keep you alive. But this is an area in which Soylent really struggles to compare to other meal replacement shakes. Most of them use oat flour as their primary carbohydrate due to the many health benefits associated with it.

The thing is, none of the ingredients in Soylent is inherently unhealthy, and the intention of this article is not to scare you off. The intention is to show you that there are better alternatives. Do you really want to consume a shake that contains an ingredient list such as this? Or would you rather consume one that prioritises real food ingredients?

How Good Are Meal Replacement Shakes for Weight Loss?

Before we ask ourselves how good Soylent is for weight loss, we should first take a look at meal replacement shakes as a whole. What does the science say about meal replacement shakes and fat loss?

Let’s kick things off with a quick look at how the weight loss process works:

Every day, we consume a certain number of calories in the foods we eat and drinks we drink. At the same time, we burn a certain number of calories through activities that can range from going to the gym, walking up the stairs, or even sitting down and reading an article.

• If there is zero difference between the number of calories you consume and the number of calories you burn, then your body will neither gain nor lose weight. This is known as weight maintenance or energy balance.
• If you consume more calories than you burn, then the extra calories (energy) are stored as fat for future use in times of low food availability. This is called a positive energy balance.
• If you consume fewer calories than you burn, your body will need to use stored energy (body fat) to balance the equation. This is called a negative energy balance.

To create a negative energy balance and lose weight, you need to either increase the number of calories you burn, reduce the number of calories you consume, or do a little bit of both.

While many people believe that weight loss is mostly down to exercise, it is actually diet and calorie restriction that is most effective (usually, not everyone is the same).

Meal replacement shakes can help with calorie restriction by replacing higher-calorie meals with shakes that are often lower in calories. They are also high in protein and fibre. These two macronutrients are highly satiating, meaning that they can help you feel fuller for longer. This makes it easier to diet.

Studies have repeatedly shown that meal replacement shake diets are just as effective as regular dieting techniques [3]. In some respects, they are even more so [4]. There are a number of theories as to why, but they all relate to the following:

• Meal replacement shakes are inexpensive and may even save you money
• Meal replacement shakes are simple and don’t require following crazy rules
• Meal replacement shakes can be made in seconds and are often palatable

Put simply, unlike many diets, it is easy to follow a meal replacement shake diet, making it more likely that someone can stick to the diet for longer. The biggest issue with almost every diet is that they are unsustainable for most people.

How Good is Soylent for Weight Loss?

Soylent is a meal replacement shake, and as we have already learned, meal replacement shakes are effective at helping you lose weight. So, the real question is whether Soylent is the best meal replacement shake for weight loss, which is an altogether different argument entirely.

Pros

• High in protein
• Only 400 calories per serving
• Easy to prepare

Cons

• High in sugar
• Poor quality ingredients
• Less fibre than most of the competition

Soylent can certainly be used to help you lose weight. It is high in protein, quite satiating, and at only 400 calories per serving it could realistically be used to replace a higher-calorie meal.

Soylent is easy to prepare, tastes okay, and there are a lot of other Soylent products that can help you with your diet. Soylent also has quite an active community, who can be supportive for new users looking for guidance.

However, there are much better options out there. Soylent is high in sugar, and its fibre content is lower than most meal replacement shakes. This means that it isn’t as satiating, making dieting a little harder than with other products.

Soylent also uses low-quality, cheap ingredients, and it would be fair to say that it is not as satisfying or as naturally healthy as other products.

Alternatives to Soylent

There are many meal replacement shakes out there, but the following three are the best alternatives to Soylent that we have come across.

Rootana

This is sort of the anti-Soylent, a meal replacement shake that is fantastic for weight loss but doesn’t come with all of the unnatural ingredients that Soylent does. Rootana has the same number of calories per serving, roughly the same protein (21 grams rather than 20 grams), slightly more fibre, and it has less sugar.

It also avoids artificial sweeteners and uses real food ingredients such as oats, flaxseed, pea protein, and sunflower seed oil. If you are looking to lose weight in a healthy manner, and prefer an ingredients list with recognisable ingredients, then Rootana is the obvious choice.

Huel

Another good alternative to Soylent is Huel. Like Rootana, it uses better ingredients than Soylent, though, unlike Rootana, Huel does use artificial sweeteners. This is a shame because, other than that, it is a very good meal replacement shake.

Instant Knockout Complete

Complete is the best meal replacement shake for weight loss, but it does come at a premium price thanks to its top-quality ingredients. Complete contains 35 grams of protein and 13 grams of fibre per serving, making it highly satiating and perfect for weight loss.

Final Thoughts on Soylent for Weight Loss

In summary, Soylent is an effective dieting tool for weight loss, but there are better meal replacement shakes out there for people looking to lose weight. If you live in the USA or Canada, and you are considering Soylent for weight loss, then you will probably be happy with the results. But you will have a better experience using the alternatives mentioned above (Rootana, Huel, Instant Knockout Complete).

Check out our list of the best meal replacement shakes for women here

References

What is Rootana?

Rootana is a meal replacement shake that refuses to use artificial sweeteners (even Stevia) and instead uses coconut sugars to improve the taste. It is high in protein, high in fibre and uses low GI carbohydrates such as oat flour to provide a superb nutritious meal.

Rootana can be used to aid weight loss, it can be used to fill gaps in your nutrition (it contains 24 vitamins and minerals per serving), and it can even be used to gain weight (build muscle) if you choose to do so.

Rootana Pros & Cons

Pros

• High in protein
• High in fibre
• Packed full of vitamins and minerals
• Avoids the use of artificial sweeteners
• Uses real-food ingredients
• Low GI carbs
• Healthy fats

Cons

• Only available from the manufacturer
• Only 2 flavours are available

How Does Rootana Work?

Meal replacement shakes are designed to replace the meals you struggle with. Most people have a good idea of what makes up a healthy meal (protein, fibre, nutrients), but due to a hectic work schedule (or a crazy home life), they don’t have the time or resources to prepare them.

Studies have shown that meal replacement shake diets are as effective (if not more) as regular dieting and are more sustainable in the long term [1].

Identify a meal you currently struggle with. Most people choose breakfast or lunch. Replace that meal with a 400-calorie Rootana shake (original flavour, vanilla, or cacao). Because the shake is high in protein and fibre, it will leave you feeling full for longer.

What Can You Expect from Rootana?

As most breakfasts or lunches contain 600+ calories, you should see a reduction in your daily calorie intake. If you combine this with increased activity (walking, running, going to the gym), you can expect to lose weight in a safe and effective manner.

Rootana Original flavour contains 400 calories per serving, 21 grams of protein, 7.1 grams of fibre, 44 grams of carbohydrates, and 16 grams of fats. The other two flavours have roughly the same macronutrient ratios, with minor differences (cacao flavour has 9.4 grams of fibre for example).

Rootana Ingredients List

There are six main ingredients that we will be looking at in this Rootana meal replacement review. We have not included the vitamin and mineral blend as it is self-explanatory.

Oat Flour

Rootana uses a slow-releasing, low GI food for the majority of its carbohydrates, and that food is oat flour. Oats are incredibly healthy but are also excellent value for money, and due to their high sustainability score, they are a great choice for the environment too!

Thanks to the high amount of fibre found in oats, they effectively reduce hunger and lower food intake. A 2013 study found that people who ate oats regularly were much less likely to be overweight or obese than people who rarely consumed oats [2].

A 2021 study discussed how β‐glucan, a soluble fibre found in oats, can help to improve satiety, delay gastric emptying, and improve gut hormones and microbia. They can ultimately help with appetite and energy regulation [3].

Oats have been found to reduce the risk of Type II diabetes, obesity, and other metabolic conditions thanks to their ability to regulate energy intake and lead to better weight management [4].

Oats can also help reduce your risk of heart disease, lower cholesterol levels, reduce blood triglycerides, and reduce inflammation [5]. Oats may also help to reduce the likelihood of contracting certain cancers.

Pea Protein Isolate

Pea protein is one of the most popular plant-based protein sources available. It contains all of the essential amino acids and is what is known as a complete protein. Pea protein is derived from yellow peas and provides all the same benefits as whey protein or soy protein.

Protein can help to build muscle, but perhaps more importantly, it can help to preserve muscle mass while dieting. People often see a drop in muscle mass when losing weight, but a high protein diet can prevent this [6].

Protein is also satiating, just like fibre. A high-protein meal replacement shake can keep you feeling fuller for longer, even if the calories are fewer than you would normally have. This makes weight loss easier and more enjoyable (or, at the very least, less of a pain).

Protein is the most satiating macronutrient [7], and high-protein foods and snacks are ideal for people seeking to reduce their energy intake.

Golden Milled Flaxseed

Flaxseed is a superb food to add to a meal replacement shake. High in ALA, the building block of omega 3 fatty acids, flaxseed is an amazing source of healthy fats and has many health benefits. It can lower cholesterol and lower your blood pressure. It is beneficial for Type II diabetics as it stabilises blood sugar thanks to its fibre content [8].

Thanks to the high amount of lignans in flaxseed, it is being looked at as a cancer-fighting food. A 2018 study found that flaxseed effectively decreased breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women [9].

Sunflower Seed Oil

Sunflower seed oil is used by Rootana as a source of antioxidants, oleic acid, plant phenols, and vitamin E. Sunflower seed oil that is high in oleic acid has many health benefits.

Coconut Sugars

Rootana uses natural coconut sugar instead of artificial sweeteners such as sucralose. Coconut sugars contain fibre, potassium, calcium, and zinc. They are also rich in antioxidants.

Sunflower Lecithin

The final ingredient on our list is sunflower lecithin. Its main function is to improve stability and mixability in the shake. However, sunflower lecithin has also been shown to improve brainpower. Increasing cognition and improving mood [10].

How to Take Rootana

Most people use meal replacement shakes as an alternative to breakfast or lunch. Sometimes, people use them for both meals, and in rare cases, people will use them for all three meals. Finding the right balance for your goals and lifestyle is important.

Grab a shaker and fill it with 500 ml of cold water. Then you want to add 5 tablespoons of Rootana powder (100 grams). Grab the lid and place it tightly onto the shaker, then shake it for 20 seconds.

Benefits of Rootana

There are many benefits to taking Rootana. Here are some of the most important:

• High in protein – There are 20 grams of protein in each serving of Rootana. The protein comes from pea protein isolate, the best plant-based protein around.
• Excellent source of fibre – A serving of Rootana contains between 7 and 9 grams of fibre (depending on flavour). This will increase satiety, improve gut health, protect your immune system, and help to reduce the risk of certain diseases.
• Free from artificial sweeteners – There is no nutritional trickery here, just natural coconut sugar, which is prized for its fibre, nutrients, and antioxidants.
• Convenient – It is long-lasting and easy to store. Rootana can also be prepared within seconds. Think how much time that saves you on your lunch break.
• All-Natural Ingredients – Rootana prides itself on using real food ingredients for its protein, fats, and carbohydrates. If you prioritise non-GMO foods, then Rootana is the shake for you.

How to Get the Best Out of Rootana?

Meal replacement shake diets can be very effective for weight loss and/or weight management. But they work best when they are combined with strategic lifestyle changes. Exercising regularly, sleeping 8 hours each night, keeping stress levels low and in control, and ensuring that the rest of your diet is healthy and sensible will provide the best results.

Rootana Meal Replacement Review

There is a lot to like about Rootana. It has clearly been designed to improve the health and vitality of anyone who takes it. They have decided to only use real food ingredients rather than ingredients such as maltodextrin or sucralose.

It can be really effective if you are trying to lose weight or you want to improve your gut health. Ideally, we’d like a few more flavours to choose from, but this is something that could change in the future. We’re big fans!

Rootana provides a cleaner, and healthier approach to meal replacement shakes. Perfect for anyone who prioritises real food ingredients over lab-made sweeteners.

If you are looking for a high-quality, completely natural meal replacement shake that can help you to lose weight, improve your nutrition, and (perhaps most importantly) save you precious time during busy work days, then check out Rootana today. 

References

Instant Knockout is a supplement brand that is dedicated to helping its customers lose weight in a safe and effective way. They offer two products, a fat burner called Instant Knockout Cut, and a meal replacement shake called Instant Knockout Complete. We’re reviewing the latter today, but it is important to understand that both products share a synergistic relationship. Each amplifies the benefits of the other.

What is Instant Knockout Complete?

Instant Knockout Complete is a meal replacement shake that is designed to help aid weight loss. The idea is that you replace high-calorie meals with a 400 calorie shake, that is high in protein and fibre. The protein and fibre increase satiety, helping you to avoid hunger and cravings, which so often derail most diets.

There is a lot of science to support the use of meal replacement shakes for weight loss, with studies finding this form of diet to be more successful than traditional calorie counting or any of the well-known diets that are out there [1].

Instant Knockout Complete uses real plant-based foods to provide a high protein, high fibre, shake with low GI carbs, and a decent serving of healthy fats rich in omega-3s.

Instant Knockout Complete Pros and Cons

Pros

• High in protein
• High in fibre
• Uses top-quality ingredients
• Excellent taste and mixability
• Excellent source of healthy fats
• Combines amazingly well with IK Cut for next level weight loss

Cons

• Premium price for top-quality ingredients
• Only available from the Instant Knockout website
• Only 1 flavour to choose from

Who Makes Instant Knockout Complete?

Instant Knockout is produced by a company called Roar Ambition, which has been selling supplements since 2014. Roar Ambition is also responsible for products such as Prime Male and TestoFuel. They are based in the UK but sell their supplements internationally.

How Does Instant Knockout Complete Work?

Instant Knockout Complete is a meal replacement shake, this means that it is designed to be used instead of one of your daily meals. Often it is used instead of breakfast or lunch, sometimes both meals are replaced.

Because Complete is only 400 calories (and an average lunch is around 500-800) you will save calories. When it is combined with increased exercise and smarter food choices for your other meals, it can lead to significant weight loss over time.

Instant Knockout Complete is also designed to be highly nutritious, it is packed full of the vitamins and minerals required to lead a healthy lifestyle. Complete is well known to increase satiety, making snacking due to hunger much less likely.

What Can You Expect From Instant Knockout Complete?

You can expect a pouch that contains 14 meals (or two pouches that contain 28). Each meal is 400 calories, with 35 grams of protein, 35 grams of carbohydrates, 13 grams of fibre, less than 3 grams of sugar, and 13 grams of fat.

Instant Knockout Complete Ingredients

There are six main ingredients contained within Instant Knockout Complete, you also have a vitamin and mineral blend and some probiotics.

Oat Flour

Oat flour is incredibly popular with meal replacement shake companies because it ticks a LOT of boxes. It is high in fibre, has a low GI score, mixes well, has a decent amount of protein, and oats are highly sustainable. So it’s good for the planet too!

But what are the benefits to the customer? Oat flour is very high in fibre, which means that it can increase post-meal satiety [2], reducing the likelihood of hunger cravings and snacking between meals. Very important when on a diet.

Plant-Based Protein

The plant-based protein blend used in Instant Knockout Complete is a combination of pea protein and soy protein isolate. There are 35 grams of protein per serving, and the majority comes from these two sources. Soy is a great protein source, easy to absorb and digest, packed full of amino acids, and ideal for vegans.

Pea protein is very popular with meal replacement shake companies as it has a really good amino acid profile (when combined with brown rice it is a complete protein), comes from a highly sustainable source, and is well absorbed by the body.

Golden Flaxseed

Flaxseed is a super source of omega 3 fats as well as fibre. Increasing your omega 3 intake is something that everyone can benefit from. It can help to lower blood pressure, improve heart health, and can reduce blood triglyceride levels [3]. The fibre will increase satiety, improve your gut microbiome, improve digestion, and help to reduce the risk of certain cancers and heart disease [4].

MCT Oil

Unlike some meal replacement shakes that only contain a tiny amount of MCT oil, Instant Knockout Complete uses it as its main fat source. MCT oils are incredibly beneficial, fewer calories from MCTs are absorbed by the body than with regular fats [5], helping to reduce calories while delivering the same health benefits.

MCT oil is also being looked at as a cognitive enhancer. Studies on people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease found that MCT oil improved cognition significantly [6]. It may help to improve memory as well as brainpower, but more research is required.

Organic Brown Rice

Another excellent protein source, brown rice protein is added to complement the pea protein that is already being used. Together, pea protein and brown rice protein form a complete protein.

Chia Seed

Like flax seed, chia seed is a great plant-based source of omega-3 fatty acids. It is also high in fibre and protein. It contains high levels of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus while remaining low in calories.

How to Take Instant Knockout Complete

The instructions for taking Instant Knockout Complete are nice and straightforward. Grab your shaker and pour 500 ml of water into it. Then add two scoops (100 grams) of Complete powder to the water. Tighten the lid, and then shake thoroughly for 10-20 seconds.

You can take Instant Knockout Complete once or twice per day as a replacement for main meals. Alternatively, if you are looking to gain weight, you can take it as a pre or post-workout supplement.

Benefits of Instant Knockout Complete

There are a number of benefits to taking Instant Knockout Complete, here is a quick rundown of some of the biggest benefits:

• Convenient – Complete is easy to store, easy to transport, and only takes 30 seconds to prepare. Washing up afterwards is also a breeze.
• Cost – While there are cheaper alternatives out there, Instant Knockout Complete is still significantly cheaper than the cost of a regular lunch or breakfast.
• High in Protein – There are 35 grams of plant-based protein in each serving of Instant Knockout Complete.
• High in Fibre – High fibre content means increased satiety and an easier weight loss journey. It’s also crucial for gut health and reducing your risk of heart disease.
• Healthy Fats – There are a number of quality fats in this powder, from MCT oil to chia seed, to flaxseed. Filled with nutrients to help with weight loss and health.

How to Get the Best Out of Instant Knockout Complete?

As we mentioned at the beginning of this review, Instant Knockout Complete is designed to be taken either on its own or in conjunction with the fat burner Cut. If your goal is weight loss, then combining the two will provide you with the best results.

But you also need to make changes to the rest of your diet, increase your activity levels (if you are currently sedentary), improve your sleep quality and quantity, and manage your stress better. Do all of this and you should be able to burn fat while preserving muscle mass and improving your health through nutrition.

Instant Knockout Complete Summary

If you struggle to follow a healthy diet, particularly at lunch or breakfast, then Instant Knockout Complete is a perfect choice. It is high in protein, high in fibre, and a source of healthy fats. All for just 400 calories per serving.

It is convenient, and easy to use, and the cost per serving is great. Not only will it help with weight loss and then weight management, but it can also help you to improve your nutrition by providing vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients.

If you are looking for a meal replacement shake that will help you towards your weight loss goals, then Instant Knockout Complete is the right choice for you.

References