Protein shakes
Lean Body Protein Shake
17 fl oz/500 mL
Score
- Ultra-processed
- Contains non-nutritive sweeteners
- Contains emulsifiers studied for gut effects
- Contains seed oils
- Contains artificial flavors
- No synthetic dyes
Why it scores 39
Lean Body Protein Shake scores 39 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 18 points Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
- minus 8 points 7 kinds of ultra-processing markers: Industrial additive classes found: bulking agent, color (added), emulsifier, flavoring, industrial protein, non-nutritive sweetener and thickener, stabilizer or gelling agent. Emerging
- minus 7.5 points Cellulose gum (carboxymethylcellulose): In a small randomized feeding trial, carboxymethylcellulose modestly increased abdominal discomfort and reduced gut microbiota diversity; in mice it promoted low-grade inflammation. Strong
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better protein shakes
-
Ensure Max Protein nutrition shake French Vanilla Ensure No non-nutritive sweeteners · No gut-studied emulsifiers Score 78 out of 100 , 39 points higher -
Organic Cocoa Cashew Coconut Dairy-free Shake Forager Project No non-nutritive sweeteners · No gut-studied emulsifiers Score 79 out of 100 , 40 points higher -
Eden Shake Sesame & Sea Vegetable Seasoning Eden Not ultra-processed · No non-nutritive sweeteners Score 79 out of 100 , 40 points higher -
The MealBetix Lifestyle MealBetix · 15 oz Not ultra-processed · No gut-studied emulsifiers Score 79 out of 100 , 40 points higher -
Organic Green Berry meal shake Urban Remedy No gut-studied emulsifiers · No seed oils Score 77 out of 100 , 38 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Protein Shake
Ingredients
- Cellulose gum (carboxymethylcellulose) minus 7.5 points
- Carrageenan minus 7.5 points
- Sucralose minus 7.5 points
- Acesulfame potassium (Ace-K) minus 4 points
- Milk protein concentrate / isolate minus 1.5 points
- Caseinate minus 1.5 points
- Whey protein concentrate / isolate minus 0.5 points
- Natural and artificial flavors minus 0.5 points
- Sunflower oil minus 0.5 points
- Inulin (chicory root fiber) minus 0.5 points
- Microcrystalline cellulose minus 0.5 points
- Potassium phosphate minus 0.5 points
- Magnesium phosphate minus 0.5 points
- Soy lecithin minus 0.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 7 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 8 points
Nutrition per 100 ml
- Energy 56 kcal / 100 ml minus 4 points
- Protein 8 g / 100 ml plus 2 points
100 − 61.5 = 38.5 → 39
Nutrition per 100 ml
| Energy | 56 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 1.8 g |
| Saturated fat | 0.2 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 1.8 g |
| Sugars | 0 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Protein | 8 g |
| Salt | 0.2 g |
Serving: 1 portion (17 fl oz)
Ingredients
- FILTERED WATER
- MILK PROTEIN ISOLATE
- CALCIUM CASEINATE
- WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE
- NATURAL & ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS
- SUNFLOWER OIL
- INULIN
- CELLULOSE GEL
- CELLULOSE GUM (moderate concern)
- CARRAGEENAN (moderate concern)
- VITAMIN AND MINERAL BLEND (POTASSIUM PHOSPHATE, POTASSIUM CITRATE, MAGNESIUM PHOSPHATE, SODIUM ASCORBATE, ZINC SULFATE, TOCOPHEROL ACETATE, BIOTIN, VITAMIN A PALMITATE, NIACINAMIDE, PHYTONADIONE, POTASSIUM IODIDE, D-CALCIUM PANTOTHENATE, CHROMIUM CHLORIDE, COPPER SULFATE, CYANOCOBALAMIN, SODIUM MOLYBDATE, SODIUM SELENITE, FOLIC ACID, CHOLECALCIFEROL, PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE, RIBOFLAVIN, THIAMIN MONONITRATE, MANGANESE SULFATE)
- SOY LECITHIN
- TURMERIC (COLOR)
- SALT
- SUCRALOSE (moderate concern)
- ACESULFAME POTASSIUM (moderate concern)
Label text, as published
FILTERED WATER, MILK PROTEIN ISOLATE, LESS THAN 2% OF: CALCIUM CASEINATE, WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, NATURAL & ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS, SUNFLOWER OIL, INULIN, CELLULOSE GEL, CELLULOSE GUM, CARRAGEENAN, VITAMIN AND MINERAL BLEND (POTASSIUM PHOSPHATE, POTASSIUM CITRATE, MAGNESIUM PHOSPHATE, SODIUM ASCORBATE, ZINC SULFATE, TOCOPHEROL ACETATE, BIOTIN, VITAMIN A PALMITATE, NIACINAMIDE, PHYTONADIONE, POTASSIUM IODIDE, D-CALCIUM PANTOTHENATE, CHROMIUM CHLORIDE, COPPER SULFATE, CYANOCOBALAMIN, SODIUM MOLYBDATE, SODIUM SELENITE, FOLIC ACID, CHOLECALCIFEROL, PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE, RIBOFLAVIN, THIAMIN MONONITRATE, MANGANESE SULFATE), SOY LECITHIN, TURMERIC (COLOR), SALT, SUCRALOSE, ACESULFAME POTASSIUM.
Allergens and diets
Contains: Milk, Soy
- Not vegan
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
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Sources
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“Relative to control subjects, CMC consumption modestly increased postprandial abdominal discomfort and perturbed gut microbiota composition in a way that reduced its diversity.”
doi.org
-
Dietary emulsifiers impact the mouse gut microbiota promoting colitis and metabolic syndrome
“carboxymethylcellulose and polysorbate-80, induced low-grade inflammation and obesity/metabolic syndrome in wild-type hosts and promoted robust colitis in mice predisposed to this disorder.”
doi.org
-
“This study found positive associations between risk of CVD and intake of five individual and two groups of food additive emulsifiers widely used in industrial foods.”
doi.org
-
“The Panel concluded that there was no need for a numerical ADI and that there would be no safety concern at the reported uses and use levels for the unmodified and modified celluloses”
doi.org
-
“We found direct associations between the risk of type 2 diabetes and exposures to various food additive emulsifiers widely used in industrial foods, in a large prospective cohort of French adults.”
doi.org
-
Re-evaluation of carrageenan (E 407) and processed Eucheuma seaweed (E 407a) as food additives
“However, the Panel noted uncertainties as regards the chemistry, the exposure assessment and biological and toxicological data.”
doi.org
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Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1–142 (List of Classifications)
monographs.iarc.who.int
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Personalized microbiome-driven effects of non-nutritive sweeteners on human glucose tolerance
“As groups, each administered NNS distinctly altered stool and oral microbiome and plasma metabolome, whereas saccharin and sucralose significantly impaired glycemic responses.”
doi.org
-
“Sucralose-6-acetate significantly increased the expression of genes associated with inflammation, oxidative stress, and cancer”
doi.org
-
“EFSA’s experts concluded that the sweetener sucralose (E 955) continues to be safe for consumers for its currently authorised uses as a food additive.”
efsa.europa.eu
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WHO advises not to use non-sugar sweeteners for weight control in newly released guideline
“The recommendation is based on the findings of a systematic review of the available evidence which suggests that use of NSS does not confer any long-term benefit in reducing body fat in adults or children.”
who.int
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Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030
“Limit foods and beverages that include artificial flavors, petroleum-based dyes, artificial preservatives, and low-calorie non-nutritive sweeteners.”
cdn.realfood.gov
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Artificial sweeteners and cancer risk: Results from the NutriNet-Santé population-based cohort study
“In this large cohort study, artificial sweeteners (especially aspartame and acesulfame-K), which are used in many food and beverage brands worldwide, were associated with increased cancer risk.”
doi.org
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Re-evaluation of acesulfame K (E 950) as food additive (plain language summary)
“The acceptable daily intake (ADI) considered safe for all population groups was set at 15 mg/kg body weight (bw) per day.”
efsa.europa.eu
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21 CFR 101.22 Foods; labeling of spices, flavorings, colorings and chemical preservatives
“whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.”
ecfr.gov
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“replacement of saturated fat in the diet with linoleic acid effectively lowers serum cholesterol but does not support the hypothesis that this translates to a lower risk of death from coronary heart disease or all causes.”
doi.org
-
“These data provide support for current recommendations to replace saturated fat with polyunsaturated fat for primary prevention of CHD.”
doi.org
-
EFSA issues new advice on phosphates
“We estimated that dietary exposure to phosphates may exceed the new ADI for infants, toddlers and children with average consumption of phosphates in their diet.”
efsa.europa.eu
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“Greater exposure to ultra-processed food was associated with a higher risk of adverse health outcomes, especially cardiometabolic, common mental disorder, and mortality outcomes.”
doi.org