Optifast Review – Does it Really Work?

What is Optifast?

Intended for obese people with at least 50 pounds over their healthy body weight, this brand offers a variety of options including shakes for supplementation. They company has clinics that offer a comprehensive weight loss management system with medical supervision, calorie and diet plans, mood diaries and personal support.

However one can just take in the shakes if it does not fit ones busy schedule. These shakes are available already made or in powdered form to be mixed with liquids. These products while recommended after bariatric surgery can be taken without.

Let’s see just how effective these products actually are.

Who makes it?

The Novartis Nutrition Corporation has had major success as a pharmaceutical company.

There have been quite a few troubles in the companies history however. They were found to manipulate data to support their products in Japan. Also the company was deemed guilty of sexual discrimination on 5,600 employees. The FDA also caught them misinforming claims of one of their drugs.

How (and) does it work?

Though these products are meant to be taken in close supervision of the companies own medical team, for those not willing to shell out extra cash for these centers the products are still available.

One of their products is a 6 gram per serving powder of whey protein mixed with the potentially harmful GMO filled soy. This combination is upsetting seeing as how soy makes the whey protein a less viable option for people concerned about genetically modified products.

Other products contain fructose(a cheap sugar), harsh preservatives(BHA and BHT),as well as artificial flavors. These unwholesome ingredients have this product ranking low in terms of quality and overall nutrition.

What’s inside of it and are there side effects?

It’s important to look at just how much but what exactly compromises this formula. The added unnecessary soy and preservatives make it a hard shake to swallow. Take a gander at the wholesome ingredients featured inside the top 10 list offered.

Ingredients:

• BHA: An antioxidant added to prevent spoiling. It has been tested by the National Institute of Health and it is deemed carcinogenic.
• Artificial Flavors: These lab created additives mimic the flavors of other ingredients.
• Fructose: Sugar sourced from fruit that is known to increase blood sugar levels as well as increase rate of obesity in large doses.
• Soy Lecithin: A form of fatty soy added to give a product better consistency.

Potential Side Effects: Diarrhea, vomiting, muscle cramps, abdominal pain, frequent bathroom trips, nausea, fatigue, headache, and increased blood sugar.

What’s good about it?

Available either powdered or ready to drink. There is also a full ingredient listing provided as well as a good quality form of whey protein in one of their brands.

What’s bad about it?

What’s difficult to accept is though some retailers sell their products on third party sites, there is no official price listing and way to purchase these products directly from the manufacturer. Potential customers are left to call the clinics and be pitched an offer for comprehensive weight loss that is expensive, time consuming and unknown to be effective.

To those looking for a quick solution you’re left with having to purchase these products outside the company which may have inflated prices and no money back guarantee.

Adding to the struggle is the real suspect ingredients offered. Not only are the ingredients not necessary and cheap, but they are not favorable as even a decent choice for meal supplementation. By adding the preservatives BHA/BHT it settles the fact that the company would rather sacrifice quality over profit. These preservatives have been shown to be carcinogenic and they really aren’t necessary additions.

There’s also the cheap artificial flavors and GMO soy added which do not help this products cause. Just more reasons to show how there are cheap substitutes included.

Wrap Up

It’s great that Optifast offers a comprehensive plan for people with the time and money to get tracked thru their regiments. Unfortunately this option is only available to those with the resources and energy to have everything in their lives tracked. Also added to the mix are the meal replacement shakes that aren’t up to par in terms of quality of protein and overall ingredient listing. It’s shocking to see the artificial additives and preservatives which extend shelf life, but reduce the overall function of the product. To summarize, it just isn’t wholesome or as effective as it could be.

Bottom Line:

These products not only contain ingredients that are lacking in quality, but they defeat the purpose of a meal replacement that is meant to give optimum satisfaction. This is clearly evident when you examine the top 10 list.

Making the right decision for your health and weight loss goals is easy to attain when you have the right tools. Observe the best of the best in the comprehensive top 10 listing of meal replacement shakes.