Formula 1: A Convenient, Delicious and Nutritious Shake

As a global nutrition company, we’re all about providing our customers with daily balanced nutrition. But meeting your nutritional needs every day can sometimes be difficult to put into practice. Our lives are so busy with work, school or family commitments that planning and preparing healthy meals and snacks is often an afterthought.

Healthy lifestyles are built on balanced nutrition, and that’s why we developed our signature protein shake product, Herbalife® Formula 1 Healthy Meal Nutritional Shake Mix.

Formula 1 is a delicious, easy-to-make shake mix that provides an ideal balance of protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals. Around the world, millions of Formula 1 shakes are consumed every day.

Formula 1 protein shakes can be used in a number of ways, such as:
 

• A quick, balanced meal for breakfast, lunch or dinner
• A meal replacement for weight loss*
• A supplement for weight gain or increasing your protein intake
• A way to fuel before or to refuel after exercise
• A means to improve your dietary balance

What Is Formula 1?

Formula 1 is a complete, convenient meal that provides the nutrients your body needs. Its plant-based protein formula was developed by nutritionists and food scientists and is rooted in the latest research showing the efficacy of meal replacements, along with diet and exercise, as a solution for achieving a healthy weight.† According to a systematic review and meta-analysis of 14 studies, the University of Oxford found that programs incorporating meal replacements led to greater weight loss compared to alternative diets.

Formula 1 shakes can be part of anyone’s balanced daily regimen. Whether you’re focused on shedding pounds, building up muscle, maintaining a good diet or all of the above, Formula 1 is a key addition to your routine of smarter eating and regular exercise.

A Formula 1 shake, when made with 8 fluid ounces of nonfat milk or soy milk contains:
 

• 170 nutrient-dense calories
• 17 grams of protein
• 21 vitamins and minerals to help fill nutritional gaps
• 3 grams of fiber
• An excellent source of antioxidants, such as vitamins A (as beta-carotene), C and E

A Formula 1 for Everyone

Formula 1 is built on sound science and, as millions of customers can attest to, the varieties of flavors are delicious. In North America, we have flavors such as Cookies ‘n Cream, Wild Berry, Dulce de Leche, Dutch Chocolate, Pumpkin Spice and more. My personal favorite is Banana Caramel.

In other markets, we’ve developed region-specific flavors to help customers around the world better achieve their nutrition goals. Examples include Formula 1 Kulfi in India, Formula 1 Matcha and Formula 1 Red Bean in China, Formula 1 Melon in Russia, and Formula 1 Chocolate Hazelnut in South and Central America.

We also created Formula 1 versions to meet the needs of individuals with specific dietary restrictions or allergies and follow vegetarian, gluten-free, kosher, vegan or soy-free diets. For instance, our Formula 1 Select line in the U.S. is a gluten-free, AVA- and kosher-certified vegetarian blend made with pea, quinoa and rice proteins, and non-GM ingredients. Similarly, Tri Blend Select, available in certain European markets, is our first 100 percent vegan protein shake made with pea, quinoa and flaxseed.
 

Formula 1 and Its Glycemic Index Value

The Glycemic Index (GI) is a method that quantifies the effects of carbohydrate-rich foods on the sugar levels in your bloodstream. When these foods are digested and absorbed, the result is a rise in blood sugar (or blood glucose), which serves as the primary fuel for your muscles and brain. Since carbohydrate-rich foods don’t all affect blood sugar the same way, the GI is used to rank foods according to how much – and how rapidly – they cause the blood sugar to rise after they’re eaten.

Many high GI carbohydrates are those that are highly refined and readily digested and absorbed – like white bread, white rice, pasta or sugary foods – and have GI values of 70 and above. These foods tend to cause quick spikes in the blood sugar. But these spikes are often followed by steep declines, which can lead to cravings for more high GI foods to bring blood sugar levels back up and maintain physical and mental energy. The end result can lead to a “roller coaster” of blood sugar highs and lows throughout the day.

Low GI foods, with a GI of 55 or less, include non-starchy vegetables, whole grains, beans and lentils, apples, berries, and oranges. They release carbohydrates more slowly into the bloodstream, so the rise in blood sugar is more modest and energy levels are more sustained. In addition, several flavors of Formula 1 carry the Low Glycemic Index symbol and are certified by the Glycemic Index Foundation. For individuals who follow a carbohydrate-restricted diet, this information can be helpful in meal planning.
 

The Different Ways You Can Customize Your Formula 1 Shake

Aside from the vast variety of flavors, a Formula 1 shake can be tailored to meet your unique nutritional needs, tastes or preferences.
 

What type of milk should you use for Formula 1?

Label directions suggest blending Formula 1 with milk or soy milk, as they complement the protein in the shake mix and provide additional vitamins and minerals, making the finished shake nutritionally complete.

There are many milk alternatives available other than soy, but they can vary greatly in calorie and protein content. To maximize protein, your best bet is a pea-based milk – most brands match the 8 grams of protein you get in a cup of dairy or soy milk. Most nut-based milks don’t offer much protein – only 1 gram or so per cup – so if you use them, you’ll want to add more protein to your shake to match the 17 grams you would get when making the shake according to label directions.
 

Ways to Customize Your Shake

Add protein to your protein shake.

Even though Formula 1 is already formulated with protein, you might want to include more if your protein needs are high. You can add plain protein powder, such as Herbalife® Personalized Protein Powder, or add low-fat cottage cheese, yogurt, ricotta cheese or silken tofu to boost protein content.

For a higher protein shake, many of our customers prefer a water-based blend made with a serving of Formula 1 and a serving of our Herbalife® Protein Drink Mix – a combination that serves up 24 grams of protein. With the many flavors of both Formula 1 and Protein Drink Mix to choose from, the flavor combinations are nearly endless.
 

Add fruits and vegetables to your protein shake.
 

Adding fruits and vegetables to your Formula 1 protein shake is an easy way to get more servings of these healthy foods in your daily diet. Frozen fruits and vegetables are convenient, and they give your protein shakes a thicker texture. Experiment with different fruits and vegetables (you might start with sweeter veggies like carrots or butternut squash) and try different combinations – like pineapple with carrot or banana with butternut squash.

When you’re feeling a little bolder, try adding more unusual ingredients to your shake – like baby spinach leaves or beets.
 

Add fiber to your protein shake.

Most people don’t eat as much fiber as they should, so try adding high-fiber foods to your Formula 1 shakes. Aside from fruits and vegetables, rolled oats, bran or seeds such as sunflower, flax or chia seeds all contribute fiber.

Another great shake addition is Herbalife® Active Fiber Complex: a blend of soluble and insoluble fibers with 5 grams of fiber per serving.
 

Add calories to your protein shake.

If your calorie needs are high, you can add rolled oats, nuts, nut butter, avocado or dried fruit to boost the calorie content of your shake.
 

Add ice to your protein shake.

Ice makes a nice addition to a shake because it thickens up the liquid. Ice also adds volume to your shake, so it increases the portion size without adding calories. This is a great trick for those who are watching their weight.

Our daily routine can be complicated, but balanced nutrition shouldn’t be. Each meal and snack provide an opportunity to improve your nutrition and ensure you are ingesting calories packed with the nutrients needed to replenish and rebuild. Formula 1 can be the foundation for a healthy diet and lifestyle, and with so many options for making delicious shakes, everyone can find a shake that works for them.


*Clinical studies on U.S. Formula 1 (one study) and on similar products show that Formula 1 shakes taken twice a day as part of a reduced-calorie diet help people lose weight.

†Studies still have to be conducted to determine the expected results of weight-loss or maintenance programs that use Herbalife® products exclusively.