Soylent releases new beverage as more opt for new take on dining on the go
This week the meal replacement drink maker Soylent unveiled "Soylent 2.0," a soy-based vegan beverage that claims to offer everything you need in a meal.
It's a blend of soy protein, fatty acids in the form of algal oil, a slowly-digested sugar called isomaltulose and an array of micronutrients, according to the company's website.
The oil is said to come from farm-free algae sources, adding environmental sustainability to the drink's list of virtues.
With 47 percent of calories coming from the algal oil -- what the company hails as healthy fats -- and 33 percent from slow-metabolizing sugars and 20 percent from the soy protein, the beverage has a low glycemic index of 49.2.
This means the product is unlikely to create blood sugar spikes, although consuming too much of a given food product could offset a low glycemic index.
The product was originally sold in the form of a powder, and is still available that way, sold under the name "Soylent 1.5."
While meal replacement shakes are nothing new, the startup created a lot of buzz, appearing to cater to busy students and career-mavens rather than the sick, elderly and those with dental or jaw troubles -- until now the traditional target market for meal replacement shakes.
Soylent is aiming to change the way we eat, and founder Rob Rhinehart documents his experience of consuming nothing other than the elixir on his own blog.
Meanwhile the company blog proposes reaching for a bottle of Soylent 2.0 instead of making a drive-through pit stop or as a substantial breakfast for those who lack the time to cook one.
Soylent 2.0 is available for preorder for a price of $29, which buys a 12-pack of the product for home delivery.
Shipping begins October 15: https://www.soylent.com/
Other meal replacement beverages include Ensure and Boost.
Similar products have been marketed to dieters for decades including by Slimfast, Nutrisystem and diet-guru Dr. Atkins as well as by the cereal brand Special K.
For athletes, protein shakes have long been the go-to method for increasing muscle mass, refreshing energy supplies and drinks dedicated to muscle recovery have hit the shelves in recent years including Endurox R4: All Natural Muscle Recovery Drink.
Meal replacement drinks have been criticized for containing too much sugar and not providing enough variety, and experts recommend using them sparsely to replace meals, particularly for healthy individuals.
