I’ve been on the hunt to jazz up my meal replacement flavors lately. After digging around a bit, I stumbled upon some pretty promising feedback on Thrive Lifestyle Mix, which is supposed to not only kick up my protein intake but also help with lean muscle and shedding a few pounds.
I thought to myself, “’Why not give it a whirl?” So, you’re wondering if it lived up to the hype for me? Check out my deep dive into Thrive Lifestyle Mix – I’ve covered everything from ingredients to its highs and possible lows. But, before we jump into that, let’s get to know about the company that brought this product to the table.
About the Company
The Thrive Mix product is crafted by Le-Vel, an American company focusing on health and well-being, with its headquarters situated in Frisco, Texas. The company’s inception dates back to 2012.
Jason Camper and Paul Gravette are the visionaries behind Le-Vel, not only as its co-founders but also as its co-CEOs. The company proudly highlights the fact that Camper and Gravette boast a collective experience of 41 years within the realm of health and wellness.
Guided by their company philosophy, Le-Vel is dedicated to selecting top-tier raw materials and imbuing its products with a superior level of nutrition.
Introduction to Thrive Lifestyle Mix
The “Thrive Experience” from Le-Vel includes Thrive Mix, a shake powder packed with nutrients. Serving as a meal substitute, weight loss booster, and health supplement, the Thrive shake has various purposes. One can prepare 16 healthful shakes by blending this powder with water or other beverages.
Summary
| Calories | 116 |
| Sugar | 2g |
| Protein | 15g |
| Fat | 2g |
| Carbs | 9g |
| Dietary Fiber | 5g |
| Cholesterol | 2.2mg |
| Superfoods | Yes |
| Vitamins & Minerals | Yes |
| Probiotics | Yes |
| Digestive Enzymes | Yes |
| Artificial Sweeteners | Yes |
| Controversial Ingredients | No |
Thrive Lifestyle Mix Review Nutrition Key Ingredients
The Thrive Shake, according to the company’s website, is a component of a 3-step “experience” bundle for a healthy lifestyle that also includes extra vitamins. Let’s analyze this shake’s nutritional breakdown and main component list before diving into the health benefits and my personal experience with it.
Calories
Before we dive into the main macros, let’s address the shake’s calorie content. According to the product description, each scoop contains 116 calories, making it a viable choice for those on a low-calorie diet. To enhance both taste and flavor, you can incorporate nutrient-rich and calorie-dense toppings when blending. Conversely, if you’re enjoying this shake, consider enhancing it with nutritious, low-calorie additions such as oats, berries, eggs, or Greek yogurt.
Main Macros
Now, we’ll break down the quantity of each macronutrient present in this shake, as keeping track of these macros aids in maintaining a well-rounded diet.
Carbs
For those following a low-carb diet, the Thrive Shake’s 9g of carbs per serving is a manageable amount. The fact that this shake contains 2g of sugar is nevertheless an important aspect to remember. Therefore, if you’re on a rigorous diet like Keto, consuming this shake with sweet foods may prevent you from reaching ketosis. You should therefore limit other sugary foods if you plan to use this shake as a meal substitute. On the plus side, this shake contains 5g of fiber, which may support the preservation of your gut and digestive health.
Fat
Let’s move on from carbohydrates and examine this shake’s fat content. This smoothie has 2g of total fat, of which 0.2g is saturated fat and less than 1g is unsaturated fat, according to the product label. For people trying to limit their overall dietary fat intake, this amount is pretty reasonable. However, it’s advised to include additional sources of healthy fats like avocados, cheese, dark chocolate, whole eggs, fatty fish, nuts, and chia seeds when taking this shake. This is particularly relevant if you’re currently on a high-fat diet like the ketogenic diet.
Protein
Protein plays a crucial role in numerous vital functions within your body. It helps to increase your metabolism and your capacity to burn calories. Each serving of Level Thrive Shakes contains 15g of protein, a sizable amount that is especially advantageous for those looking to increase their lean muscle mass or speed up muscle recovery after exercise. Additionally, you can pair this drink mix with protein-rich side dishes like Hummus with Chickpeas, Roasted Chickpeas, or a substantial Black Bean Salad.
Key Ingredients
Let’s dive into the Thrive Lifestyle Mix and explore its key ingredients in detail to understand their nutritional value and benefits.
Protein Mix
According to the product labeling, the protein blend present in the Thrive Lifestyle Mix is a carefully composed amalgamation of 15 grams of protein sourced from Pea, Whey Concentrate, and Soy. Within this protein trio, Pea and Whey Concentrate emerge as notably nutritious protein sources. Pea protein, for instance, stands out as a high-quality protein boasting easily digestible qualities, alongside being a reliable source of iron. Its health benefits encompass aiding muscle growth, inducing a sense of fullness post-meals, and contributing to heart health.
On the other hand, Whey, one of milk’s two primary proteins (alongside casein), is frequently employed by individuals seeking to foster lean muscle development and curtail body fat. Meanwhile, soy protein can indeed facilitate muscle growth. [1] However, according to healthline, it’s worth noting that a significant portion of soy is genetically modified (GMO) and naturally harbors compounds that mimic estrogen. So, if you have sensitives in particular ingredients, then you can look at other meal replacements without soy proteins.
Proprietary Blend
According to the product labeling, Thrive Lifestyle Mix boasts an impressive concentrated blend of super fruits, probiotics and digestive enzymes. This blend includes:
- Garcinia fruit extract
- Oat fiber
- Natural Caffeine from Black Tea
- Lactobacillus Acidophilus
- Rice bran
- Amylase 5000
- Bromelain 600 GDU
- Cardamom seed extract
- Cellulase 1000
- Ginger root
- Lipase 1000
- Papain 6000
- Protease 1000
- Protease 5000
- Cinnamon bark extract.
Making sure you’re getting a good dose of super fruits, probiotics, and digestive enzymes is really important for any diet. But it’s important to keep in mind that some of the things mentioned here, such as the natural caffeine from black tea, might mess with your sleep if you decide to team up this shake with more caffeine. This may especially be an important consideration if you are taking this later in the day or dinner time. [2] Still, throwing in some probiotics and digestive enzymes like Lactobacillus Acidophilus or Lipase into your meals can give you the nutrients you need and keep your gut in check.
Vitamins Minerals
As a safety net to ensure you’re getting enough of what you need, this shake also delivers a punch with 19 essential vitamins and minerals per serving. And the greatest part? It’s fantastic that several of these are hitting the mark at between 40% and 50% of the daily recommended. By ensuring you’re getting the appropriate amount of those essential vitamins and minerals, either through a balanced diet or supplements, you’re providing your body with the fuel it needs to continue functioning normally and preserve your health over time.
Available Flavors
Thrive Shakes come in six flavors which are available year-round: Chocolate
Vanilla, Strawberry, Apple Pie, Cinnamon Pumpkin Spice and Candy Cane.
My Thrive Lifestyle Mix Experience
So, I decided to dive into the world of Thrive and sampled their Lifestyle Mix in Vanilla. Here’s my honest take on it.
Right out of the gate, the sweetness was almost overpowering. I mean, I have a sweet tooth, but this was next level. A quick peek at the ingredients and, yep, there it was: Sucralose. That explains the extra sugary kick. That worried me a bit since I know Sucralose can cause some digestive issues.
Texture-wise, it was a struggle. There’s a noticeable chalkiness, and no matter how fervently I blended, it refused to get that silky consistency I was hoping for. Plus, after downing it, I still felt that familiar stomach grumble, signaling it didn’t quite hit the mark in the fullness department.
Then there’s the aftertaste. Kind of lingers more than I’d like, reminding me of that overpowering sweetness.
However, it wasn’t all bitter pills (or in this case, bitter shakes). I did notice a bit of an energy uptick after having it, which was welcome. But if you’re thinking this will be your magic weight loss elixir, I didn’t see those results.
In conclusion, it has its perks, but there are some definite areas for improvement. If you’re intrigued, maybe start with a sample before committing to a bigger batch.
How to Use It?
Thrive Mix comes in two presentations. There is the box containing 16 single-serving packets, and there is the canister containing a total of 16 servings. Preparation involves mixing the powder with a liquid such as water, almond milk, or dairy milk.
Who Should Buy?
- Those who want to take low calorie supplements.
- Those who want to increase animal based protein intake.
- Those who have sensitives in gluten.
Who Shouldn’t Buy?
- Those who are currently following restrictive diets like keto, vegan or vegetarian.
- Those who have allergies to soy, dairy or egg.
Possible Benefits
- It may support gut health as this shake mix contains fiber and superfoods. A study reported that adding these nutrients to the diet may regulate microbial activities within the gut.
- As this shake has digestive enzymes, it may improve your digestion.
Potential Downsides and Consideration
- Based on the product labeling, this shake contains soy protein in its protein blend. The report suggested that most of the soy protein is reportedly genetically modified (GMO) and mimics estrogen.
- As this shake contains soy, milk and egg, it may induce allergies in those who are sensitive to these particular ingredients.
- It has sucralose in it, which induces blood sugar level. [3]
Price Buying option
When the Thrive Mix powder is purchased on its own, whether in the box of 16 single-serving packets or in the canister containing 16 servings, the price is $56 USD. This price applies to the assortment pack and all flavors, with the exception of vanilla. The vanilla-flavored powder has a price of $52 USD.
List of Other Products by Thrive
Besides meal replacement shakes, the company also offers a variety of health and wellness products, including:
- Premium Lifestyle Capsule
- Lifestyle Shake Mix
- Lifestyle DFT product
- LE-VEL Skin
FAQs
Does Thrive Lifestyle Mix help with weight loss?
The company states that this shake has a limited amount of calories and fat and is formulated with essential vitamins and probiotics which may help you to lose weight.
Does Thrive support lean muscle?
Based on the company website, this drink mix is crafted with a high amount of protein, which may build lean muscle.
Can I drink two Thrive shakes a day?
YES! You CAN have a 2nd Thrive Premium Lifestyle Mix as a shake
What Are Some Good Recipes for Thrive Lifestyle Mix?
You can blend Thrive mix with almond milk or coconut milk, along with frozen fruits like berries or bananas, to create a refreshing and satisfying smoothie. You can also mix Thrive with Greek yogurt and top it with granola and fresh fruits for a nutritious and filling parfait.
Final Thoughts
The Lifestyle Mix from Thrive contains both highs and lows. Positively, it provides an energy boost that many people value during the day. The smell is also a pleasant addition. The excessive sweetness in Sucralose, however, along with the persistent aftertaste, and the gritty consistency could put some people off. Furthermore, based on my personal experience, if you’re considering this as weight-loss assistance, it could not live up to those expectations. I believe there are alternative shakes that offer beneficial ingredients similar to what you find in Thrive, but without the inclusion of sugar and soy. These could be a better choice for many.
Reference
- Anthony, T. G., McDaniel, B. J., Knoll, P., Bunpo, P., Paul, G. L., McNurlan, M. A. (2007). Feeding meals containing soy or whey protein after exercise stimulates protein synthesis and translation initiation in the skeletal muscle of male rats. The Journal of nutrition, 137(2), 357-362. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/137.2.357
- Ferraris, C., Elli, M., Tagliabue, A. (2020). Gut microbiota for health: how can diet maintain a healthy gut microbiota?. Nutrients, 12(11), 3596. https://doi.org/10.3390%2Fnu12113596
- Tsai, M. J., Li, C. H., Wu, H. T., Kuo, H. Y., Wang, C. T., Pai, H. L., … Ou, H. Y. (2023). Long-Term Consumption of Sucralose Induces Hepatic Insulin Resistance through an Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase 1/2-Dependent Pathway. Nutrients, 15(12), 2814. https://doi.org/10.3390%2Fnu15122814
