Are Ensure Shakes Healthy? A Comprehensive Guide to the Pros and Cons

December 15, 2025 •

4 min read

Ensure is widely recognized as the number one doctor-recommended brand of oral nutritional supplements, but the answer to whether Ensure shakes are truly healthy depends on who is drinking them and why. While they provide targeted nutrition for individuals who need it, such as those with malnutrition or recovering from surgery, they are not a one-size-fits-all solution for general health.

Quick Summary

This guide provides an unbiased look into Ensure shakes, detailing their nutritional makeup, benefits for specific health needs, and potential drawbacks like high sugar content and processing. It examines who benefits most from these supplements versus those who should prioritize whole foods.

Key Points

Targeted Use: Ensure shakes are specifically formulated for individuals with nutritional risks, such as seniors or those recovering from illness, not for general healthy consumption.
Processed Ingredients: While rich in fortified vitamins and minerals, Ensure contains processed ingredients like corn maltodextrin and sugar that may not be ideal for everyone.
High Sugar Content: Some Ensure varieties contain higher sugar levels, which can be a concern for healthy individuals or those with blood sugar management issues.
Diabetic Alternative: Regular Ensure is not recommended for diabetics; the company offers a specific product line, Glucerna, for this purpose.
Whole Foods First: For most healthy adults, getting nutrients from a balanced, whole-food diet is preferable and more cost-effective than relying on nutritional shakes.
Potential Side Effects: Users may experience digestive issues like gas, bloating, or constipation, especially those with lactose sensitivity.

What's Inside an Ensure Shake?

At its core, an Ensure shake is a liquid nutritional supplement formulated by Abbott Laboratories to provide a balance of macronutrients and micronutrients. A typical 8-ounce bottle of Ensure Original contains water, corn maltodextrin, sugar, milk protein concentrate, and a blend of vegetable oils. These core ingredients provide the basis for the shake, which is then fortified with a wide array of vitamins and minerals. While the nutrient list can be impressive, it is important to consider the source of these nutrients.

Ingredients breakdown for Ensure Original:

Protein: Milk protein concentrate and soy protein isolate provide a complete source of protein, which is essential for muscle repair and growth.
Carbohydrates: Corn maltodextrin and sugar are the primary carbohydrate sources. This is a point of contention, as the sugar content can be high in certain variants.
Fats: A blend of vegetable oils, including canola and corn oil, provides a source of energy.
Vitamins and Minerals: Fortified with up to 27 essential vitamins and minerals, Ensure delivers a significant percentage of the daily value for many micronutrients.

The Benefits of Ensure Shakes

For certain populations, Ensure offers significant health benefits, often filling crucial nutritional gaps. This is why doctors frequently recommend it to their patients.

Targeted Nutrition: Ensure is a convenient way to provide concentrated calories and nutrients for individuals with malnutrition or involuntary weight loss. This includes seniors with poor appetite, patients recovering from illness or surgery, and those with difficulty chewing or swallowing.
High Protein Options: The Ensure product line includes high-protein shakes, such as Ensure Max Protein, which provides 30g of protein to support muscle health. This can be particularly beneficial for older adults looking to maintain muscle mass.
Convenience: As a ready-to-drink supplement, Ensure is a fast and easy option for people with busy lifestyles or for those who need a nutrient boost on the go.
Immune Support: Many variants are fortified with key nutrients like zinc, vitamins A, C, D, and E to support immune health.

Potential Drawbacks and Considerations

Despite the benefits, Ensure shakes are not without their downsides. The main criticism comes from the highly processed nature of the product and its ingredients.

High Sugar and Artificial Ingredients: While Ensure Original contains a moderate amount of sugar (10g), other versions might have more. The presence of corn maltodextrin, which has a high glycemic index, can cause a quick spike in blood sugar. Many shakes also contain artificial flavors and sweeteners. For a healthy individual, the added sugars offer little benefit compared to whole foods.
Digestive Issues: Some users report digestive side effects such as constipation, nausea, or flatulence, particularly as lactose intolerance can increase with age.
Processed vs. Whole Foods: For the average, healthy person, the nutrition provided by Ensure can be obtained more effectively and affordably through a balanced diet of whole foods like fruits, vegetables, and lean protein sources. A banana and a glass of milk with a scoop of protein powder can be a more natural alternative.
Misuse for Weight Loss: While it can be part of a weight-loss plan, Ensure was not designed specifically for this purpose and should not be used as a primary weight-loss tool without professional medical advice.

Ensure vs. Homemade Shakes: A Comparison

To highlight the difference between a processed supplement and a more natural alternative, here is a comparison of two popular Ensure products and a simple homemade shake.

Table: Nutritional Shake Comparison


Feature	Ensure Original	Ensure Max Protein	Homemade Protein Shake
Calories	220	150	Varies (e.g., 300-400)
Protein	9g	30g	20-40g
Sugar	10g	1g	Customizable (low)
Key Ingredients	Water, Corn Maltodextrin, Sugar, Milk Protein Concentrate, Vegetable Oils	Water, Milk Protein Concentrate, Cocoa Powder, Vegetable Oils, Sucralose	Milk, Protein Powder, Banana, Nut Butter
Vitamins/Minerals	27 essential vitamins and minerals	Excellent source of zinc, vitamins A, C, E, selenium, and D	Dependent on ingredients, can be supplemented via multivitamins
Cost per Serving	~$2-$3	~$2-$3	Varies, but often more affordable long-term

A Note on Diabetes and Ensure

It is crucial to note that standard Ensure products are not designed for individuals with diabetes, as they can significantly impact blood sugar levels. Abbott Laboratories, the manufacturer of Ensure, produces a separate product line called Glucerna specifically for people with diabetes. Glucerna contains a different carbohydrate blend that minimizes blood sugar response. Diabetics should always consult their healthcare provider before using nutritional supplements and consider Glucerna as a potentially safer option.

Who Should Drink Ensure?

Ensure should be viewed as a tool for targeted nutritional support rather than a general health drink for everyone. Here are the key groups who can benefit the most:

Seniors: Especially those with decreased appetite, swallowing issues, or at risk of malnutrition.
Patients Recovering from Surgery or Illness: Ensure can help supplement caloric and nutrient intake during recovery periods.
Individuals with Involuntary Weight Loss: Those struggling to maintain or gain weight due to medical conditions can use Ensure to boost their caloric intake.
Those on Low-Residue Diets: Certain medical conditions or procedures require diets with minimal fiber, and Ensure can provide nutrition in an easily digestible form.

Conclusion: A Tool, Not a Cure-All

So, are Ensure shakes healthy? The answer is complex. For someone with specific medical needs requiring concentrated, complete nutrition, Ensure can be a healthy and vital part of their diet. However, for a generally healthy adult, the processed nature and high sugar content of some variants mean that consuming a balanced diet of whole foods is the superior option for long-term health. The convenience of Ensure should not overshadow the potential downsides for those who don't genuinely need it. As with any supplement, consulting with a healthcare professional or registered dietitian is the best course of action to determine if Ensure is the right choice for your individual nutritional needs. Read more about the nutritional content of Ensure products on Verywell Fit.

Frequently Asked Questions

For most healthy adults, it is not recommended to drink Ensure daily as a substitute for a balanced diet. It is a processed supplement designed to meet nutritional needs for specific conditions, and a diet of whole foods is generally superior.

Yes, products like Ensure Plus provide concentrated calories and protein to help individuals gain or maintain weight, especially those at risk of malnutrition or experiencing involuntary weight loss.

Some users have reported side effects including constipation, nausea, and flatulence. People with increased lactose sensitivity, common in older adults, may experience more digestive issues.

Standard Ensure products are not recommended for individuals with diabetes. Abbott Laboratories, the manufacturer, produces a separate product called Glucerna which is specifically formulated with slowly digested carbohydrates for diabetes management.

A homemade shake offers more control over ingredients, sugar content, and can be made with whole, less-processed foods. While Ensure provides fortified vitamins and minerals, a homemade shake can be a more natural and often cheaper alternative for general nutrition.

Yes, Ensure has a variety of products, including Ensure Original, Ensure Plus (higher calorie), Ensure Max Protein (higher protein, lower sugar), and Plant-Based options, each targeting different nutritional needs.

People taking blood thinners like Warfarin should be cautious with Ensure, as many products contain high levels of Vitamin K, which can interfere with the medication.