Is it good to drink Ensure every day?: Understanding the Benefits, Drawbacks, and Optimal Use

November 9, 2025 •

4 min read

Nutritional supplement shakes like Ensure are a staple in hospitals and nursing homes for their ease of consumption and concentrated nutrients. However, the question of whether it's good to drink Ensure every day for a generally healthy adult is more complex than simple marketing suggests.

Quick Summary

This guide examines the nutritional profile of Ensure, its intended purpose for those with deficiencies or recovering from illness, and the potential drawbacks of daily use for healthy individuals. It highlights the importance of whole foods over supplements.

Key Points

Intended for Specific Needs: Ensure is primarily for individuals with malnutrition, involuntary weight loss, or those recovering from illness, not for healthy adults.
Consider High Sugar Content: Many Ensure formulations contain added sugars and corn maltodextrin, which can lead to unwanted weight gain if consumed daily by healthy individuals.
Whole Foods are Better: Relying on processed nutritional shakes means missing out on the fiber and diverse phytonutrients found in a balanced, whole-food-based diet.
Potential Side Effects: Regular consumption of supplements can cause digestive issues like bloating, constipation, or diarrhea in some individuals.
Consult a Professional: It is best to consult a healthcare provider before starting a daily regimen of any nutritional supplement to ensure it's appropriate for your health status and to avoid potential medication interactions.
Alternatives Exist: Homemade, whole-food smoothies are often a healthier and more affordable alternative for a daily nutritional boost compared to relying on store-bought shakes.

Understanding the Purpose of Ensure

Ensure is a well-known brand of oral nutritional supplements designed to help individuals meet their nutritional requirements. While marketing often positions it as a convenient health shake, it is important to recognize its original therapeutic purpose. Primarily, Ensure is intended for those who have a hard time consuming adequate nutrition through regular food intake. This includes individuals who are recovering from surgery or illness, experiencing involuntary weight loss, dealing with malnutrition, or on medically prescribed modified diets.

For these specific groups, a daily serving can be a crucial lifeline, providing a concentrated source of protein, vitamins, minerals, and calories that might otherwise be missed. However, for a generally healthy person who can eat a varied diet, the daily need for such a supplement is debatable and can even present potential issues.

Benefits of drinking Ensure daily (for the right individuals)

For those in need of nutritional support, daily consumption of Ensure offers several key advantages:

Convenience and ease of consumption: Ready-to-drink shakes are simple to integrate into a daily routine, providing quick and easy access to nutrition, which is especially important for those with poor appetite or difficulty swallowing.
Targeted nutrition: Ensure offers products with different formulations to address specific needs, such as high protein for muscle health or high calories for weight gain.
Fills nutrient gaps: A single serving can provide an excellent source of essential vitamins and minerals, which can help fill nutritional gaps in a limited or restricted diet.
Supports recovery: For those recovering from illness or surgery, the consistent intake of protein and calories can help support healing and weight maintenance.

Potential drawbacks and risks for healthy adults

On the other hand, relying on Ensure every day as a nutritional shortcut without a medical need can have several downsides for healthy individuals:

High sugar content: Many Ensure varieties, such as the Original, contain significant amounts of added sugar and corn maltodextrin. While providing energy, this can lead to weight gain if consumed in addition to a regular diet.
Lacks the benefits of whole foods: Processed supplements like Ensure do not contain the same level of dietary fiber, phytonutrients, and antioxidants as a balanced meal of whole foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Over-reliance on shakes can lead to an inferior diet overall.
Potential for gastrointestinal issues: Some individuals may experience side effects such as constipation, bloating, nausea, or diarrhea, particularly when first starting to use the product.
Exceeding nutrient levels: Consuming nutritional shakes daily on top of a healthy diet can lead to an excessive intake of certain vitamins and minerals, especially if other supplements are also used. High doses of some nutrients can be problematic; for example, high levels of Vitamin K can interfere with blood-thinning medications.
Cost: Relying on pre-packaged nutritional shakes can be significantly more expensive in the long run than purchasing and preparing whole foods.

Ensure vs. a Whole-Food Smoothie: A Comparison

For those seeking a daily nutritional boost, it is helpful to compare a store-bought supplement like Ensure with a homemade, whole-food smoothie. This table highlights key differences.


Feature	Ensure Original Shake	Homemade Whole-Food Smoothie (Example)
Calories	~220 kcal (8oz serving)	Varies greatly, typically 300-400+ kcal
Protein	9g	Higher, depending on ingredients (e.g., Greek yogurt, protein powder)
Sugar	~15g (includes added sugar)	Primarily natural sugars from fruits, with no added sugars
Fiber	1g	Much higher (e.g., 5-10g+) from fruits, veggies, and seeds
Whole Food Value	Processed, fortified with added nutrients	Nutrient-rich, unprocessed ingredients like fruits, vegetables, and nuts
Cost (per serving)	Higher price point, especially over time	Often more affordable, depending on ingredients
Nutrient Balance	Formulated for specific nutritional deficiencies	Controlled by user; offers wider range of micronutrients
Added Ingredients	Often contains corn maltodextrin and canola oil	User-selected; no artificial ingredients

Making an Informed Decision

For the vast majority of healthy adults, the best approach is to get nutrients from a diverse, whole-food-based diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains. Nutritional shakes are a helpful tool, but they are not a magic bullet and should not be used as a routine replacement for a balanced meal. If a supplement is necessary, it is important to choose the right one for your needs and to be mindful of its sugar content and ingredients. Consulting a healthcare professional or registered dietitian is the best course of action to determine if daily Ensure is right for you, especially if you have an underlying health condition or are taking medications.

In most cases, a homemade smoothie using real, whole ingredients is a superior option for a daily boost, providing not only macronutrients but also fiber and a wider spectrum of naturally occurring vitamins and minerals. The Harvard Health Blog has also highlighted that nutritional supplements are often unnecessary for those without a specific nutritional problem, and that whole food sources are preferable.

Conclusion

While daily Ensure can be a vital component of a nutritional plan for those with specific health needs, it is not an ideal choice for healthy individuals looking for a simple diet enhancement. The high sugar content in many products, combined with the lack of fiber and whole-food benefits, means that for most people, a balanced diet is far superior. Supplements should be treated as just that: a way to supplement a diet, not to replace it. A conversation with a healthcare provider can help determine the appropriate course of action for your individual health goals and nutritional status.

Frequently Asked Questions

A generally healthy person can technically drink Ensure every day, but it is not typically recommended. The product is designed for individuals with specific nutritional needs or deficiencies, and for healthy adults, a varied, whole-food diet is a superior source of nutrients.

Yes, drinking Ensure every day can contribute to weight gain, especially if you are not underweight and consume it in addition to your regular meals. Many varieties are high in sugar and calories, which can lead to a caloric surplus.

Some individuals may experience side effects such as constipation, bloating, gas, nausea, or diarrhea, especially when they first start drinking it daily. These often subside with consistent use but can be an ongoing issue for some.

Ensure products can be used as an occasional meal replacement or as a supplement to meals, but they are not designed to be a complete replacement for a balanced diet. Over-reliance can lead to an inadequate intake of dietary fiber and other natural nutrients.

Instead of a processed shake, consider homemade smoothies made with fruits, vegetables, and protein sources like Greek yogurt or natural protein powder. Whole foods provide a wider array of nutrients and fiber.

Individuals with certain conditions, such as those with galactosemia or kidney disease, should avoid Ensure or consume it only under strict medical supervision. Those on blood thinners should also be cautious, as some products contain high levels of Vitamin K.

The recommended number of servings varies by product and individual need, but it is often limited to 1-2 per day for supplemental use. It is best to follow your doctor's recommendations or the product's guidelines and avoid overconsumption.