Understanding Ensure Clear: Which Ensure is clear? Your guide to the fat-free nutritional drink

October 18, 2025 •

4 min read

Ensure is the #1 doctor-recommended brand of oral nutritional supplements. For those on a clear liquid or fat-restricted diet, a specific, fat-free formula is required, leading many to ask which Ensure is clear. The answer is a product specifically designed for this purpose: Ensure Clear.

Quick Summary

This article explains Ensure Clear, a fat-free, fruit-flavored nutritional drink formulated for clear liquid and fat-restricted diets, and differentiates it from other creamy Ensure shake options.

Key Points

Ensure Clear is a clear liquid drink: Unlike the creamy shakes, Ensure Clear is a fat-free, fruit-flavored supplement intended for clear liquid diets.
Designed for special diets: It is suitable for fat-restricted, pre-surgical, and post-surgical diets, helping to maintain hydration and nutrient intake when solid food is not an option.
Nutritional support with 0g fat: Each bottle contains protein and essential vitamins and minerals but has zero grams of fat, distinguishing it from other Ensure products.
Not a complete meal replacement: Due to its fat-free profile, Ensure Clear is not intended as a sole source of nutrition for long-term use and is designed to supplement a temporary diet.
Comes in fruit flavors: It provides a refreshing alternative for those who prefer juice-like beverages over traditional creamy supplements, with flavors like Mixed Fruit and Blueberry Pomegranate.
Requires medical supervision for specific use: Always consult with a doctor or dietitian before using Ensure Clear, especially for preparing for a medical procedure.

What is Ensure Clear?

Ensure Clear is a specific type of nutritional supplement produced by the brand Ensure. Unlike the brand's more familiar creamy, milky shakes, Ensure Clear is a fat-free, juice-like liquid designed for specific dietary requirements. It provides essential nutrients, protein, and calories without the fat or fibrous content found in other supplements, making it an ideal choice for patients on restricted diets.

Ensure Clear is often used under medical supervision for a variety of purposes. These include preparation for and recovery from medical procedures, particularly those involving the digestive system, as well as for managing certain health conditions. The clear liquid formulation minimizes residue in the digestive tract, which is critical for preparing for procedures like a colonoscopy. It is a reliable option for individuals who need to maintain hydration and short-term nutrition while their gastrointestinal system rests or heals.

Nutritional profile of Ensure Clear

While not a complete nutritional meal replacement like some other Ensure products, Ensure Clear offers a concentrated dose of key nutrients. A typical 10 fl oz serving contains a substantial amount of calories, protein, and a range of vitamins and minerals.

Key nutritional highlights include:

Protein: Each bottle provides 8 grams of high-quality whey protein isolate, which supports muscle health and recovery.
Calories: A single serving offers 180-240 nutritious calories, depending on the country or product version.
Fat-Free: With 0 grams of fat, it is suitable for fat-restricted diets and conditions involving fat malabsorption.
Vitamins and Minerals: It contains 15 to 22 essential vitamins and minerals, including important antioxidants like vitamins C and E, and key minerals like zinc.
Carbohydrates and Sugar: The calories are primarily from carbohydrates and sugars, providing a quick source of energy.

Who is Ensure Clear for?

Ensure Clear serves a specific patient population, providing a safe and effective nutritional supplement when creamy shakes are not an option. It is not intended for long-term or sole-source nutrition due to its fat-free nature.

Commonly recommended for individuals on:

A clear liquid diet, often before or after surgery.
A fat-restricted diet due to conditions like fat malabsorption.
Bowel preparation for procedures such as a colonoscopy.

Beneficial for patients who:

Need to fill temporary nutritional gaps.
Have malnutrition or are at nutritional risk.
Prefer a refreshing, fruit-flavored alternative to creamy, shake-like supplements.
Are experiencing involuntary weight loss.
Are lactose intolerant, as it is suitable for such diets (not for those with galactosemia).

Comparing Ensure Clear with other Ensure products

Ensure offers a wide range of nutritional drinks, each formulated for different purposes. Here is a comparison to help illustrate the unique positioning of Ensure Clear within the product line.


Feature	Ensure Clear	Ensure Original	Ensure Plus	Ensure Max Protein
Primary Use	Clear liquid diet, fat-restricted diets	Everyday balanced nutrition, weight maintenance	Weight gain, extra calories/protein	High protein support for muscles, hunger
Protein per serving	8g (10 fl oz)	9g (8 fl oz)	16g (8 fl oz)	30g (11 fl oz)
Calories per serving	180-240	220	350	150
Fat per serving	0g	6g	11g	1.5g
Texture & Flavor	Clear, fruit-flavored (Mixed Fruit, Blueberry Pomegranate)	Creamy, shake-like (Vanilla, Chocolate)	Creamy, shake-like (Vanilla, Chocolate)	Creamy, shake-like (Vanilla, Chocolate)
Dietary Restrictions	Gluten-free, suitable for lactose intolerance, kosher, halal	Gluten-free, suitable for lactose intolerance, kosher, halal	Gluten-free, suitable for lactose intolerance, kosher, halal	Gluten-free, suitable for lactose intolerance, kosher, halal

Flavors and convenience

Ensure Clear comes in several refreshing fruit flavors, including Blueberry Pomegranate, Mixed Fruit, and Apple, offering a tasty alternative to the creamy texture of other nutritional shakes. It is available in convenient, ready-to-drink bottles, making it easy to consume on the go. For those who need to adhere strictly to a clear liquid diet, the transparent nature of the drink ensures compliance with medical protocols.

Considerations and potential side effects

While Ensure Clear is a safe and beneficial product for many, it is important to be aware of some considerations and potential side effects. The product is not designed for long-term, complete nutrition, and its high sugar content should be noted, especially for those with blood sugar management issues.

Not a Sole Source: As it lacks fat, Ensure Clear is not a source of complete, balanced nutrition and should not replace a regular diet for extended periods.
Sugar Content: A single serving contains a significant amount of sugar, which could be a concern for individuals managing their blood sugar levels.
Digestive Upset: Some users may experience mild and temporary gastrointestinal disturbances such as bloating, gas, or diarrhea, especially when first starting the product.
Not for Galactosemia: Like other Ensure products containing milk ingredients, it is not suitable for individuals with galactosemia, a genetic disorder.

Always consult a healthcare provider before starting any new nutritional supplement, especially if you have underlying health conditions or are following a specific diet.

Conclusion

Ensure Clear is the distinct, fat-free, and refreshingly clear member of the Ensure product family, purpose-built for clear liquid and fat-restricted diets. It is not a complete nutritional supplement but an effective tool for providing hydration, protein, and essential nutrients during periods of dietary restriction, such as before and after surgical procedures or for managing certain gastrointestinal conditions. By understanding its specific role and comparing it to other Ensure shakes, consumers can make an informed choice to meet their unique nutritional needs, always under the guidance of a healthcare professional.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, Ensure Clear is not a complete meal replacement. It is designed to provide supplemental nutrition and is specifically formulated without fat, which means it should not be used as a sole source of nutrition for an extended period.

Yes, Ensure Clear is suitable for a clear liquid diet. Its fat-free, residue-free composition makes it an excellent choice for pre- and post-surgical diets or bowel preparation for medical procedures.

The high-quality protein in Ensure Clear comes from whey protein isolate, a readily digestible form of protein that helps support muscle health.

Yes, Ensure Clear is suitable for individuals with lactose intolerance as it is a dairy-free formula containing minimal lactose, which does not typically pose an issue.

Yes, Ensure Clear does contain sugar. A single serving can have a significant amount of sugar, so individuals managing their blood sugar levels should take this into consideration.

Ensure Clear is available in refreshing fruit flavors, including Mixed Fruit, Blueberry Pomegranate, and Apple, offering a taste alternative to creamy nutritional shakes.

While it adds calories and protein to your diet, Ensure Clear is not specifically formulated for weight gain in the way Ensure Plus is. For significant weight gain, a higher-calorie, more complete nutritional supplement may be more appropriate.