Understanding Your Nutritional Drink: What are the ingredients in strawberry Ensure?

October 14, 2025 •

3 min read

As the #1 doctor-recommended nutritional brand, Ensure offers a variety of products to support health goals. If you're wondering what are the ingredients in strawberry Ensure, the answer depends on the specific product, but they generally contain a base of water, milk and soy proteins, corn-based carbohydrates, and a comprehensive blend of vitamins and minerals.

Quick Summary

An analysis of the ingredients across different strawberry Ensure products, detailing the primary macronutrient sources, vitamin and mineral blend, and additives. Key variations among formulations like Original, Plus, and Max Protein are explained for a comprehensive overview.

Key Points

Product Variation: The specific ingredients in strawberry Ensure differ based on the product line, such as Original, Plus, or Max Protein, affecting calorie and macronutrient content.
Dual Protein Source: Most formulations contain a blend of high-quality milk and soy protein concentrates to provide comprehensive amino acid support.
Corn-Based Carbohydrates: Corn maltodextrin and corn syrup are common sources of carbohydrates, with sugar added for taste and energy.
Complete Micronutrient Profile: All products are fortified with a wide array of vitamins and minerals, including key nutrients for bone, muscle, and immune health.
Additives for Taste and Texture: Stabilizers, emulsifiers, natural and artificial flavors, and sweeteners are used to ensure the shake has the desired taste and consistency.
Targeted Nutrition: The ingredient differences cater to specific needs, such as higher protein for muscle support (Max Protein) or more calories for weight gain (Plus).

Core Ingredients Across All Strawberry Ensure Products

Across most formulations, the foundational ingredients of strawberry Ensure shakes provide a balanced source of protein, carbohydrates, and fats, along with essential micronutrients. These core components ensure the product serves as a complete nutritional supplement.

Protein Sources

Milk Protein Concentrate: Provides high-quality, complete protein containing all essential amino acids.
Soy Protein Isolate: Another high-quality, plant-based protein source that is common across many Ensure products, making them suitable for some dietary preferences.
Calcium Caseinate: A form of slow-digesting milk protein also found in some variants, contributing to sustained protein release.

Carbohydrates and Energy

Corn Maltodextrin and Corn Syrup: These are primary carbohydrate sources that provide readily available energy. The ratio can vary significantly depending on the product's purpose (e.g., higher in versions for weight gain like Ensure Plus).
Sugar: Added to enhance flavor and contribute to the calorie count. Low-sugar versions like Max Protein contain significantly less.

Fats

Blend of Vegetable Oils (Canola, Corn, High Oleic Sunflower): A mix of oils is used to provide essential fatty acids. The specific blend can differ, but they contribute to the fat content of the shake.

Vitamin and Mineral Blend

All Ensure products contain a robust blend of vitamins and minerals to fulfill nutritional gaps. These can include:

Vitamins: Vitamin D3, Vitamin A Palmitate, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12, Thiamine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Niacinamide, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), and dl-Alpha-Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E).
Minerals: Magnesium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Potassium Citrate, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Phosphate, Calcium Phosphate, Ferrous Sulfate (Iron), Zinc Sulfate, and Calcium Carbonate.

Flavoring and Additives

Natural and Artificial Flavors: Used to create the strawberry taste profile.
Sweeteners: Sucralose and Acesulfame Potassium are low-calorie sweeteners used in many Ensure products.
Stabilizers and Thickeners: Ingredients like Cellulose Gel, Cellulose Gum, and Carrageenan ensure a consistent texture and prevent separation.
Coloring: Red 3 is typically included to provide the characteristic pink color of the strawberry flavor.

Comparison of Strawberry Ensure Products

It is important to check the label of your specific product as ingredients and nutritional profiles differ substantially between product lines. Below is a comparison of some popular strawberry Ensure shakes.


Feature	Ensure Original (Strawberry)	Ensure Plus (Strawberry)	Ensure Max Protein (Creamy Strawberry)
Calories	220	350	150
Protein	9g	16g	30g
Sugar	10g	20g	1g
Fat	6g	11g	2g
Primary Carbs	Corn Maltodextrin, Sugar	Corn Maltodextrin, Sugar	Soluble Corn Fiber, Fructooligosaccharides
Primary Proteins	Milk Protein Concentrate, Soy Protein Isolate	Milk Protein Concentrate, Soy Protein Isolate	Milk Protein Concentrate, Calcium Caseinate
Sweeteners	Sucralose	Sucralose	Acesulfame Potassium, Sucralose

The Role of Key Nutrients

Each ingredient serves a specific purpose in providing targeted nutritional support:

Protein: The combination of milk and soy proteins supports muscle health, tissue repair, and overall body function, which is particularly vital for older adults or those recovering from illness.
Carbohydrates: Maltodextrin and sugars offer a quick source of energy, helping to fuel daily activities. The varying carb levels in different products allow for customization based on energy needs.
Fats: The vegetable oil blend provides monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, including essential omega-3s, which support heart health and energy.
Micronutrients: The extensive list of vitamins and minerals provides comprehensive support. For example, Vitamin D and Calcium are crucial for bone health, while antioxidants like Vitamins C and E support immune function.

Conclusion

Understanding what are the ingredients in strawberry Ensure helps consumers make informed choices tailored to their specific nutritional needs. While all products share a foundation of protein, carbs, fats, vitamins, and minerals, significant differences exist between formulations like Original, Plus, and Max Protein. From the low-sugar, high-protein content of Max Protein to the higher calorie density of Plus for weight gain, reading the ingredient list is crucial for aligning the product with your dietary goals. For the most accurate and up-to-date ingredient information, always refer to the product label or the official Abbott Nutrition website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Strawberry Ensure products typically use a blend of high-quality protein from milk protein concentrate, soy protein isolate, and sometimes calcium caseinate to provide a complete amino acid profile.

Yes, ingredient lists and nutritional profiles vary significantly across product lines like Ensure Original, Ensure Plus, and Ensure Max Protein. The main differences are in the concentration of protein, calories, and sugar.

While the shake has a strawberry flavor, the ingredient list typically includes "natural and artificial flavor" rather than real strawberry fruit. The red color comes from an artificial additive, such as Red 3.

Most strawberry Ensure shakes are suitable for individuals with lactose intolerance because they are made with milk protein concentrate and contain a low amount of lactose. However, they are not suitable for people with galactosemia.

Strawberry Ensure contains a blend of vegetable oils, often including canola, corn, and high oleic sunflower oils. These provide both monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats to the diet.

The main carbohydrate sources are corn maltodextrin and sugars, which provide energy. Some products also include fibers, such as soluble corn fiber or fructooligosaccharides, for digestive health.

Most Ensure products use sucralose as a primary sweetener. However, low-sugar versions like Ensure Max Protein may also include acesulfame potassium, while higher-calorie products like Ensure Plus contain more added sugars.