What is the drink called Ensure?: A Complete Nutritional Guide

November 14, 2025 •

4 min read

First marketed by Ross Laboratories in 1973, the drink called Ensure has been a leading nutritional supplement brand for over five decades. Manufactured by Abbott Laboratories, this dietary supplement is designed to provide complete and balanced nutrition, offering a convenient way to fill dietary gaps.

Quick Summary

Ensure is a popular nutritional supplement manufactured by Abbott Laboratories, available as ready-to-drink shakes and powders. It provides a blend of proteins, vitamins, and minerals to support overall health, strength, and energy levels in adults.

Key Points

Complete Nutrition: Ensure provides a balanced mix of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and over 20 essential vitamins and minerals.
Supports Muscle and Bone Health: Formulations contain high-quality protein, calcium, and vitamin D to help maintain muscle mass and bone strength, especially in aging adults.
Versatile Product Line: The brand offers multiple formulas, including high-calorie (Plus), high-protein (Max Protein), plant-based, and clear liquid options, to suit different needs.
Weight Management Aid: Ensure can be used for weight gain or maintenance, with calorie-dense options available for those with involuntary weight loss or poor appetite.
Potential Side Effects: Some individuals may experience gastrointestinal issues like bloating or constipation, and those on blood thinners like Warfarin should be cautious due to high vitamin K content.
Widely Recommended: Ensure is often recommended by doctors for patients recovering from illness, surgery, or those who have difficulty eating solid foods.

What is the Drink Called Ensure?

Ensure is an American brand of nutritional drinks and powders developed by Abbott Laboratories. It is formulated to provide complete, balanced nutrition, featuring a blend of proteins, vitamins, and minerals. Originally created to support adults with poor appetites or those recovering from illness, the product line has expanded significantly to address various dietary needs. Today, Ensure is widely used by healthy active adults seeking a nutritional boost, as well as seniors and patients who require extra dietary support.

The Core Components of Ensure

Different Ensure products have varying nutritional profiles, but most are built on a foundation of essential macronutrients and micronutrients. A typical serving contains high-quality protein from sources like milk and soy, as well as fats and carbohydrates to provide energy. Beyond the macros, Ensure is fortified with a wide range of vitamins and minerals. For instance, Ensure Original is a good source of 24 essential vitamins and minerals.

Protein: Supports muscle health and helps maintain muscle mass, which is particularly important as people age.
Vitamins: A full spectrum of vitamins, including antioxidants like Vitamins C and E to support immune health, and B vitamins for energy metabolism.
Minerals: Essential minerals such as calcium and vitamin D for strong bones, as well as zinc and iron for various cellular functions.
Carbohydrates and Fats: Provide a balanced source of energy. Some formulas, like Ensure Plus, are calorie-dense for weight gain, while others, like Ensure Max Protein, are lower in sugar.

Who Should Consider Drinking Ensure?

While Ensure is not a replacement for a healthy diet, it can be a useful supplement for several groups of people.

Seniors and Aging Adults: Many older adults experience decreased appetite or difficulty chewing, leading to nutritional gaps. Ensure provides an easy-to-consume source of protein, calcium, and other vital nutrients to support strength and bone health.
Individuals Recovering from Illness or Surgery: For patients with low appetite or increased nutritional needs during recovery, Ensure can ensure they receive adequate calories and nutrients to aid healing and regain strength.
Those with Unintentional Weight Loss: The calorie-dense formulas, such as Ensure Plus, can help individuals who need to gain or maintain a healthy weight.
Active Adults and Athletes: As a convenient snack or post-workout recovery aid, Ensure can help replenish nutrients and support muscle repair.

Different Types of Ensure for Different Needs

Abbott offers a variety of Ensure products, each with a specific nutritional focus. Choosing the right one depends on your individual health goals.

Ensure Original: The classic formula, providing balanced nutrition with a moderate amount of protein and calories.
Ensure Plus: Concentrated with higher calories and protein for those needing to gain or maintain weight.
Ensure Max Protein: Packs a higher protein punch (30g) and has less sugar, aimed at supporting muscle health.
Ensure Clear: A fruit-flavored, clear liquid option that is fat-free, making it a good choice for people needing clear liquid diets.
Ensure Plant-Based: Made with protein from fava beans and peas, this option is free of dairy and soy for those with sensitivities or dietary preferences.

Potential Side Effects and Considerations

While generally safe, some individuals may experience side effects when they first begin using Ensure, such as gastrointestinal upset including constipation, bloating, or diarrhea. For most, these symptoms subside with regular use. Other considerations include:

Weight Gain: Some formulas are high in calories and sugar, which can lead to unwanted weight gain if not accounted for in overall dietary intake.
Blood Sugar Management: Diabetics should consult their doctor, as some standard Ensure formulas contain added sugar that can affect blood glucose levels. A specific Ensure Diabetes Care product is available.
Drug Interactions: The high vitamin K content in some Ensure products can interfere with blood-thinning medications like Warfarin.
Allergies: Individuals with milk or soy allergies should choose allergen-free alternatives, such as Ensure Plant-Based, as most standard formulas contain milk and soy protein.

Ensure vs. Other Nutritional Supplements

When considering nutritional shakes, Ensure is often compared to other brands like Boost and Glucerna. The choice depends on specific dietary needs.


Feature	Ensure Original	Boost Original	Glucerna (for Diabetes)
Primary Purpose	General nutritional supplement	General nutritional supplement	Blood sugar management
Manufacturer	Abbott Laboratories	Nestlé	Abbott Laboratories
Calories (per 8oz)	220 kcal	240 kcal	200 kcal
Protein (per 8oz)	9g	10g	10g
Carbohydrates (per 8oz)	33g	37g	27g
Omega-3s	Yes, 320mg	No (in original)	Not specified
Best for	Filling nutritional gaps for most adults	All-purpose nutrition, potentially higher protein	People with diabetes needing blood sugar control

Conclusion

What is the drink called Ensure? It's a comprehensive nutritional supplement brand that provides a wide array of products to support various health goals. From classic balanced nutrition to targeted formulas for high protein or specific dietary restrictions, Ensure offers convenient options for adults seeking to augment their diet. While it is not a cure-all, and consultation with a healthcare professional is always recommended, Ensure has proven to be a valuable tool for supporting muscle health, immune function, and energy levels for millions of people worldwide. Always consider your specific needs and potential side effects before incorporating it into your daily routine. For more information on the full product range, you can visit the manufacturer's website: abbottnutrition.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, Ensure can be used as a meal replacement for a light meal, especially for individuals who have difficulty eating solid food or have a reduced appetite. However, it is not recommended as a total replacement for a balanced diet long-term without professional medical advice.

Most Ensure products are considered suitable for people with lactose intolerance, but they do contain milk proteins. For those with a severe milk allergy or who prefer a dairy-free option, Ensure offers a plant-based shake.

Common side effects can include gastrointestinal issues such as constipation, bloating, and diarrhea, particularly when first introducing the drink. These symptoms often subside over time.

Yes, Abbott manufactures a specialized formula called Glucerna for people with diabetes that is lower in carbohydrates and designed for better blood sugar control.

Ensure products, particularly those with higher protein content like Ensure Max Protein, provide high-quality protein and nutrients like calcium and vitamin D to help build and maintain muscle mass.

Ensure is available in a variety of flavors, including classics like vanilla, milk chocolate, and strawberry. Other options may include coffee latte, butter pecan, and dark chocolate, depending on the product line.

While both are nutritional supplements, key differences exist between Ensure and Boost, including protein levels and specific ingredients. For example, Ensure Original contains omega-3 fatty acids, which Boost Original does not.