Ensure Max Protein Provides The Nutrition You Need To Power Through Your Day

This post is sponsored by Abbott/Ensure, but all opinions are mine.

These days, women have a lot on their plates, so it’s extremely important that we get the proper nutrition to support our bodies.  As working moms and wives, it seems that that our days are never ending.  From office work to house work, there is always something that needs to be done.

As a single mom, there is always so much to be done.  I’m up each morning before 6am and usually don’t make it to bed until midnight or after.  Ensure Max Protein from Abbott can help you get the protein that you need.   For me, I love drinking an Ensure Max Protein while I’m on-the-go.  I often drink one on the way to work so that I can maximize my time before work and still stay on track with my nutrition goals.

Ensure Max Protein has 30 grams of high-quality protein, 1 gram of sugar, 1.5 grams of fat and 150 calories. It comes in two great flavors – Café Mocha and Milk Chocolate.   The Café Mocha flavor has as much caffeine as one cup of coffee and when frozen, it tastes like a Frappuccino.

Ensure Max Protein is available nationwide at most major retailers and online.  Head over to Target to try it for yourself!

Protein plays a big role in the health of the human body, especially when it comes to weight management and maintaining or rebuilding muscle mass, and it helps metabolism and balance as well – which is why I love Ensure Max Protein. Getting the right amount and the right type of protein plays a critical role in helping people live a healthier, more active lifestyle.

#HealthGoals Matter:  What we eat is just as important to our health as regular doctor check-ups. After my health problems last year, I decided that I was going to be more proactive with my health.  So, in January, I went for an annual checkup where I found out that I was 100+ pounds overweight and had high cholesterol, borderline high blood pressure and high blood sugar levels.  I left the office that day in a whirlwind with so many things running through my mind.   Somehow, I had to make some major changes and get my nutrition in check.  My first goal was to quit drinking high sugar sodas. It took me awhile, but I finally did it.  The next goal was cutting out sugar and high carbohydrate foods.  I’m still working on that one, but I think I’m doing really well so far.  Since April, I’ve lost 30 pounds and I feel like I’m finally on my way to reaching my biggest health goal of losing 130 pounds. Ensure Max Protein has helped me stay on track because when I am confronted with off-plan meals, I can easily grab a ready-to-go drink from the fridge and drink that. I go back to the doctor later this month and my guess is that my numbers are going to be much more in line with where they need to be.

I posted a photo of my progress on my personal Facebook page last week, and yesterday one of my friends messaged me to say that I motivated her to start working on her health goals.  This made me feel so great because I have been friends with this girl for 30+ years and I’m so happy that my journey has made an impact. I would like to encourage you to share your health goals with me. Just leave a comment, I would love to read them.

We should all be making sure that 75% of protein we incorporate into our diets comes from a high-quality protein source, which is one that provides all of the essential amino acids. Ensure Max Protein is a perfect example of a high-quality, complete protein source, just like  poultry, fish, dairy products, tofu and quinoa.

It’s very important to include protein at each of your meals, and you can easily do that by adding protein-rich food to salads and snacks, or by drinking a ready-to-go shake like Ensure Max Protein.  By adding peanut, almond or cashew butter to your fruit, you can also create a healthy and nutritious snack that is packed with nutrients.

New research from Abbott and the Ohio State University shows that more than 1 in 3 adults 50 and older aren’t getting enough protein in their diet. Meal skipping is often the reason for this protein gap, another reason is that people just don’t know how much protein they should be consuming on a daily basis.

Actress and health advocate, Kate Walsh, has partnered with Abbott to help adults kick-start their health goals with protein and to share how she has incorporated Ensure Max Protein into her daily routine.

Recently, Kate Walsh and Abbott researcher, Suzette Pereira, participated in a Q&A session regarding Ensure Max Protein.  Check it out for answers to some of the most common questions and then watch the video below to hear more from Kate!

1. How much protein is recommended for the average adult? Is it different for a woman in her 40s or 50s?

Response from Suzette: People have likely heard that protein is good for them – but they may not know how much they should be getting in a day. For example, a person weighing 150 pounds would need roughly 54 grams of protein a day, according to the dietary recommendations. To put that in perspective, one egg has about 6g of protein.

Protein is a key part of your diet at any decade, but as people age, their bodies begin to slow down their ability to break down foods and absorb nutrients. Consuming a well-balanced diet with the right amount and right kinds of protein in your 40s and 50s can make a big impact on living a healthier, more active life!

2. We know that protein is an important part of our diets, but what are the specific benefits of a high-protein diet for women over age 40?

Response from Suzette: Protein is essential to our everyday health, and as we age our bodies need protein more than ever. If you don’t get enough protein in your diet, it can have a big impact on the things you love to do daily. Beyond keeping muscles healthy, protein impacts your mobility, your metabolism and even things like bone health. But remember, protein offers key health benefits and it is important to incorporate in our diet at any age!

3. Do you have any tips for women who are trying to add protein into their daily lifestyle in addition to drinking Ensure Max Protein?

Response from Suzette: 3 simple tips to always keep in mind to stay healthy and active with age are: 1) Make sure to include protein at all 3 meals. Science shows that spreading your protein throughout the day has benefits; 2) Know your numbers. As I mentioned earlier, dietary guidelines recommend 54 grams of protein as the minimum amount to stay healthy; and 3) Get moving! Don’t forget to stay active to keep your energy up and your muscles strong.

For those looking for additional protein sources aside from meat, it’s important to know that 75% of the protein we eat in our diets should be complete, or high-quality, protein. I would recommend consuming good sources of protein such as milk and dairy products, or tofu.

4. Do you use Ensure Max Protein on a daily basis or just occasionally? How has it helped you maintain a healthy lifestyle, especially with your hectic schedule?

Response from Kate: I drink Ensure Max Protein every day! I love that it’s ready-to-go and easy to take to work with me. When I’m on set for 12-16 hours, I have to make sure I am eating throughout the day and getting enough protein. I love that I can throw it in my bag and be confident that I’m getting the fuel I need to get the most out of my day. But even when I’m home, off of work, I love drinking it because I find it’s difficult to reach my protein goals with just meals alone.

5. Do you use Ensure Max Protein as a meal replacement or more as a snack while you’re on the go? Do you add anything to it or put into smoothies?

Response from Kate: I drink Ensure Max Protein as a snack or supplement to my meals throughout the day. Again, it can be challenging for me to get the proper amount of daily protein through meals alone. I like to have the Milk Chocolate in the morning or mid-morning, and then the Café Mocha in the afternoon for a caffeine pick-me-up! I enjoy it on its own, or will pour it over ice as well. Either way, it helps keep me steady, so I don’t have those crashes or lethargy in the afternoon. Plus, it tastes yummy, too!

6. We know that Ensure Max Protein has several different benefits. What are your top 3 reasons someone should choose Ensure Max Protein versus other protein shakes?

Response from Kate: Ensure Max Protein is from a scientifically proven brand that you can trust. I can feel good knowing that my body is getting what it needs in a day, and it’s made by the experts. I love that it’s low calorie, has 1.5 grams of fat and 1 gram of sugar, but that it also has amino acids and vitamins and minerals as well. I also love the fact that Café Mocha has 100 mg of caffeine, which is as much as one cup of coffee, so in the afternoons, particularly, when I don’t want to drink another cup of coffee, I can feel energized and get my protein needs met.

7. Can you share with us the nutritional differences between original Ensure and Ensure Max Protein?

Response from Suzette: Ensure has always been about nourishing adults to help them live healthier lives. While Ensure was the first medical nutrition drink that Abbott created 45 years ago for helping people in the hospital recover, the brand has evolved its portfolio and research over the last several decades to meet the changing needs of people no matter what stage of life. Each Ensure nutrition shake meets a unique nutritional need for adults – whether they are recovering from a health setback or just trying to maintain their strength and energy.

For example, Ensure Original is a complete and balanced nutrition shake, and has 9 grams of program. Ensure Max Protein was designed to help adults 45+ consume the appropriate amount of high quality protein needed for staying active with age.

8. Have you noticed any changes in your overall health since you began using Ensure Max Protein? Do you have more energy, etc.?

Response from Kate: After turning 50 last year, I can honestly say I’m stronger than ever and feel like I’m just getting started. And I can attest, the benefits of adding protein to your diet are incredible. Beyond feeling more energized, protein plays a big role from helping with your metabolism & balance, to weight management and maintaining or rebuilding muscle mass, bone density and mental clarity.

9. Do you have any tips for other busy women who find it difficult to stick with a healthy lifestyle when they’re on the go?

Response from Kate: Even with our country’s obsession with protein and today’s culture of information overload, there’s clearly a major gap in our diets. But, I’ve learned that good health doesn’t have to be over complicated – you can find simple ways to make it work even with a busy lifestyle. I love that Ensure Max Protein is portable and allows me to get the protein I need on the go. I’ve learned how important it is to slow down and prioritize my self-care routine, so now I’m much more conscious of what my body needs to stay strong and healthy – that includes things like strength training, sufficient sleep, drinking lots of water, and getting enough protein in my daily diet. But, that can be challenging as I sometimes like to eat potato chips & have been known to skip a meal when I’m busy, which is why Ensure Max Protein is so important to me on a daily basis.

Abbott partnered with influencers such as me for its Ensure Program. As part of this Program, I received compensation for my time. Abbott/Ensure believes that consumers and influencers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. Abbott/Ensure policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.