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The Sugar Content of Ensure Plus
Nutrition supplements, such as Ensure Plus, are often used to help replace missing nutrients in the diet. They can also be used to increase calorie intake and promote weight gain in malnourished individuals. While they provide the body with essential vitamins, minerals and muscle building protein, they are also high in sugars, which can lead to high blood glucose levels and an increased risk for diabetes.
Rich Dark Chocolate
An 8 oz. can of Ensure Plus, Rich Dark Chocolate, contains 18 g sugar. In addition, each can also contains 350 calories, 11 g fat, 13 g protein and 49 g carbohydrates. The body breaks down carbohydrates into sugars, which it uses for fuel. The grams of sugar listed on the nutrition label indicate the amount of both added sugars and naturally occurring sugars found within a food. Ensure Plus contains added sugar along with lactose, a type of sugar that is found in milk products.
- can of Ensure Plus, Rich Dark Chocolate, contains 18 g sugar.
- Ensure Plus contains added sugar along with lactose, a type of sugar that is found in milk products.
Homemade Vanilla
How Many Calories Does Ensure Have Per Bottle?
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Homemade Vanilla Ensure Plus contains 20 g sugar per 8 oz. serving. Like the Rich Dark Chocolate variety, Homemade Vanilla also contains 350 calories, 11 g total fat and 13 g protein. Due to the increased sugar content, Homemade Vanilla Ensure Plus contains slightly higher carbohydrates, providing 50 g per serving.
- Homemade Vanilla Ensure Plus contains 20 g sugar per 8 oz.
- Due to the increased sugar content, Homemade Vanilla Ensure Plus contains slightly higher carbohydrates, providing 50 g per serving.
Creamy Milk Chocolate
Ensure Plus Creamy Milk Chocolate contains 22 g sugar per 8 oz. can. Each can also contains 350 calories, 11 g total fat, 50 g carbohydrate and 13 g protein. Of the 11 g total fat with 4.5 g from polyunsaturated fats and 5 g from monounsaturated fats and only 1 g from saturated fats. The American Heart Association recommends replacing saturated fats with unsaturated fats to help reduce your risk for heart disease 3. Ensure Plus is a rich source of unsaturated fats.
- Ensure Plus Creamy Milk Chocolate contains 22 g sugar per 8 oz.
- Of the 11 g total fat with 4.5 g from polyunsaturated fats and 5 g from monounsaturated fats and only 1 g from saturated fats.
Strawberries & Cream
Is It Safe to Drink Ensure on an Empty Stomach?
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Strawberries & Cream Ensure Plus provides 20 g of sugar per serving. When compared to other flavor varieties, Ensure Plus Strawberries & Cream contains the same macronutrient content as Ensure Plus Homemade Vanilla. Per serving, each can contains 350 calories, 11 g total fat, 50 g carbohydrate and 13 g protein.
Butter Pecan
Ensure Plus Butter Pecan contains 20 g sugar per can. It also provides 350 calories, 11 g fat, 50 g carbohydrates and 13 g protein. The American Diabetes Association recommends consuming approximately 45 to 60 g carbohydrates per meal to help manage blood sugar levels 4. It is important to be aware of the carbohydrate content of other foods, when consuming Ensure Plus, to help prevent high blood sugar levels and decrease your risk for developing diabetes.
- Ensure Plus Butter Pecan contains 20 g sugar per can.
- The American Diabetes Association recommends consuming approximately 45 to 60 g carbohydrates per meal to help manage blood sugar levels 4.
Related Articles
References
- USDA: Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010
- Abbott Laboratories: Ensure Plus
- American Heart Association: Know Your Fats; January 20, 2011
- American Diabetes Association: Carbohydrate Counting
- The Nutrition Source, Harvard School of Public Health. Added sugar in the diet. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/carbohydrates/added-sugar-in-the-diet/
- USDA. Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Chapter 7 Carbohydrates. https://health.gov/DietaryGuidelines/dga2005/document/html/chapter7.htm.
Writer Bio
Emily Creasy began writing professionally in 2010. As a registered and licensed dietitian her writing focuses on weight loss, disease-specific diets and diet-friendly cooking. She holds a Bachelor of Science in human nutrition, foods and exercise from Virginia Tech and a Master of Science in dietetics from James Madison University.