Nutritional drink or shake, ready-to-drink (Ensure)
Common food
Photo: Wikipedia
Ensure is a smooth, creamy, ready-to-drink nutritional shake designed for convenient, balanced nutrition. It has a mildly sweet, vanilla-like flavor with a texture similar to a thin milkshake, making it easy to consume. Each 100g provides a modest 105 kcal, with a focus on delivering 3.8g of protein and 16.88g of carbohydrates for quick energy.
Calorie split: 14% protein · 64% carbs · 22% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People appreciate its reliability and ease—it's a consistent, no-prep option for a nutritional boost. Its mild, inoffensive flavor makes it a versatile base that can be mixed into smoothies or enjoyed plain.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
The relatively high sugar content (9.7g per 100g) can cause blood-sugar spikes, making it less ideal for diabetics without careful portion control. It also contains common allergens like milk and soy, and some may find the processed taste unappealing. To mitigate sugar impact, pair it with a source of healthy fat or fiber, like a handful of nuts or a side of berries.
Key benefits
- Provides convenient, calorie-controlled nutrition
- Offers a balance of macronutrients (protein, carbs, fat)
- Easy-to-digest liquid format for quick consumption
- Often fortified with vitamins and minerals
- Useful for supplementing meals when appetite is low
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
Ensure was originally developed in the 1970s by Abbott Laboratories as a tube-feeding formula for hospital patients before becoming a mainstream consumer product.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 76.2 g |
| Energy | 105 kcal |
| Protein | 3.8 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 2.5 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 16.9 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 0.00 g |
| Total Sugars | 9.7 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 127 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 1.9 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 42.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 105 mg |
| Potassium, K | 156 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 84.0 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 1.6 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.21 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 7.4 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 12.7 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.16 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.18 mg |
| Niacin | 2.1 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.21 mg |
| Folate, total | 42.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 42.0 ug |
| Folate, food | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 72.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 32.4 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.63 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.60 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 158 ug |
| Retinol | 158 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 1.4 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 1.3 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 1.1 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 8.4 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 0.42 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 0.26 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.08 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 0.84 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 0.78 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.01 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 1.3 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.48 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.05 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 2.0 mg |
FAQ
Is Ensure a meal replacement?
It's marketed as a nutritional supplement or 'oral nutritional supplement,' not a full meal replacement. It's designed to supplement the diet, especially when regular food intake is insufficient.
Can I drink Ensure every day?
For most healthy adults, it can be part of a daily routine as a supplement, but it shouldn't replace whole foods. Consult a doctor or dietitian for personalized advice, especially if managing a health condition.
What's the difference between Ensure and protein shakes?
Ensure is a balanced nutritional drink with a mix of carbs, protein, and fat, often fortified with vitamins. Protein shakes primarily focus on high protein content for muscle building and may lack the broader nutrient profile.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 1.05 kcal/g · 14% calories from protein · 0.0 g fiber · 9.7 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 0.54 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.